Who doesn't love a good afternoon tea? I must say this is something that I've been enjoying more often since I moved to the UK 3 years ago as of course, it is part of the culture. While there are a lot of theories relating to how the quintessential, British ritual of afternoon tea first started, the one considered true by most experts on Brit culture is that it was started by the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russel in the early 1800's. During her time period, it was common to only have two meals a day: an early morning breakfast and late evening dinner.
Wary of hunger and irritable at the long hours between meals, she formally declared a tea and snack ritual to take place each afternoon. It started as a private ceremony in her bedroom but over time, close friends joined in and the practice grew in popularity. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today there are several tea rooms and hotels throughout the country, where varying adaptations of this centuries-old tradition are on offer. While there are plenty of modern takes on it, the traditional affair is still quite a lovely experience to have, especially the Afternoon Tea Cruise on the Thames.
Find yourself a cozy seat in the indoor saloon of a beautifully done-up cruise boat and take in the panoramic views of the city's shoreline. It's an hour and half of tradition mixed with gorgeous vistas. The cruise starts at the Tower Pier, from where you'll head west, passing by the Tower of London, the Shard building and the massive 95-story glass pyramid. The boat meanders beside Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and the Elizabethan playhouse. The route takes you around a number of other iconic city landmarks including Big Ben and the London Eye.
Sightseeing aside, it's the afternoon tea tradition that offers a truly unique experience - even for the locals. There's a variety of scones, finger sandwiches, cakes, jam and an unlimited supply of traditional tea (or coffee, for those brave enough to risk offense). It's the perfect activity to just relax and take in the afternoon sun with family and friends.
* This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Headout, as always I will never post anything I disagree with!
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