What’s higher than afternoon tea in London for households? Clearly a Wizard afternoon tea in London with youngsters, the place you’ll be able to concoct potions, whip out your wand to attempt some magic, and eat a lot of cake on the similar time.
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This wasn’t the primary time we’d visited the Wizard Exploratorium in Soho – just a few years again, my daughter had gone alongside for the wand making, shortly after it opened, but it surely didn’t take a lot to tempt us again for a magical afternoon tea.
There’s additionally a Potions Making Expertise (for teenagers aged 5+) on supply, however with a busy time out deliberate in the course of the summer time holidays, this beat a boring lunch fingers down – right here’s what we thought, in my evaluation of the wizard afternoon tea, London.
London’s Wizard afternoon tea: the expertise
Arriving shortly earlier than our reserving, we had an opportunity to play with just a few of the working magic wands on show, turning on lightbulbs and debating if unicorn or dragon could be higher because the magical core.
There’s additionally a spread of enchanting sweets – or presumably enchanted sweets – with every thing from unicorn poo to thoughts snakes and imitation mice (warning, could make you crave cheese).
Having been launched to unicorn bartender Artemis, and checking by way of our dietary necessities, it was time to climb the rickety stairs for afternoon tea – be careful for the pixies alongside the best way.
There are two rooms put aside for afternoon tea, and round half a dozen tables in every, so at peak occasions they will squeeze in seatings each hour.
Our personal afternoon tea was organized for 1.45pm; a bit sooner than conventional, however excellent as a substitute of lunch. Regardless of the identify, you will discover slots as early as 9.15am, and so they run till mid afternoon most days – occasions do range every day although.
It was tempting to cease and have take a look at every thing adorning the partitions earlier than sitting down – handblown glass bottles, piles of books, empty image frames (some with butterflies resting on them), peacock feathers, candles, intriguing bottles, chests, bins with odd dials on and who is aware of what else.
However fortunately there’s time to eye all of it up later, whenever you’re prepared for a break between treats, in addition to discovering just a few interactive spots to wave your wand.
Our personal desk was arrange prepared with a tree to carry all of the plates, topped with a glowing dragon’s egg, a glass teapot and glasses on the underside and a menu tucked between the sandtimers.
If a laminated listing doesn’t really feel notably magical, I used to be very blissful to faux it was parchment with inky prospers once I learn the listing of cocktails and mocktails.
Some come served in a mini cauldron, however in the long run a Serum of Free Lips (a mixture of peach, citrus, Aperol, vodka and milk, designed to disclose one’s deepest truths) received my vote, whereas my daughter set her sights on Infinite Summer time, a fruity mocktail.
However first there was work to be accomplished. Probably the most accountable particular person on the desk was instructed to take the wand – evidently, my 11-year-old daughter was put in cost – and to rigorously faucet out the sequence which might open our tea chest.
Lights illuminated and locks unlocked, and we found a small pestle and mortar plus a string of cork topped bottles, all with completely different teas inside, plus tea luggage to fill to make your individual good concoction, together with fruit and natural blends.
I made a decision to stay with peppermint, though we couldn’t resist eyeing up the others and crushing just a few rosebuds in an try and make one thing new and weird.
A phrase of recommendation: the wand additionally is available in very useful for summoning charms – together with sizzling water, and later for further jam.
And earlier than lengthy, tea arrived: not home elves (that is very firmly a non-branded wizard’s afternoon tea) however tray after tray delivered to every desk with sandwiches (sorry, sand-witches) and savouries, muffins, scones and different desserts specified by entrance of us.
There are a number of completely different menus you’ll be able to select between, together with vegan and vegetarian – there’s a complement of £3 if you happen to select both of those or the gluten-free choice – however past that, you’ll be able to’t make another adjustments.
When you have choosy eaters, it’s price figuring out that whereas nothing is wildly outrageous, there’s additionally nothing notably easy – cucumber comes with minty cream cheese, for instance, whereas there’s mustard mayo on the turkey ham and cheese sandwich.
This meant I did additionally get to eat my daughter’s leftovers, together with a few of her mushroom quiche (scrumptious!)
Even the pickiest eater will love the muffins although: an orange and poppyseed cupcake with a shimmering swirl of icing, a person lemon meringue tart, an Elven scone (similar to a basic one) with jam and cream.
Plus just a few extra sudden treats, together with a ardour fruit panna cotta plus a chocolate macaron with an added pipette of dragon’s blood.
Squeeze it into the macaron, we had been suggested, or drizzle it on prime – or just squirt it into your mouth. However please don’t put it in anybody’s hair (apparently that has been accomplished). It’s positively far too good to waste – who knew dragon’s blood tastes fruity?
With our macaron oozing temptingly, limitless jam and cream, and my potion in entrance of me, just one factor may drag us away from the desk: Artemis the unicorn bartender.
Heading again downstairs to the doorway, my daughter was given a wand and glass, we made our courtesies to Artemis (a pat on the nostril and a flourishing bow respectively) earlier than conjuring up a drink of Infinite Summer time.
Our incantation led to a barely enthusiastic supply from Artemis, who snorted a few of it over the ground, however apparently the mocktail was properly price just a few splashes.
When you’ve labored by way of all of the plates of treats, there’s time for a bit extra wand-waving – this wouldn’t be a magical afternoon tea in any other case, proper?
First up, there’s transfiguration: no-one will get changed into a frog except you’re notably unfortunate, however having began your tea brewing, just a few faucets with the wand illuminates the world to place your teapot, and you may watch it slowly change color.
Then maintain your ears open for the clue to resolve a riddle, and unveil a hidden drawer containing three further components – add these in, and every glass takes on a complete new look.
Having accomplished that, you’ll be able to rummage by way of the additional components and add additional extracts to create the proper potion for you – the maple syrup got here in very useful once I sourly found I’d been considerably heavy-handed with lemon juice.
After which there’s one last fabulous foaming frothing cup to finish the meal – though this one you positively don’t drink!
Imitation mice in hand, we headed again out into the true world.
For extra enchanting locations to go to in London with youngsters, take a look at my decide of probably the most magical Harry Potter areas in London, from the studio tour to Home of MinaLima
Wizard afternoon tea with youngsters: the decision
I’ve not often taken my daughter to afternoon tea earlier than – I do know that she has very robust likes and dislikes, and whereas I like the entire indulgence and class of a basic afternoon tea, there doesn’t appear a lot level forking out in case you have youngsters who gained’t eat half of it.
However whereas she did decide and select between the meals right here, it was simply price it for the tea expertise.
A giant fan of all issues magic, she cherished waving the wand to activate lights and unlock puzzles, whereas making the colour-changing interactive teas was enormous enjoyable – even when she didn’t notably wish to drink it afterwards.
The workers had been nice at bringing the entire magical environment to life as properly, even the sensible info will get an added enjoyable twist to steer you ever additional into this explicit wizarding world.
And it’s laborious to prime a drink served by a mixture of unicorn and magic wand, in any case.
From an grownup perspective, I cherished the meals – and the cocktail – so if you happen to and your youngsters are trying ahead to the meals as a lot because the interactive components of a themed afternoon tea, you shouldn’t go residence dissatisfied.
For those who’re trying to conjure up an important expertise for wannabe witches and wizards, this positively needs to be on the listing.
It’s additionally an important choice to mix with a go to to Harry Potter and the Cursed Youngster, which is enjoying in London just a few minutes from the Wizard Exploratorium
Wizard afternoon tea London: Have to know
The Arcane Wizard’s Afternoon tea prices £42 per particular person, whereas the Little Wizard’s Afternoon tea prices £32 per particular person.
Kids aged 11 and below can order the Little Wizard Afternoon tea for smaller parts, or can get the complete Arcane Wizard Afternoon tea if they like. Whereas we didn’t go residence hungry, an 11-year-old may simply end every thing within the grownup model (in contrast to some afternoon teas which appear to have ridiculous quantities of meals)
For those who’d like greater than tea, you may also pre-order drinks to get 10% off, so long as you do it as much as 24 hours earlier than your reserving, together with Effervescent Shot of Dying, Signature Potion or molecular mocktail. Present vouchers are additionally out there.
The timings range from each day, with the final reserving at 3.30pm on Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, at 5.30pm on Wednesday, at 4pm on Friday, at 1.30pm on Saturday, and 4.30pm on Sunday.
The entire expertise lasts round 1 hour 45 minutes. Ours was nearer to 1 hour half-hour, though there was no rush to depart and we by no means felt hurried consuming our meals or whipping up our potions.
The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium is at 26 Greek Road in London’s Soho – if you happen to’re in search of extra wizard afternoon teas in London, it’s price figuring out that the earlier choice on the Potion Room at Cutter & Squidge is now not out there.
The Wizard Exploratorium is in an previous constructing, over 5 storeys (wand-making is on the highest flooring) and the rickety stairs imply it isn’t wheelchair accessible.
For those who go to in summer time, it’s additionally price figuring out that there’s no air-con – throughout our go to, the home windows had been open and followers on, however if you happen to’re at one of many tables behind the room, it’s fairly sizzling. For those who’re in search of someplace cosy in winter, it’s nearly actually superb!
You may carry youthful youngsters to the Wizard Afternoon tea, however under-fives will not be allowed within the potion room for the Potions Expertise. The Wand Making Expertise is for age 8+ solely. There are bathrooms on the primary ground, however no child altering.
There’s additionally Wizard Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh, in addition to Potion Making in Brighton,
Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. Our expertise on the Wizard Afternoon Tea London was free for evaluation – all opinions are mine (and my daughter’s)
Photographs copyright MummyTravels