Afternoon Tea at Waldorf Hilton

Posted by Mike Gerrard Nov 30, 2006

The Waldorf Hilton is inviting guests to enjoy a slice of the hotel’s iconic history along with their deliciously decadent contemporary English Afternoon Tea. At 3pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, guests will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the hotel discovering interesting tales and historical facts about the Waldorf and the Aldwych area. This is followed by an afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, Waldorf baked scones and clotted cream, and one of Chef Patissiere Colin Bennett’s exquisite cakes accompanied by a selection of fresh leaf teas and a glass of champagne. This traditional menu item has been served in the hotel since its opening in 1908.

The Waldorf, known as The Waldorf Hilton since January 2004, has an illustrious history dating back to that 1908 opening. Set in the heart of London’s theatre land, the hotel has attracted a string of stars from all over the world. Gertrude Lawrence, Sir Thomas Beecham, Elizabeth Taylor, Pavarotti, Pierce Brosnan and Dame Judi Dench are just a handful of show business icons who have stayed at the hotel.

The Aldwych was built as a wide tree lined crescent developed for King George VII to get his carriage more effortlessly from Buckingham Palace to the East End and eradicated swaths of undesirable slum dwellings in the greatest land clearances since the Great Fire of 1666. The Aldwych has served since then as the hub of theatre, and the Beaux-Arts classical Waldorf Hotel sits between the famous Novello Theatre which itself has been through a number of transformations since it opened as The Waldorf Theatre in 1906 and the Aldwych Theatre that opened in 1905.

The Waldorf Hilton Afternoon Tea and Historical Tour is priced at £29.50, including a complimentary glass of champagne. Homage Patisserie is open for Afternoon Tea from 2.30pm to 5.30pm daily and the history tours are at 3pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For further information and to book contact +00 44 (0)20 7836 2400 and visit the Waldorf Hilton website for accommodation information.