Egerton House Hotel (afternoon tea)

What could be better after a few hours spent exploring some of the myriad collections at the V&A Museum than a proper English afternoon tea? The Egerton House Hotel, just a five-minute stroll away, is unusual among London’s top luxury hotels in that it occupies a couple of grand old houses and so maintains a human size and scale. Relax in front of the fire in the drawing room for traditional finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and jam, and a series of beautifully presented dainty cakes (the carrot cake and macaroons are the Square Meal favourites, though we wouldn’t say no to the passion-fruit cheesecake). There’s unlimited tea and coffee too, but in our opinion the whole experience is improved by the addition of a glass of Champagne.