Harrods Afternoon Tea, London England

 

The second full day was afternoon tea at Harrods! It is one of those iconic places you think of when you think of afternoon tea and London.

Breakfast...I shouldn't have eaten as much as I did, or I should have eaten earlier.  That way I would have had more room for afternoon tea.

All set for the trip to Harrods.

Harrods doesn't open until 10am.  We were early so we walked about before it opened.

As soon as we walked down the street and I flashed back to 1997, the first time I was in London.  It was the first time I had afternoon tea in London.  And it was RIGHT across the street from Harrods.

1997                                                  2025

My friend in 1997.  We had a delightful tea here.  Sadly I have no photos.  That was back when you didn't take a lot of photos...although I was in Europe for 2 weeks and I went through 18 rolls of film, lol.

 

We did not go in Harrods, but admired the window displays.

Back to 2025...

What a gorgeous, huge building.  It really makes a statement on the street.

This was the view when we went by it on Brigit's tea bus.

Could this door man be any more adorable!??!

Harrods is a department store I would never  normally shop in, I couldn't afford anything.  I was amazed at the prices of everything.

But, I have to say it is beautiful, if not over the top.

I walked around with one of the gals and we played guess the prices, a game I often play with my parents.  These prices are outrageous. 

95 pounds for these little girls shoes!

Here is the welcome area for the Georgian Tea Room at Harrods.  Not too shabby is it? 

Our reservation was for 11:30, so it gave people time to shop.  I also did it early so that people would have the afternoon free to do what they liked.

While we were wondering around they were shooting an add or commercial in there.  We peered in and watched for awhile.

 

The hallway between the outdoor patio and indoor seating.

Incredible displays around the tearoom. 

             

              

The balcony was beautiful, I wanted to sit outside, but they had us inside, which was fine too.

       Looking into the main dinning room.

The menu

AFTERNOON TEA

 £82 per person

SAVOU R I E S & SA N DW IC H E S

 Festive confit turkey tart, Mulled cranberry sauce with sage, onion and bacon crumb 

Brown butter crumpet Oscietra caviar on brown butter crumpet with sour cream and chives Cucumber sandwich Cucumber with minted cream cheese, a sprinkle of pink pepper and fresh mint gel on white loaf

Faroe Island salmon sandwich Smoked Salmon layered with horseradish cream, lemon and dill 

Spiced confit duck sandwich Dressed with black garlic and mango chutney 

SCONES & JAM 

Freshly baked plain and fruit scones served with clotted cream and chef made seasonal jams and preserves

PAT I S SE R I E 

Citrus chocolate delice Layers of chocolate sponge and crunch, citrus marmalade and chocolate mousse with a chocolate velvet finishing and orange Chantilly

Mont Blanc Chestnut frangipane tart filled with blackcurrant and blueberry compote, and vanilla Chantilly, topped with marron cream and marron glacé

Cherry and almond choux Choux bun filled with crunchy almond gianduja, summer cherry mousse and fresh compote 

Gingerbread and Pear Gateaux Layers of vanilla sable, gingerbread sponge, pear caramel, Christmas spice mousse and pear compote

I started out with Earl Grey (I got an Earl Grey from every tea place to compare them)

Earl Grey (No. 42) 

This exceptional blend draws on two centuries of English tradition to ensure the perfect tea-drinking experience. Following the original method of preparation, select teas are lightly infused with bergamot oil. Each sip is smooth and distinct with a hint of citrus.

Our Group.

My second pot of tea was the house blend.

HOUSE BLEN D BL AC K TEA 

Georgian Restaurant Blend (No. 18)

 assam and darjeeling, india & sri lanka This heritage recipe, dating from the early 1920s, perfectly combines Darjeeling, Assam and Sri Lankan teas to deliver a harmonious and creamy classic, full-bodied infusion.

Savories and Sandwiches.

Brown butter crumpet Oscietra caviar on brown butter crumpet with sour cream and chives.

The food was almost to pretty to eat...almost!

Pastries and Scones.

I am not sure if I am Devonshire or Cornish believer.

Devonshire is clotted cream first then jam

Cornish is jam on the scone and then clotted cream.

I think I lean towards being a Devonshire believer.

Clotted Cream.

They brought us boxes of warm scones.  These are specially made boxes for Harrods.  They don't sell them.

Live piano music being played lovely in the back ground.

Oh this waiter!!!!

One of the gals on the tour told the waiter I was a tea expert. I was embarrassed- as you can see. I tried to say I wasn’t an expert, I just loved tea

He would ask questions and I just got so embarrassed and tongue tied, honestly can say I have never experienced that before. Normally I am confident. But, now I have all the tea ladies on the trip watching me. What if I didn't know the "tea" answer.

He was very flirty and Italian. He made me very nervous and he knew it. He was shameless in his flirting.

He asked me what tea I got, I said Earl Grey and then the Georgian. He asked if I could tell what was in the Georgian and I said Assam and was thinking Darjeeling but hesitated. He said I was right.

Then later he set down a cup and poured tea- he said, "Okay expert, what is it?"

I smelled it and said "Lapsang".

"Yes! Okay, you are and expert!" He said as he brushed his shoulder off. I think he was impressed and I was embarrassed and I just relieved I got it right.

But as my friend Christine said, l said- I was redder than the strawberry jam on the scones!

A fun moment I will never forget!!

Lapsang Souchong (No. 130) fujian, china True to the nature of a smoked Lapsang, this elegant tea produced in Tong Mu Guan in Xing Village, delivers a warm, smoky character with top notes of dark chocolate and fragrant pine-tree resins.

This tea was pricey, but very fun!

This was an advent calendar from Harrods.  It was a bit deceiving, I thought it came with the ornaments too...glad I didn't spend 65 Pounds to buy it.  I almost looked more into buying this, glad I didn't.  Turns out it was just bagged teas.

I really enjoyed Harrods.  It was fun and iconic.  It was over the top beautiful.  They said that they would bring us more of anything we wanted, but we were all too full.  We even took scones to go.  This is not something I would normally treat myself too.  I would rather do two or three tea items than one large pricey tea, HOWEVER, I really enjoyed the experience.  It is one of those once in a lifetime moments.

I spent the rest of the day exploring the city and walking off the food.

Still waiting for my Prince Charming....

Feel free to contact me to lead you or your group in England.  

I have a book you can order for the 7-day tour as well.  

https://a.co/d/2XkfVh9

Why plan your trip to England, when it can be done by experts for you!

Let us make all the plans, remove all the guess work, book all the appointments, reserve all the rooms, confirm everything for you, and guide you seamlessly around England while enjoying tea and giving you free time to do your own exploration.
We’ve already done the hard leg work and recommend these fun tea adventures and ask you to try a new one with us- the River Thames Afternoon Tea cruise.
The days for each activity may change, but this is the itinerary we have planned.

This is a day by day journal of your tea trip to England. See exactly what is planned for each day and journal as you go. Keep track of key memories.

Enjoy afternoon tea on Brigit's Tea Bus, a river cruise down the Thames, at Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey), in Bath at the Jane Austen Regency Center, at Kensington Palace, and at Fortnum and Mason.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.