The English Tea Room at Brown's

As a former manservant to Lord Byron, James Brown knew exactly what the upper classes wanted from a hotel, so when he opened the doors to Brown’s in 1837, he made sure that a room dedicated to afternoon tea was part of the package. It’s a tradition that’s still going strong at the English Tea Room, which daily offers a selection of tea, finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes &, of course, scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam. The prices (£35-£45) are in line with the five-star setting but, with the soothing sounds of a baby grand piano drifting through the wood-panelled room, the experience of re-enacting this historic ritual is worth the cost.