Many of the heros that worked at Bletchley Park to provide key information to Allied Leaders during World War II dined in the Mansion. Today, you can have afternoon tea in that same dining room.
When we visited Bletchley Park, we decided to treat ourselves. Let me share my review of afternoon tea at Bletchley Park so you can decide if you would like to try it.
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About Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park, also known as Station X, is a country estate that was the headquarters for the allied code breakers and intelligence operations during World War II. Top codebreakers like Alan Turing, Dilly Knox, John Tiltman, Hugh Alexander, Bill Tutte, Gordan Welchman, and Mavis Batey all worked there.
The breakthroughs made at Bletchley Park were some one of the greatest achievements of World War II as the information they supplied is thought to have shortened the war by at least two years and saved countless lives on both sides. For decades no one knew anything about it, thanks to government secrecy and the sense of duty of people that worked there. Now it’s been turned into a museum.
Read more about visiting Bletchley Park.
The Setting for Afternoon Tea at Bletchley Park
Afternoon Tea at Bletchley Park is served in the dining room of the Mansion. It’s the same space where some of the top codebreakers would have had their meals. When you step in the room, it feels like you’ve gone back in time.
The tables were already set with everything before we sat down. The china was vintage with a floral pattern. The food was set on a three-tier platter and there was a bowl with a selection of tea bags to choose from.
The room has a nice view over the picturesque grounds. I tried to ask for a table by one of the windows when we arrived but they told me they were already taken. It might be a good idea to request a table by the window when you make your booking.
We actually didn’t interact with the staff much. Everything we needed was on the table. At one point, I requested more hot water and they brought it out quickly.
The Food and Drink at Afternoon Tea at Bletchley Park
When we sat down, the food was already artistically arranged on the three tiered platter. We didn’t have a menu on the table so it was fun to taste the food and guess what we were eating. (If you have dietary restrictions, you should let Bletchley Park know when you book.)
We started with the tea. There was a selection of tea bags to choose from including English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint, Chamomile, and Green tea along with a pot of hot water. It was nice to be able to try different teas.
I noticed our sandwiches were all on brown bread, which I prefer but hadn’t specifically requested. Other tables seemed to have both white and brown. There were four types of sandwich:
- Wiltshire Ham and Chutney – Can’t go wrong with this classic British combination.
- Scottish Smoked Salmon with Lemon Butter – The lemon butter complimented the salmon perfectly.
- Norfolk Chicken and Tarragon Creamed Mayonnaise – This tasted similar to a coronation chicken sandwich.
- Free-Range Egg Mayo and Mustard Cress – The mustard cress added a bit of a kick.
No afternoon tea would be complete without scones, jam, and clotted cream – one of my favorite British foods. At Bletchley Park, it came with mini jars of Wilkins & Sons Tiptree strawberry jam. I was a bit surprised that it wasn’t homemade jam, but I have no complaints since they used a good quality jam.
Finally, we tasted the delicate cakes which were almost too pretty to eat. There were four different kinds:
- Raspberry bakewell tart, fragipane and toasted almonds – Similar to a traditional cherry bakewell, but a bit more tart.
- Red velvet torte, strawberry and cream cheese frosting – You can’t go wrong with red velvet, the strawberry in the frosting is light.
- Lime and passion fruit meringue pie, mint leaves – Using lime and passion fruit instead of the typical lemon makes the flavor bolder.
- Courgette (zucchini) and pistachio cake, elderflower icing – I first thought this was carrot cake. The elderflower icing was a creative idea that worked well.
We finished it all, as everything was delicious. It was just the fuel we needed to finish our day exploring Bletchley Park.
Bletchley Park Afternoon Tea FAQs
Do you need to book afternoon tea at Bletchley Park in advance?
Yes, they ask that you book 48 hours in advance by emailing enquiries@bletchleypark.org.uk or calling 01908 272673.
How much is Bletchley Park afternoon tea?
Prices for afternoon tea start at £20.00 excluding admission, or £38.50 including admission to Bletchley Park.
When can you have afternoon tea at Bletchley Park?
Bletchley Park serves afternoon tea on selected Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays throughout the year. They have set seating times and you are allocated an hour and fifteen minutes to enjoy the service.
Can they cater to dietary restrictions for afternoon tea at Bletchley Park?
Please speak with the bookings team in advance about any dietary requirements such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, etc.
Overall Review of Bletchley Park’s Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea at Bletchley Park is a special treat. Not only is the location historic and unique, but the food is special too. They took the typical afternoon tea menu and got a bit creative.
It’s one of the best afternoon teas that I have had especially considering the price.
If you liked afternoon tea at Bletchley Park, you should also try afternoon tea at the British Museum.
Is Afternoon Tea at Bletchley Park Worth it?
Yes. The price is similar to what you would expect to pay for a nice afternoon tea and it’s quite a special location. Also, keep in mind that you need to have lunch anyway and afternoon tea won’t be much more than what you would pay at one of the cafes at Bletchley Park.
Note: If you are on a tight budget, you can bring your own food and have a picnic on the grounds.
Besides the price, the other factor you need to consider is time. An afternoon tea is not to be rushed and this one takes an hour. If you are spending a full day at Bletchley Park, it can be a welcome break. Those who have planned shorter visits may be pressed for time.
Would you like to have afternoon tea in the mansion at Bletchley Park?
-Anisa
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Expert Tips for Afternoon Tea at Bletchley Park
- You need to book your afternoon tea in advance, and try to request a table by the window. To book, email enquiries@bletchleypark.org.uk or call 01908 272673
- Plan on spending a whole day at Bletchley Park so that you have time to indulge in afternoon tea and still see the exhibits.
Disclosure: While we did receive complimentary admission to Bletchley Park, afternoon tea was not included.
Last Updated on March 6, 2023