What Is Afternoon Tea, and Why Should You Experience One at The Shard in London?
You’ve seen people having tea in movies, but how much do you know about the tradition? If you’re from America, the answer probably ranges anywhere from “a little bit” to “nothing at all.”
And what is afternoon tea, anyway? How does it differ from high tea?
It’s only natural that you are wondering what afternoon tea is, the difference between afternoon and high tea, and how it came to be, so I’ll go into each of these in this post and then examine why you should experience afternoon tea at The Shard.
Let’s begin by exploring the similarities and differences between the two tea times.
Afternoon Tea
What comes to mind when you read the words “afternoon tea?” Little sandwiches, tea, and scones? Well, you are on the right track! You are just missing the cakes and treats!
Duchess Anna Maria Russell started afternoon tea because it was between lunch and dinner; the British dinner is at 7:30 p.m. She would take tea and a snack to get her through the long afternoon. Her friends tagged along and spread this idea throughout the aristocracy.
Fast forward to today.
Afternoon Tea is generally served around 3 or 4 p.m. sometimes afternoon tea is called low tea because people sit in low-slung armchairs. Some places, like The Shard, start at 12. If you want to take tea in high style, manners are essential for afternoon tea:
put your napkin on your lap
stir your tea gently — no splashing or clinking
no licking your fingers, please
High tea
If you want something more relaxed, then high tea is your choice! The “high” part of tea refers to being seated at an actual dinner table rather than on a low armchair or couch like afternoon tea. This concept was found in the lower classes, which compensated for the lack of a lunch break in their workdays by taking tea and cold cuts, cheeses, pies, and hearty hot dishes.
Today, high tea is generally taken between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Afternoon Tea at The Shard
I was excited to return to my favorite city, London, in November 2022. My friend asked if I wanted to do afternoon tea since it is an English tradition. Naturally, I said yes. She sent me a list of places that make afternoon tea, and it was hard to choose since they all had their own spin on tea, from fancy hotels to cute theme afternoon teas.
One day, I saw pictures on Facebook from her time at The Shard. I texted her, saying I wanted to go there! I was sold.
Why was I sold? Because it has 360° views of London and is next to the Thames.
Quick Facts About The Shard
It is Western Europe’s tallest building (1,016 feet high)
On a clear day, you can see 40 miles
It has office space, restaurants/ bars, and a hotel, and it is a private residence that’s the highest home in the UK.
We sat at a low table facing the Thames and overlooking Tower Bridge the first time we were there. I was in love with this view since I had never seen Tower Bridge this high up before. When I returned to London for part of my birthday trip, my friend and I wanted to return to The Shard again. She laughed and hinted, saying, “You know there are many places that make tea?” I responded, “Yes, but do they have views like the Shard?”
She said, “No, they are mostly in hotels.”
The view won over a hotel.
How can you pass up the views of the River Thames, Tower Bridge, and other Iconic buildings of London?
Both times we were at The Shard, they had a Peter Pan-themed tea. Our desserts came on a boat filled with smoke, and our sandwiches were wrapped in a special message that said:
Lost Boys Rules
No talking to pirates
Believe in fairies.
Think happy thoughts.
Never grow up.
The views, cute messages, a show . . . what else could you ask for?
Experiences like these make a random Tuesday feel magical.
When booking the tea, they asked if you are celebrating an event, and I said it was our birthday. After we finished our desserts, they brought out a plate with a special treat with Happy Birthday written on it. It was one of the sweetest (pun intended) ways to kick off celebrating my 35th birthday.
I am not sure when I will return to London; I hope it won’t be another ten years again, but I best believe I will return here and reminisce about my times there.
So the question is, with 360° views and welcoming ambiance, have I convinced you to experience afternoon tea at The Shard? Let me know in the comments!