Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Life

Tea and cakes at the Royal Horseguards Hotel (Includes interview and first-hand account)

The front of the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London  taken in January 2015.

The front of the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, taken in January 2015.

The Royal Horseguards Hotel is a former residence (Whitehall Court) and a government building, used by spies and as a meeting place during wartime. It has been a hotel since 1971, and it is found close to Whitehall in London.

During the 1980s the hotel expanded by taking in 150 bedrooms from the neighboring National Liberal Club. The National Liberal Club itself is a fine example of Victorian architecture and it has been the subject of a recent Digital Journal photo essay.

The hotel interior is one of fully refurbished Victorian elegance. The building was designed in 1884 by Jabez Balfour. The hotel occupies eight floors of Whitehall Court in an imposing Grade I-listed building.

Being just after Christmas, the hotel retained many festive features.

A warm and inviting fireplace at the Royal Horseguards Hotel  London.

A warm and inviting fireplace at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, London.


A Christmas tree in the hotel lobby.

A Christmas tree in the hotel lobby.

The hotel building was once home and office to the first “Chief” of Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Sir Mansfield Cumming (an early model for James Bond.) Today it is used for more genteel pursuits.

A winter themed display at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

A winter themed display at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

The hotel is recommended by both Forbes Travel Guide and Condé Nast Johansens. Throughout the hotel there are various decorations. This one has a winter theme:

A bright winter inspired table decoration at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

A bright winter inspired table decoration at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

There are many horse themes throughout the hotel, in recognition of the building’s association with the Household Cavalry and the Blues and Royals (The Royal Horse Guards.)

Insignia for the Blues and Royals  embroidered onto a cushion at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

Insignia for the Blues and Royals, embroidered onto a cushion at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

Both form part of the Household Cavalry, which forms the Queen’s official bodyguard.

A dazzling horse picture on mirrored glass at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

A dazzling horse picture on mirrored glass at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

Other horse related art work is in a more classical design.

A magnificent white stallion painting on display at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

A magnificent white stallion painting on display at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

The hotel gives a proportion of its profits to charities for former British military personnel.

Afternoon tea is taken in The Lounge.

A display of some of the tea room treats  tempting hotel guests and visitors into the tea lounge.

A display of some of the tea room treats, tempting hotel guests and visitors into the tea lounge.

Once in The Lounge, the tea setting is very elegant.

Ready for afternoon tea? The tea service is made from fine China.

Ready for afternoon tea? The tea service is made from fine China.

Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available. The tea takes the form of finger sandwiches; warm scones and an array of cakes.

Afternoon tea  as presented at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.

Afternoon tea, as presented at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.

To go with it is plenty of tea.

Silver service - the tea pots at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

Silver service – the tea pots at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

Darjeeling tea. The flavour can include a tinge of astringent tannic characteristics and a musky spi...

Darjeeling tea. The flavour can include a tinge of astringent tannic characteristics and a musky spiciness sometimes described as “muscatel”.

And patrons can also enjoy a glass of Taittinger brut champagne, should they wish to add a little fizz to the experience.

Tattinger champagne at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. Taittinger s hallmark is the dominance of Chardo...

Tattinger champagne at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. Taittinger’s hallmark is the dominance of Chardonnay grapes.

The hotel has been featured in several movies, including the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.

The entrance to the Royal Horseguards Hotel  as seen in the movie Octopussy.

The entrance to the Royal Horseguards Hotel, as seen in the movie Octopussy.

There are other nice touches, such as the restaurant’s name — One Twenty One Two — which is a nod to Scotland Yard’s former ‘Whitehall 1212′ phone number.

A delightful floral display at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

A delightful floral display at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.

As well as afternoon tea, the hotel has a magnificent cocktail bar and lounge. The lounge is set-out with comfortable furniture.

The comfortable setting of the Equus cocktail lounge in London s Royal Horseguards Hotel.

The comfortable setting of the Equus cocktail lounge in London’s Royal Horseguards Hotel.

The bar, like much of the hotel, is horse themed and named Equus.

Silver horse heads at the Equus cocktail bar in London.

Silver horse heads at the Equus cocktail bar in London.

The range of cocktails on offer is very good. Some are named after famous residents like George Bernard Shaw and Winston Churchill.

Three alcohol heavy cocktails at the Equus bar in London.

Three alcohol heavy cocktails at the Equus bar in London.

An example of one cocktail on offer is Inverness. It is made from:

25ml 3* rum
10ml lime juice
10ml lemon juice
35ml fresh coconut water
1 dash orange bitter
30ml ginger beer to top up
15ml kraken spiced rum to float

A doorman walks into the lobby at the Royal Horseguards Hotel; the hotel is decorated for Christmas.

A doorman walks into the lobby at the Royal Horseguards Hotel; the hotel is decorated for Christmas.

All round the hotel, tea room and bar are very relaxing and the hotel is highly recommended. For an alternative look at afternoon tea in London, see Digital Journal’s earlier review of the Savoy.

Avatar photo
Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

You may also like:

Business

A flood of presidential trade policy announcements has kept US automakers on edge since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Sports

Packed slopes, plush turtle butt pads and 11-dollar passes: this is low-cost skiing in China.

Business

The philosophy should be "AI First"—letting AI handle initial tasks but always allowing humans to review and adjust outcomes.

Life

Some platforms charge large fees for AI courses that provide outdated, low-quality, or surface-level information.