The Orangery Restaurant

English restaurant · Kensington Palace Gardens

The Orangery Restaurant

English restaurant · Kensington Palace Gardens
Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom

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The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null
The Orangery Restaurant by null

Highlights

Afternoon tea with scones, pastries & sandwiches in garden  

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Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom Get directions

hrp.org.uk
@historicroyalpalaces

$$$ · Menu

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Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 20 3206 7781
hrp.org.uk
@historicroyalpalaces
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@hrp_palaces

$$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 11, 2025

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Friederike Christandl

Google
The Orangery in Kensington is a beautiful restaurant with a wonderful ambiance. We had a wonderful time at the end of July 2025. The drinks were all excellent, and the service was particularly friendly and extremely service-oriented. We would like to thank the lovely Eliana and her colleagues! We would love to come back.

Grupo MD Networking

Google
We booked a tour of Kensington Palace today, and at the end of it we were treated to afternoon tea at The Orangery. It is a beautiful place in Kensington Gardens. Inside, it is beautifully decorated and decorated. The service is excellent and the atmosphere is pleasantly relaxed. The service is excellent. The pastries, sandwiches and tea are excellent, the delicacy in the details of the desserts is great. We recommend this place for afternoon tea.

Sherry Duncan

Google
When I recently visited London I knew I had a few bucket list items .. and High Tea ranked high on the list. After researching I found this beautiful tea at this spectacular location. Sitting near the window sipping on tea and eating the beautifully decorated tray of snacks it wasn’t hard to imagine Diana playing with the boys at the pond just beyond the front entry. The service was excellent and the whole tea was an experience I will never forget. Cost - pricy - but once in a lifetime worth it. (Please note Our cost included a private tour of the garden- I know you can simply go for tea as an option). Kensington Palace was closed the day I went and is under renovations - but if this is important to you do a little research. Pip pip and tally ho good lads!

Megan M

Google
Lovely location for afternoon tea. The building is beautiful so worth just popping in for a cup of tea regardless of your plans. That said, the afternoon tea setting was very nice - in particular the coronation chicken wrap and the scones. The sweets looked beautiful, but were a bit more on the bland side with the exception of the chocolate square. Nice tea assortment to suit every taste as well.

Baby Pink

Google
The food and cocktails were divine from presentation to taste. Our waiter Giorgian was very polite, knowledgeable and extremely kind. He looked after our table making us feel like royalty in every little detail. The Orangery is a magical and historically significant venue. A special thank you to Giorgian. The service was impeccable. And congratulations to the entire staff team. You all made our day so special! Highly recommend.

Simone Mozerle Teixeira

Google
Although I have been living in Kensington for a while, last Saturday was my first visit to the Orangery Restaurant. I ordered a chocolate fondant that melted in my mouth; it was incredibly delicious, and the presentation on the plate was stunning. A friendly Brazilian waitress served me, which made the experience even better. I will definitely return to try more dishes from the menu, as everything looked fantastic.

Jia Lin

Google
We arrived on a very sunny and warm day and with no fan or air conditioning, the indoor seating area is a bit too warm for us, especially the table arranged for us is a bit tiny which makes the entire experience less enjoyable. And because it's very warm, the staff all looked a bit tired and rushed in long sleeves shirts and trousers. Can't help but feel sorry for them. Luckily the gentleman who served our table still managed to keep his smile and make us feel welcome. The three of us ordered a set of afternoon tea, the lamb pie and the chicken salad. The food was very good.

Marcela Tissi

Google
I went with my friend to the afternoon tea and it was an unique experience. We reserved a table in front of the window with a view of the garden, perfect. I would like to thank the hostess Nessa who welcomed us and also the dear and attentive waitress Eliana who served us. She recommended the teas to drink and explained to us the whole experience. It was incredible, the environment is impeccable and well lit. I highly recommend it!
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Evan F.

Yelp
For our friend's 60th birthday celebration, we dressed up and came here for Afternoon Tea service. The setting is truly lovely as we settled in for this mid-afternoon feast. The service is impeccable and friendly, they did a wonderful job of guiding us through the options and how the meal would unfold. We started with a round of drinks (Pimm's Cups and sparkling wine) before the actual teapots and towered goodie arrived. The food came prepared on a three-tiered serving platter with finger sandwiches at the bottom (lox, curry chicken, cream cheese with cucumber, etc.), scones with clotted cream and jams in the middle and finally a decadent selection of desserts on the top. Everyone loved sampling the various delicacies and we paired them with a number of different tea options throughout the meal. A very memorable experience for us, and a magical day for our birthday girl!
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Kimberly D.

Yelp
We got the perfect seats! We got really lucky! The pastries, every single pastry, was not good. Left so much to be desired. Especially for the price you pay. Tiers Pastries: 0/5 Scones: 4/5 Sandwiches: 3/5 Tea: 4/5 Food Overall: The sandwiches were pretty tasty for the most part. And the scones were also decent. Service: The service was nice. Ambiance: The ambiance is what you come here for since food seems to be okay and pastries are awful.
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Millie B.

Yelp
A stones throw away from Kensington palace, the Orangery offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. We went on a week day without reservations and were promptly seated by a window overlooking the gardens. We ordered the afternoon tea set for two however, we were only given one. I think there was bit of a language barrier to start. Anyways, everything went well. The service is efficient and the food good. I would highly recommend. The price for each person is £55.
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Sandy Y.

Yelp
Beautiful spot in the Kensington Gardens, overseeing the palace. They offer food, drinks, and afternoon tea. I decided to walk in and enjoy some light bites and tease. With relaxing, jazzy music and decor matches the regality connected with the history. The service was impeccable, the servers being very accommodating and offering refills whenever the pot is empty. I got the classic afternoon tea set and switched out one of the tea sandwiches (only thing that can be changed from the tiers). The finger sandwiches were delight. I didn't care too much for the scones or sweet bites.
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Sarah L.

Yelp
Very friendly service! Good wait-staff and super courteous and friendly. I ordered the Eggs Benedict minus the muffin, they were able to oblige my dietary restrictions. I also ordered the vanilla chai, and enjoyed the experience immensely. The ambiance is bright and sophisticated! Highly recommend!
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Benjamin S.

Yelp
Was taking a tour of Kensington palace and decided we had to do a traditional English tea. Luckily the Orangery is right next door. Made a booking very easily through their website for after the tour. Building is beautiful, but sleeker on the inside. Service was attentive. Ordered one afternoon tea plus a spring vegetable soup. Soup was delicious and came with two bread rolls. Tea service came with sandwiches, two scones, pastries and unlimited refill on the tea. I thought it was good quality and the portion was also adequate. Less pricey than some other places in town plus you get that great setting. Recommended.
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Chris H.

Yelp
The atmosphere inside was beautiful to say the least. We unfortunately did not make it in the first time we arrived as they were fully booked. The lovely lady at the front was kind enough to help us with a reservation the next morning at 10AM for High Tea. The food was worth the wait as my wife and I split a tier between the two of us. She had the Earl Gray which was recommended to her by the waitress. I, not being a tea guy, ordered a cappuccino and it was just what the doctor ordered after being jet lagged for a few days. If you are in the area I highly recommend getting dressed up, putting the cellphone away, and enjoying tea with the one you love here.
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T N.

Yelp
Wonderful place to experience lunch at Kensington castle. We say outdoors and enjoyed the open grounds with our tea. I was never a tea person, but have to admit this experienced opened my mind. Had the Lousong tea and it had dimensions I didn't think tea could have. Smoky, lightly sweet and aromatic. Plus the traditional British experience and great service from the staff. Oh ya, the mushroom ravioli was amazing. The sauteed spinach under the ravioli was a pleasant surprise Highly recommended.
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Racquel S.

Yelp
Took afternoon tea here last week. The atmosphere inside was lovely but very crowded. I enjoyed my experience on the outdoor patio that directly faced the gardens. Important to note: this restaurant is directly on the Kensington Palace grounds. If you are American, don't be surprised that there aren't any security checks :). Also, quite a bit of walking to get to it, depending on the entrance you use. The waitress was kind. The sweet treats were my favorite. If you need an actual meal they have a decent menu as well. I'd go back.
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Chloe W.

Yelp
If you're looking for a classic Afternoon Tea in London, look no further than The Orangery at Kensington Palace. Between the price, the service, and the food, this is definitely a good option for tourists who want the afternoon tea experience. We chose to visit here after seeing the price - £36 per person! - and its proximity to the gardens at Kensington. We arrived late and had to change the number of people on our reservation, yet the staff was very accommodating. The price includes a pot of tea per person and a tower of sweet and savory treats. Juice, champagne, and additional food can be purchased a la carte. As tourists, we definitely enjoyed our experience, even those of us who weren't tea drinkers!
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Ben C.

Yelp
We made reservations online but never received confirmation but they willingly seated us. I was surprised there was no particular dress code. You'll notice some customers are dress smartly and others dressed very causally. Inside seating was a bit noisy and the setting and ambiance seemed very upscale. It was nice outside so we decided to enjoy the outdoors with less noise. The ladies in our party chose High Tea while the men chose other available entrees. The individual sandwiches were very tasty as the desserts. Service was attentive and above exceptional.
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David T.

Yelp
I wish the staff would have been more attentive to providing more hot water for our pots.
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Paul M.

Yelp
Terrific find for an afternoon tea right outside Kensington Palace , the serivce was fast and tea with scones were very good. The prices are reasonable and it has a great atmosphere inside with a terrific patio area.
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Angelica G.

Yelp
Best tea time ever. Plus is baby friendly. We enjoyed very much our time there and we recommend it to everyone.
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Nicole G.

Yelp
The magic of being by Kensington Palace is really what makes this experience special. The food is nothing special - not great, but not bad. The table setting, the dishware, and the gorgeous plating makes for some great photo opps - it's just all so pretty! My biggest critique is that we visited August 2023 and it was 80 degrees Fahrenheit that day and there were no fans and no AC. It was unbearably hot in the tent and everyone around us was asking for water for the duration of our afternoon tea. Other than that, this is the only high tea I would recommend for any visitor to London just because of the proximity to my favorite royal residence, Kensington Palace.
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Rosa C.

Yelp
Beautiful location in Hyde Park with outstanding service & food quality, everything was fantastic. Loved the decor & environment.

F L.

Yelp
Closed in 2017 for renovation. Re-open May 1, 2024. Preview March 29 - April 30. The interior looks quite different from before the renovation: New chairs, no tablecloths.
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Whitnie B.

Yelp
Lovely tea service next to Kensington gardens desserts and sandwiches with your choice of tea
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Alden S.

Yelp
This might have been one of the worst establishments I have ever had the misfortune of coming across. We waited for twenty minutes for service then another twenty for food. The service guilted us into buying more then we wanted and were nasty and snobbish. Almost no food was served. Which include a butter and bread sandwich cut with a cookie cutter. Worst of all on the bill they added a tip of 11 pounds for some of the worst food and service I've ever encountered.
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Mark B.

Yelp
Wow. Simply an amazing place. Excellent ambiance. Food was spectacular. We came as a family and service was great. Make a reservation before you visit the palace.

Deborah M.

Yelp
I'm only giving one star because there is not an option of zero stars. The "service" was terrible and the food lousy. The waiter never once checked on our table. Don't waste your money. It is not the afternoon tea experience that I you will enjoyed.
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Torie B.

Yelp
We LOVED our afternoon tea at Kensington Palace Pavilion! We were two adults and two children, ages 3 and 4. Please don't think you can't enjoy a lovely afternoon tea with small children. It was lovely, the service was perfect, and the children enjoyed their food selections. I happened upon Kensington Palace Pavilion while searching for places near Hyde Park and Kensington Palace where we could eat lunch. I had been looking up afternoon tea options throughout London, and had accepted that we likely wouldn't go to one because they can be so pricey; especially when you're a family and the young children don't necessarily want nor understand the novelty. I felt the price was quite reasonable, so I made a lunchtime reservation for us. We had two umbrella strollers with us, which the staff tucked away in a coat storage for us. I bring this up because traveling with small children can be a challenge. Not all places overseas are ADA friendly, and therefore not always stroller-friendly. It can be hard to find facilities to change diapers in, and hard to feel your children are even welcome in various establishments. This place checked all the family-friendly boxes. Our children had the children's afternoon tea that was smaller portions and had juice instead of tea if we wished. There was a family bathroom with a changing table. And as many already know, the Palace grounds are at Hyde Park and very close to Princess Diana's Memorial Playground. All in all, it was a lovely experience and I recommend considering afternoon tea here, or checking out the breakfast, lunch, or dinner menus.

Stephen N.

Yelp
We stumbled in here, jet-lagged, after flying in from the US. The tea service was exactly what we needed, and the ambience was great.
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Noah R.

Yelp
The Orangery had to close unexpectedly on the day we had reservations due to an issue with their water. While it's understandable that these things happen, the staff was extremely dismissive of all the customers they had to turn away. They simply offered a half hearted apology and offered to reschedule. Of course the majority of guests were in from out of town and had no way to reschedule. They also did not notify anybody who had reservations when they closed because they still wanted us to show up so they could try to reschedule us. When I pushed for them to do something to compensate all their out of town customers who were extremely disappointed and inconvenienced by this unfortunate situation, they had zero compassion or understanding and simply repeated over and over that there was nothing they can do. You would hope a business with their reputation and resources would put more effort into customer service when something like this happens, but you really learn about how a business values its customers in situations like this.

Sion A.

Yelp
The food was lovely, the tea was lovelier, and the service was the loveliest. Our server Eliana made sure that we had everything that we needed and kept our teapots full. Can't visit London without trying this spot out!
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Margret D.

Yelp
The afternoon tea was delightful. The staff was helpful, knowledgeable, and kind to answer all our questions. The afternoon tea can be easily shared by 2. It was truly an amazing experience.

Genevieve S.

Yelp
The setting was lovely, but not enough to cancel out the poor service, marginal food, and high prices. I had decided to splurge due to the location, knowing from reviews that tea was more expensive than most other places with less food, but we left disappointed and feeling like we got snookered.

Rob S.

Yelp
Wow, this was one of the worst places i've ever been to. Firstly, the service was atrocious. We waited around twenty minutes to be served, another twenty for our food to come and even longer for our check. I've never previously given one star to an establishment.

James S.

Yelp
Lots to like, but once served, service was non-existent. No Darjeeling, No Service. Begged to get a check.
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Lexi M.

Yelp
Supposedly this place is under construction so there is a modified version next to it that I went to. My waiter was extremely nice. I ordered a Darjeeling tea, and it came in a nice tea pot. It's a very quiet and elegant environment, but also very welcoming. For some reason my card wasn't working to pay for my tea and the manager put it on the house, which I thought was very shwae of him to do.
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Susan K.

Yelp
The temporary tent is drab, dark and depressing. There is no decor, very little lighting, no ambience, it's cold, and the service was mediocre. Overall, it was a pathetic attempt for an afternoon tea especially at a Palace. There is no reason why there could not be some interior design elements to make it more attractive even if it's temporary. a few days later, Facebook cruelly reminded me that I was last at Kensington palace Pavillon for Tea in 2017. When you compare the two photos side-by-side, there is no comparison. The service was just as pathetic as the setting. Food and tea? Certainly not memorable.

Joelle C.

Yelp
We had a group of 17 people traveling from the United States. I was in charge of making the reservation for lunch and teatime! we had plenty of food for everyone (good size portions) with a starter, main dish and dessert plus afternoon tea snacks. Our waitress Mousse (hope I am spelling that right) was so delightful and helpful! we really enjoyed our time at the pavilion at Kensington gardens and the food was delicious. Wish we could have afternoon tea everyday!
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Arash E.

Yelp
I truly enjoyed this place: food, scenery and service. They were all excellent. Sure, it is more toward the expensive side of the spectrum, but to me it was worth it. We ended up having a meal (instead of their famous tea and cake) and it was a pleasure

Barbara F.

Yelp
beautiful setting, excellent tea fare and wonderful service from Matthew. a lovely follow up to our tour of the Palace
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Ken C.

Yelp
Sadly the Orangery was closed for renovations, but fortunately, betwixt it and the Sunken Garden is a rather posh pavilion set up to serve lunch and high tea like the Orangery used to do. I had wanted to take my family there for high tea (to recreate a memorable tea that I had there on a visit 25 years ago), but was quite happy to settle for an elegant lunch at the substitute pavilion that took its place (until the Orangery is back on its feet in 2020). On this visit, we opted for lunch rather than tea - although the tea offerings looked most tempting. But we went with the French-influenced lunch menu and had roasted duck breast or a roast chicken with tarragon mushroom cream sauce, scalloped potatoes, and sauteed greens. The meal was delicious and elegantly presented by a courteous and polite wait staff, and it was a most relaxing experience. We felt like royalty amongst the crisp white tablecloths, the view of the Sunken Garden, and the gloriously clement weather.
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Ava S.

Yelp
I had the opportunity to have High Tea at Kensington Palace with my school group, and the experience was amazing! I had the Wildberry Tea and it was for sure one of the best cups of tea I've ever had. The food towers were also delicious, with yummy pastries, sandwiches, and desserts. The china and glassware here are also gorgeous, making for a very delicate and aesthetically-pleasing appearance. I would 100% recommend this to anyone visiting London who likes tea!
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Stephanie J.

Yelp
An afternoon tea experience is a must while in London. At The Orangery afternoon tea is served from 12:00 to 18:00. You have your choice of English Orangery Afternoon Tea (tea only) or Royal Afternoon Tea (add a glass of booze). Boyfriend chose a black tea, Afternoon at the Palace, while I went with a class of Merlot Rose Spumante. The drinks, sandwiches, scones and pastries were all amazing. Tip: Make reservations in advance.
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Emi K.

Yelp
I'm sad this is temporarily closed... they must be remodeling. This was one of my most memorable memories in London. The finger sandwiches and macaroons are amazing. What a fancy brunch I had with my mom here. I would recommend visiting this and walking through Kensington Palace after brunch. It's absolutely a great day!
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Steven S H C.

Yelp
It was on my tourist to do list while in London. Done that and I wouldn't repeat. If I knew what I know now, could have saved major bucks and didn't even bothered with it. Atmosphere: nothing to note or talk about. Bright, spacious and tall ceiling. Does that count? Food: basic. Very basic. Service: very slow * plates are worn out. Toilets are outside and looks unsafe. We were greeted professionally and seated by the window over looking the garden toward Kensington Palace. Nothing special but better than seated next to the wall. It was still cool so out door seating was not available. We opted for the afternoon tea for two. It took while to come back with our tea. Food took even longer and I was worried my tea would get cold. Yes, that long. Yes, we were there to experience the EXPERIENCE but there was nothing to experience. My money down the drain.
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Rob L.

Yelp
The Orangery is the perfect place to indulge in a traditional English high tea experience after a visit to the Kensington Palace and Garden. Tip: Admissions are required only if you visit the Kensington Palace. If you visit only the garden and the restaurant, no tickets are required. The restaurant is elegant in a way that is simple yet sophisticated, but not overly opulent. The vibes are relaxed, cool, and unpretentious. Service was a bit slow in the beginning. We were seated for about ten minutes before our server greeted us. Our server did apologize for the wait and she was upbeat and friendly. She offered to take pictures for us with the high tea setting which I think was a very nice gesture. She offered to do the same for other customers too. So I'm sure she is used to doing this numerous times a day every day. In fact, she is a pro - she took some very nice pictures for us at the perfect angles! An afternoon tea set comes complete with the following: -- A selection of finger sandwiches which include turkey and cranberry, ham with my favorite English mustard, egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon, and cucumber & mint. -- Two different types of freshly baked scones (that day we had a plain vanilla one and a currant scone) served with English jams. (Compared with American jams, the English version is usually fruitier in taste, only lightly sweet, and not sugary.) -- An assortment of pastries and mousses. The day we were there we had a slice of Christmas fruit cake, a key lime mousse, a cherry pastry among other goodies. The fruit cake, with a rich aroma of rum, was very yummy and was my favorite sweet of the day. -- Your choice of tea or coffee (when in England for high tea, forget about coffee and order tea.) If you like a very strong cup of tea, try the Palace Breakfast which is a blend of Assam and Ceylon black teas. I personally like the Afternoon at the Palace which is a black tea with a smoother and lighter taste. It was a delightful experience and I won't hesitate for a second to do this again the next time I'm in London.
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Charlene S.

Yelp
Strangely enough, I thought this place was just ok in terms of afternoon tea. Caveat- vegetarian review. And I've only ever experienced this one, so it might just be me. View & ambiance- great. Spacious place w/high ceilings & lots of space between you & the next person. View of the lawn near Kensington Palace/Garden was nice (not every seat will be near a window, though). Vegetarian afternoon tea: Tea- best part. The teas all have different flavors and if you ask the server, they can help give you details. Comes with cream & sugar if you want that. You get 1 pot and one type of tea. Sandwiches- just ok. Cucumber & mint, cheese & what was apple? Or pear? Egg salad that was pretty bland, tomato and something or other. Bread was your average white bread. Biscuits- came with some jam and clotted cream. Both were pretty good. Not outstanding, but quite good. Desserts- kind of, boring? Just ok. 2 out of the 3 were mousses. The last one was a cake that was just, normal. Nothing memorable. Really not worth the cost.
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Dave W.

Yelp
While in London, I wanted to treat my wife to a proper English tea. Why not at a Kensington Palace I thought to make the experience most memorable? I easily made the reservations online and we made sure we dressed for the occasion. I even learned how to fold pocket squares to complete the look for my suit! Purple is my 2016 color of choice and purple shirt with purple paisley tie is how I offset the black jacket. I think I looked smashing, especially compared to a few guests, let's call them barbarians, who wore jeans to English high tea at the The Orangery. I know you can but does that mean you should? We took an Uber and splurged for a select model for once. It was nice tooling around London in a spacious Audi A6. However, we discovered finding this place was a bit tricky. Luckily, a palace guard gave us directions to drive down a pedestrian walkway and then walk through a gate to The Orangery. The interior was quite spacious and serene. The only shortcoming was the lack of music but we enjoyed our conversation instead! Lukas, the manager, was quite friendly and even forgave me my transgression for ordering a double espresso with my tea. I consumed it quickly and they took away the offending cup immediately to dispose of the evidence. When we found our table to be slightly tippy, Lukas graciously explained the building was created in 1689 and the floors were no longer perfectly level. He adjusted the table and all was well! We selected the tea with champagne course because, well, because we could! Nothing makes tea better than champagne after all! Agree? The scones and jam were tasty as well as the little tea sandwiches. The china everything was served on was truly royal and stunning in its timeless beauty! The highlight for me were the desserts which were all scrumptious! One was a lemon mouse with a meringue topping. The next was a wonderful fruit cake with creamy frosting. Finally, there was a creamy chocolate confection covered in sweet, crunchy caramel. I tried all three with no regrets! I highly recommend the experience, once in your life. Just do it.
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Mary T.

Yelp
When in London... You must have afternoon tea! And what better place to do it than at the Kensington Palace? I really enjoyed my time at the Orangery. I recommend making a reservation. It is accessible with the tube. The tea room is so lovely! I like the high ceilings and wide windows. We sat by the windows and it was really bright and sunny. At one point, I had to wear my sunglasses. We came here for the afternoon tea. Each person gets his/her own tea pot so don't worry about compromising on the tea to order. I ordered the organic Chinese sencha and it was so fragrant, light, and soothing. If you like green tea, I recommend trying that. My favorites from the tea set are smoked salmon and cream cheese mini bagel and cucumber and fresh mint sandwich. The staff members here are very attentive and friendly. The only part I did not like about this place is that the restrooms are outdoors, which makes it a little inconvenient. After the afternoon tea, you can take a nice stroll around the garden and Kensington Palace!
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Idy T.

Yelp
When in London, one must have afternoon tea. And what better place to have afternoon tea than The Orangery at Kensington Palace, the residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century? I made a reservation in advance and wandered around the gardens in the palace on my way to the restaurant. The restaurant is very grand with tall ceilings. It definitely feels like I was one of the royals. While I was at the restaurant I also learned a brief history of how afternoon tea came about. It was back in the 19th century when Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford complained of a "sinking feeling" in the late afternoon. Back in the days the British had 2 main meals during the day, which was breakfast and dinner. Anna then had her servants bring in a pot of tea and some light snacks for her in private in the late afternoon. Then later, Anna started invited her friends over during this hour to join her for afternoon tea and snack. At my visit in London, I got a taste of enjoying tea at the royal palace! For £27.50 per person, you get a nice selection of sandwiches and pastries and a choice of your own tea pot or coffee. The scones and pastries were amazing. The sandwiches were delicious. I especially like the ham sandwich. For some reason it reminds me of the sandwiches in Hong Kong, which is heavily influenced by the British because it was a British colony for over 150 years. I got the earl grey tea and it was lovely and paired well with the food. The service was also really good. The server was attentive and courteous. I am also a sucker for people who speak to me in British accent. I was overall impressed by my experience here!

Jenny V.

Yelp
Such a traditional, elegant English tea. My husband and I really wanted to try this experience while in London and we were not disappointed. The setting in Kensington Palace Gardens was beautiful and serene and the meal overall was a great value for 44 GBP each. We had plenty of tea, finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and desserts as well, with a glass of sparkling rosé. It was a wonderful and classy lunch experience before touring the palace!
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Bao T.

Yelp
What's a trip to London without having afternoon tea? We got the royal tea and that was amazing. It tastes a little like earl grey and that's my favorite. The meal also comes with a couple sandwiches, scones, and several desserts. The best sandwiches were the salmon with cream cheese and the ham with mustard. The egg sandwich and the other two I wasn't sure of was only okay. The scones here are lemon flavored and went well with the butter and jelly. Out of all the desserts, my favorite was the chocolate mousse. It literally melts in your mouth and comes with a tart sauce to counteract the richness of the chocolate. The cheesecake was only okay and cream puff tasted like a donut hole so that was pretty good. Overall, the food was pretty good, but just the atmosphere here overlooking a garden and park really made it an experience. Also, the tea was amazing, so it made up for any of the food that was underwhelming.

Matt V.

Yelp
This was a great time. The scenery of the garden and historic building is beautiful. Scones and sandwiches were nice, and tea was enjoyable. Main complaint was that the tea is bagged and not loose leaf. Then when they offered a refill they just poured hot water over the used bag.
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Jasmine Y.

Yelp
We stopped for tea at The Orangery while touring Hyde park and Kensington Gardens this afternoon. The restaurant is under renovation, so they temporarily moved the tea spot to the Pavilion at Kensington Gardens. Even though the venue was basically a huge tent used as a temporary restaurant, the tea and pastries were still quite on point. The scones were warm and fresh. The sandwiches came in wheat bread which I didn't mind but my fiancé hated. Only thing I didn't love was the tea cakes on top - they were overly sweet for my taste. The service was superior - the waiting staff made sure to check in with us once in a while since we were seated in the corner. They were also quite fast with the order.
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Adrian H.

Yelp
This review is for afternoon tea at the Pavilion, which is the location to go since the Orangery is being renovated right now. We reserved a spot, but could have walked in since there were many empty tables. Our party ordered afternoon tea for three. I chose the Royal London Tea, given the locale. This was a nice black tea. The sandwiches turned out to be my favorite - cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon, ham and mustard, and egg salad sandwiches on brown bread were provided. We each got two small scones with the appropriate clotted cream and strawberry jam, which was a favorite of our resident teenager sidekick. The desserts were the most disappointing. They were rather bland - a chocolate mousse, and a mango cheese cake. I'd recommend this as a potential afternoon tea spot. I think I need to try again somewhere else though.