(Luckily, these can be bought in the shop downstairs.) The cake carriage is a feast for the eyes, with mini chocolate-mousse tarts and melt-in-your-mouth salted-caramel choux pastries. Soft, warm scones are served with lashings of Somerset clotted cream and the most delicious raspberry, strawberry and wild blueberry jams which left us scraping the bottom of the jar. Terrifically knowledgeable 'Tearistas' are on hand to help narrow down the choice. It remains a traditional affair and, located on the fourth floor of the iconic Fortnum & Mason shop (where London afternoon teas have been served for almost 100 years), it's a delightful place to while away an afternoon.Īnd who knew there were so many different types of tea? If Willy Wonka ever swapped chocolate for tea, the menu might resemble that at the Tea Salon, listing around 45 fantastically-named infusions like Jasmine Dragon Pearls, Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe, and Hattialli, which takes its name from the Assamese words 'Hathi Alli', meaning 'Elephant Road'. An oasis of tea and cake! It seems as if it hasn't changed in decades, in a wonderfully old-world way, but in fact was refurbished and subsequently reopened by the Queen in 2012. Here's our pick of the best afternoon tea in Londonĭressed in trademark eau-de-nil, right down to the tea plates, Fortnum & Mason's Tea Salon is a peaceful oasis (accessed in a lovely wood-paneled lift) off Piccadilly. While traditionalists are more inclined to aim for a 3pm or 4pm sitting, some high teas in London are so extensive (think multi-course platters and unlimited sandwiches) that lunch can be skipped altogether, and a 12pm or 1pm booking is just fine. What is the best time for afternoon tea in London? This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK. We’ve sat down to countless cups of tea, finger sandwiches, scones and macarons to bring you our editors’ reviews of the best afternoon teas in London–from the traditional spreads to the modern interpretations that roll on into evening drinks. ![]() Flutes of Champagne and pretty pastries are a given, while exotic nibbles and potent cocktails mean that what now constitutes this most genteel of refreshments might well shock the Duchess of Bedford. Today, afternoon tea in London enjoys celebratory status. It was in 1840 that the Duchess of Bedford shared her guilty secret of enjoying tea and snacks a few hours before dinner, setting a trend that would evolve to become a national tradition complete with a new set of afternoon tea etiquette rules.
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