“Afternoon tea is such a popular thing to do and is on every London visitor’s to-do list. So what better than to combine sightseeing with our inimitable offering in homage to London?” says Benjamin Buckley, Food and Beverage Manager at The Kensington, the 5-star boutique hotel located in London’s desirable South Kensington neighbourhood. Situated on a tree-lined boulevard, the hotel is also home to the recently refurbished Town House restaurant. With its interconnecting drawing rooms, hidden whisky bar, and chrome chandeliers, Town House at The Kensington provides a quiet refuge away from the city’s busy streets.
After hearing about the success of Town House’s “Tale As Old As Time” afternoon tea that brought characters from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to life, I was excited to have the chance to try out their new offering which celebrates the city I know and love.
The new London Landmarks Afternoon Tea takes guests on a tour of the capital’s most recognisable structures through decadent little bites. We started our adventure with a glass of champagne and made our tea choices. I went for the Malawi Spearmint which promised a smooth, well-rounded infusion made from gentle leaves grown on the Shire Highlands of Malawi. Soon, we were provided with our menu: a beautifully-illustrated map detailing all the landmarks we would soon be visiting on our culinary tour.
A tea stand shaped like the London Eye was brought out, displaying the London skyline through an assortment of scones, sandwiches, and sweets. A plate of savoury snacks included a Colston Bassett Stilton & broccoli quiche, a crab cake with tartar sauce, and my favourite, a deep-flavoured steak and London ale pie. The finger sandwich options mimicked many of the capitals favourites such as Coronation chicken on brown bread and Campbells & Company smoked salmon. The showstopper was, without a doubt, the quartet of sweet desserts that were intricately designed to resemble some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. A white and dark chocolate ganache reflected the simplicity of the Gherkin, a milk chocolate Shard hid a fluffy carrot cake, a rhubarb mousse perfectly captured the legendary Red Telephone Box, and finally, a lemon curd tart with an incredibly detailed clock face encapsulated Big Ben.
“The theme has immediately captured people’s imaginations in the same way it captured ours when we hit upon the idea,” Buckley tells me. As I took the final sip of my tea and let the elegant flavours of mint envelop me, I had to agree that Town House’s London Landmarks Afternoon Tea was a lovely way to revisit all of the lovely flavours and architectural feats that make me proud to call London my home.
