What better way to spend an afternoon than in the traditional elegance of one of the country’s best kept secrets? The Hartwell House Hotel near Aylesbury is a National Trust property that is run as a hotel and spa.
As part of their service offering, afternoon tea is available in one of their impressive historical rooms, The Morning Room, Great Hall, Library or Drawing Room. Each is as elegant and luxurious as the last, and a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.
The service is great here. You’re welcomed by a porter as soon as you drive up, and escorted through to the lobby where you’re politely directed to the appropriate room. Booking is essential here at one of the available slots. Each room can be booked, so if you have a favourite, booking secures it for you.
We had our reservation in the Drawing Room, which is a large room with decorative plasterwork, architraves, huge windows, and open fires. It’s an ideal sport for a dignified break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
"Hartwell House is luxurious to the last, and a great place to spend a lazy afternoon."
Our afternoon tea menu consisted of a selection of finger sandwiches that included, ham and tomato, smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese and egg and cress. The quality of the bread, and the ingredients of each was excellent. The bread was fresh, the salmon smooth, the cucumber, juicy and the cream cheese very nice indeed.
The sandwiches were followed by warm home-made plain and fruit scones with strawberry preserve and Cornish clotted cream. The scones were indeed home-made, served warm and crumbled under the butter knife. They were simply excellent.
Then came a selection of home-made pastries. These too were fresh and home-made. They included small cakes in individual cases that included chocolate slices, meringue, sponge cake, iced fingers and more.
The selection of teas included the favourites, such as: Indian leaf tea, Assam, English Breakfast, Darjeeling and green tea. We stayed a while, enjoying the ambience and the food, so we tried each one. They were each as light as each other, but had a very distinct flavour.
Afternoon tea at Hartwell House is an excellent way to spend an afternoon in old world luxury. The food is fantastic, the surroundings sublime and the service, superior.
The Bill: £19 per person
