Live like royalty
WHEN LADY WHISTLEDOWN invites one to afternoon tea, one must not refuse. The place to be seen this social season is Hyde Park Corner, Belgravia, in the dining room of The Lanesborough hotel for London’s ever-so-exclusive Bridgerton-themed afternoon tea.
From the moment you step inside the lobby and make your way to the dining room, it’s as if you’ve stepped into an episode of the show itself. The most elegant decor, marble touches and pastel colour palette transport you back to the glamour and decadence of high society 1813.
Once seated in the elegant dining room, you are presented with a menu in the form of Lady Whistledown’s Society Paper. And
Attention to detail is the order of the day at a Bridgerton afternoon tea at The Lanesborough hotel, including floral flourishes, bespoke cocktails and delicate morsels fit for a queen.
Bridgertonthemed if opting for a bubbly high tea, you have the choice of Moët, Dom Perignon or the specially curated cocktail, ‘The Pall Mall’
– a colour-changing concoction inspired by the original Regency-era gin punch.
The extensive list of teas is fit for the Queen, but a must-try is the specially created Bridgerton blend, which is also available for guests to purchase, so one may take a little bit of the magic home.
Perfectly fluffy scones, Devonshire clotted cream and preserves are accompanied by a jacaranda-donned high tea stand presenting the most delicately detailed, delectable treats. Dine on pastries titled ‘The Queen’s Diamond’ and ‘All is
Fair in Love & War’, handmade in the hotel.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be afternoon tea without picture-perfect finger sandwiches, such as coronation chicken and Clarence Court egg mayonnaise. Vegan? Gluten-free? Never fear, there are versions of the menu to suit both dietary needs, and guests under 12.
Looking to turn your Bridgerton experience into a whole afternoon? Why not amp up the royal factor and take a stroll to Buckingham Palace, which is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
Or, ready to visit the local modiste for
Pull out your finest and be transformed to the Regency-era at London’s first afternoon tea.
a new dress? As luck would have it, Harrods is also just around the corner.
The Lanesborough teamed up with Netflix and Shondaland to create this opulent experience, so, naturally, it has been tried and tested by the season two cast of the much-loved show. Head to The Lanesborough Instagram to see the cast in the hotel from the second-season premiere.
Like the best French lace-encrusted ballgown, afternoon tea here does not come cheap, but it is the social event of the year. It would be a scandal to miss it.