natural history museum afternoon tea

You can now have afternoon tea at the Natural History Museum

15 Mar 2024 | | By Annie Lewis

Dine on freshly-baked scones and delicate finger sandwiches surrounded by dinosaurs and dodos

For the first time in recent history, the Natural History Museum will begin serving a classic afternoon tea paying homage to the wonders of the natural world. Famous for its huge blue whale skeleton, Dippy the diplodocus, and Charles Darwin sketches, this marks the museum’s first foray into the world of afternoon tea, promising an array of sweet and savoury treats celebrating British farmers and growers. 

Aptly named Inspired by Nature and served in the Annings Rooms – the museum’s exclusive members and patrons’ space – guests will be able to choose from a hand-picked selection of loose-leaf teas alongside savouries such as Coronation chicken sandwiches, British cucumber with black pepper Crematta on white bread, and cherry tomato, red onion and pesto tart. These will be followed by Earl Grey scones served with Cornish clotted cream and Tiptree strawberry jam, and a sweet pea and lemon cake. And no serving would be complete without themed patisserie, including an Earth pot filled with raspberry and chocolate, a dinosaur-footprint macaron, and an ammonite cookie. 

Launching on 20 March 2024, the afternoon tea experience is available to pre-book only but open to all, providing the perfect opportunity to relax after a tour of the museum’s latest exhibitions. Highlights include the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year, which opened the doors to its 59th iteration last October, and the upcoming Birds: Brilliant & Bizarre, the latest headline exhibition set to land on 24 May. 

Robert Wetherell, head of catering at the Natural History Museum, said: “We are delighted to be bringing this charming new afternoon tea offering to our visitors. We have worked closely with Benugo’s impeccable pastry experts to curate this aptly-named Inspired by Nature tea, which will be the perfect addition to your visit to the Natural History Museum this year.”

The Natural History Museum’s Inspired by Nature afternoon tea will be available from 20 March 2024 from Wednesday-Sunday from 12-3pm. Visit benugo.com.

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