GROW WITH SARAH GRACE

I have been fortunate enough to travel to London twice and both times were completely different experiences for me. Although there were many contrasts in those adventures, there was one consistent thing: afternoon tea. 

I could write a novel about the importance of afternoon tea to British culture (and my own life for that matter) but to sum it up, you must try a traditional tea time when you are visiting London. On my first trip to London, my friend and I stumbled upon The English Rose Café and Tea Shop.

This vintage café is an independent, family-owned business and has won many TripAdvisor awards including Certificates of Excellence from the years of 2015-2020 and again in 2022. This astonishing accomplishment has helped the café to enter the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame.

After accidentally finding this café the first time, I had to return on my second visit to the big city and I can’t recommend this place more for your visit to London. The English Rose is the perfect combination of a perfect location, drool-worthy food, picturesque interior and a wholesome experience. 

As far as location, The English Rose is almost directly behind Buckingham Palace and is only a few blocks away from a main tube station: Victoria. Since it’s so close to an important tourist location, I feared that it would be crowded but both times I have been, it was moderately and comfortably filled with customers. Since you are near the Palace, there are many souvenir shops located on nearby streets which makes this the perfect break between sights and shopping. 

Open from 9-5 every day, this café has a lot more to offer than the traditional afternoon tea that most people partake in. Before we dive into the menu, it’s important to note that they serve breakfast from the hours of 9 A.M. to noon and the afternoon tea service is from noon to 4 P.M. From 4 P.M. until close, you can have desserts and drinks to go only.

For the food, you can enjoy an item from their generous breakfast menu which includes: a full English breakfast (vegetarian and vegan options available!), scrambled eggs with avocado and some pastries – to name a few options. For lunch, they offer a few varieties of sandwiches on ciabatta and of course, they have an afternoon tea option.  

I enjoyed the afternoon tea both times I went and can’t complain at all. It is an affordable price for being so close to a tourist location. The total for one person is 25 pounds (roughly translates to 32 USD) which might seem like a lot but compared to other options in “The Square Mile”, it is a modest option. 

At that cost, you get to enjoy a variety of finger sandwiches, desserts that vary each day and a scone with jam and cream for food and a hot drink of your choice. If you are so inclined, you can even add some prosecco to your experience for 7.50 pounds which is roughly just under 10 USD. 

Now, for a serious review of the place, I would only say I have one complaint. While it didn’t affect me, for the afternoon tea service, The English Rose doesn’t cater to vegan and gluten-free customers. They do offer pescatarian and vegetarian options, however.

With that being said, the first time I ate at the café, I was a vegetarian so my portion of the afternoon tea consisted of the same desserts as other customers but my finger sandwiches had more key ingredients like rhubarb and egg salad. The second time I visited The English Rose, I got the “regular” afternoon tea and I can confidently say that both times I went, the tier of treats were filling. 

The finger sandwiches are the perfect ratio of bread to filling and give you plenty of options if you don’t enjoy a certain kind of sandwich. I have eaten anything from an egg salad to a ham and cheese sandwich at the café. From what I understand, the desserts might vary from day to day but in general, they offer a variety of flavored cakes and breads, brownies and cookies. Every tier comes with a scone, and some “clotted cream” and jam. Before you dive into the treats, the waitress will explain to you what every item is which is especially helpful for the sandwiches. 

In addition to the food, you will also enjoy a hot drink of your choice. While you can have a coffee or hot chocolate, I have only ever devoured my treats with a pot of tea. The English Rose exclusively uses The London Tea Company for their tea and I have yet to try a flavor I don’t enjoy. 

Onsite, I have had a fruity tea and a traditional English Breakfast tea and both were divine. I have been fortunate enough to get a mixture of tea bag flavors to bring back to the States and with that, I have tried other flavors like Earl Grey, Ginger and Lemon among others and have loved all of them.

Aside from the food and drink, the interior and general energy this café gives off is phenomenal. Before even entering the business, a green awning hangs over a green structure that is nestled into a white building which makes the café pop. Once inside, you’ll find a cozy atmosphere full of mix-and-match chairs, pillows and tables. On the walls, a mixture of mirrors, window shutters and photos adds to the overall ambiance. 

While the interior design makes a blend of elements work in harmony, one of my favorite parts is what sits on the tables. To match the general vibe of the café, your food and drinks are served in mix-and-match chinaware. You are never guaranteed what aesthetic you will be served on and that mystery adds to the experience of it all. Again, with a mix of patterns on the chinaware, The English Rose seems to make it all work in harmony and it helps create the cozy feeling of the space. 

Thinking about the overall experience, the service is kind and thoughtful. At one of my visits, I came just before 4 P.M. – when they stopped serving the afternoon tea and the staff was still kind and made sure I got my order in before it was too late. The staff was sure to not make me feel rushed during my stay even if I was there close to closing time which didn’t go unnoticed. 

With the exception of not catering to everyone, The English Rose is the best place I’ve enjoyed tea time at. If you want to enjoy the same experience as me on your visit to London, be sure to give The English Rose located at 4 Lower Grosvenor Place, London a look. They only accept walk-ins so no reservations are necessary and the trip will be 100% worth it!