In praise of afternoon tea

The Crown Journey team loves nothing more than afternoon tea. We feel there’s something really special about this occasional treat. Beautifully made sandwiches, all without the crusts of course, scones, cake and sometimes small savoury quiches, all perfectly presented on a tiered cake stand. This replaces lunch and means you only need a lighter dinner in the evening. Whilst the default is of course a cup of tea, other beverages are also available including hot and cold drinks, or even a glass of champagne.

Afternoon tea is said to have been created by the Duchess of Bedford in 1840. Since lunch was served quite early in the day and dinner quite late in the day, she found herself hungry in the afternoons so called for tea with bread, butter and cake, to be served in her room for herself and any visiting friends to stave off any hunger pangs. It became so fashionable that tea parties and tea dances evolved, and The Ritz and Fortnum and Mason created their own tea lounges.

Today afternoon tea can be as homespun or elaborate as you can imagine depending on the venue. At the top end, London’s Ritz hotel, Fortnum and Mason store and Shard Hotel are amongst the most iconic venues where booking in advance is essential. In Harrogate and York, you should definitely look into afternoon tea at the Yorkshire institution that is Betty’s. Since1919, Betty’s has been offering exceptional food with exceptional service and enjoys royal patronage.

For more information about including a special afternoon tea experience in your UK vacation, please email contact@crownjourney.com

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