Kensington Hotel launches Marie Antoinette-inspired festive afternoon tea with live artist and music

The Kensington Hotel has launched a festive edition of its afternoon tea this December, entitled Let Us Eat Cake. Available from noon to 4pm in the hotel’s Drawing Room, the seasonal offering coincides with the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum, and draws inspiration from the extravagant tastes of the 18^th-century French queen.

The festive tea combines traditional holiday elements with references to Marie Antoinette’s court, featuring a menu of handcrafted patisserie, savoury bites, warm scones and festive mince pies. On select dates – 6^th, 7^th, 14^th, 20^th, 21^st and 27^th December – the experience will be accompanied by live harp performances, and on 12^th and 13^th December an illustrator will be present to create complimentary bespoke portraits for guests as they dine.

The patisserie selection includes items such as Le Gâteau du Jardin (a strawberry genoise sponge with vanilla Chantilly and fresh strawberries), La Robe de la Reine (a blackberry and lemon curd tartlet), Le Macaron Petit Trianon (an almond macaron filled with raspberries and white chocolate ganache montée) and Le Brisé de la Dauphine, a lemon shortbread. Seasonal additions include house-made mince pies and a White Chocolate & Coconut Christmas Bauble. The savoury menu features Egg Salad on a brioche roll, Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Sauce on white bread, Avocado Purée with Sundried Tomatoes and Crumbled Feta on pink brioche and House-Cured Salmon with Pickled Cucumber on seeded brown bread. And of course, traditional plain and fruit scones are served with clotted cream and homemade jam.

Guests can opt to complement their tea with The Queen’s Coupe, a cocktail made with Belvedere Vodka, Pimms, Earl Grey cordial, clarified clotted cream and Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV, or choose a glass of the champagne on its own.

The festive tea is priced at £65 per person, or £80 with either The Queen’s Coupe or a glass of champagne.

Food Desk

The Let Us Eat Cake afternoon tea is available from 1^st December 2025 at The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5LP. For further information or to book a table, visit their website here.