London: Teatime at Buckingham Palace for summer 2010
If you’re looking for a bit of decadence in London this summer, why not take your tea like the royals do—at Buckingham Palace?
From July 27 to September 29, 2010, the recently opened Garden Café will provide visitors the opportunity to enjoy some light refreshment on the West Terrace, located between the State Rooms and the Palace garden. The café overlooks the Palace’s famous lawn and lake.
The Garden Café is open during the Palace’s visiting hours, from 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. View the Palace’s Web site for more information.
The price of luxury
Of course, the fancy ambiance does come for the cost of a visit to the State Rooms: The café sits at the end of this exhibit. Admission costs £17 (£15.50 reduced).
Buckingham Palace also offers “A Royal Day Out” combination tickets, with admission to the States Rooms, the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery for £30.50 (£27.50 reduced). The combination tickets are available from July 27 to October 1, 2010.
If you’ll be in London again (and can’t get enough of Her Majesty’s posh pad), buy your combination ticket from the Royal Collection to get free admission for the next 12 months. (Otherwise, stick to the standard ticket and save the pounds for a confection at the café.)
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I was lucky enough to go to a garden party there too, which then prompted me to go back later for the full tour. The strawberry tarts were amazing and I was introduced to Prince Edward and got a peek into Her Majesty’s little sumer house. http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/a-garden-party-at-buckingham-palace/
That’s an interesting activity. If you’re going to have afternoon tea, you might as well have it at Buckingham’s rather than at Claridge’s, for example. The fares are not that different and you get a bonus visit inside the Palace!