It was Anna, 7th Duchess of Bedford, who in the late 18th century had the brilliant idea of asking her butler to bring her a light meal in the middle of the afternoon. The Park Room at Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel has named their tea in his honor. ‘Anna’s Tea’ is as distinguished as its creator, with a wide variety of tea blends from around the world.
For more afternoon tea reviews, see:
The best afternoon tea in London.
Afternoon tea information
Lugar: Park Room, Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel.
The Park Room continues the hotel’s tradition of understated elegance. The most popular tables are near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Hyde Park, but keep in mind that they are all tables for two.
Since the windows are not next to the pavement, you don’t feel like you are in a “gold fish.” You see more traffic than pedestrians, but most passersby smiled when they saw our beautiful table and this made us feel special.
The Park Room is bathed in natural light and is an excellent setting for afternoon tea throughout the year.
Days and hours
Monday to Sunday: 2 pm to 6 pm
Although afternoon tea is served from 2 in the afternoon and is more popular from 3 in the afternoon. The room has a relaxed vibe even with the buzzing as it fills up.
Cost: Anna’s Tea is £ 35.50 per person. (2015 rate)
Dress Code: There is no dress code as such, but it’s always good to make an effort.
Reservations: For reservations call or visit www.parkroom.co.uk.
You can also book Grosvenor House afternoon tea through Viator.
Music – Music plays in the background before the pianist arrives at 2.30pm to play contemporary classics.
Children: Families are welcome and there is a special ‘Grover’s Tea’ for children. Named after the hotel’s British Bulldog, kids are also given their own adorable Grover to take home.
About Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel
Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel is the largest five star hotel in London. It first opened its doors to the public in May 1929 and quickly established itself as the glamorous home of society and wealthy Americans, drawing a fashionable crowd from Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson to Ella Fitzgerald and Jacqueline Onassis.
Anna’s tea
Afternoon tea is one of Great Britain’s great traditions and the Park Room’s contribution to this delightful ritual is a treat not to be missed.
Afternoon tea review
Pros
- The staff are excellent, courteous, welcoming and attentive.
- The Park room is very spacious, so it cannot be heard by other tables.
- Tea tips are offered.
Cons
- The scones are not on the cake stand when it arrives, but are brought hot to the table when you have enjoyed the sandwiches.
Staff and service
The waiters are clearly trained in silver service and are very well presented. Tea was served to us and everything was skillfully placed on the table.
Tea selection
The teas are from Twining’s and there are many varieties to choose from, including flower and decaf teas.
Tea arrives at your table in white porcelain teapots and silver tea strainers are on the table. In other places, a pot of hot water is also brought, but it wasn’t necessary here as the staff are very good at knowing when to ask if you would like more tea.
The china was white with a pale green and gold decoration. Green followed the theme of the room and gold skillfully complemented the teas.
We enjoyed a tropical fruit entree that was spicy and delicious before our traditional three tier silver cake stand arrived.
Cake stand
The cake stand looked very pretty and the scones were later warm with a napkin to keep them that way. The waiter subtly positioned the cake stand diagonally so that my view of my partner wasn’t completely obscured.
They offered us a selection of jams / preserves for the scones and I chose strawberry and gooseberry for tradition and for the English character of the gooseberries.
As with all the best establishments, there is always more on sale, so ask if he has a favorite cake or if he loved sandwiches, as the staff will be happy to help.
Cake voucher
As an added treat, you can also choose a large slice of cake from the center table in the room that had many options. I chose a slice of hummingbird cake that was generous and delicious.
Grover tea
I took my daughter to try Grover’s tea for kids and here is more information and a review.
Official Website: www.parkroom.co.uk
As is common in the travel industry, the writer received ancillary services for review purposes. While you have not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.
