Showing posts with label Afternoon Tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Afternoon Tea. Show all posts

The Mitre Hotel

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A Regal Return

Just an 8-minute walk from Hampton Court Palace, the newly refurbished The Mitre Hotel is a must-visit. Acquired by the Signet Hotel Group in 2020, the historic 36-room property underwent a £15 million transformation, earning a place in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Built in 1665 by King Charles II to house courtiers, The Mitre has been beautifully restored, blending period elegance with modern comfort. Stylish lounges, bars, and restaurants feature curated art and textiles that add a contemporary twist to classic British charm.

It is a perfect place to stop in before (or after) a visit to Hampton Court for riverside tea refreshments:
  • Cream Tea — £11: Buttermilk scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam
  • Half Afternoon Tea — £15: Includes crème brûlée cheesecake and a raspberry almond muffin (+£4 for extra)
  • Full Afternoon Tea — £35: Includes all of the above, four types of sandwiches, and two additional desserts
        All served with Twist Tea or specialty coffee.

Whether you’re a hotel guest or a local, The Mitre is the perfect riverside retreat!

Best of 2024, Part II

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Top 10 posts — Part II

The best of the best from 2024

5. Stylish Shops & Tea — London's oldest shopping arcades
www.londonviasurrey.com/2024/05/stylish-shops-tea.html

4. Hampton Court Riverside Tea — Two options within walking distance of Hampton Court
www.londonviasurrey.com/2024/06/hampton-court-riverside-tea.html

3. Kew Gardens bloom — A World Heritage Site and one of London's top attractions that is home to over 50,000 plants
www.londonviasurrey.com/2024/04/kew-garden-blooms.html

2. 10 Must-see shows — Catch these during Official London Theatre Sale, one of London's longest-running promotions for top London shows
www.londonviasurrey.com/2024/01/10-must-see-shows.html
1. Top Bonfire Nights — Three top ones taking place over the weekend and the day of
www.londonviasurrey.com/2024/10/top-bonfire-night-fireworks.html




More to come in 2025!

Kids Week Theatre Eats

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There is still time to take advantage of Kids Week promotion that runs until September 6th where kids 17 and under go free with a full price paid adult ticket (plus half-price tickets for two additional children).

Family-friendly places to eat close by:

Guys & Dolls (Ages 12+) — The auditorium with wraparound seating is transformed to the streets of Manhattan and bars of Havana. In addition to traditional seating, 'standing' immersive tickets where audience members can be part of the action are available for purchase as well.
Adult + Child from £39.50

Ivy Tower Bridge — Just a minute walk away, Ivy Tower
Bridge is the perfect place to get a bite to eat before the show.  They are currently featuring a special two course menu for £19.17 (Monday - Wednesday 11:30 am - 3 pm and Thursday - Friday 11:30 am - 6:30 pm).  Request the corner table on the patio for the best view of Tower Bridge.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Ages 8+) — While North American productions have been reduced to a single play, London will maintain the original two-part format of the most awarded play in history.
 From £30 / part
www.uk.harrypottertheplay.com ✆ +44 3303 334410
Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5AY
Tip : Friday Forty — Every Friday 40 tickets are released for every performance the following week for £40 (£20 per part).  The TodayTix lottery closes at 1 pm on Friday and winners are notified by 5 pm. www.todaytix.com

Inamo - Soho — To create a bit of your own magic, book a 5 pm afternoon tea at Inamo - Soho (a 7 min walk from the theatre) between the two parts. Considered London's only interactive restaurant guests control their dining experience, the digital projections on your table surface can be changed with a swipe of a finger, including selecting a tablecloth, ordering, watching the chefs and playing retro games.
 From £19.95 / person
www.inamo-restaurant.com/promos/afternoontea ✆ +44 2078 517051
134-136 Wardour St, London W1F 8ZP

Les Miserables (Ages 13+) — It is the longest running London musical and has been translated into 22 languages and shown in 53 countries. Initially, there were plans for it to be a full-scale opera — luckily this didn't happen.
From £40.50
www.tigerstealive.com ✆ +44 2079 308800
18 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HT
Balthazar — Located in Covent Garden, Balthazar is nearly identical to its original New York location. Their taste of Paris lunch and pre-theatre set menu Join us for a taste of Paris with our delectable Prix Fixe menu, available from £24.50 from Monday to Friday – 11am – 7pm.
www.balthazarlondon.com ✆ +44 2033 011155
4-6 Russell Street, London WC2B 5HZ 

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Ages 3+) — In its 15th year, this show is an adaptation of the classic picture book by Judith Kerr.  With a running time of only 55 minutes, this Olivier Award nominated production is a perfect introduction to the theatre.
Adult + Child from £19.50
www.tigerstealive.com ✆ +44 2079 308800
18 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HT
Cafe in the Crypt — Across the street from Trafalgar Square is St. Martin’s in the Fields Café located 7 minute walk from the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This 18th century building with its brick-vaulted ceilings is a great place to escape the stream of tourists. They offer a basic afternoon tea minus the fancy cake stand. They also have a good and inexpensive ‘cafeteria’ style lunch.
 www.cafe-in-the-crypt ✆ +44 2077 661158
Duecannon Street, London WC2N 4JF

These combinations are worth trying beyond Kids Week!

Wimbledon Walk

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The Wimbledon Championships is the oldest and considered the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon is the sixth smallest London borough and is home to 200,000 residents — except for two weeks a year when it hosts over 500,000 additional tournament attendees.

The event transforms postcode SW19 from the moment you arrive at Wimbledon Station and throughout Wimbledon Village.  This year's tag line 'Always like never before' was on prominent display. 

In case you missed it, here is a sampling of stops to make, including this year's standout shops.
Walk 2 minutes
Elys — Established in 1876, Wimbledon's first department store is well-stocked with an array of tennis and Wimbledon themed items. The restaurant also offers a well-priced Afternoon Tea (sandwiches, fresh baked mini scones with clotted cream and jam, trio of mini desserts and pot of tea) starting at 2 pm for £13.




Well before the tournament and for a time afterwards, the businesses in Wimbledon Village feature creative tennis-themed displays. Each year it gets better and better and it is worth skipping the black cab queue and walking up the hill to Wimbledon Village.

Walk 13 minutes 
From restaurants and pubs to charity shops and specialty businesses, all cleverly decorate their store fronts.
Plan ahead for Wimbledon 2025 Signup for the public ballot here and be the first to know when tickets go on sale in September for for June 30 - July 13, 2025 Championships.

There is also an option to queue the day of, 4 Top Tips can be found here.

And of course, if the tickets or rain affects your plans you can always soak up the spirit of the Championships with a walk!

Hampton Court Riverside Tea

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and much more . . .

The heatwave has made way for some warmer temperatures and sunshine in the forecast — a perfect reason to visit Hampton Court Palace in East Molesey.

Despite being one of Henry VIII’s favorite residencies and one of the filming locations for Bridgerton, the number of annual visitors to Hampton Court Palace (500,000) is relatively low compared to other tourist attractions such as Tower of London (2.9 million) and Westminster Abbey (2 million).

It is also home to the world’s largest annual flower show, the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, that runs until July 7th.

Close by, the small village of East Molesey boasts quite a few antique shops, boutiques, independent stores and restaurants, including two options for a riverside afternoon tea:


Miss Polly Riverside Cafe (23 min walk) — Located on the
grounds of the Historic East Molesey Cricket Club, Ms. Polly Riverside Cafe serves a generous portioned, affordable afternoon tea (selection of finger sandwiches, mini sausage rolls, variety of vegetarian & non vegetarian quiches, selection of cakes and a pot of tea / cup of coffee per person) with a choice of riverside or cricket pitch seating. It is a good option for a kid-dog friendly casual tea when the weather is nice and it is possible to sit outside. 
£21 / person (3 person minimum)

The Mitre (8 min walk) — This boutique hotel is located on the banks of the River Thames next to Hampton Court Palace. Their 1665 Brasserie offers a cream tea (plain & fruity scones, clotted cream, homemade jam, tea or coffee) or full afternoon tea (assortment of sandwiches and sweets, scones, clotted cream, homemade jam, tea or coffee)
Mitre Cream Tea £13 and Mitre Afternoon Tea £40
Take advantage of the good weather while you can!


Stylish Shops & Tea

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London’s oldest shopping arcades
London is home to some of the oldest shopping arcades in the world. Similar to mega malls and department stores, these arcades feature multiple shops under one roof protected from the elements.

Here’s a path to see four of the most iconic ones followed by afternoon tea:

Piccadilly Arcade (1909) — Designed by Architect George Thrale Jell, Piccadilly Arcade is a Grade II listed building that opened in 1909. After it sustained damage in World War II, it was restored in 1957. Today, it is home to 28 shops, including jewelry, shoe shops and tailors.

The Princes Arcade — Originally designed by Edward Robert Robson for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1883, the site of the former Prince's Hotel is the youngest of the arcades. It suffered bomb damage in 1940 during World War II and reopened in 1948. The Grade-II-listed building was renovated in 1983 and today is home to boutiques, chocolatiers*, hat and shoe shops, and tailors.
Note : Prestat - Chocolatier to Queen Elizabeth II and Roald Dahl’s favourite shop
Burlington Arcade (1819) — The Regency-style building designed by architect Samuel Ware was opened in 1819 and is the longest and the second oldest of the arcades. Originally, it was erected by the Cavendish family to prevent members of the public from throwing oyster shells over the wall to their home. It also provided privacy and rental income.

Following multiple fires and World War II damage, the arcade underwent restoration in 1952 in anticipation of Queen Elizabeth's coronation procession passing by the building the following year. It received significant refurbishment in 2019 and today houses a mix of high-end retailers, including Manolo Blahnik, Chanel and La Perla.

The famous Beadles, a private police force that still wears traditional uniforms and top hats, patrols the Arcade enforcing rules (including no singing, humming, hurrying).

The Royal Arcade (1879)— Originally known as The Arcade, it was designed by Thomas Archer and Arthur Green and is the only surviving Victorian arcade. It was renamed ‘The Royal Arcade’ in 1882 when shirt maker H.W. Bretell received royal patronage by Queen Victoria and other customers included Dukes, Duchesses, Princes, a Czar and Sir Winston Churchill. Today, The Royal Arcade is home to Royal Warrant holder chocolatier Charbonnel et Walker along with stores specializing in antiques, art, glasses, jewelry, perfume and shoes.
www.royalarcade.london ✆ +44 2074 954882
4 Royal Arcade, London W1S 4BT

 Extras
Savile Row (1733) — Although not an arcade, this famous street is known for bespoke (suit cut by hand) tailoring for men. It is said the term ‘bespoke’ originated here. Famous customers include Charles III, Winston Churchill, Judd Law, and Napoleon III. The rooftop of 3 Savile Row is famous for an impromptu performance by the Beatles in 1969, which ended up being the group’s final live performance together.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London (1932) — For the ultimate window-shopping, take a look at the Rolls-Royce showroom on Berkeley Street in Mayfair, which has been open since 1932.  The entry-level Ghost starts at £255K and the top-of-the-line Phantom starts at £369K.
www.royalarcade.london ✆ +44 2031 994660
15 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6EG

Afternoon Tea
Fait Maison — Enjoy a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean inspired afternoon tea by Executive Chef Yvonne Osman of sandwiches, homemade scones, clotted cream, jam, and mini desserts served with choice of tea in an Instagram-worthy space.
Starts at £35 / person
 www.fait-maison.co.uk ✆ +44 2045 399224
13 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8DU

Even if it is just for window-shopping — a visit to these historic arcades is worth the trip!

Kew Gardens bloom

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Since the spring equinox (March 20th), the weather has been unpredictable at best. Despite the gray skies and April Arctic blasts, the mild weather has flowers blooming four weeks earlier than usual. There is no better place to visit than Kew Gardens, a World Heritage Site and one of London's top attractions that is home to over 50,000 plants.





Kew is offering a free Spring awakening walking tour that highlights the best blossoms and runs daily at 12:30 and 2 pm until April 30th. Register with the guide at Victoria Plaza 15 minutes before the tour starts (maximum capacity 15 people).

Note : The Temperate House will be closed until May 1st to install artworks for an upcoming exhibition
www.kew.org ✆ +44 2083 325655
Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE

Once you get your fill of flowers (allow between 3-4 hours), exit the Victoria Gate and walk 5 minutes to The Original Maids of Honour, a tea room and bakery. Afternoon tea starts at £24.50 and can be booked beginning at 10 am (prosecco and champagne add-on beginning at 11 am). Their High Tea comes with tea or coffee (unlimited refills), traditional tea sandwiches (5 quarters), two scones with clotted cream and choice of patisserie from their case or their famous Maids of Honour Tart.

It is believed that Henry VIII came across Anne Boleyn and her Maids of Honour (young ladies who attend the Queen) eating cakes. The story goes that he liked them so much that he put the recipe under lock and key at Richmond Palace. Maids of Honours are similar to Portuguese custard tarts, but are lighter, crispier and melt in your mouth. To this day, this bakery is the only one that makes them. www.theoriginalmaidsofhonour.co.uk ✆ +44 2089 402752
288 Kew Road, Kew Gardens TW9 3DU

It is hard to imagine a better day out to usher spring in!