In this article, I present Afternoon teaLearn more about the history of this tradition, and discover 5 great places in London where you can enjoy a good cup of tea in true British style during your stay!
Here you'll find
- A presentation of Afternoon Tea
- 4 quality addresses in London
- What you need to know about this English tea tradition
- And much more!
If you're looking for information on afternoon tea in Londonyou'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
Afternoon Tea: article summary
What is Afternoon Tea?
If you are fond of British cultureYou've probably already heard of Afternoon Tea, which we might think of as a big snack with cakes and tea. But for the English, it's a real tradition!
They're all over England, and when you're out and about stay in LondonIf you'd like to take a break from sightseeing and relax like the British aristocracy, here's what you need to know. Here's what you need to know!
A short history of Afternoon Tea
It's Anna Russel, the Duchess of Bedford, a loyal friend of Queen Victoria (whose life you can learn more about at Kensington), who launched this tradition in the 19th century.
Taking a little hollow and too impatient to wait for dinnertime, she ordered tea and a snack - bread and butter, it seems - to satisfy her hunger. It was a moment of pleasure she wished to repeat later, this time inviting her friends.
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The tradition of Afternoon Tea (or Afternoon tea) was born and spread throughout the Kingdom. First within English nobilitythen in the more popular classes or it turned into a real meal!
Even today, many tearooms still offer this pleasant mid-afternoon snack as a way of building up strength for the evening meal!
What's in a real Afternoon Tea?
In general, true Afernoon Tea consists of the following 3 elements:
- Small sandwiches, commonly called Tea sandwich or Finger Sandwiches because they're made to be eaten easily with two fingers. They come in a multitude of variations, but the most traditional are with cucumber, radish, olives, salmon, chicken or jam, with ingredients placed between two small pieces of white sandwich bread.
- From Sconesserved with cream and jam
- A set of sweet treats which includes small pastries, macaroons and a variety of mignardises to tempt even the most demanding gourmets.
Of course, tea is part of the meal! You'll choose the type of tea you like, and above all, you'll adapt the infusion time to the variety in question: don't make any mistakes in the presence of English people!
Afternoon Tea is brought to you a three-storey plateau - hosting the 3 elements presented above - and all that's left to do is feast your eyes on London's best addresses.
5 places for Afternoon Tea in London!
If the English capital is full of places to have afternoon tea, here are 5 addresses that won't disappoint.
The Montague on The Gardens
15 Montague Street (show on map) - +44 20 7637 1001
Open daily from 13H00 to 17H00
Presentation
It's a little nugget we found with The Montague on The Gardens!
This is the the perfect place for an afternoon tea in the English tradition.
The location is magnificent, and you can sit by the windows for a beautiful view of the gardens.
Afternoon tea is complete and copious (including traditional scones, sandwiches, cakes, cold cuts and cheeses! (£60 per person)
You're served very well, with class.
We feel like kings 🙂
A a must for those who want to try an afternoon tea/tea time while in London.
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