LONDON’S TOP AFTERNOON TEA

Taking Afternoon Tea is the ultimate English pastime. Dating back to the early 19th century, the upper classes would drink tea and nibble on sandwiches to get them through 'the afternoon lull'. Today, no trip to London is complete without whiling an afternoon away in one of London's most luxurious hotels and being served-up a quintessentially English experience by the most exceptionally acclaimed hosts.

THE GORING HOTEL

Best for: Overall exceptional experience
Award: 'Top London Afternoon Tea Award 2013 from the UK Tea Guild'

Hours: 3pm, 3.30pm and 4pm every day
Venue: The Afternoon tea is served daily on the Terrace overlooking the private garden, or alternatively in the Goring Lounge Bar which exudes a refined Edwardian elegance.

Traditional Afternoon Tea
Cost: £42.50 per person
Menu: The Goring’s signature tea blend, selection of finger sandwiches, homemade Scones and delicate afternoon tea pastries.

Bollinger Afternoon Tea
Cost: £52.50 per person
Menu: Traditional menu plus Bollinger Champagne and Strawberries & Cream

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THE DORCHESTER

Best for: Impressive venue and Ice Cream Tea offering
Awards: 'The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013'. The award was also received a further four times in previous years, making it the only London hotel to achieve this distinction.

Hours: 1pm, 2pm, 3:15pm, 4:15pm, 5:30pm & 6.45 every day
Venue: Afternoon Tea is served in the legendary Promenade, the ground floor lobby of the hotel, where potted palms, impressive marble columns and towering arrangements of flowering plants surround exquisite seating options.

Traditional Afternoon Tea
Cost: $45 per person
Menu: The menu is served with a choice of handpicked rare and grand teas. Delicate savoury finger sandwiches are filled with smoked salmon, egg, chicken, prawn and cucumber, homemade warm scones and the pièce de resistance, the assortment of cakes and tartlets. Among the irresistible treats are delicate white chocolate and praline pyramids, a creamy apple and macadamia delice, scrumptious chocolate marquis, miniature raspberry macaroons, a fresh berry crumble tart and delicate pineapple financiers on a coconut mousse.

Champagne Upgrade
Laurent-Perrier NV Champagne: £55 per person
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé: £59 per person

Vintage Afternoon Tea
Cost: £55 per person
Menu: Vintage Afternoon Tea is a more intimate affair, served from a balcony overlooking the hotel’s iconic lobby. Watch the world go by as you dine on a similar selection of delights, however chose your cakes from a trolley and of course sip your teas from The Dorchester's vintage Minton china set.

Ice Cream Afternoon Tea
From 1st - 31st August Ice Cream Afternoon Tea menu replaces the Traditional Afternoon Tea menu.
Cost: £55 per person

Menu: Introducing a modern and exciting twist to the traditional cream tea, The Dorchester's Ice Cream Tea is an array of mouth-wateringly delicious, homemade ice creams served in miniature cones and in four quintessentially British flavours - Cox apple, Elderflower sorbet, Earl Grey tea and English honey.

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INTERCONTINENTAL PARK LANE

Best for: Selection of themed teas
Award: 'The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013'

Hours: 1pm to 5pm every day
Venue: The tea is served in Wellington Lounge, which pays respect to the building’s heritage by offering traditional Afternoon Tea in London with a modern twist; an experience fit for Royalty.

Wellington Tea
Cost: £38 per person
Menu: “Honouring the original Duke with the best British ingredients and influences from his travels”
Champagne, a selection of teas, a luxury selection of sandwiches, English scones with Devonshire clotted cream and an array of fancy sweets.

Botanical Tea
Cost: £38 per person
Menu: “Celebrating the hotel's location overlooking the iconic Royal Parks, this delicate and whimsical tea mixes citrus, berries, spices, and herbaceous botanicals for a taste of spring”
Cardamom and vanilla infused champagne, a luxury selection of sandwiches, Citrus infused scones with Devonshire cream and an array of spring inspired sweets.

Royal Tea
Cost: £38 per person
Menu: “Royal-Tea honours its location on the site of the former Royal residence with a dainty selection of pretty English classics that are fit for a Queen. Royal-Tea presents long-time favourites created with a selection of British ingredients”
Dubonnet cocktail, deluxe traditional English sandwiches, a luxury selection of sandwiches and an array of quintessentially British sweets.

Twilight Afternoon Tea
Cost: £40 per person
Menu: Rose champagne and the best selection of the above menus.

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THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL

Best for: Variety of rare teas

Hours: 1 to 5.30pm every day
Venue: Set against a stylish, contemporary backdrop, The Rosebery at The Mandarin Oriental offers a choice of teas exclusively crafted to the hotel's specifications, together with a selection of bespoke teas created in partnership with the iconic East India Company. The Rosebery's very own Tea Master will delicately mix selected teas to suit your preferred tastes, and recommend the perfect accompaniments for the chosen menu.

The Rosebery Afternoon Tea
Cost: £45 per person, (and 'Mini Tea' for under 12's, £25 per child)
Menu: A selection of finely designed sandwiches, scones with a selection of strawberry jam, rose-petal jelly or homemade lemon curd and an assortment of beautifully created handmade pastries.

Champagne Upgrades
Ruinart Blanc de Blanc: £54 per person
Ruinart Rosé £58 per person
Krug Grand Cuvée £82 per person

The Rosebery Tea Master's Choice Afternoon Tea
Cost: £62 per person
Menu: The Rosebery Afternon Tea menu plus a selection of 3 varieties from the rare tea list.

The Rosebery Sake Afternoon Tea
Cost: £78
Menu: The Rosebery Afternon Tea menu plus a selection of 3 Sake varieties to complement the different elements of your afternoon tea.

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FOUR SEASONS PARK LANE

Best for: Specialised Teas - Italian and Vegetarian
Award: 'The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013'

Hours: 1pm to 5pm every day
Venue: Inspired by the greenery of Hyde Park, the Four Seasons is fresh and chic and presents a completely new twist on the Afternoon Tea experience in the very heart of Mayfair. Tea is served in Amaranto - Restaurant, Bar and Lounge, where high ceilings bring the gardens indoors and one dramatic space transitions seamlessly through a series of rooms, each with its own character and décor.

English Afternoon Tea
Cost: £34 per person
Menu: A beautiful selection of traditional English sandwiches with a modern twist, scones with clotted cream, jam and a Manjari-caramel chocolate spread and an array of delectable tea fancies.

La Dolce Vita – Italian Afternoon Tea
Cost: £34 per person
Menu: “La Dolce Vita' is Amaranto's signature Afternoon Tea, which offers a unique Italian twist, featuring Brushetta, Focaccia, Parma Ham and Baby Panettone, among other Mediterranean inspired delicacies”

Vegetarian Afternoon Tea
Cost: £34 per person
Menu: A specialised menu that closely resembles the traditional English tea offering, but whilst making sure that there are additional choices for the vegetarians among us.

Add a serving of Caviar: £56 per person

Champagne upgrades
Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne: £48 per person
Bollinger Rosé Champagne: £53 per person
So Jennie, Alcohol Free Rosé Sparkling Wine: £45 per person

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THE LANGHAM

Best for: Vintage style and elegance, the birthplace of afternoon tea
Award: 2010 and 2012 saw The Langham awarded the Tea Guild's 'Top London Afternoon Tea' award, the most prestigious in the industry.

Hours: 1pm, 3:15pm and 5:30pm every day
Venue: Located in the heart of West End, the five-star Langham hotel has one of London's most enviable addresses. Palm Court at The Langham, the dazzling centrepiece of the hotel, is the height of elegance, reflected in the wooden floors, the sage and lavendar leather chairs and fresh flowers as far as the eye can see. It is also famed as the place where the tradition of Afternoon Tea was born over 140 years ago.

Wonderland Afternoon Tea
Cost: £44 per person
Menu: Chose from a range of teas, and assortment of beautifully created sandwiches, a selection of warm scones served with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry preserve and a selection on French pastries and specialist mini cakes including a traditional Eton Mess.

Champagne Upgrade: £52 per person

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GROSVENOR HOUSE PARK LANE

Best for: Children friendly teas
Award: 'The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013'

Hours: 2pm to 6pm every day
Venue: Frequented by royalty, celebrities and business leaders since its opening almost 100 years ago, this historic hotel is considered by many as the "Grande Dame" of Park Lane hotels, offering a quintessentially British experience. The Park Room and Library is a tranquil and pleasant setting, with large comfortable sofas, elegant flower displays and live piano entertainment.

Anna’s Tea
Cost: £35.30 per person
Menu: Choice of teas, a selection of finger sandwiches, warm scones with a fabulous assortment of British jams and Devonshire clotted cream, tantalising afternoon tea pastries and freshly home baked cakes.

Champagne Upgrades
Piper Heidsieck Champagne: £ 46.50 per person
Taittinger Rose Champagne: £ 48.50 per person

Grover’s Tea (for children)
Cost: £14
Menu: Children can enjoy their very own Afternoon Tea treat with Grover's Tea Time which includes tropical fruit salad, an assortment of ice creams, French pastries, a glass of Luscombe wild elderflower bubbly and their very own cuddly Grover to take home - £14.00 per child

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THE CORINTHIA HOTEL

Best for: Alfresco Tea

Hours: 2:00pm to 6:00pm Monday to Friday and 12pm to 6:00pm Saturday & Sunday
Venue: Bathed in natural light, the dramatic lobby, crowned with a stunning glass dome and bespoke chandelier provides the perfect setting for Afternoon Tea. On a beautiful summers day, an enclosed courtyard lined with manicured maple trees is a perfect spot for an Al Fresco Afternoon Tea.

Traditional Afternoon Tea
Cost: £45 per person
Menu: selection of finger sandwiches served on artisan breads, warm scones and an assortment of seasonal English tea fancies.

Champagne Upgrades
With Laurent-Perrier NV: £55 per person
With Laurent-Perrier Rosé: £58 per person

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THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL

Best for: Value for money
Awards: 'The Tea Guild special Awards of Excellence' in 2012 and 2013

Hours: 2:00pm to 5:30pm Monday - Thursday and 1pm to 5pm Friday - Sunday
Venue: Afternoon Tea is served in the Lounge area of the Park Terrace Restaurant, which enjoys views towards Kensington Palace and Gardens and the tinkling of the resident pianist.

The Kensington Tea
Cost: £26 per person
Menu: Assorted freshly prepared finger sandwiches, freshly baked raisin and cinnamon scones served with Devonshire clotted cream and homemade preserves, a selection of cakes and pastries from
the Royal Garden patisserie and with freshly brewed organic leaf tea from the Royal Garden’s fine selection.

The Royal Tea
Cost: £36 per person, inc. Champagne
Menu: All aspects of The Kensington Tea, but upgraded to include strawberries with vintage balsamic drizzle and a glass of Théophile Roederer NV champagne.

London hotels that have featured in films

LONDON HOTELS DO HOLLYWOOD

As one of the most recognisable cityscapes in the world, and with the British film industry going from strength the strength, London has unquestionably been a favourite filming location amongst directors. As well as the streets and iconic landmarks, London’s finest hotels have also played a major role in providing authenticity and bringing certain scenes and stories to life.

HOTEL: THE RITZ
FILM: NOTTING HILL (1999)

Room: The Trafalgar Suite

When William Thacker (played by Hugh Grant) is invited by his famous love interest, Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) to her suite at The Ritz, he thinks he has lucked out. Much to his bemusement, she is hosting an interview session with the press and he amusingly pretends to be a reporter from ‘Horse & Hound’.

Each time Miss Scott checks into arguably London’s most famous hotel, she uses a fake name of a cartoon character. You can imagine how often this happens in real life with The Ritz being a favourite among the rich and famous. And as a quintessentially British icon, the filmmakers knew that the use of the hotel would be an immediately recognisable to international audiences and aid in the upscaling of the reach.

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HOTEL: THE LANGHAM
FILM: GOLDENEYE (1995)

Room: Hotel Exterior

When James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) is tasked with retrieving a stolen and dangerous Russian satellite system called GoldenEye, he is dispatched to The Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg.

However, much to the convenience of the crew, luxury 5* hotel The Langham on Regent Street was used as a stand-in for filming. Displaying the same exterior splendour as the imitated hotel, hanging a Russian flag off the front of the building was all that was needed to complete the illusion.

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HOTEL: HILTON LONDON ON PARK LANE
FILM: HITCHCOCK’S ‘FRENZY’ (1972)

Room: Suite 508/509

When Richard Blaney (played by Jon Finch) loses his job, he visits his ex-wife seeking advice. She is shortly thereafter found raped and murdered, and his current girlfriend is the next to fall victim. Although innocent, Blaney is arrested for the crimes.

On the run and seeking advice, he visits The London Hilton on Park Lane where his friend is occupying a suite. He is sent packing by the mate’s wife and she watched them disappear from a 2nd floor balcony. The hotel itself has a very recognisable façade amongst the Mayfair hotels and this is believed to have been the reason behind the location choice.

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HOTEL: LANCASTER LONDON HOTEL
FILM: THE ITALIAN JOB (1969)

Room: Suite 602

When Charlie Croker (played by Michael Caine) is released from prison, what more suitable way to celebrate than to spend the day with some scantily-clad young ladies in a fabulously hip London suite. Upon check-out, he is summoned up to a different room to be met with a proposal from the widow, Beckerman. From here, The Italian Job is born.

The hotel was used as it had just the right mix of mystery and elegance to make any meeting a special one. Since filming, the 1960’s interior has been replaced with a much more modern and luxurious style of décor, with fabulous views over Hyde Park.

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HOTEL: THE CORINTHIA
FILM: SKYFALL (2012)

Room: Rooftop

Towards the later stages on the film after some heroic action James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) takes an idyllic moment to gather this thoughts (and presumably to dry his pants) whilst peering over the London Rooftops. Whilst scene itself is actually filmed next-door to The Corinthia, at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, certain Penthouse Suites share the same rooftop and do have their own private terraces offering the same captivating views.

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HOTEL: THE LANESBOROUGH
FILM: EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)

Room: The Royal Suite

When Dr. Bill Harford (played by Tom Cruise) and his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) attend a party and flirt with other guests, they discuss and admit to having fantasises about strangers. Bill becomes progressively obsessed with the idea, and with many dodgy encounters along the way including a meeting in the impressive pool room at the iconic Lanesborough Hotel, he ultimately ends up with a stranger in The Royal Suite.

The room was used in filming as a representation of where the wealthy and powerful would reside. True to this, in real life the suite costs around £8000 per night and is so exclusive that it is positioned in a secret location within the hotel that reportedly isn't even disclosed to some of the hotel staff.

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HOTEL: THE DORCHESTER
FILM: WIMBLEDON (2004)

Washed up tennis pro Peter Colt (played by Paul Bettany), competing at the Wimbledon tennis tournament for the final time, has the privilege of staying at arguably London's most famous hotel, The Dorchester. It is here where Peter meets an up-and-coming tennis star by the name of Lizzie Bradbury (played by Kirsten Dunst) for the first time during the Championships. Some say it was this romantic encounter that led to Peter's upturn in form to win the championship, we have our doubts though and reckon it was more down to the rejuvenating qualities of the hotels tremendous spa.

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HOTEL: THE MAY FAIR
FILM: HEREAFTER (2010)

London's prestigious May fair hotel often finds itself hosting celebrities, but in 2010 if found itself part of the show when executive producer Stephen Spielberg chose it to host the 3rd act of his action thriller Hereafter. Stars Matt Damon and Cécile de France rendezvous outside the hotel, were the later is staying.

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