Afternoon Tea at Royal Lancaster London

A five-star hotel overlooking Hyde Park feels like a natural setting for this beloved pastime, and the Royal Lancaster delivers. Created in partnership with the Natural History Museum, its ‘Blooming British’ concept draws inspiration from the region’s flora and fauna, with an ever-evolving menu that shifts with the season.

The tea itself is served in the hotel’s Hyde Cafe, an extension of the main lobby that mirrors the building’s polished aesthetic. The space is calm and elegant, all soft neutrals with its white marble walls and beige banquettes, accented by vases of seasonal flowers and flashes of gold. At times it feels more like a hotel lounge than a destination dining room, but it provides a serene backdrop to while away an afternoon over tea and a glass of fizz.

Tea is, of course, central to the occasion. We opt for one of the bespoke ‘Pollinator’ blends: a fragrant mix of Darjeeling and Chinese black teas infused with rose and marigold petals, finished with organic bee pollen that lends a soft honeyed sweetness. Savouries tick all the classic boxes, providing familiar combinations of smoked salmon with cream cheese, and cucumber with a hefty spread of rich, salted butter. A chicken filling mixes things up with a touch of pollen but feels a tad dry - perhaps focusing too much on theme than execution.

It’s the pastry selection where this offering really comes into its own. Plates of pristinely decorated desserts arrive with a flourish, suspended in a gilded birdcage beside the table. Whilst many afternoon teas tend to lean into the sweetness, the Royal Lancaster offers a lighter more balanced approach, leaning into the herbal notes of its spring menu.

A rhubarb trifle sits encased in a delicate white chocolate cylinder, hiding layers of poached rhubarb beneath bay leaf-infused custard and white chocolate Chantilly. It’s refined and well balanced, allowing the fruit and herbal notes to shine. A vanilla bavarois is a standout. Sculpted into a tiny beehive, it sits atop a maple sponge, offering a tart kick under a rosemary and apple compote. It’s delicate in every sense of the word, and almost too pretty to eat. The finale comes in the form of a violet cheesecake. Bold slow-cooked blueberry compote cuts through the creamy cheesecake filling, all encased beneath a glossy gel coating, and finished off with delicate violet petals.

With its perfectly polished service, and serene setting, the Royal Lancaster offers a charming twist on this British classic.

As a stunning, five-star hotel, Royal Lancaster London is an icon of West London with awe-inspiring views that look out over Hyde Park. It's this very view that the hotel's Hyde Cafe gets its name, where guests and visitors, locals and tourists alike, enjoy one of the capital's most loved pastimes - afternoon tea. 

And, at Hyde Cafe, this quintessential refreshment often receives a welcome twist, as the in-house dining team experiment with themes and collaborations, and we think they've found their best yet. This season, Royal Lancaster London has partnered up with the Natural History Museum to create an afternoon tea menu inspired by British blooms and their pollinators. Can you think of a better pairing, two institutions of West London?

Across the new menu, you'll find treats decorated, scented or even with ingredients taken from the world of flora and fauna, alongside two bespoke teas from Camellia’s Tea House. And, if you're in the mood for something sparkling, you can add a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne or Nyetimber Sparkling Wine to your booking, too!

While sandwich options stay mostly traditional, there are a few botanical nods such as maize-fed chicken with bee pollen on white bread, as well as classic egg mayonnaise with flowering chives on wholemeal bread. Scones are freshly homemade and served warm with a selection of clotted cream and preserves, before moving onto a creative collection of sweet treats. 

Here, you can enjoy pollinator-themed delights such as the Toffee Dome, a toffee and saffron cheesecake with Sablé Breton, as well as Daisy and the Bee, a classic vanilla sponge with lemon curd and gooseberry marmalade, plus The Beehive, a honey cake slathered with honey and crème fraiche cream. Finally, finish off your Royal Lancaster London afternoon tea with Blooming Berries, a mixed red berry compôte with orange blossom and chocolate ganache - delicious!