Few places can claim to have shaped British dining culture quite like The Langham, London. Widely recognised as the birthplace of the hotel Afternoon Tea, having first served the experience commercially in 1865, Palm Court continues to honour that remarkable heritage while ensuring it remains firmly rooted in the present day.

This summer, The Langham's limited-edition Strawberry Season Afternoon Tea is a celebration of Britain's finest seasonal fruit, showcasing exceptional strawberries from Kent growers J Myatt & Co Ltd. More than simply a themed menu, it's an immersive experience that captures the nostalgia of an English summer while demonstrating the creativity and craftsmanship of the hotel's award-winning pastry team.

Ahead of sampling the Afternoon Tea, we sat down with Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Gravett to learn how one of London's most celebrated Afternoon Teas continues to evolve. For Chef Andrew, preserving The Langham's legacy isn't about recreating the past: it's about respecting it while allowing the food to continually evolve. "The tradition is in the building," he explained. "The hotel itself, the welcome guests receive, Palm Court, the Victorian-inspired crockery and tea stands all pay tribute to where Afternoon Tea began. Our job is to modernise the product."

That philosophy is evident throughout the experience. While the elegant surroundings remain timeless, the menu changes frequently, around six or seven times each year, to celebrate the very best seasonal ingredients. "Our inspiration starts with the seasons," Andrew said. "Sometimes it's a trend we've noticed, sometimes it's revisiting a classic recipe and finding a way to modernise it through flavour or texture. Inspiration can come from anywhere - even walking down the street."

Although the pastries are beautifully presented, Andrew is clear about where his priorities lie: "Flavour, flavour, flavour," he laughed. "Presentation is important because people enjoy seeing something beautiful, but if it doesn't taste good, there's no point." It's a refreshing philosophy in an era where many desserts are designed primarily for social media. At The Langham, every pastry is created with balance and clarity of flavour at its heart. Developing new creations is a collaborative process. Sometimes an idea comes together almost immediately, while others are refined over several weeks until the entire team is satisfied. "There isn't a set number of versions," Andrew explained. "Sometimes you're lucky and it works first time. More often it's developed little by little until we're happy to serve it."

The star of this seasonal menu is undoubtedly the strawberry - Working with Kent producer J Myatt & Co, Andrew and his team have spent time learning about the farm and the fruit itself. "We liked the strawberries so much that we decided to serve them just as they are," he said. That confidence shines through in one of the Afternoon Tea's most memorable moments.

At the centre of Palm Court sits an eye-catching chocolate replica of a traditional strawberry crate, paying homage to the fruit that defines the menu. It serves as both a striking centrepiece and a reminder that the quality of the ingredients is every bit as important as the artistry surrounding them. Guests are also presented with fresh Kent strawberries served simply alongside rich Kentish crème fraîche, allowing the fruit's natural sweetness to take centre stage without unnecessary embellishment.

One of the most impressive aspects of The Langham's offering is the care taken to accommodate dietary requirements. Andrew reflected on how dramatically guest expectations have changed over the past decade. "When I started nine years ago, we hardly had any requests," he explained. "Now a significant number of our guests have allergies or dietary requirements." Rather than producing obviously different alternatives, the pastry team now works to ensure vegan, gluten-free and other specialised menus look and feel every bit as luxurious as the standard Afternoon Tea. "We've learned so much over the years," he said. "Now we can make cakes that look almost identical. Sometimes guests are eating vegan or gluten-free pastries on the main menu without even realising." It's an approach that reflects genuine inclusivity rather than compromise.

When asked what truly makes an exceptional Afternoon Tea, Andrew's answer had little to do with pastries. "It's the welcome," he said. "From the moment guests walk through the door, it's about making them feel at home." That sentiment perfectly sums up the experience at The Langham. The food is exceptional, showcasing seasonal British produce with precision. The service is polished yet warm, and the interactive moments, from the chocolate strawberry crate to the freshly served strawberry ice cream cart, add personality.

The Strawberry Season Afternoon Tea doesn't rely solely on beautiful pastries to impress. It incorporates thoughtful interactive elements that bring a sense of occasion to the afternoon. One of the highlights is the bespoke strawberry ice cream cart, where homemade strawberry ice cream and refreshing strawberry sorbet are freshly served. It's a charming addition that adds theatre to the experience while reinforcing the seasonal focus of the menu.

Combined with the chocolate strawberry crate display, these interactive touches elevate the Afternoon Tea beyond a traditional service and create memorable moments throughout the meal.

The savoury selection provides an elegant beginning. The Champagne Cucumber sandwich combines elderflower and champagne-pickled cucumber with creamy stracciatella and kohlrabi for a light and refreshing start. The Aged Beef Sirloin is enhanced by black truffle, mascarpone and parmesan, while the Devon White Chicken Breast sandwich offers comforting familiarity elevated by sun-dried tomato pesto and fresh rocket.

The Highland smoked salmon, paired with fennel remoulade and preserved lemon, delivers vibrant freshness, and the Devilled Quail Egg Tartelette is perhaps the standout savoury.

The pastries then continue to impress. with a peach compote with delicate Laurent-Perrier foam for a dessert that genuinely captures the flavour of the classic cocktail. 'Made in Kent' beautifully showcases the star ingredient of the menu, layering Myatt's strawberries with crunchy biscuit and Hinxden Dairy crème fraîche to create a dessert that's both light and intensely fruity. For vanilla lovers, the vanilla tart combins Madagascan vanilla ganache, soaked sponge, almond sablé and mascarpone cream in a sophisticated celebration of one ingredient.

The sharing Pavlova provides a fitting finale with whipped cocoa nib cream, Vanuatu 66% chocolate crémeux and crisp, delicate meringues that offer contrasting textures in every spoonful.

No Afternoon Tea would be complete without scones, and The Langham's classic and raisin varieties are exactly as they should be: warm, light and fluffy, served with generous Cornish clotted cream and homemade seasonal preserves.

As a thoughtful finishing touch, guests are also presented with a packet of strawberry seeds to take home, extending the experience beyond Palm Court and offering the chance to grow a small reminder of a memorable Afternoon Tea long after the final course has been enjoyed.

Combined with Palm Court's historic surroundings and The Langham's rich heritage, this is an Afternoon Tea that successfully bridges Victorian tradition with modern creativity. For anyone looking to experience one of London's finest Afternoon Teas, The Langham's Strawberry Season Afternoon Tea is a celebration of British summer that feels both timeless and refreshingly contemporary.

Afternoon Tea at The Langham, London starts at £85pp. Please click here for more information and to book.