7. The Orangery

Orangery Dissapoints
I wish we had spent more money to get quality. The Orangery was like being served on an airplane in coach class. There was no elegance to the service. The cucumber sandwiches were dry and worst scones I ever had.

I had heard so many good things about The Orangery but I was not impressed. I was looking for good ambiance (the place is echoy and stark), good service (it was very lax), good tea (was given only 1 pot that filled 2 cups worth and never offered more), and a tower of goodies (not at this place). After service charge I paid about 11 pounds for afternoon tea at The Orangery. It took a long time to get anyone to take my order and there were not many people in the place to begin with. Finally I ordered and got a small pot of black currant tea which was very good. But that was all the tea there was to be. Then came the dry and cream cheese and cucumber sandwich. Had a fruit scone with clotted cream and jam which was good. Then a piece of orange cake which was good but dry. I think I would have rather paid more money to get the afternoon tea I had envisioned.

Crowded, but worth every moment of the wait. Exquisite setting, delicious delicacies, all within the grounds of Kensington Palace!