Seeing as afternoon tea is the quaintest of English traditions, there can’t be many places more suitable to enjoy it than a beautiful, cream-stoned, boutique-style hotel in the heart of west London. The Kensington fits this brief happily and more, offering elegant interiors, luxury suites and a selection of sophisticated restaurants in one of London’s most coveted postcodes.
While the whole hotel’s decor is worth looking at, afternoon tea is held in the Town House restaurant which spans two stunning rooms. The spacious lounge area benefits from period details such as wall panelling and wooden parquet flooring, and feels bright and airy thanks to the natural light from large windows, which reflects from the ornate chandelier in the centre of the room. This neutral-hued space has a more informal feel with large, squishy sofas and would make a charming place to enjoy tea with a friend.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, perhaps the Town House’s dining room might suit instead, with exquisite, patterned wallpaper, pale pink and olive green velvet seating and white tablecloth-covered tables - perfect for raising a glass of Champagne. Afternoon tea is served daily and is currently inspired by the novel 80 Days Around the World, which tells of the story of explorer Phileas Fogg and his bid to travel the globe in under three months. Here, the team will do their best to help you taste the world’s cuisines in as many hours, with dishes inspired by locations from the book. Kick things off with a cocktail and imagine yourself in India with the Silk Road (Havana Especial, chai tea, coconut and lime) or the Fragrant Harbour (Ki No Bi Gin, Umeshu, lychee and lime rose).
The afternoon tea includes amuse bouche, sandwiches, sweets and scones. Once again, let your taste buds roam with delicate dishes of a miso and sweet potato tapioca ball from Hong Kong, baked flatbread with three cheeses tomato and cumin from Yemin, and Kheer pudding with raspberry compote and pistachio cream inspired by India. There is a wealth of teas to choose from selected in collaboration with The Rare Tea Company which focuses on sourcing unique blends from around the world, and if you fancy something stronger, there is also a range of Champagnes available, too.