Going to London- Where to have tea?

[KCT]

If all goes well, I’ll be spending a day in London (w/ 2 of my teens) on our way to Rome in late May. Where is a good place to enjoy afternoon tea? --KCT

 

[Catholic90]

Don’t know about the tea, but I have some great pubs! We visited London last year with our 3 boys and every afternoon, we would make a pub stop somewhere. Root beer for the boys and a new English ale for mom and dad!

I LOVE London. I’ve been there 6 times (only once with my kids) and I can’t wait to go back again!

 

[Steph700]

I lived in London for about 2 years… there are many wonderful places for afternoon tea!!

The most famous is the Ritz. Afternoon tea is an institution in and of itself here- reservations are needed well in advance (at least 1 month) and there is a dress code. I’ve never been here, but have heard only good things.

My favorite hotels for afternoon tea are the Savoy and the Dorchester.

Both are a little pricy, but not as expensive as the Ritz and require reservations and have a dress code.

If you are on a budget but still want to enjoy a yummy afternoon tea I HIGHLY recommend the Muffin Man, a cozy place near High Street Kensington. The tea, cakes, and sandwiches are all moderately priced and oh so good. I went here numerous times when I had friends or family come in town.

Please do not hesitate to send me a PM if you have any other London questions, I am happy to share what I know about the BEST city on earth!

 

[KCT]

Steph700:

If you are on a budget but still want to enjoy a yummy afternoon tea I HIGHLY recommend the Muffin Man, a cozy place near High Street Kensington. The tea, cakes, and sandwiches are all moderately priced and oh so good. I went here numerous times when I had friends or family come in town.

Thanks, I did send a PM.

When we went in late 2004, someone recommended the Muffin Man but I can’t find the details.

I’m also looking for a reasonable place to stay ($100/ night or less for 2 or 3 people - is that possible in London??) —KCT

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

Hi there, I live in London, though I haven’t had afternoon tea for a long while! The hotels such as the Ritz, Dorchester etc are very expensive , and can be a little snooty.
Fortnum and Mason springs to mind, not cheap, but you get the whole afternoon tea experience - white table cloths, nice china, little sandwiches cut into triangles. It’s on Piccadilly.
As for places to stay, you’d have to be outside the very centre of London for those prices, there are some decent places in Bloomsbury which is quite central, luckily the transport links are very good - lots of buses and the “tube”.
PM me if you have any questions, I’ll try and answer them. How long are you staying in London? I’ve lived here all my life and never get tired of it! There’s always something new to see.

 

[KCT]

ora_pro_nobis:

As for places to stay, you’d have to be outside the very centre of London for those prices, there are some decent places in Bloomsbury which is quite central, luckily the transport links are very good - lots of buses and the “tube”. /QUOTE]

Might there be someplace between Heathrow and the city center we could stay? As long as we can hop on the tube, it doesn’t much matter to me where we stay, as long as it’s safe. —KCT

 

[ReginaNova]

Harrod’s. Natch!

And you gotta wander Harrod’s food halls.

 

[KCT]

ReginaNova:

Harrod’s. Natch!

And you gotta wander Harrod’s food halls.

I did that the last time. I’m not a city girl and the crowd was too much for me. However, if dd wants to go back, I’ll brave the crowd for her —KCT

 

[Hawthorne]

If you are having tea, ask for Earl Grey. You will gain respect in the brit’s eyes. Also, have a lemonade. What we drink, they call lemon squash. Their lemonade is more like sprite with lemon juice in it. We loved it and try to make our own here at home. Be warned. High tea, while a nice experience, has sometimes been brewing a long time and is very strong and may need milk or cream to soften the blow.