Londoners can’t get enough of this tea room ‘frozen in time’ for 150 years

The tea room dates back to 1860 (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

If you’re looking to have an incredibly wholesome day out in London,hop on the Tube to Kew and head to Kew Gardens. 

Now that the weather is starting to brighten up,the flowers will be starting to bloom,and you’ll be able to enjoy a real visual feast.

And when it comes time for something to eat,you’ll be perfectly placed to head on over to a true hidden gem serving up an actual feast.

Just across the road from Kew Gardens,at 288 Kew Road,you’ll find The Original Maids of Honour (also known as Newens),a tea room that’s been running on the same site since 1860,although the business is even older.

Online reviewers have hailed it as the ‘most authentic’ spot that looks as if it’s been ‘frozen in time’,and it really is the most charming little place to grab a cup of tea,a sweet treat,or even go all out and enjoy high tea.

It’s a local favourite (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

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What do other customers have to say?

On Tripadvisor,dozens of Londoners revealed that the tea room was a place they had been visiting for decades and always enjoyed coming back to.

One post,by worsleyr says: ‘We have been visiting the tea rooms for almost 38 years and have never been disappointed.’

Similarly,a reviewer known only as Kate wrote: ‘Lovely,cosy,unique traditional,British restaurant. I’ve been going here and visiting the shop since I was a child. Friendly team and delicious food!’

And Chrissy hailed it as ‘one of [her] favourite places to go’,sharing that it’s ‘super oldie woldie’.

She continued: ‘It’s like you’ve stepped back in time to old England,and then there’s the amazing food. The pies and sausage rolls are my favourite. Beautiful pastry,plus the cakes and the famous Maids of Honour tarts.

‘English breakfast is great too,quality ingredients. And to top it all off,the staff are always lovely and welcoming! A must visit,or else you’re really missing out.’

There are numerous other posts where people say they are ‘regulars’,proclaim the tea room to be their ‘happy place’,and say the food is ‘unbelievably good’. 

However,not everyone is a fan,with a few visitors branding it ‘tacky’ and suggesting it requires ‘full modernisation’ (they might be missing the point).

Others complained about the state of the loos and the lunchtime minimum spend. While a few people shared poor experiences with ‘boring’ and ‘stale’ food,and in one instance the dreaded ‘soggy’ pastry.

Clearly,The Original Maids of Honour is doing something very right,though,to still be going more than 160 years later…

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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