A Dreamy Afternoon Tea in London
All images courtesy of The Lanesborough
Shhh. I have a secret. Tell no one. I didn’t love Bridgerton. Gasp! I knowwww. But as a history obsessive, I like a bit more realism in my period pieces, so the Instagrammy (read: forced) pastel-hued sets and costumes really didn’t do it for me. Yes, I’m serious: I would have kept the exact same cast but made their world just a little more realistically drab for my own enjoyment, ha! (I know. I’m no fun.) But you know what pastels pair absolutely perfectly with? Afternoon tea. I’ll always have a thing for the best Christmas afternoon teas, and kind of feel like they’re Christmassy all year round. After all, there’s an abundance of edible delights on a tiered tray, tipples galore, good friends and good cheer. See also: Christmas.
All images courtesy of The Lanesborough
Arguably the best Christmas afternoon tea on earth can be found at The Lanesborough, one of London’s most iconic grande dame hotels. Tucked into a circa 1825 former estate on the edge of Hyde Park, the 93-room respite treats each and every guest like a VIP. You’ll have 24/7 butler service, Les Clefs d’Or concierges, and plenty of opportunities to pet their resident fluffy Siberian forest cat, Lilibet. No surprise: they also host one of the best Christmas afternoon teas on earth in their Regency-era dining room under a showstopping domed glass roof.
All images courtesy of The Lanesborough
But if you have any spare time to hop the pond, I’d skedaddle over right this second for their Bridgerton at The Lanesborough tea. Created in partnership with Shondaland and Netflix, it’s every bit as cinematic as you’d expect. Take the Pall Mall Cocktail, a pink dream of Hendrick’s gin, Graham Blend No. 5, hibiscus and citrus that’s topped with a floating lotus blossom. Or the finger sandwiches, which range from Coronation chicken with fresh coriander to smoked salmon with horseradish and watercress. For dessert, don’t miss the Queen’s Diamond, a chocolate and green cardamom white chocolate confection that’s served in a ring box. Sigh. I might have to give Bridgerton another try.
lanesborough.com/afternoontea; from $85 a person and $45 for children under 12.