I recently visited the Great Court Restaurant for Afternoon Tea during a day out in London. The restaurant is on the top floor of The British Museum, under the impressive arched glass roof. The Afternoon Tea was very nice, featuring a selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes. I was slightly disappointed with the cake selection as a couple of them were a bit tasteless, and it would have been nice to see some chocolate on one of them.
The service was friendly and efficient, and our waitress was always happy to help. The only problem I had with the restaurant was the ambience. As it was a busy Sunday afternoon, the noise of thousands of people exploring the museum was rebounding around the entire restaurant, and after an hour, it was getting harder to tune it out. I think potentially if the restaurant were a bit more enclosed, it would make it a much more enjoyable experience.
Overall, it was a nice Afternoon Tea and a nice way to spend an hour between exploring.
13/9/2023. London with Leng
Great court restaurant is big, we booked high tea together with museum tickets 2 weeks before. The service is great, handsome waiter checking us out a few times if everything was alright. The sandwiches must have been laid out on trays too long, the bread is dry . The fillings are unusual to us, interesting. The scones are also cold. It would be nice to heat up a bit just before serving.
It remains an extraordinary place to eat. Besides the beautiful museum, this place in the vast atrium is also a place to be overwhelmed. And the food, too, actually delivers. It is a nice change between traditional English choices and some modern ones—more than worth a stop.
Afternoon tea is a must here, but to avoid the lines and ensure a table, it's best to reserve ahead of time. We were seated promptly and were treated to a nice selection of teas and a delicious assortment of sandwiches and desserts. I was always under the impression that afternoon tea would not be filling, but we felt so stuffed towards the end that we actually couldn't finish our food!
Service was very nice, and the ambience was quite soothing, due to the openness of the space and the light from the magnificent glass ceiling of the atrium. The cost of 33 pounds per person was a little steep, but given the amount and quality of the food, as well as the setting, it was worth it.
Excellent choice when you plan to cruise the museum for more than two hours. You'll get easily tired you don't know how. I made payment in advance with no problem. The payment included 2 course lunch - either starter + main course or main course and a desert. I chose traditional fish and chips with no regrets. Of course it's good to have something to drink. Service fee £5. Payment at the cashdesk. Waitresses and waiters was hurried a little. Rush hour (came around 1 PM). For me a favourable experience.
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