AFTERNOON TEA AT THE EGERTON HOUSE HOTEL IN THE HEART OF KNIGHTSBRIDGE
February 2026
A floral display | Image credit: The Egerton House Hotel
The notion behind afternoon tea is simple. Started in the late 1800’s as a quintessential pastime to plug the gap between breakfast and supper, it was introduced by the Duchess of Bedford as a ladies-only event for her friends. We’ve come a long way since then. With men, women and even families enjoying the fancy pastime of sandwiches, scones and cakes and an array of teas to suit all palates, this delicacy is now offered worldwide at eateries, restaurants and hotels.
The Egerton House Hotel is no exception. Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, just a short walk from Harrods, this five-star luxury hotel hosts the ultimate afternoon tea. The aptly named Tea Room is situated just off Brompton Road, you are close enough to the buzz of London while being enclosed in a quiet and gloriously vintage London square.
The Mayfair Musings took a stroll down to see how they faired…
Afternoon Tea | Image credit: The Egerton House Hotel
While most afternoon tea menus offer a sample of various teas, The Egerton likes to take things one step further. They have a tea menu that looks more akin to a large book, which you can open, peruse and smell the vast display at your leisure. Their PMD teas of the Ceylon variety mean quality is their DNA.
The P grade means young tender leaves, the M offers a balance between briskness and body, while the D is the pungent powdery tea which produces a strong brew quickly. We were delighted to see that if you want a classic tea, they offer breakfast and Earl Grey collections, but they also do some not-so-well-known combinations, including Japanese golden curl and a perfumed rose. We tried a classic and a rose, which were delivered in old-fashioned teapots.
We recommend arriving hungry as they do a wide spread of sandwiches! The tier arrived fully prepped, rather than being brought out in stages, and our waiter displayed impeccable service in showing us which one was which. We were spoilt for choice with smoked salmon, egg, Coronation chicken, cucumber, cream cheese, and plum tomato. It was important to leave room, though, as warm scones arrived cocooned in white napery with clotted cream, jam and lemon curd.
The Bar and Drawing Room | Image credit: The Egerton House Hotel
Whether you are having a staycation or visiting from afar, the cakes have nods to time-honoured British classics, with one bearing the Union Jack flag, as well as some British favourites such as coffee and walnut, lemon drizzle, trifle and chocolate tart.
Did we mention they also offer a special Doggy Afternoon Tea for your four-legged friend? This is held on Thursdays and Sundays, and booking ahead is advised to check your pawfect pal in.
If you have a little prince or princess, you may even find a mini children's themed afternoon tea a lovely celebration with their tiny tot menu featuring freshly cut sandwiches of ham and egg as well as scones, trifle and a gigantic chocolate whoopie cookie. Who says tea is just for adults!
Dining Room | Image credit: The Egerton House Hotel
The Tea Room itself is not huge, but the tables are spacious with ample room to relax, giving it a private residence feel. Our waiter was always close, should we need him. He refreshed our plates and gave us extra cake forks while making several recommendations for the teas.
Our visit was one of the first of the day, and we were treated with a warmth that you feel when going to an old friend's home, albeit a rather plush and regal one! We enjoyed the friendly ambience without any time limits as we tried the decadent delights on offer. We can imagine The Tea Room would also make an elegant and opulent date night, with each sitting allowing for an hour and 45 minutes, and bookings running from 1pm to 4pm. Perfect for Valentines!
What is really nice about The Egerton is that they are not attempting to put any modern twists on their surroundings or their afternoon tea. Everything is classic with acute attention to detail without being stuffy in the slightest. Many afternoon teas try to keep trendy and make some faux pas, but not The Egerton. They keep things fresh, simple, light and classic just as it should be – no sliders or sugar overload here!
Drawing Room | Image credit: The Egerton House Hotel
The Tea Room itself is decorated with ornate mirrors, opulent curtains, beautiful paintings, classic carpets and napery adorned with real china. We were fascinated to learn more about the owner, Bea Tollman, who decorated the hotel using hand-picked treasures, antiques, artworks, and unique objects. Original artworks are adorning the walls, and the lighting, which is always an important fixture, is gentle and glowing. Nothing feels accidental, and it looks like the antiques are well-kept and are more than just part of the furniture.
While the hotel is part of the Red Coronation group, this small chain is anti-corporate, with each hotel, restaurant and bar expertly designed to hone an individual, old-world charm that no corporate hotel company could ever compete with.
Talk about being spoiled! The Egerton House Hotel is the perfect hotspot to go for celebration, good conversation, decadence and elegant surroundings. If you enjoy a tipple as well as a good hot cup of tea, then you will find plenty of cocktails, champagne and worldwide wines. Personally, we think tea needs no particular reason to indulge or celebrate. The Egerton House Hotel is a place to revisit time and time again, but a warning, you may need to walk off the scones and cakes after!
The Egerton House Hotel, 17-19 Egerton Terrace, London SW3 2BX
Tel: +44 207 589 2412 | Email: bookeg@egertonhousehotel.com
