Here’s a look at some afternoon tea spots in London that are fun for the whole family.
London boasts plenty of spots for a memorable afternoon tea, but if you’re with the kids, there’s a chance that afternoon tea might not be as fun for them as it would be for you, and therefore as a result, less fun for you overall.
However, London has you covered. It should come as no surprise that there are some kid-friendly afternoon teas that will be fun for them and therefore fun for you. Here are five of the best places to have afternoon tea with the kids in London.
1. Mad Hatters Afternoon tea at the Sanderson Hotel
Head down the rabbit hole to enjoy an afternoon tea inspired by a childhood classic: Alice in Wonderland. In addition to the classic savory tea nosh, the Sanderson’s Mad Hatters afternoon tea is a feast for the senses. The sweets include a cinnamon, apple and peach concoction in a sealed bottle complete with a “Drink Me” tag, a Queen of Hearts rose and strawberry cookie, a Mad March Hare vanilla pocket watch macaroon, mocha chessboard gateau, chocolate and pistachio blue caterpillar and more. To sip, take your pick from Alice-themed blends. Book in advance. From £48 per person; £35 per child 4-11 years old (50 Berners Street, website)
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea at the One Aldwych
Even though the West End musical based on the Roald Dahl classic has already taken its final bow, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at the One Aldwych Hotel that the show inspired is still (thankfully!) going strong. It’s likely that both you and the young’uns are fond of the brilliant film, so they’ll definitely enjoy tasting desserts made from flavors showcased in the movie: Golden chocolate egg, chocolate caramel milk, bubblegum pannacotta, homemade cotton candy, blueberry and white chocolate cake pops, and more. Just take care to use restraint, so you don’t have to be rolled out à la Violet Beauregarde. (1 Aldwych; website)
3. Origami Tea at the Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary art institutions, so it should come as no surprise that the museum’s Gallery Mess restaurant has a crafty interactive tea that the youngsters will love. Saatchi’s Origami Tea includes a cupcake that kids can decorate themselves along with sandwiches and a babyccino (cappuccino sans coffee) as well as an origami kit. Whether or not their fine motor skills are their strong point, the little ones will undoubtedly have fun. £7.50 per person (Gallery Mess, King’s Rd, website)
4. Science tea at the Ampersand Hotel
A nod to the nearby Science Museum, the Ampersand Hotel’s science-themed tea will delight! Kids can awaken their inner scientists with such treats as a petri dish with jams, caramel passion fruit mousse shaped like a planet that’s presented with dry ice, chocolate astronauts and rocket ships, orange and lemon half moon cake and a dinosaur biscuit. However, the fun doesn’t stop there! Kids use test tubes filled with toppings like lemon curd, caramel crunch, and freeze-dried raspberry and pineapple to decorate the scones. In addition, they get to play paleontologist by “digging” a chocolate fossil hidden out of a box of “soil”. £37.50 (10 Harrington Road, website)
5. Claridge’s
Now Claridge’s doesn’t have a specially themed children’s tea per se, but this London afternoon tea classic has a system in place for the kids: Firstly, parties with children sit in the foyer, and there is a special menu for 5-10-year-olds. In addition to sandwiches, scones and pastries, they can enjoy vanilla fairy cakes and brownies. And their menu dubs as a coloring book. £30 per person (Brook Street; website)