The best hotel in the UK?
The Milestone Hotel is opposite London’s Kensington Gardens in a 19th century Grade II listed building. In January the Milestone was voted the best UK Hotel in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards and I went there for a tour and afternoon tea with a group of fellow BritMums travel bloggers.
The building was originally two town houses and perhaps because it began life as a home the 5-star hotel feels welcoming, intimate and cosy. In the public areas the traditional decor is in the style of an English country house with open fires, squishy armchairs and wood panelling.
Each of the hotel’s bedrooms and apartments is decorated and furnished differently. One room I saw has a floral, almost Laura Ashley feel, another was opulent with golden furniture and marble-topped tables. One of the hotel owners, Mrs Bea Tollman, designs the interiors and sources the furnishings and art work herself. This makes for a quirky and individual feel which contrasts with the minimalist interiors of some luxury hotels.
There’s a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at the hotel and I imagine it would be a great place to stay with children. Kensington Palace, the V&A, Science and Natural History Museums are all nearby and the hotel has a small indoor resistance pool. There are family rooms, interconnecting rooms and apartments available in the hotel.

The Milestone hotel lounge. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Afternoon tea
Fabrizio Russo, the hotel’s genial Director of food and beverages, organised a wonderful afternoon tea for us and explained that everything except the bread is made at the hotel. I drank decaf English breakfast tea and ate delicate sandwiches of egg and cress, cucumber, and salmon followed by the yummiest cakes. Some of the cakes are unique to the hotel because they were invented by Bea Tollman. There was caramel popcorn in meringue with chocolate ganache, chocolate torte with chocolate-covered space dust, a delicate cheesecake, eclairs and some others that I couldn’t fit in, all served on pretty china cake stands. My favourite part was the freshly baked scones with jam and Devonshire clotted cream. Children are welcome at the hotel for afternoon tea too, and if you book this in advance they can even go into the pastry kitchen to see how afternoon tea is prepared and to decorate their own cupcake. This would be a great thing to do after a trip to one of the museums or to Kensington Palace.
Giveaway
I came away from the hotel with this cute little teddy and a bar of milk chocolate which I’m going to give away:

The Milestone Hotel teddy and chocolate giveaway
So what’s your favourite thing to eat for afternoon tea? If you live in the UK and you’d like to win this teddy and chocolate then tell me what’s your favourite teatime treat in the comments section below and then enter via this Rafflecopter widget:
The lowdown
I was a guest of The Milestone Hotel for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea costs £36.50 for adults and £12.50 for Princes and Princesses tea for children under 12, including cupcake decorating. Tea is served at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm and you need to book in advance.
Homemade Scones with clotted cream and jam 🙂
Salmon and cucumber sandwiches…yummy!
scones with jam and cream
sarah louise gray recently posted…My Single of the Week – Katy Perry – Dark Horse
My favourite afternoon tea would be, scones, jam and lots of clotted cream….
Scones 🙂
Slow cooked barbecue beef mmmmmm xx
salmon sandwiches
Tea and toast
I Love coffee and 4 choccie chip cookies 🙂
Crispy lettuce…delish!
Clotted cream and jam scones..yum yum
Biscuits 🙂
Tiny finger sandwiches and tiny fancy cakes
afternoon tea looks awesome
Scones 🙂
cucumber snadwiches
mmm scone strawberry jam and thick clotted cream mmm
I love a scone with fresh cream
A beautiful glazed fruit tart yum
It has to be a traditional afternoon tea of triangular sandwiches with jam and cream scones
I like so many foods that it varies, and depends on the weather. If it’s a cold day a good soup with crusty bread is nice and on a hot day a ceasar salad 🙂
Cream Doughnut
Cucumber sandwiches
home made Indian Tandoori chicken sandwiches
Salmon and cream cheese bagel
Scones, clotted cream & strawberry jam & a lovely pot of tea. x
Tea and crumpets yummy
Cream Tea scones of course!
Cream and Jam scones
Scones with Cream and Jam
Scones :}
My favourite thing to eat for afternoon tea would be scones with clotted cream and jam (I think I should have afternoon tea more often!)
scones and jam mmmmm
It has to be the scones – Love them
Jam tarts
the scone and jam!
Scones with jam and clotted cream mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Dainty sandwiches and then scones with cream and jam
Black Forest Gateau
scrambled eggs on brown granary toast 🙂 x
Fruit salad with Vanilla yogurt drizzled over the top
Scones of course 🙂
Cheese on toast
fresh cream cakes
Tea and chocolate cake
Bakewell tart with a mug of tea
homemade jam and lot’s of cakes
Double Chocolate Cupcake for me.
Welsh cakes and Bara Brith.
I love anything that’s full of fresh cream and full of calories!!!!!!! cream horns and scones yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy
tea cake! love them!
Biscuits covered in chocolate
I am a big fan of traditional high tea so I love fresh fruit scones with clotted cream from devon and delicious homemade strawberry jam xxx yummy xxx
I love something like banana loaf or carrot cake :
anything high caloried and full of sugar!
Lemon Drizzle Cake with a nice cup of cake Yummy Thanks 🙂
Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, yummy!
fruit scone with butter and jam
warm scones with jam and cream, good decaff black coffee and a glass of fizz. yummy
Homemade cake
Scones with jam and clotted cream
This cornish girl would have to say scones with jam and clotted cream!
A pot of tea and a lovely piece of chocolate and walnut cake
Scones & Cream with Strawberry Jam
Scone with jam and clotted cream
any yummy dessert. 🙂
ginger cake
cupcakessss
Some of hubby’s home made scones and a cup of green tea 🙂
mini pork pies!
yummy afternoon tea !!
Scones, jam and cream
Scones! 🙂 xx
ooh a cream tea would fantastic, scones with clottted cream and some jam , yummy xxx
A selection of biscuits, do custard creams count? as they are my favourite.
Scones with jam and clotted cream
Jaffa Cakes
I love a sandwich made with assorted vegetables. .
I love a veggie sandwich.
Cheese and Pickle Sandwiches. Classic never bettered.
CUPCAKES!
Scones
Cup of tea & piece of cake
Scones with cream and jam
Cream cakes
The scones are my absolute favourite
I actually love cucumber sandwiches!
A nice big slice of Bakewell tart with a cup of tea
Fruit Scone with lots of clotted cream
i love scones with clotted cream and jam!!! mmmmmmmmmmm lol
Prawn sandwiches
Has to be scones doesn’t it!
Pot noodle
Cucumber sandwiches with no crust.
I love cherry scones with clotted cream and jam – yummy!
Sandwiches
Scones and fresh cream/jam
scones with jam and cream
Scones and Jam
I have jusr discovered chocokate hit cross buns if u fill them with chocokate spead then put in iven fir a few minutes is a naughty but lush treat all washed down by a nuce strong cup if tea…….heaven
Fondant Fancies
I love smoked salmon bleanies
Followed by tiny strawberry tarts
Cinnamon rolls!
Battenberg Cake
Gretta,
How homemade peanut butter cookies fresh out of the oven! mmmmm….. The best! And the picture of the The Milestone hotel lounge, awesome and so inviting! Thank you for your post!
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Cake!
Scones, jam and cream
chocolate
Scones with jam and cream
scones with jam and cream and tea in a china cup
Homemade scones
A slice of chocolate cake.
A nice egg custard tart
coffee cake
scones with cream and jam
chocolate eclairs
Sandwiches!
lemon drizzle cake 🙂
scones with jam and cream
Cherry scones with jam and clotted cream
scones and jam! with love, faye xx
Scones with Clotted Cream and Strawberry Jam
Well it would have to be plain chocolate digestives ( unfortunately not available in Fossano Italy) and a cup of proper English tea!
Oh that looks lovely!! I love cake myself
Foz recently posted…Lego Challenge with Carcraft
Green tea with lemon and a Danish pastry.
Egg sandwiches
oh definitely, sandwiches with the crusts cut off! Very dainty.
Oatmeal raisin cookies
Big lump of cake
Favourite thing to eat – Something naughty of course! Some kind of cake, hot choc with marshmellows and cream! lol, this list could go on and on and on!
cake!!
I love tiny little petit four cakes. Love macarons, little eclairs, iced cakes. Yummy!
tea and cake
You lucky thing! I so want to be a travel blogger! 😉
We’re fans of the classic macaron here
Actually Mummy… recently posted…Weather in Florida: Wot so Funee?
macaroons and cream tea 😀
That looks and sounds amazing. I love little cucumber sandwiches for afternoon tea.
Emily @amummytoo recently posted…From neglected junk room to beautiful bedroom (stage 1)
fab prize.
Absolutely delicious! Wish I had been there even more!!
Sarah Ebner recently posted…The Roman Baths in…Bath!
Chocolate eclairs
fruit salad 🙂 yum yum
chocolate cake
fresh strawberry cream tartlets
I love homemade honey and spelt flour scones made with coconut oil and juicy jumbo raisins
I live off soup! I particually like carrot and lemongrass soup as a keep-me-going!!
Those teeny tiny cucumber sandwiches!
Sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones with cream and jam or a nice cherry bakewell
Sponge Cake
Afternoon tea in a hotel with dainty sandwiches, warm scones with jam and cream plus delicious fancy cakes. My choice of tea would be either lavender tea, Earl Grey tea, Lady Grey tea or Caramel tea.
The mille-feuille.
Cappichino coffee with a bar of chocolate
Eclairs
Macaroons 🙂
chocolate biscuits
My favourite thing to eat for afternoon tea would have to be a warm scone with jam and clotted cream and a pot of tea!
Love All Blogs recently posted…Building confidence in kids: from fear to ambition! Project 365 #05
Scones with cream and jam x
cheese on toast
Salivating at the list of treats especially the chocolate torte with chocolate-covered space dust!! I think my favourite afternoon tea treat is anything chocolatey.
Sam @happyhomebird recently posted…February puzzles
A cream tea 🙂
Favourite thing is cheese sandwiches, some jam tarts and a lovely pot of tea
A fresh warm scone with cream and jam with a pot of filter coffee….bliss
Love scones with strawberry jam
I Love a chocolate eclair, Or if you are posh a choux bun! My daughter 11 made some and they were delicious 🙂
Ohhh sounds a bit xxy, but looks and sounds oh-so-worth it.
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey recently posted…GIVEAWAY: Love on the road
Scones with blackcurrant jam and thick clotted cream
Chocolate eclairs
I love to have a pot of tea and lemon cake with my best friends 🙂
Fresh cream meringues
Scones With Jam & Cream YUM
That looks like one fantastic cup of tea! Could so do with a slice of cake right now. Will happily settle for a cute teddy and chocolate instead 🙂
VaiChin @Rambling Through Parenthood recently posted…Winter Sunshine
macaroni sheese yum yum
Has to be the sandwiches. So delicate. So well presented. Even if you took the trouble to do it for yourself, the ambience of a top class London hotel would still be missing ! Afternoon teas of this quality cannot be experienced in your own home. Such a treat !!
my ideal afternoon tea would be a big fat donut with jam and fresh cream and a mug of hot tea.
Scones with lot’s of jam and cream
Scone, Jam and Clotted Cream
Cheese and ham French stick with mustard
This might sounds silly but since I came to UK I always wanted a experience a real Afternoon Tea… 10 years later and I still didn’t manage it 🙁
Agata Pokutycka recently posted…Fractal Art by George Thomson
Afternoon tea brilliant best bit are the cakes xx
Cream scones and a cuppa!
Mummy of Two recently posted…Silent Sunday #5
Salmon Sandwiches with cucumber slices.
Black Forest Gateau
gotta love a afternoon tea! x
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What a gorgeous place to visit. I love salmon sandwiches myself.
Pinkoddy recently posted…The Lego Movie Emmet and the Getaway Glider
Cream tea with clotted cream
Little sandwiches with the crusts cut off!
Hot crumpets with homemade strawberry jam bliss
My favourite thing for afternoon tea would be: jam and clotted cream on a scone.
chocolate cake
hi cream cakes are my favorite for afternoon tea 🙂
cant beat crumpets & jam for afternoon tea
scones with cream and jam
Ooh that looks delicious x x
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…Don’t let your children spend a fortune without you knowing….
Scones, strawberry jam and earl grey x
A cream scone
Love a sandwich and home made scones made by myself and jam and a piece of chocolate lovely prize love the teddy x
We love afternoon tea! We’ve got one book in Mayfair for later in the year – can’t wait!
Michelle recently posted…Day 18: Island Hopping [Back To The Magic Trip Report 2013]
Chocolate eclair is my favourite afternoon tea treat.
Hot Toast and assorted cakes (explains the waistline as well)
love my wife scones, with some nice home made strawberry jam
Chocolate fudge brownie, ice-cream with hot brownie pieces
Wow – this looks amazing! I have something similar planned for valentines with my fella – but not nearly as posh. I do love a scone and a little triangle sandwich 🙂
Vicky recently posted…The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben: books that motivate me – 2014 blogger challenge
Scones with jam and cream
tea and a scone with clotted cream
this is so cute how sweet
macaroons 🙂
Homemade Bread and Lemon Curd
hmmmmmm… Chocolate
little triangle sandwiches
Kathy Cakebread recently posted…Blink Refreshing Daily Eye Drops review
chocolate muffin
Chocolate and cream dough rings are my favourite for afternoon tea
Scone, strawberry jam & clotted cream.
a cream tea with clotted cream, yum
Fruit scone, with clotted cream and strawberry jam!
cream scones with a pot of tea x
Fresh Cream Cakes
cakes are my favourite
Ginger cake with a cup of tea
The photo of the afternoon tea is the best of its kind
Afternoon tea looks lovely…
I would like some nice home made cake with a lovely cuppa tea…
I would use the Lounge Photo too. I love the silver tea set on the tray, beautiful
Afternoon Tea , Looks Awesome
fab prize.cute teddy.afternoon tea be fab xxx
One of the many photos of my pets.
Sorry, I think you saw the wrong question! The question is: ‘What’s your favourite thing to eat for afternoon tea?’ Sorry!
if prize is valid until june, i would wait and see what photos i take when my brother gets married
Sorry, I think you saw the wrong question! The question is: ‘What’s your favourite thing to eat for afternoon tea?’ Sorry!
JUST PERFECT . XX OO
yum, afternoon tea sounds great!
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I’d really love to have a photobox of my husband and I for our fifth wedding anniversary 🙂
Sorry, I think you saw the wrong question! The question is: ‘What’s your favourite thing to eat for afternoon tea?’ Sorry!
I like homemade chocolate melting moments with milk.
The afternoon tea looks lovely. I’m a massive fan. My goal is to have afternoon tea in every city in the world
mellissa williams recently posted…The Tesco Baby Event and An Amazing Competition
a nice juicy steak
I’m a big fan of afternoon tea too 🙂
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Love that photo you have of the lounge. It reflects the atmosphere of the room perfectly.
Trish – Mum’s Gone to recently posted…The best hotel in the UK?