Place for afternoon tea in casual dress in London

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would not describe high tea as a light meal! When my great grandma made it, you got a fried egg, bacon, sausage, bread and butter, cheese, and cakes.

I’m an American living in England.

I’ve never seen or heard high tea being used. But it is what American call dinner or supper. The evening meal. My English freinds regularly call this meal tea. Just tea. So like, I’ll have a play date and a mom will ask me if I am serving tea. (Dinner) or if they should pick up their kid before or after tea. Kids and adults still use this phrasing. Supper is used to refer to a heavier and maybe later evening meal. But I’m not sure on this!

You want “afternoon tea”. It is served in places from 3pm-6pm usually. It’s like a pretty light meal before you’d have a later “supper”. It is an experience. You are brought a tray of goodies and your tea.

It is not the same as just popping into a cafe and buying a scone and a pot of tea. This is nice too, and you can do this in almost all department and grocery stores.

A cream tea is when you get a tea and a scone with clotted cream and jam. It is more popular in Devon and Cornwall.

You don't hear of "high tea" because people only hear of it in shows like Downton Abbey. Its outdated. And you're right - its dinner or supper (depending on your class and where you live, up north or down south etc) or for kids, "tea-time".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Orangerie at Kensington Gardens.

Closed until April 2020

[Anonymous]

This one is a silly option- the afternoon tea bus tour http://www.bbbakery.co.uk/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-bus-tour

[Anonymous]

We went here during a day strolling around Kensington

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d1134350-Reviews-The_Muffin_Man_Tea_Shop-London_England.html

[Anonymous]

Bea's of Bloomsbury. They have several tea shops -- in Bloomsbury (naturally), Marylebone, the City. Very casual when we were in the Bloomsbury shop a week ago -- and more importantly, good scones and cakes!

[Anonymous]

Modern Pantry
http://www.themodernpantry.co.uk
I envy you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would not describe high tea as a light meal! When my great grandma made it, you got a fried egg, bacon, sausage, bread and butter, cheese, and cakes.

I’m an American living in England.

I’ve never seen or heard high tea being used. But it is what American call dinner or supper. The evening meal. My English freinds regularly call this meal tea. Just tea. So like, I’ll have a play date and a mom will ask me if I am serving tea. (Dinner) or if they should pick up their kid before or after tea. Kids and adults still use this phrasing. Supper is used to refer to a heavier and maybe later evening meal. But I’m not sure on this!

You want “afternoon tea”. It is served in places from 3pm-6pm usually. It’s like a pretty light meal before you’d have a later “supper”. It is an experience. You are brought a tray of goodies and your tea.

It is not the same as just popping into a cafe and buying a scone and a pot of tea. This is nice too, and you can do this in almost all department and grocery stores.

A cream tea is when you get a tea and a scone with clotted cream and jam. It is more popular in Devon and Cornwall.

You don't hear of "high tea" because people only hear of it in shows like Downton Abbey. Its outdated. And you're right - its dinner or supper (depending on your class and where you live, up north or down south etc) or for kids, "tea-time".

I don't think they had high tea on Downton Abbey. The family most certainly would not have eaten it; it's a working class meal.

Just "tea" is what would be called dinner in the US.

[Anonymous]

Tea and cakes is what you want to call it in London. And casual clothes in the U.K. are still pretty dressy for US standards, so tread carefully.

And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to have my egg bagel breakfast sandwich in a paper bag, from the Chinese deli in Dupont, wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

It’ll be lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would not describe high tea as a light meal! When my great grandma made it, you got a fried egg, bacon, sausage, bread and butter, cheese, and cakes.

I’m an American living in England.

I’ve never seen or heard high tea being used. But it is what American call dinner or supper. The evening meal. My English freinds regularly call this meal tea. Just tea. So like, I’ll have a play date and a mom will ask me if I am serving tea. (Dinner) or if they should pick up their kid before or after tea. Kids and adults still use this phrasing. Supper is used to refer to a heavier and maybe later evening meal. But I’m not sure on this!

You want “afternoon tea”. It is served in places from 3pm-6pm usually. It’s like a pretty light meal before you’d have a later “supper”. It is an experience. You are brought a tray of goodies and your tea.

It is not the same as just popping into a cafe and buying a scone and a pot of tea. This is nice too, and you can do this in almost all department and grocery stores.

A cream tea is when you get a tea and a scone with clotted cream and jam. It is more popular in Devon and Cornwall.

+1 to all of this. And "high tea" was for for workers finishing their day. Think, "dinner." This explains it. "High Tea Isn't What You Think It Is"
https://www.thekitchn.com/high-tea-isnt-what-you-think-it-is-231369

[Anonymous]

On every corner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We enjoyed tea a muriel’s Kitchen. It was very casual—blue jeans, T-shirt’s, shorts—would be fine. And the sandwiches and cakes were tasty. They also served a yummy Little smoothie. Reminded me of a hipster tea place. The atmosphere was chill but also very English. We went to the location in Kensington and there was a black taxi or red double decker bus outside our window, usually both, at all times.

Ohh, I liked Muriel's Kitchen as well. We went there several times for breakfast.

For a tea, I also recommend Candella Tea Room near Kensington High Street.

Such a bargain, and delicious! Our entire family had tea/sandwiches/scones for 40 pounds. Total!
Informal and cozy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would not describe high tea as a light meal! When my great grandma made it, you got a fried egg, bacon, sausage, bread and butter, cheese, and cakes.

I’m an American living in England.

I’ve never seen or heard high tea being used. But it is what American call dinner or supper. The evening meal. My English freinds regularly call this meal tea. Just tea. So like, I’ll have a play date and a mom will ask me if I am serving tea. (Dinner) or if they should pick up their kid before or after tea. Kids and adults still use this phrasing. Supper is used to refer to a heavier and maybe later evening meal. But I’m not sure on this!

You want “afternoon tea”. It is served in places from 3pm-6pm usually. It’s like a pretty light meal before you’d have a later “supper”. It is an experience. You are brought a tray of goodies and your tea.

It is not the same as just popping into a cafe and buying a scone and a pot of tea. This is nice too, and you can do this in almost all department and grocery stores.

A cream tea is when you get a tea and a scone with clotted cream and jam. It is more popular in Devon and Cornwall.

There's regional and class differences too. High tea was more commonly used up north, I believe, and refers to what we'd call supper. "Supper" itself is an upper middle / upper class class southern English term for, well, supper.

But yes, what OP is looking for is afternoon tea. I'll also be a little honest here and say that despite all the years of living and visiting in England I've never really desired or wanted anything more than just a pot of tea with a biscuit or two. Can't stomach a bigger meal that comes with the fancy hotel afternoon tea when I'd rather have a proper supper later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bea's of Bloomsbury. They have several tea shops -- in Bloomsbury (naturally), Marylebone, the City. Very casual when we were in the Bloomsbury shop a week ago -- and more importantly, good scones and cakes!

This.

Was featured on travel channel or food network. I plan to take my kids there.