{"id":21786,"date":"2017-01-03T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T13:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.toeuropeandbeyond.com\/?p=21786"},"modified":"2022-01-21T15:14:25","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T20:14:25","slug":"living-royal-life-8-best-afternoon-teas-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toeuropeandbeyond.com\/living-royal-life-8-best-afternoon-teas-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Living the royal life: the 7 best afternoon teas in London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It simply would not make sense to visit the British capital and forego the quintessential English experience that is afternoon tea. Although almost every hotel not just in the capital but the country nowadays serves a variation of afternoon tea, trust me when I say that, arguably, not all are created equal. Here are my eight favourites places for afternoon teas in London, from ultra affordable to super chic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

Henry James<\/em><\/p><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What is afternoon tea anyway?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the uninitiated, afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 4 and 6pm; the definition of “light”, however, varies wildly from one establishment to another, and although it is still eaten in the afternoon very few people will have the stomach for anything resembling dinner later on in the day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The custom of afternoon tea is largely credited to Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford and BFF to Queen Victoria, as she simply could not wait until dinner was served at 8pm, which was the fashionable time for the evening meal in the 1840s. This was about 200 years tea became a popular beverage in Britain as well as immediately following the culinary experiments of the Earl of Sandwich with bread and butter, which we are well accustomed to today. The Duchess requested that a tray of bite-size sandwiches and cakes, as well as tea, was brought up to her room at around 4pm. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it turned out, Duchess Anna wasn’t the only one to become hungry mid-afternoon and soon, her closest friends joined her for a bite, too. Fast-forward a few decades later and afternoon tea was all anyone could talk about, as it had become quite the event. In fact, 1880s high society women would change into extravagant outfits — including long gowns, feathery hats and long gloves — before they went into the drawing-room, where afternoon tea was hereafter served.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the rest, as they say, is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, what are the great places for afternoon teas in London?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beas of Bloomsbury<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
83 Watling Street, city of london \/ \u00a326.50<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
\"afternoon
Afternoon tea in London at Beas of Bloomsbury<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Casual tea — also, one of the least expensive — with a side of cake extravaganza including uncommon brioche\u00a0tea sandwiches. Finish off your experience with a visit to the building\u2019s free rooftop terrace for unique views of St. Pauls and London. Reservations compulsory.<\/p>\n\n\n