The Open Guide to London: the free London guide

"Nice tea for nice people"

• Tel: (020) 7937 3001
• Address: 4 Holland Street, W8
• Locale: Kensington
• Tube: High Street Kensington

Opening hours:

• Tues - Fri: 11:00am - 5:00pm
• Sat - Sun: 11:00am - 6:00pm

A small, quiet and charming Sri Lankan tea shop, decorated with a tasteful mix of English parlour style and Buddhist iconography. You can come here and sip your choice of the several splendid teas on offer from a nice china cup, and treat yourself to scones, or a cake, or perhaps some ice cream. Prices vary between types of tea but a rough guide would be �2.50 for a pot for one person, �5.00 for a pot for two, �7.50 for a pot for three, or, predictably �10.00 for a pot for four. It's worth it. If it appears to be full, don't worry, there are more tables downstairs. Incidentally, the lavatory is one of the nicest that I have ever encountered in a public venue.

Exquisitely civilised.