Updated January 2023: The Peter Rabbit afternoon tea is no longer running at The Dilly. A new afternoon tea experience will be announced soon.
The Dilly Hotel is located in the heart of Central London, just moments from Piccadilly Circus. The hotel has been located on this famous street since 1908 and although the name might have changed (it opened as The Piccadilly Hotel and was later Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel), the five-star service and surroundings has not.
This is one of the best places to stay in London with kids. It’s also, as we found out, one of the best places to enjoy a themed afternoon tea.
Disclosure: We were guests of The Dilly for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.
Afternoon Tea at The Dilly
Afternoon Tea at The Dilly is served in the Terrace, a plant-filled conservatory with elegant arches and an external balcony. Apparently in the 1930s this is where poolside parties took place with the great and the good in attendance before the hotel pool was moved to the basement. Today the Victorian glass atrium is a wonderful light-filled space (even on a rainy day, as it was when we visited!) and one of three dining options at the hotel.
There are two menus to choose from at The Dilly for afternoon tea, one for adults and one specially designed for children. What makes afternoon tea at this family-friendly hotel so lovely is that everything is themed around the tale of Peter Rabbit.
Inspired by the original Beatrix Potter tale, afternoon tea treats are served in a wooden vegetable patch box for children and on a tiered slate planter for adults.
Savoury treats come from Mr McGregor’s Garden and include a mini baguette filled with with cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, radishes, pea shoots and red pepper hummus, a ham and cheese sandwich and the ‘Farmyard Friends’ sandwich, devilled eggs on basil bread. The adult’s tea also comes with a smoked salmon and sun-dried tomato pinwheel.
But it’s the sweet treats where the expert pastry team really show their creativity.
The Naughty Rabbit is a blue macaron filled with a white chocolate ganache, with chocolate bunny ears and a fluffy marshmallow tale. There is, of course, delicious carrot cake and a selection of fresh scones served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. The highlight, however, has to be the Flower-Pot Hideout. This edible chocolate pot is filled with chamomile mousse and a blackberry.
The adult’s afternoon tea also comes with The Red Delicious, a light apple mousse and an apple compote centre, shaped like the mini version of a ruby red apple.
Drink options on the children’s menu include fruit juice, Peter’s Lemonade and Flopsy’s Strawberry Surprise. Tea is supplied by The Teamakers of London.
We had a lovely afternoon eating and drinking our way through an array of Peter Rabbit goodies and were very well looked after by the friendly staff. If you are looking for an afternoon tea experience in London for the whole family then this really is a delight.
Where: The Dilly Hotel, 21 Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BH
Nearest underground station: Piccadilly Circus
When: The official Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea is served in The Terrace Monday-Sunday 12.30pm – 5.30pm
