Child friendly afternoon tea in London?

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We are taking dd who is 4 to London soon. We'd like to treat ourselves to a nice afternoon tea somewhere.

We are staying in South Kensington.
Anyone have any recommendations?

great list here golondon.about.com/od/afternoontea/tp/Afternoon-Tea-In-London-With-Kids.htm

Thank you spababe, that's absolutely fantastic x

I took DS (aged nearly 8) and my mum for one last year. Special treat for my birthday. It was the Charlie and the Chocolate factory one. Hotel just off park Lane. Great reviews etc. DS was bored and moaned throughout. He didn't seem to like any of the fancier stuff. My mum moaned about the tea she had chosen, was offered alternatives but then there seemed to be an issue with that. It was about £37 for an adult (plus tip). In a fake conservatory. I came away really wishing I had done something much smaller. So this weekend we went to a local garden with friends, had a scrummy cream tea outside in the sunshine. Kids played happily. Best scones for ages. £4-95 each.

I just wonder if your DD will appreciate it. Mine didn't :)

have a lovely time in London!

Thank you, yes I'm thinking now it is more for us than her! But just trying to think of something treat-y that we'd all enjoy.

We went to the Mathilda one in Covent Garden. I think it was nice, not too fancy and DD definately enjoyed most of the food. But it was very expensive for what you get. Tea are tea bags for example, not really what I would have expected. We paid £80 for the three of us.

DD was 6.5. I wouldn't have done it any earlier.

Really nice cakes, but not scones and cream, are at various Patisserie Valeries or Paul which is a french bakery chain. Or Caffe Concerto. A lot more low key.

The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair is very family friendly and do a children's afternoon tea with Pb&j sandwiches and milkshakes.
The Orangery by Kensington Palace does a lovely afternoon tea, not as decadent as in a fancy hotel but tasty, great value and just by the Diana Memorial playground.

Whoops I didn't realise that both of my suggestions were on the link that spababe posted.
We found the staff in the Chesterfield really helpful.

It was the Chesterfield that we went to. The staff were lovely, but it was expensive and the moaning minnies took the edge off for me!!

Thank you. We are staying just near to the Diana memorial playground (which I'm told is v good) so will look at the Orangery.
I discovered Paul bakeries last time I went to London, fantastic, wish they'd expand out of the capital. Imagine my face when they blended up a massive fruit tart to make me a big zingy smoothie, certainly cured the Soho hen do hangover.

We tried to get into the Diana Playground 2 years ago, it was so packed they operated an entrace policy and the queue to get in was gigantic. We gave up, had a snack at the little stall before the ground, let the children ran wild for 30 minutes and walked on.

I think if you are lucky and have good weather be there early or late but not in the middle of the day.

Ah I didn't realise it would be so busy, well we are staying right by it so maybe up early doors on Sun morning could be a plan. Thanks for the heads-up.

The Diana Playground is fantastic and so worth going to. have fun!

Fortnum and masons - I took dd recently she's has just turned 8. it was lovely and they really looked after dd, apple juice in a tea pot etc.

is dd into Disney, the Disney café in harrods is entertaining for them. Its not so great for adults, but again dd loved it, not been for a year or two though.