The most Instagrammable kid-friendly high teas in London

Cucumber sandwiches and flavoured teas aren’t just for grown-ups anymore. These days, it’s all about high teas for little people, writes Rebecca Lawson.

Make up, high heels, nail polish – it’s a well-known fact that little girls love dressing up like Mum, but gone are the days of sitting teddy and dolls around a box and serving imaginary tea and cakes. These days, hotels around the world are hosting high teas designed specifically for Little Miss, so she can enjoy real strawberry tea, cucumber sandwiches and macarons with the big girls. Of course, the boys are invited too.

Here are a few of the best high teas for kids in London.

Sanderson London

Where better to take the kids to a genuine Mad Hatter’s Tea Party than in the quirky English capital itself? So, next time you’re in London, why not ‘tumble down the rabbit hole’ right into the fantasy that is Sanderson’s Hotel where, during high tea, the menus are hidden inside vintage books, specifically designed crockery is decorated with the Queen of Hearts or the King of Spades, and delicacies include homemade marshmallow mushrooms and Tick Tock sponge clocks.

St Ermin’s Hotel

Indulge your kids’ green thumb with a Mini Gardener Tea at St Ermin’s Hotel, where they can decorate their own gingerbread and indulge in delectable treats including marshmallow lollipops and custard slice. Of course, it wouldn’t be British without a few scones with strawberry jam and cream too.

The Milestone Hotel

If your little ones are dreaming of a royal experience while in the United Kingdom, the Milestone Hotel & Residence’s Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea is just the thing. With a special menu designed to suit your royal heirs, The Milestone’s teas are extra special because, if you give the Pastry Chef a day’s notice, he will assist his royal mini guests in decorating their very own cupcakes before they take a seat and daintily nibble on them like perfectly brought-up aristocrats.

Bonus tip: The Plaza New York, USA

New York’s The Plaza also has a special high tea experience that should be on every little girl’s bucket list when visiting the Big Apple. The hotel is famed as the residence of Eloise from the popular children’s books by Kay Thompson and their afternoon teas, served in The Palm Court, are themed accordingly. Young lads and ladies are treated to cucumber sandwiches and fresh-baked scones, chocolate-dipped strawberries and peppermint tea or pink lemonade. The Eloise dining experience doesn’t end just there, though. In fact, The Plaza has an entire menu designed especially for children visiting the property, all recommended by Eloise herself, from the ‘I’m-not-a-Chicken Soup’ for appetiser, to the ‘Charge It Please Mac and Cheese’ main course, right down to the ‘Copy Cat Brownie’ for dessert. Yes, please!

This article originally appeared in Five Star Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.