Tea at The Montague

Just a stone's throw from a day's shopping on Oxford Street, or after a browse around the British Museum, The Montague on the Gardens Hotel is a brilliant pit stop. Or should that be 'pot stop'? Either way, afternoon tea between you and some friends should always be a delightfully sophisticated occasion, and The Montague doesn't fail in providing one.

Indeed, it provides such an occasion but at a different angle to other high-end tea-pouring hotels around London in that it caters for kids too. The Little Prince/Princess Tea is - apart from the name - a gorgeous addition to the rest of the line up, offering peanut butter and jam sandwiches (PB&J) with a cupcake, ice-cream and either a hot chocolate or a soft drink. This will cost you £11.50 - about the price of a 125ml glass of the champagne they serve here.

Speaking of which, you can add one of the following glasses to your tea set should you choose to increase the initial £27.50 by a tenner (for the Guy Cadel Brut NV), £12.50 (Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Brut NV) or £14.50 for the rose equivalent of the Joseph Perrier.

Otherwise, it's business as usual with a large choice of teas and a three tier tray of luxury treats in the form of finger sandwiches - egg mayo and mustard cress; smoked salmon; chicken, celery and almonds; and cucumber, cream cheese and chive - scones of plain and fruit variety and, of course, the accompanying cream and jam.

It all might sound a little basic, a bit bog standard, but the Montague really is a fabulous example of a timeless British tradition. The hotel and tea restaurant are both sparklingly clean, the service is excellent and the surroundings and presentation are nothing short of beautiful. Get some friends together and treat yourselves.

Tea Times: Daily from 12pm - 6pm