Treat yourself to afternoon tea
You can take afternoon tea in a different place every day of the week (and more) in Sevenoaks – each one as remarkable as the last!
In Sevenoaks, try Dulce’s Patisserie for a towering afternoon tea that includes their pretty-as-a-picture macarons in a rainbow of pastel colours. Their opera cake has a fabulous reputation too and their gluten free peanut butter brownie just won a Great Taste Award (their eight star!).
For such a tiny village, Chiddingstone certainly punches above its weight when it comes to afternoon tea. Take afternoon tea in The Tulip Tree Tea Room (do book ahead though!), in a converted coachhouse behind what is reputedly the oldest working shop in the UK. Or settle down in the charming courtyard of Chiddingstone Castle, in a quintessential tea room with a pretty vintage setting (teas also need to be pre-booked). Tables are also available in a walled gareen overlooking the South lawns.
Donnington Manor Hotel is the place to raise your pinkie finger in grand surrounds – the 15th-century manor house and pristine gardens are the perfect backdrop for an indulgent Champagne afternoon tea.
And Westerham has a wealth of options, with the Tudor Tea Room offering delicious traditional teas (book ahead advisable), The Courtyard (more modern options of tea, coffee and cake), and Brunch for tea and cake in a cosy courtyard. Or try the newly opened No 21 for tea/coffee and cake on the Green, and a sunny courtyard round the back.
Nearby Brasted has the Teashop serving traditional homemade scones and cakes, made daily by Katrina.
In the Darent Valley, Otford again has several options for afternoon tea, with charming Sally’s Cake Emporium offering award-winning cakes (takeaway too if you’re in a rush), and vintage and small afternoon teas on offer too. The Olive Tree Tearoom sits at the back of Hospices of Hope, in a light-filled extension, and offers cream teas and cakes. The Honey Pot in Shoreham offers walkers a well-deserved resting place, with tea and huge slices of cake on offer from Thursday to Sunday.
And don’t forget Penshurst, with the quaint Fir Tree House Tea Rooms offering a tradition English tea, with cakes and scones baked fresh every day. Their pretty country garden is a special treat in summer. At Penshurst Place, the Porcupine Pantry Cafe (by the car park entrance) is open for tea/coffee and cakes, with a huge terrace too. Lots of gluten-free options.
