From a Japanese-inspired reinvention paired with delicate wagashi, to an afternoon tea steeped in royal tradition in the grounds of a palace, there’s a table waiting for every kind of tea lover in High Street Kensington this Afternoon Tea Week.
The destination’s most-coveted afternoon tea locations include:
JAPANESE STYLE AFTERNOON TEA
Akira – the restaurant in Japan House London on Kensington High Street – presents a distinctive Japanese-style afternoon tea that reimagines the classic British ritual. Available daily from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, this refined offering showcases the artistry of Japanese hospitality through carefully curated sweet and savoury elements.
Guests can choose from the Japanese Tea Single Set (£24 per person) featuring a pot of premium Japanese tea, coffee, soft drink, or dessert sake paired with seasonal wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and a dessert selection including mochigashi, yokan, dorayaki, castella, and baumkuchen.
Alternatively, the Japanese Afternoon Tea Set (£70 for two) offers the addition of savoury sushi snacks alongside seasonal wagashi, desserts and a drink. The beverage menu spans traditional green teas and distinctive smoked black teas, offering an authentic complement to the delicate flavours of wagashi.
THE ORANGERY AT KENSINGTON PALACE FOR A TEA STEEPED IN ROYAL TRADITION
The Orangery at Kensington Palace offers an afternoon tea experience steeped in royal tradition. The ritual is often attributed to The Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell (1783-1857) who served as one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting. To curb her afternoon hunger pangs, the Duchess introduced a light meal of tea, sandwiches, and small cakes – a practice that quickly gained popularity within royal circles and beyond.
The Orangery’s afternoon tea menu pays homage to this legacy, featuring a selection of finger sandwiches such as English cucumber with cream cheese, egg mayonnaise with cress, smoked ChalkStream trout and lemon cream cheese bagel and a coronation chicken red pepper and baby spinach wrap. Accompanying these are traditional scones served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve. The experience is completed with the Palace’s signature organic tea blend and an assortment of sweet treats like apricot cheesecake, dark chocolate tart, classic Victoria sponge and Orangery choux.
Afternoon tea is priced at £66pp, with options to include English sparkling wine for £82pp or Pimms for £78pp. A vegan tea is available for the same price. Details here
TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA AT THE MILESTONE HOTEL & RESIDENCES
For a classic afternoon tea with all the trimmings, The Milestone Hotel & Residences in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington is hard to beat.
Enjoy a traditional English spread of finger sandwiches (Wiltshire cured ham with English mustard mayonnaise, cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon with lemon and dill crème fraiche), warm, plain and raisin scones served with clotted cream and homemade preserves. Plus, pastries including ginger custard & stone fruit tart, dark chocolate, tonka bean and blackberry bavarois and soy caramel & peanut choux. Served in the hotel’s Park Lounge with a choice of loose-leaf teas or a glass of champagne. From £85 per person or £98 with a glass of Champagne. There is also an afternoon tea for children under 12 with bite size sandwiches, a selection of cakes and pastries served alongside a choice of milkshake, hot chocolate or soft drink for £45 per child. Details here.
AFTERNOON TEA WEEK OFFER AT THE KENSINGTON HIDEAWAY
To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week (10-16th August, 1 and 5pm) The Kensington Hideaway is offering a Traditional Afternoon Tea, featuring a selection of delicate finger sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves, paired with a selection of fine teas or coffee for £40 per person. Add a glass of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée for £50 per person, or a glass of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé for £60 per person.
