Easter afternoon tea at The Landmark London

The Winter Garden in the Landmark London is one of the most peaceful spaces in central London, and the afternoon is a wonderful time to visit. The soaring glass roof lets in lots of natural light, while you're insulated to the point you completely forget the ceaseless traffic pounding past outside on the Marylebone Road.

The winter garden

The trees and plants lend a continental feel to the occasion (trolls complain the palms aren't real, but they are: they are just treated to ensure they have a long and happy life) and the space has all the advantages of sitting outside without the associated risks (wasps, sunburn, hail).

The afternoon tea currently being offered is a special Easter tea which we ordered with a glass of champagne, followed by a Darjeeling, an Earl Grey and a Rose Gray, all of which were delicious. Tea top ups were offered freely, we could either have our tea poured for us, or do our own honours. The staff were delightful and very helpful, and everything arrived quickly and without fuss. An absence of towering cake stands preventing

you from making eye contact with companions is helpful, although teapots put on a

stand to one side mean one lucky member is effectively nominated as

mother.

A typical afternoon tea at the Landmark London (not the Easter tea)

Traditional sandwiches began proceedings: smoked salmon, cucumber, chicken and tarragon, and chopped egg were all encased in fresh, soft bread. After we'd had our fill the scones appeared, and the strawberry jam was the great success of this course. It was a perfect example of how jam should be: just runny, smashed up strawberries - while the lemon curd was a good option for those who don't love jam (does anyone not love fresh strawberry jam?).

The cakes and pastries were put together with skill and flair and came with diverse flavours of pistachio, cranberry, dark and white chocolate and lemon and thyme - and they were heavenly, but also the end of us. We were sated.

This is an exemplary afternoon tea - the atmosphere is relaxed, rather than overly formal, and the surroundings are ideal for a spring afternoon. If you're looking for an Easter treat this year, or even somewhere for Mother's Day, this is a highly recommended London option.

Easter Afternoon tea: £40 per person (£45 with champagne)

Landmark Hotel London, Marylebone Road, London; www.landmarklondon.co.uk.

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