Afternoon Tea In London

The Grosvenor House Hotel
Park Lane
London W1
Tel: 020 7499 6363

An age old British institution that is still very much part of the 21st Century must be the ceremony of a traditional afternoon tea. The newly renovated Park Room at The Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair is the ideal surroundings to partake of this quintessential slice of our heritage in a calm and dignified environment. With its elegant and spacious classical interior and sweeping views over Hyde Park, it offers a relaxed and convivial way of whiling away a few hours. Throughout the afternoon a pianist tinkered delicately over the ivories, playing a selection of classical pieces which added to the feeling of yesteryear. We ordered the ‘Anna’s Tea’, (so called after Anna the seventh Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting who invented the concept). This is served if you wish with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne which completed the luxurious and indulgent atmosphere.

An attractive ornamental silver tea stand was delivered to our comfortable window-side table, each layer offering a whole host of temptations. Finger sandwiches, with various fillings such as Scottish smoked salmon, egg and cress and ham and tomato. Plain and raisin buttermilk scones served with home made preserves and Devonshire clotted cream. To conclude there were a selection of various tempting miniature cakes and French pastries. Throughout the afternoon service remained impeccable as our request for pot after pot of traditional English tea was regularly replenished. It was with some reluctance that we departed the serene atmosphere that tea in the Park Room had delivered so spectacularly.

Louise Elgin. February 2008.

Anna’s Afternoon Tea — is priced at £25 a head and £33 if served with champagne.

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