Best Afternoon Tea in London
If you are looking for the quintessential and exclusive afternoon tea experience in London, then don’t look too far past the palace. The Goring offers one of the most elegant and exclusive afternoon tea experiences in London and was even approved by HRH the Queen herself.
What is The Goring
Since 1910 The Goring hotel has not only catered to London’s elite but also to the royal family.
Proudly approved by the late Queen herself, the Goring tea, dining room, and hotel are frequented by Londoners, royalty, and visitors from around the world.
The Goring is first and foremost a hotel. Notably, the hotel was Kate Middleton’s choice the night before her wedding to the Duke of Cambridge. She got ready at the hotel before making the short trip to Westminster.
And, anyone lucky enough to snag a stay at the hotel will no-doubt receive a royal and luxurious treatment. From the curteous and attentive doorman to the discreet concierge, the hotel is a beautiful way to experience London just a few minutes walk from Buckingham Palace.
The Goring is a private and secluded hotel quietly tucked behind busy London streets but gilded in ritz and glamour. Its discretion and location make it ideal for British royals, and you truly feel like you have entered the lap of luxury.
From the large hanging crystal chandelliers to the ornate British murals on the walls, the entire foyer is extremely elegant.
You might even spot The Goring sheep –the hotel’s icon Bar-Baa-Ra.
Further, the terraced patio, where we enjoyed our afternoon tea, overlooks the pristine but understated gardens of The Goring.
Even if you can’t spring for the price of a night at The Goring, you can still book the dining room for a Michelin starred dining experience or book Afternoon Tea!
Afternoon Tea at The Goring
Tea at the Goring starts at about L 60.00 per person. You can add a glass of Bollinger or a few other upgrades until the price reaches about L 90.00.
You will find that the price of high tea at The Goring is comparable to Harrods, the Ritz, or other high-end locations around London.
And, while other locations also have their broad appeal, for me, I was interested in the quintessential traditional English tea for our tea experience.
What is Afternoon Tea like at The Goring?
Contrary to what you might believe, afternoon tea is not simply tea.
Instead, tea is drinks, snacks, sandwiches, and desserts served over good company and good conversation.
My mother, my daughter, and I used the opportunity to have a girls afternoon out where we could enjoy a more refined outing!
In all honesty, I didn’t spot a single man there for tea that day, and it is a popular spot for girlfriends, mothers and daughters, and bridal showers. However, many men were sitting at the bar, in the gardens, or in the hotel lobby.
We girls all put on our Sunday best and arrived at The Goring at our pre-reserved time (you will need a reservation to have tea at The Goring).
What do they serve for Afternoon Tea at The Goring?
Afternoon Tea at the Goring is a mix of snacks, sandwiches, drinks, and desserts.
My mother and I selected the house Goring blend for our tea. It was delivered in a beautiful silver pot.
After we were settled in with our drinks, the staff appeared with a sausage roll as a starter. Then, soon after, swooped in with a beautifully appointed 3-tier tray of eats, sweets, and treats for us.
The goodies were served on specially commissioned bone china made specifically for The Goring. The delicate yellow laced tea cups on the white table cloths, backed by the beautiful green garden made for a beautiful place to spend a couple of hours chatting with the girls!
We could not even finish all of the food that they served.
We started with 4 different types of finger sandwiches and soon moved to our favorites: the scones.
While the scones were not complicated, they were delicious. Etched with a silhouette of the queen in honor of her Jubilee, we stacked the scones with clotted cream and jams. Yum!
Finally, we capped off our experience with an assortment of fresh desserts.
Afternoon Tea for Children at The Goring
My daughter feared that she would only have tea to drink, but the staff quickly offered her hot chocolate, soft drinks, tea, or any other drink of her choice.
While she did not love the chicken or egg salad sandwiches, even my 6 year old loved the beautiful presentation, the pristine garden view, and the chance to do something girly with her mother!
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Best Afternoon Tea Treats at The Goring
While my favorite dessert was the caramel pear choux, my daughter loved the chocolate mousse cake.
However, we all agreed that the scones were our collective favorites! We had the privilege of dining at The Goring just before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and had the special Jubilee Tea.
Interestingly the scones were served with a silhouette of the queen, a chocolate coin with the Queen’s emblem on it, and a chocolate wafer with the crown etched in it.
These were further details that made the experience all that more English and fun for our treat and day out.
Recommendation for Afternoon Tea at The Goring
I highly recommend tea at The Goring for the traditional English tea experience in a stately and elegant atmospher.
The Goring creates an extremely elegant experience from the doorman who ushered us in to the bespoke tableware.
Further, the food and drinks were excellent. The combinations were both posh and delicious.
Our girls day became a beautiful, delicious, and memorable experience, and I highly recommend The Goring for your afternoon tea experience in London!
