If you’re wondering how to spend the Jubilee bank holiday weekend, coming up from 2 to 5 June, what could be more regally British than afternoon tea?
Naturally, central London’s top tea spots have risen to the occasion - and crown, corgi and handbag-themed treats abound. Here is a selection of places you might like to try.
Platinum Jubilee afternoon tea at InterContinental London Park Lane
This hotel, on the site of 145 Piccadilly where the Queen lived as a child, has a tea featuring 'Royal Savouries' of smoked rainbow trout and pâté sandwiches followed by delights including lemon drizzle cake and a Yorkshire rhubarb and custard tart.
The Queen's Jubilee afternoon tea at Four Seasons Park Lane
The tea menu here includes a lavender-flavoured Jubilee macaroon, strawberries and cream cheesecake, and Royal wedding cake inspired by the one enjoyed by the Queen and Prince Philip.
Platinum Jubilee afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason Tea Salon
At this tea salon, opened for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, you can feast on smoked salmon blini and finger sandwiches of coronation chicken and cucumber with minted pea cream cheese. Freshly baked scones are served with Fortnum's strawberry preserve, lemon curd and clotted cream. Don’t miss the swan-shaped choux bun with violet crème pâtissier or the chocolate mousse orb.
Commonwealth afternoon tea at Mayfair Lounge & Grill
The Mayfair Lounge & Grill looks beyond the UK with a menu reflecting the flavours of Commonwealth. Sandwiches promise a taste of Asia, Africa and the Caribbean with the likes of coconut chicken mousse and slow cooked pork shoulder with caramelised plantain butter.
The Berkeley's Prêt-à-Portea: Queen Elizabeth II edition
The Berkeley's fashion-themed menu comes complete with HRH-inspired hats, handbags and crowns in edible form. There’s lime cheesecake, with fresh lemon compote, blueberry Victoria sponge iced with mirror glaze and vanilla biscuit with burgundy, red and white royal icing.
Find out what’s on the menu at 14 top tea salons in this Londonist article.