Tea-rific: treat yourself to a royal spread in the pretty conservatory of Kensington Palace.
Have you got a hankering for afternoon tea? Well, Kensington Palace is providing a quintessentially British offering, and we're here to help you book it so that you're nibbling on fluffy finger sandwiches and scones in no time.
What Is Kensington Palace?
Kensington Palace has been the residence of the British royal family since the 17th century, and is currently occupied by the Prince and Princess of Wales. It's famed for being the birthplace of Queen Victoria and is open from 10am to 6pm every day.
Over the years, Stuart and Georgian monarchs have fashioned the building into a stylish home, and its greenhouse was conceived in 1704 due to Queen Anne's desire to grow trees and exotic plants. Architects Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor were commissioned to design the orangery, while John Vanbrugh (protege of Wren) collaborated with Hawksmoor to create a large amount of what exists today, by adding Grinling Gibbons carvings and elegant pillars.
The divine space became the setting for lavish summer parties and nowadays you can delight in a royal afternoon experience inside the gorgeous space, or perched outside on the pretty sun-soaked terrace with panoramic views.
Where Is Kensington Palace?
The pretty building and its surrounding gardens can be found in West London, only a short walk from Queensway Station, or a leisurely 20-minute stroll from Gloucester Road.
How Do I Book An Afternoon Tea?
You can book afternoon tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace via DesignMyNight. Each sitting lasts 90 minutes and starts from £55 per adult or £29 per child, with an optional £1 donation.
What's Included?
The Orangery afternoon tea is made up of three tiers, with the top featuring delightful sweet treats such as chocolate orange croustillants, lavender éclairs, minted strawberry tarts and raspberry Victoria sponge cakes.
The middle showcases fresh, traditional scones served alongside Cornish clotted cream and blackberry preserve. Then the bottom is where you’ll find the savoury sandwiches, with fillings of free-range egg mayonnaise and salad cress, plus pea, edamame bean and asparagus quiches, or chalk stream trout and lemon cream bagels.
All of this is paired with a signature organic tea blend, and the royal package includes Pimm's or Ridgeview English sparkling wine. There's a vegan offering with mouthwatering treats across three tiers too, such as chocolate financiers and coronation chickpea, spinach and cucumber wraps.
Book afternoon tea at Kensington Palace on DesignMyNight. It's available from 10am to 6pm daily at Kensington Palace Gardens, W8 4PX, priced from £55 per person.
