The Winter Garden at The Landmark must be one of London’s most awe-inspiring locations to have Afternoon Tea. The glass ceiling is over eight storeys high, sheltering numerous tall palm trees, emphasizing the elegance of the lounge.

Upon arriving, the mellow sounds of a pianist playing beautifully further adds to the ambiance. When we were handed the menu, we were told that whilst normally tea is the only aspect of a set Afternoon Tea menu that can be selected, The Palms High Tea has the option of no less than five varying preserves to choose from, to accompany the warm scones.

The tea menu had a selection of black, white, green, oolong and herbal teas as well as the hotel’s own blends. The weather was extremely hot on our visit and the team at The Landmark were more than happy to serve these iced for us, presented beautifully in cocktail classes with mini jugs of syrups to sweeten as we pleased.

Once we had made our choices, we were served a selection of sandwiches. Sticking with tradition, all the filings are quintessential to an Afternoon Tea. Served on a variety of bread you will find egg mayonnaise and mustard cress, smoked Scottish salmon, classic cucumber and my personal favourite, the coronation chicken – which was served on a walnut bread.

Whilst simple, they are done very well and trays of refills are constantly floating around the parlour should you require a refill of your favourite sandwich (or two!).

Then onto the scones: These may be some of London’s most perfect. They are served warm and crumble oh so perfectly revealing their soft interior. The slightly crisp crust stays firm as the clotted cream oozes as it melts into the warm centre and they are just a delight to indulge in. Having the option of five preserves to further enhance the flavour just makes this scone experience even more special!

Whilst it was difficult to choose between Rhubarb Redcurrant & Vanilla, Bergeron Apricot, Strawberry, Raspberry Deluxe and London Marmalade, we went for the first two to experience new flavours and it did not disappoint. The rhubarb was sharp but sweetened by the vanilla and redcurrant and it just worked so well married with the clotted cream. The apricot, whilst a slighter safer option was too full of flavour.

Finally onto the most magical part of the experience, the patisserie. Four dainty mini desserts lay beautifully upon a China platter and take centre stage. They are almost too pretty to destroy – each piece is decorated with intricate details and they are such a joy to admire! Our visit was in Summer and The Landmark change their menu seasonally, ensuring the freshest produce is used. Our pastries were therefore inspired by summer fruits, including strawberries, cherries, peaches and raspberries.

The macaron was strawberry flavoured and the filling had a mint infusion, reminiscent of typical British summer flavours. A crisp tartlet was filled with a vanilla cream, topped with black cherries and pistachio giving a different texture to the dessert. The choux was covered with a crisp croquant, topped with a with a chocolate hat, piped cream and piped with a yellow peach and lemon verbena filling. Whilst a bit difficult to tuck into, it is well worth the mess!

We were kindly offered to pack up any food we could not finish, and handed them in a lovely Landmark box.

Afternoon Tea at The Landmark is a truly wonderful experience. The atmosphere is relaxed, whilst still having an air of elegance and the location is one of London’s most magnificent.

Afternoon Tea at The Landmark London is served every day. View Details