NOT SPONSORED
2 Whitehall Court London SW1A 2EJ
Afternoon tea is a pleasure best enjoyed whilst stopping off during a walking tour of London. The Royal Horseguards Hotel is just off of Whitehall (think Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament) on a quiet side road en-route to Charing Cross. The impressive hotel has a grand entrance into the reception, but the restaurant entrance takes you straight to afternoon tea, 1pm to 4pm every day.
We started on the Classic Afternoon Tea with a glass of Chapel Down sparkling wine and choosing our tea from the menu. You can have a coffee instead, but I prefer a proper pot of English Breakfast, and the server gave me an extra large pot but you can request as many refills of your tea as you like, as long as you stick to the same tea. Coffee is different; choose whichever iteration of coffee you please and there’s no limit there.
Our afternoon tea stand was brought over to us with the usual selection of 3 courses; sandwiches, scones and cakes. The sandwiches were smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese, egg mayo and ham and English mustard. The scones were two plain and two sultana scones with cream and strawberry jam. On the top plate we had the cakes! Chocolate éclair, mini Victoria sponge, lemon meringue pie and a gin and lime pebble on shortbread biscuit. At this point, I couldn’t eat many of the cakes having eaten my share of the sandwiches and scones but the staff very kindly bring boxes and a bag to take home your left-over afternoon tea, which adds to the service.
Speaking of which, the staff went above and beyond to serve every table; filling up tea and wine glasses (wine is an extra cost on this tea) and taking photos. The restaurant was almost full all afternoon with some people spilling over into the Equus Bar or admiring the glorious reception area where you can sit and ponder for a while before taking in the rest of Whitehall.
Afternoon Tea available from £55 at:https://www.royalhorseguardshotel.com/restaurants-and-bars/afternoon-tea-at-the-lounge
The Review Studio 