Afternoon Tea at Kensington Hotel in London, England

We couldn’t leave London without enjoying afternoon tea, so we booked a table at our hotel, The Kensington Hotel’s, famed Landmark Afternoon Tea, and eagerly awaited this quintessentially British experience. Of course, the tradition of drinking tea originated quite a bit further East than England, in China and the surrounding areas thousands of years ago, but there’s no debating the fact that the British have a very unique take on Afternoon Tea that makes it a distinct experience from any other tea ritual we’ve experienced in Europe, Asia, or the Americas.

The hotel was very accommodating of the fact that neither of us ate any meat, and that I have a gluten allergy. Our server informed us that there are recently passed laws in the United Kingdom requiring establishments to not only carefully honor requests for gluten free food, but that they are actually required to have at least one gluten free option in all dining establishments. She was so kind and helpful to us, and explained how everything worked with the hotel’s Afternoon Tea.

Kensington Hotel’s Afternoon Tea is themed after famous landmarks in London, and features confectionary versions of some of the most famous buildings in the world like the Palace of Westminster’s large clock face, generally referred to as “Big Ben” by tourists, a red phone booth, The Gherkin building, and The Shard, all set upon a stand that resembles that London Eye. The Kensington Hotel’s Afternoon Tea experience also includes a selection of fine, organic teas, as much as guests want, champagne, an assortment of scones, clotted cream, jams, and more depending upon the day.

Kensington Hotel’s Afternoon Tea

Location: London, England
Address: 109-113 Queen’s Gate
South Kensington
London, SW7 5LP
United Kingdom
Food Type: Sustainably Sourced, Organic, Gluten Free
Dining Experience: Indoor
Price: £55+ / $75 USD+ per Person
Dress Code: Smart Casual+
Reservations: Recommended
Special Diets: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Gluten Free

The experience was charming, the food and tea delightful, and our server was a wellspring of knowledge about the surrounding area. The ambience of the hotel was refined and relaxed, and there were only a few other guests who enjoyed the Afternoon Tea here while we were, so we essentially had the entire area to ourselves. One of my favorite aspects of the hotel and the Afternoon Tea was the gorgeous color palette of bright pastel blue, crisp white, and gold accents. It was a very enjoyable afternoon to be sure.

We loved our time in London, and thoroughly enjoyed our stay in one of the United Kingdom’s most luxurious hotels. After our tea, we headed to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which is something my husband had wanted to do from the moment we began discussing heading to the UK for our anniversary.