What’s higher than afternoon tea in London for households? Clearly a Wizard afternoon tea in London with children, the place you’ll be able to concoct potions, whip out your wand to strive some magic, and eat numerous cake on the identical 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 assessment 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 means 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’ll squeeze in seatings each hour.
Our personal afternoon tea was organized for 1.45pm; a bit sooner than conventional, however excellent as an alternative of lunch. Regardless of the identify, yow 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 a great 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, once 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 record doesn’t really feel significantly magical, I used to be very completely satisfied to faux it was parchment with inky prospers after I learn the record 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 Limitless Summer time, a fruity mocktail.
However first there was work to be completed. Essentially the most accountable individual on the desk was instructed to take the wand – for sure, my 11-year-old daughter was put in cost – and to fastidiously 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 totally different teas inside, plus tea baggage 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 to make one thing new and strange.
A phrase of recommendation: the wand additionally is available in very useful for summoning charms – together with sizzling water, and later for additional 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, desserts, scones and different desserts specified by entrance of us.
There are a number of totally different menus you’ll be able to select between, together with vegan and vegetarian – there’s a complement of £3 when you select both of those or the gluten-free possibility – however past that, you’ll be able to’t make every other modifications.
In case you have choosy eaters, it’s value figuring out that whereas nothing is wildly outrageous, there’s additionally nothing significantly 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 desserts 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 have been suggested, or drizzle it on high – or just squirt it into your mouth. However please don’t put it in anybody’s hair (apparently that has been completed). It’s undoubtedly 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 might 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 Limitless 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 effectively value just a few splashes.
When you’ve labored by means 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 was a frog until you’re significantly unfortunate, however having began your tea brewing, just a few faucets with the wand illuminates the world to place your teapot, and you’ll watch it slowly change color.
Then preserve your ears open for the clue to resolve a riddle, and unveil a hidden drawer containing three further elements – add these in, and every glass takes on an entire new look.
Having completed that, you’ll be able to rummage by means of the additional elements and add additional extracts to create the right potion for you – the maple syrup got here in very useful after I sourly found I’d been considerably heavy-handed with lemon juice.
After which there’s one closing fabulous foaming frothing cup to finish the meal – though this one you undoubtedly don’t drink!
Imitation mice in hand, we headed again out into the actual world.
For extra enchanting locations to go to in London with children, take a look at my choose of probably the most magical Harry Potter places in London, from the studio tour to Home of MinaLima
Wizard afternoon tea with children: the decision
I’ve not often taken my daughter to afternoon tea earlier than – I do know that she has very sturdy likes and dislikes, and whereas I really like the entire indulgence and magnificence of a basic afternoon tea, there doesn’t appear a lot level forking out when you have children who gained’t eat half of it.
However whereas she did choose and select between the meals right here, it was simply value it for the tea expertise.
A giant fan of all issues magic, she beloved waving the wand to activate lights and unlock puzzles, whereas making the colour-changing interactive teas was enormous enjoyable – even when she didn’t significantly need to drink it afterwards.
The workers have been nice at bringing the entire magical ambiance to life as effectively, even the sensible info will get an added enjoyable twist to guide you ever additional into this explicit wizarding world.
And it’s onerous to high a drink served by a mixture of unicorn and magic wand, in any case.
From an grownup viewpoint, I beloved the meals – and the cocktail – so when you and your children are wanting ahead to the meals as a lot because the interactive components of a themed afternoon tea, you shouldn’t go dwelling dissatisfied.
If you happen to’re trying to conjure up an incredible expertise for wannabe witches and wizards, this undoubtedly needs to be on the record.
It’s additionally an incredible possibility to mix with a go to to Harry Potter and the Cursed Youngster, which is enjoying in London only some minutes from the Wizard Exploratorium
Wizard afternoon tea London: Have to know
The Arcane Wizard’s Afternoon tea prices £42 per individual, whereas the Little Wizard’s Afternoon tea prices £32 per individual.
Youngsters aged 11 and beneath 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 dwelling hungry, an 11-year-old might simply end every thing within the grownup model (in contrast to some afternoon teas which appear to have ridiculous quantities of meals)
If you happen to’d like greater than tea, it’s also possible to 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. Reward vouchers are additionally out there.
The timings range from daily, 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 go away 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 – when you’re searching for extra wizard afternoon teas in London, it’s value figuring out that the earlier possibility on the Potion Room at Cutter & Squidge is 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.
If you happen to go to in summer time, it’s additionally value figuring out that there’s no air con – throughout our go to, the home windows have been open and followers on, however when you’re at one of many tables in the back of the room, it’s fairly sizzling. If you happen to’re searching for someplace cosy in winter, it’s nearly definitely superb!
You possibly can deliver youthful children to the Wizard Afternoon tea, however under-fives are usually not allowed within the potion room for the Potions Expertise. The Wand Making Expertise is for age 8+ solely. There are bogs on the primary flooring, 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 assessment – all opinions are mine (and my daughter’s)
Photographs copyright MummyTravels