Tea time is a quintessential English tradition. It typically involves enjoying a light meal of tea, sandwiches, scones, jam, and cakes in the mid-afternoon. Many assume afternoon tea has been a part of British tradition since the 17th century, but it is actually much younger. It is said that Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, would get hungry during the gap between lunch and dinner. This prompted a ritual of enjoying tea and sandwiches around 4pm. Her afternoon snack time evolved to become a means for socializing with friends. When Queen Victoria began to participate, afternoon tea gained popularity and often turned into a large-scale event. By the 1880s, afternoon tea was a widespread tradition all over England.
In the modern day, afternoon tea is often reserved as a time to celebrate special occasions and life events. Many hotels and restaurants in London offer afternoon tea. I have seized the opportunity to treat myself to the London tea time experience twice now. The first time was with a group of girlfriends during a long weekend trip and the second time was with my husband to ring in the beginning of the Christmas season. No matter the time of year, I can’t recommend it more highly. So gather some good friends in need of an adventure because I have the most charming recommendation for afternoon tea in London!
The Goring Hotel is located on a fashionable side street in the heart of London. The five star hotel is the closest hotel to Buckingham Palace and has been a long standing favorite with the royal family. Catherine Middleton was based at the hotel for the days before her wedding to Prince William. The royal family can still be spotted returning back for various occasions. The hotel was granted a Royal Warrant in 2013 by Queen Elizabeth II and remains the only hotel to have been awarded this recognition for hospitality services. The crest of the Royal Warrant designation is proudly displayed on the iconic red brick exterior of the front entrance… And from the moment you step foot onto the entrance steps, you are treated like royalty.
Doormen are present to greet you and take your belongings to the coat room. Around each corner, there is a delight for the eyes from luxurious fabrics and tasteful decorations to the overall finishes of the building. You can sense the stories and history within the walls. It’s not a surprise that The Goring Hotel has attracted royalty from all over the world for over a century. The coveted Royal Suite penthouse costs close to £10,000 per night. So yeah. Let’s get back to something I can afford which is tea 😊
You will be hard pressed to find a better afternoon tea experience than the one served in The Goring’s Veranda. Three walls of The Veranda are glass windows revealing garden views. It is an impressive oasis in the heart of the city, making for both an intimate and light-filled setting. The Goring boasts (rightfully so) that they have earned The Top London Afternoon Tea Award and The Award of Excellence by the British Tea Guild Council. These accolades make it a popular destination, so be sure to make a reservation in advance for your tea time. Tea is served daily from 12- 6pm. Traditional afternoon tea costs £75.00 per person. Festive Goring Tea is offered through the holiday season and costs £95.00 per person. The menu changes slightly based on the time of year, but the format is always the same.
Once ushered to our seat, we were presented with a menu of carefully crafted tea options ranging from black to green and herbal teas. Each person in the party can choose their own tea flavor. The Goring Afternoon Blend is a lovely black tea option that will not disappoint if you are on the fence between what flavor to select. Each person receives an individual pot of tea, to be filtered and poured by the glass. Attentive servers kept our tea cups full throughout the 2 hours we were in The Veranda.
A small savory snack is presented as the first round of food. It was just enough to showcase the caliber of the kitchen and get you excited to try more. Shortly thereafter, the second savory round is delivered, featuring a beautiful assortment of finger sandwiches, precisely prepared on soft crustless bread. Each person had 5 sandwich varieties to try. Some of the fillings included salmon, ham, and turkey. Upon reading back that last sentence, I realize that I’m grossly underselling these sandwiches. The flavor combinations were unique and thoughtfully tasty without overcomplicating a classic thing.
We were afforded ample time to enjoy and sip on tea before sweets were served. This round was presented on a three-tier platter and is well worth the wait. Classic scones with jam and an assortment of small pastries were the perfect way to round out the tea time. Arrive hungry because you will want to taste everything and still enjoy the sweets! We left fully satisfied and actually didn’t eat a true dinner after tea time. With impeccable service from start to finish, delicious eats, and a setting out of a story book, The Goring has truly perfected the afternoon tea experience.
During our most recent visit to The Goring, we spent some extra time taking in the holiday decorations in the hotel lobby. London, like many other destinations, has a special draw around Christmastime. Afternoon tea put us in a festive spirit to window shop and enjoy the many Christmas displays around town.
Aside from seeing the major museums and sights, there are few things more iconic to do in London than partake in afternoon tea. In the middle of a busy trip, it serves as the perfect modality to slow down and taste the local flavors. After reflecting on my very lovely British experience, I realized that many European cultures have similar afternoon rituals to enjoy and socialize. In Germany, many indulge in afternoon coffee and cake (Kaffee und Kuchen). In Italy, an afternoon espresso is a common social break. And there are probably many others that I am not privy to, but I see a lot of commonalities in these cherished afternoon traditions which involve a treat of some sort separate from regular meal time. In Germany, it is very common to see old folks, young folks, and mixed-age groups enjoying afternoon cake in a café. This was also observed during tea time in London. Such traditions break age barriers and allow time for locals to socialize. These outings are not necessarily an everyday ritual, but provide a great setting to catch up with friends and neighbors. In Garmisch, my favorite spot to enjoy an afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen is at Café Kroner. Many of those who have visited can attest to this 😊 Although our local café is not nearly as elegant as The Goring’s Veranda, the atmosphere is charming and the treats will not leave you disappointed.
As we sail through the busy holiday season, I hope to take more opportunities like afternoon tea to slow down and enjoy with those closest to me. If you are traveling over the holidays, maybe you will find a similar local tradition to learn about and partake in. It presents a great chance to feel the local culture, get some good eats, and break from all the hustle and bustle.
Merry Christmas from our corner of the world to yours!
https://www.thegoring.com/food-drink/afternoon-tea-on-the-veranda