TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA IN WILTSHIRE
Bowood Afternoon Tea
A timeless tradition, beautifully renewed.
Bowood Afternoon Tea has been renewed with a stronger sense of place, provenance and occasion.
Served in the elegant surroundings of the Shelburne Restaurant, the experience brings together freshly prepared sandwiches, warm scones, homemade pâtisserie and a carefully selected range of British-grown teas from Tregothnan, Britain’s first tea plantation.
Shaped by the rhythm of the seasons, the menu draws inspiration from Bowood Estate’s Walled Garden, with estate-grown strawberries and rose petals used to create Bowood’s own strawberry and rose petal jam. From the tea selection to the bespoke fine bone china, each detail has been chosen to honour the tradition of afternoon tea while presenting it in a way that feels distinctly Bowood.
Traditional Bowood Afternoon Tea
Monday to Saturday - 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Sunday - 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Price
Adults: From £37.50pp
Children: £15.00pp (2 to 12 years)
Contact Us
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Sample Menu
Enjoy a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, plain and sultana scones with Ivy House Farm clotted cream and Bowood strawberry and rose petal jam, followed by homemade pâtisserie. Each Afternoon Tea is served with your choice of freshly brewed Tregothnan tea, coffee or rich hot chocolate.
The menu is shaped by the rhythm of the seasons, with selected ingredients gathered from Bowood House & Garden's Walled Garden. Strawberries and rose petals are used in our Bowood jam, while cucumbers, chives and edible flowers bring freshness, colour and a true sense of place to the savoury elements and presentation.
The History of Afternoon Tea
Tea first arrived in England in the 1650s, having been enjoyed in China for thousands of years. Popularised by Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of Charles II, tea quickly became associated with society, conversation and occasion. As an expensive and highly prized import, it was first enjoyed by the wealthy before becoming part of wider British social life.
By the early 19th century, dinner was often served much later in the evening, sometimes as late as nine o’clock. With lunch still taken around midday, tea became a way to bridge the gap, with small sandwiches, cakes, scones and pastries served alongside it. This evolved into the ritual of afternoon tea.
The tradition was widely popularised by Anna Maria Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, who began taking afternoon tea at Woburn Abbey before the custom became fashionable in London society. Given the Lansdowne family’s political and social connections, including links with Queen Victoria and the Russell family, it is very likely that afternoon tea would also have been enjoyed at Bowood.
Today, Bowood Afternoon Tea continues that sense of occasion, bringing together heritage, hospitality and carefully chosen details in a setting shaped by generations of family history.
Useful Information
Please let us know if you have any food allergies when you book and we will be happy to discuss options.
Please call us for bookings of 10 and above. Please also note that £10 per person deposit is required at the time of booking.
You can find our afternoon tea vouchers, here.
Children are welcome to dine here at any time.
Only working assistance dogs are permitted.
Bowood Memories
"Friends booked afternoon tea to celebrate my birthday and what a wonderful celebration it was. The chef and team catered for my tricky allergies beautifully. They had obviously taken great care with adjusting the menu."
jaha64 (on Tripadvisor)
