Fancy London festive afternoon tea

[INXS]

Anyone ever done one? We are heading down to London in a few weeks and I've always wanted to do an afternoon tea in a hotel - think The Savoy, The Ritz etc.

I know they are mostly doing something, but they are so expensive and I want to know what you actually get! I can't really read enough detail to know if I can justify the outlay.

Sketch for example are doing a "Children's Christmas Afternoon Tea" which sounds pretty good, but what do you get and what are the surroundings like? I want magical

And what about other places that aren't offering a special children's event, can you take kids to any old place? Or will we be huffed at?

I have done lots for work (events - needed to try them out for clients) and I think the nicest by far is Browns hotel on Albemarle Street with the Langham good for fancy looking cakes. But for christmassy ones Browns is best atmosphere - cosy fires etc.

Don’t go to the Ritz it’s like a conveyor belt. Try the Langham which is unfussy and child friendly. Claridges is nice too.
Their website should Tyrell you what you actually get. Usually finger sandwiches, little savouries, scones and assorted cakes/petit fours.

This is perfect. Thank you!
Browns sounds lovely for me, but does it have a tree etc? DC is 3 and I want his eyes to light up (I know, I’m cringe but I don’t care!)
Good to hear The Ritz isn’t all that - is it like a conveyor year round?

I can't remember if the tree is in the afternoon tea/bar area but it is a hotel and def has a big tree in the entrance. And I have been with a toddler before and the staff were very lovely about it.

Fab! Just looked at the menu for Browns and it looks amazing. Price is more in line with what I was wanting to pay as well

Thanks ladies. Can I just say I am jealous of your afternoon tea hopping selves! Must spend more time sipping in fancy hotels

It is also five mins walk from fortnum and mason which is always good for a Christmassy browse and ten mins walk Buckingham palace is such things are your bag. And from Buckingham palace ten mins to trafalgr square where they often have carol singers in December.

Yes carol singers you can join in with most afternoons in Trafalgar Square. Pelicans in St James park too. Lights in South Morton Street. The Diana playground in Hyde Park. Walking along the South bank watching the buskers or Covent Garden. I’m wishing I had grandchildren to do it all with again now.
Ritz is conveyer belt for American and Chinese tourists year round.
Have a lovely trip.

Also just to throw it in there the Charlie and the chocolate factory afternoon tea is pretty spectacular as far as kid friendly food goes! And relatively close to Covent Garden which is always my favourite Christmas tree and place to go (except for the crowds)

It’s at one aldwych

Wow, the Charlie one has just sped into first place...

You ladies are so knowledgable. Thank you so much. Crumbs I like the sound of your itinerary!

KTD27 is the covent garden tree in the piazza itself?

Loads are already fully booked btw

So don’t leave it too long

How about combining a visit to Kensington Palace with afternoon tea in the Orangery.

Just came on here to suggest Browns, absolutely beautiful.

What a wonderful idea rock. I think I'd like to combine tea this time with shopping + lights, but when we are down in Spring I will definitely book it in. I love Kensington Gardens - I've only been to The Orangery once and I always think of it as a lovely, sparkly white place. Even the name is pretty.

Hmm so Browns is getting a lot of love here! Maybe I can do two afternoon teas?!

Don’t forget to book. It was really busy last week.

Can I just ask - do all afternoon teas do unlimited refills? The (limited number of) ones I have been to do but I don't know if it's universal. I don't want to pay that amount of money and go home hungry! I've been really conservative in my choice of places by sticking to places that have their 'just ask for more' policy written clearly on the website!

I know what you mean Fink. I don't like the "served from the trolley" thing either. I like it to be very clear what I am getting, without worrying that I'm looking like a glutton, or (worse) leaving stuff behind that I could justifiably be shoving in my greedy gob partaking of.

What I've been doing is checking out the reviews on TripAdvisor, previous punters tend to mention if they got seconds.

I've never been myself, but my mum really likes the Harrold champagne one.

Oh I had a spring afternoon tea at the orangerie last year. Tbh I don’t remember the food - am sure it was fine - but the venue was stunning and I loved it. I think I remember thinking I would like to go again but for lunch as that looked amazing (as long as someone else paying).

The Charlie and the chocolate one is great. Langhams were too keen to point out the 2 he limit rule. A good cheaper one was at the st Pancras hotel. My favourite was at the savoy. Kept refilling us until we burst!
Had a lot of 40ths!!

I went last Christmas to their festive afternoon tea at the Dorchester. Awful. We got totally ignored for most of our time there and food was meh. I had to go to reception to find someone to get the bill, we complained and got the whole thing free. Totally gutted.

Booked to go to the Savoy in 2 weeks so fingers crossed!

The Savoy is my dream. sigh I've never been, but want to!

The Orangery is to me what Tiffany's is to Holly Golightly. I used to walk past it all the time and - despite only having been once! - often think about it as just somewhere you can go where there is nothing to worry about.

Re. Langham's sm40 do you mean they said "you only have 2 hours, clock's ticking as of NOW" type thing?

Couldn’t agree more with Singadream, Brown’s Hotel ever time.

And you can walk through Burlington Arcade and pretend you’re in a film! If you have any allergies or intolerances let Brown’s know and they’ll cater for them beautifully.