An Afternoon Tea experience at The Guardsman in London is typically a delightful and refined affair. The hotel is known for offering a luxurious and sophisticated setting for this quintessential British tradition, winning an ‘Award of Excellence’ at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2023 as well as the ‘Best Afternoon Tea Award’ by Conde Nast Johansens.

Upon entering the establishment, we were greeted with an elegant and inviting ambiance. The attention to detail in the décor, reflecting the royal location contributes to the exclusive feel of the experience.

The Afternoon Tea menu at The Guardsman is inspired by the flora found in their neighbouring Royal Parks. This is immediately apparent when the tired stand arrives, crowned with patisserie shaped in floral forms – the chocolate rose, plant pot and butterfly adorning the delicate toadstool reflected the theme beautifully.

The menu features a variety of carefully selected teas, both classic and unique blends, presented in beautifully designed teapots and cups. We started with the savouries which included traditional finger sandwiches as well as two delicious tin loafs with succent fillings. The variety of breads, from turmeric and sourdough added to the variety of flavours. The classic selection was delicious and the venue were more than accommodating to our dietary requirements and needs, replacing the Roast Beef with a unique asparagus sandwich – something I’d never tried before, and turned out to be my favourite!

The scones are served wrapped to ensure they stay warm until you are ready to indulge! Accompanied with scoops of clotted cream, strawberry and raspberry jam these rustic scones crumbled apart perfectly and had just the right texture.

The patisserie selection is always my favourite and after admiring them for the duration of our Afternoon Tea, I couldn’t wait to tuck in! They most certainly didn’t disappoint and were as delicious as they look.

The toadstool had a variety of textures - a lemon sponge topped with a strawberry mousse encased in a delicate chocolate shell. The rose was a rich chocolate ganache piped into petals with a sweet black cherry heart. The raspberry posy was perfectly piped with Chantilly cream and had a delicious crumbly shortbread base. Finally the flower pot was a fun take on a carrot cake with an orange cream ‘carrot’ placed upon a sponge ‘pot’!

The creativity and care taken in the detail of all aspects of this Afternoon Tea is what really sets The Guardsman apart. The service was impeccable, with staff well-versed in the menu and attentive to the needs of the guests. Oksana was especially accommodating to all our needs and was able to provide recommendations for tea pairings and offer insights into the culinary creations presented.
The attention to detail, quality of the ingredients, and the overall experience make it the perfect option for a special occasion or indulgent treat.

Royal Parks inspired Afternoon Tea at The Guardsman starts at £65 per person. Click here for more information and to book.