How to experience "tea" without the high price
 

I am taking my 14 year old granddaughter to London as a birthday present . She would like to experiencent "tea", but she is a finicky eater and will not eat anything offered at tea. She just would like the experience. Any recommendations for an inexpensive tea experience would be appreciated..?

Also any recommendations for restaurants near Victoria station that have good food me and my DH, but offer pizza or hamburgers for my granddaughter would be appreciated..

We have ordered afternoon tea several times at Richoux, which has a number of branches in London. It has all of the items you expect from afternoon tea, and you can order it for one or two people. Their entire menu is offered at the same time, so your group can order other food instead of tea if you would like.

Agree that Richoux is fine for a casual afternoon tea. Can't imagine that she won't like at least some of the pastries even if she doesn't like any of the little sandwiches or the scones.

And yes, they serve a full lunch (and I think even a light early dinner) so if she really wants something else she can get it (but not pizza or burger).

There is one not far from Harrods which might make sense.

Sorry - double checked the menu and they even have a burger if she wants (don't think they did when I was there - or perhaps I just wasn't looking).

How about Valerie Patisserie? It is a chain and I've gone to the one in Edinburgh. I've had their tea for two as well as one time only having a Ceaser salad. It was fine for us and causal. I thought about trying one of their locations near Victoria station later this month on the day I arrive and jet lagged. I just know the one in Victoria station doesn't serve the tea for two but the other locations do.

http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk

Oh and since I am staying near Victoria station too, I am also going to try another chain resturant that I tried while in Edinburgh. I found two locations in the Victoria area so made a reservation at one since I will be there for Easter and they are open. It's a pub chain so take a look as they have burgers http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk but we are going for their barbecue sauce.

I was once a fan of Richoux's but no longer. Guess it's because I remember how it was in the 90's and it's just not as nice IMO. However it may be fine for those who never experienced the old Richoux's. At many of their restaurants you are likely to be seated downstairs which, honestly, can be a bit dark.

I have a couple of suggestions. The Orangery in Kensington Park does a decent afternoon tea at a reasonable price and is a lovely spot.. I beIieve the price is about £ 27/28 for a typical tea. They do offer a children's tea. Another good option is Ruben's at the Palace which is less than a ten minute walk from Victoria Station. Their regular afternoon tea is £ 32.50, but they also have just tea and selection of scones for £19.50 and a Little Prince and Princess Tea for £15.50 ( under 12 ) which is a smaller version of their regular tea. A very nice venue also. Have a look at their website for menus etc. www.rubenshotel.com and for the Orangery www.orangerykensingtonpalace.co.uk

The Wallace Collection and the British Museum both have afternoon tea. If you are planning on visiting either museum, you can book a table for tea.

if your granddaughter isn't likely to eat sandwiches and scones and pastry, you may want to settle for tea and cakes, rather than an afternoon tea.

I'm just curious: if your granddaughter doesn't like any of the food offered at afternoon tea, what part of the experience does she want to have?

You might take her to Fortnum & Mason's, where she can have ice cream instead of the traditional tea menu.

Underhill's question is important.

If you want a mid-afternoon cup of something caffeinated with a few light nibbles, London's stuffed with such places, Richoux, Patisserie Valerie and most major museums are fine and all will serve food that's not just cakes and cucumber sandwiches.

If someone's seen posh old bats sitting in splendidly art-directed settings with uniformed flunkeys contriving to use dozens of different kinds of silver equipment to pour a cup of tea out: all those actors, central London real estate and antique silver cost a fortune, you're not going to see much change out of £35-£60 a head, and the traditional English response to picky adolescent eaters is to tell them to eat what they're given or it's bed without supper. So don't expect menus that pander to brats' fads.

There are alternatives, though they're getting rare in central London. There's the fuggy tea shop with home-made cakes (Maids of Honour in Kew is the classic, and High Tea of Highgate in Highgate is a modern tweak: such places are rare in thge centre) where many normal elderly Englishwomen of all ages still meet each other or their godchildren: there's the straightforward greasy spoon (still a few lurking in the hinterland of the major railway stations) and there are dozens of stylish, generally post-modern central London tweaks on the basic Downton formula with completely different food and gadgets, but still costing £25 and up.

Google ' "afternoon tea" London ' and browse the tsunami of "10 best teas in London" articles to see the range of recent variations on a once dying theme.

But nowhere are you going to find a three-decker cake stand and silver service teasets serving pizza.

Try looking at the options here

Www.afternoontea.co.uk

Your 14 year old granddaughter is probably looking for the experience, rather than the food, of an afternoon tea, so what does it matter whether or not she eats the nibbles? Afternoon tea is meant to tide one over during the long period between lunch and a late dinner.

If you want a "Downton Abbey" experience you will pay dearly for it. If all you want is a cup of tea in the afternoon, there are lots of places you can go. Your granddaughter can have her hamburger or pizza for lunch or dinner, maybe with a Coca Cola.

If she's looking for the experience, then you're looking for a slightly formal setting.

I suppose that she could sit at the table and watch you having tea without eating anything. She could then have her burger afterwards.

A 14 year old who doesn't eat cake?

"elderly Englishwomen of all ages"

I love this.

Thanks so much for all of your replies.

My granddaughter would like to see what the tea experience is like (getting dressed up, the tea pouring and fussy service, the ambience of the place, the viewing of others) without actually drinking the tea or eating anything except perhaps a small piece of cake). Although I consider myself an indulgent grandmother, I just can't bring myself to pay the equivalent of USD120 for her to see an be seen. Because of the exchange rate, and the expensive admission prices for many sights,this is going to be a very expensive trip to begin with. So adding a tea service that won't be consumed seems a little excessive.

I think the idea of ice cream at a fancy place like Fortnum and Mason's might do. At least she would enjoy the ice cream.

Also, would it be considered correct to order tea for one (not that I'm interested in the tea sandwiches or scones either) and have her sit and share the experience? Unfortuately, I can't order a child's tea for her as she is almost 14.

Also, any more recommendations for good casual restaurants near Victoria Station or the theatre district would be appreciated.

A lot of places now do afternoon teas - which essentially means finger sandwiches, scones, then cakes and pastries, usually served on a tiered stand, but are not necessarily posh - could be a department store or a small independent café.

For fussing/obsequious service, maybe someone playing a piano, opulent furnishings etc that would specifically mean one of the posh older hotels. And tbh a lot of them are trying to do something more modern/funky like the themed teas now anyway (eg Alice in Wonderland, Pret a Porter), so it might not be the fussy old fashioned experience you were expecting. At those, afternoon tea is often offered for set hours and I doubt the burger alternative would always be available tbh

I'd be amazed if your granddaughter wouldn't like sandwiches, scones and cakes - but if you really think she'd not touch much of the food it would be a total waste of time and money imho. Not everyone will be dressed up and the service might be modern and efficient rather than Downton Abbey stuffy, so she might not even get the viewing pleasure aspect tbh.

If you go to Richoux they do have ice cream as well as the usual tea servings, have iced tea as well as a selection of hot teas (and even soft drinks from their lunch menu). But do note that Richoux is a cafe - it's not going to be a super formal tea - although much more so than a MickeyD's or a diner.

If she can;t find something to eat there - she'll have a lot of problems finding anything to eat anywhere (is she limited to chicken fingers and pizza?).

Perhaps this trip is a chance to expand her options - that is, after all, one of hte joys of travel.

"and the traditional English response to picky adolescent eaters is to tell them to eat what they're given or it's bed without supper. So don't expect menus that pander to brats' fads."

right on

"admission prices", maybe you are selecting the wrong places, apart from the Tower of London I cannot think of anywhere I'd like to go with an admission charge in London.

Where are you going and maybe we could suggest the freebie version?

You are correct that she is the chicken fingers, pizza and hamburger type. She has expanded her taste to include some Chinese food dishes. Perhaps we could find a good Chinese restaurant near our hotel.

She would never agree to expand her food options. We've tried that many times and the answer is always "No thanks". No problems with ice cream and cake, though. As a matter of fact, she heard that they serve ice cream at some theaters and she is looking forward to that. What can I say. She is no foodie, although DH and I are.

Bilboburgler-We are going to the Tower of London, St. Paul's Church to climb to the top , Hampton Court or Windsor Castle, and possibly the London Eye (though I hope not). DH is going to the Churchill War rooms.