A Proper Tea: The Best Afternoon Tea

“A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards.” ~A.A. Milne

"A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards." ~A.A. Milne

Few things are more decadent than settling down about 3pm to a meal dedicated to indulgence. That is Afternoon Tea. It should be all about lip-smacking sweetness, crustless sandwiches, freshly-baked, crumbling scones, and, of course, a good cup of tea.

This blog is dedicated to finding the finest Afternoon Teas around, to ensure one is never disappointed, and that every Tea is a memorable, Proper Tea.
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Guest post on View London’s Urban Pundit

I’m very excited to announce that a guest post I wrote for View London’s blog, Urban Pundit, has gone live! Yay! Check it out for a guide to the best afternoon tea to be had in London.

Filed under Afternoon Tea, London · Tagged with afternoon tea, london

Guest Post: Mallory Court

Ok, so it’s been a while, but I have experienced an excellent selection of afternoon teas and treats over the past few months and have heaps of reviews to post. So, watch this space… In the meantime, check out this guest post from my tea-tasting brother, Aden Steventon, who had the arduous (hmmm…) task … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, Hotel, Out of London, Romantic

Nutfield Priory

Half an hour from either London Victoria or London Bridge and you’re in Redhill Surrey. Think blackberrying along the hedgerows, wandering along narrow country lanes and taking tea at Nutfield Priory. The name is slightly misleading – this wasn’t a priory at all, but built as a private home in the nineteenth century. Not that … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, Hotel, Out of London, Parents · Tagged with afternoon tea, country house hotel, country walk, good scones, surrey tea

The Botanist

Afternoon Tea can often be the perfect place for girly catch-up, so I am always excited when a friend suggests it for their birthday. Loaded down with gifts and gossip I set off on my merry way to SW3 and the plush environs of Sloane Square and The Botanist. I’ve only ever been to The … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, Friends, High Tea, London · Tagged with afternoon tea, best afternoon tea London, best high tea London, Chelsea, Chelsea afternoon tea, girls, high tea, london, shopping, sloane square

An-Tea Establishment tea at the Metropolitan

Ok, I’ll admit it. Come Friday I’ll be celebrating with the best of them. I love bunting. I love bank holidays. I love weddings. However I, and the Metropolitan Hotel apparently, know that some of you just aren’t feeling that love. So to prove that tea isn’t always prim and proper, I popped in to … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, Friends, High Tea, Hotel, London · Tagged with best london afternoon tea, fun, good scones, hip, low-fat, Royal Wedding, sex pistols, William and Kate

Coworth Park

The lure of the English countryside sometimes just proves too great, so this weekend I hopped on a train for 40 minutes out to the Surrey/Berkshire border and Coworth Park. I don’t want to spend too long waxing lyrical on how much we loved the hotel (possibly my top UK country retreat… see my full … Read more

Standard · Filed under Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Hotel, Out of London, Romantic · Tagged with best afternoon tea, best high tea, country house hotel, coworth park, croquet

High Tea vs Afternoon Tea

So, this topic seems to raise more than a little confusion. This delectable mid-afternoon snack, invented in 1840 when the Duchess of Bedford felt a little peckish around 4pm – what to call it? The vote is split. In the UK, we tend to refer to it as Afternoon Tea, but our US friends more … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, High Tea · Tagged with a proper tea, afternoon tea, best afternoon tea, best high tea, definition of afternoon tea, duchess of Bedford, high tea, origins of afternoon tea

Bob Bob Ricard

One word to describe afternoon tea at Bob Bob Ricard: Fun. Food-wise, it might not be the best afternoon tea in London, but for a good time with good cakes and a healthy dose of almost-camp-glam, this is your spot. Interiors are David Collins Deco fabulous, with a slightly nautical twist. Think: deep blue booths … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, Friends, London, Romantic · Tagged with Art Deco, best london afternoon tea, champagne, fun, girly, romantic

The Mandeville

Intrigued by the concept of an afternoon tea designed specifically for men, I took my friend Tom to The Mandeville for tea. The interiors are not especially manly, so we decided to see what the tea had to offer. Tom was given the menu for the Man’s Tea but I was given one for the … Read more

Standard · Filed under Afternoon Tea, Friends, Hotel, London, Romantic · Tagged with afternoon tea, marylebone, mens tea, whisky

Fortnum and Mason

Fortnum and Mason London Fortnum’s is my favourite place for a decadent breakfast, nothing beats settling down in the Fountain restaurant for an hour or so dedicated to Eggs Royale, hot chocolate, fresh orange and the day’s news. Mmmm… So, of course, I expected similar things from the afternoon tea. Pleased to report that it … Read more

Filed under Afternoon Tea, Friends, London, Parents, Romantic · Tagged with breakfast, casual, fortnum and mason, mini, shopping

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A Proper Tea: The Best Afternoon Tea

“A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards.” ~A.A. Milne

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