Bookings to open for vintage afternoon tea at Hylands Estate

Earlier this year we brought you the story that afternoon teas would be coming to Hylands House. Well, it’s almost time to get booking.

The first ever vintage afternoon tea in the Terrace Room will be held on Sunday 19 September and bookings open on Wednesday 18 August. Spaces are limited for this event, so if you’ve always fancied taking tea at the heart of the famous villa, don’t delay.

Two sittings with classic, vegetarian, and vegan menus

There are two sittings, with the first at 12pm, and the second at 2.30pm, and tickets are £34 for adults and £20 for children. The menus include vegetarian and vegan choices, as well as a classic menu.

Each sitting starts with delicate finger sandwiches and sausage rolls, followed by scones with all the trimmings. The menu ends with a set of indulgent desserts, so don’t forget to leave some room for sweet treats like summer fruit tart, lemon posset or Victoria sponge. Unlimited tea and coffee will be available, and you can also add prosecco, sparkling water, and orange juice to your order if you wish.

Tour the historic house at the estate’s open day

If you’d like to make a day of it, don’t forget that it’s also the Hylands Estate Open Day and this time around the event is even bigger than usual. Hylands House will be open free of charge with a guided tour at 11am and last entry at 3pm. The estate is also taking part in this year’s Heritage Open Days, and you can find out more about the history of the house and its owners with a special exhibition in the library. The Hylands Artist Studios at The Stables will also be open, and you’ll have the chance to meet the talented artists and makers based at Hylands. Some of their beautiful work will be on sale and if you’re thinking about trying your own hand at something creative, check out the workshops on offer in the coming months.

Monthly farmers’ market expanded

The monthly farmers’ market set out between The Stables and Hylands House will also be running, and there are more stalls than ever this September. If you’d like a tour of the park as well as the house, Hawthorn Heavy Horses will be on hand with their popular hour-long carriage rides throughout the day, and booking is already open on their website.

There’s much more on at Hylands Estate in the coming months, including the Foodies Festival in October and magical light trail Enlightened Hylands this winter. Find out more on the estate’s website and the estate’s Facebook page.