Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at The Shard Review: Is It Worth It?
“Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have our tea first?”
When visiting London, afternoon tea is one of those experiences that almost feels like a must. It’s a tradition that has been part of British culture for centuries, and today the city is filled with hotels and restaurants offering their own take on it—from very classic setups to more creative themed versions.
One theme that feels very fitting is the Peter Pan–themed afternoon tea being served high above the city at The Shard. After all, the story begins in London, when Peter Pan visits Wendy, John, and Michael, and they fly off together—passing over the city and Big Ben on their way to Neverland. You can also still find Peter in Kensington Gardens, where his statue quietly watches over the gardens. And let’s face it… since this site is called Duchess of Neverland, I could not-not try it.
But the real question is: is this a tourist trap, or actually worth your time?
Let’s find out….
Here we go! Let’s determine if the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea is worth it while we cover all aspects, from the location to the food and the atmosphere:
The Location & How to Book
The afternoon tea takes place at The Shard, one of the most recognizable buildings in London. Standing at over 300 meters tall, it’s the tallest building in the UK and pretty hard to miss when you’re walking along the Thames.
The tea itself is served at Aqua Shard, the restaurant located on the 31st floor of the building. Fun fact: the upper floors of The Shard are also home to the Shangri-La The Shard, which means you can technically stay inside the same iconic tower if you really want to turn the whole experience into a full London stay.
Once you’re upstairs, the views are easily one of the highlights. From up here, you get sweeping views across the city—from landmarks like Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral to, on a clear day, even Big Ben in the distance.
You can also clearly see the Tower of London, which—unfortunately for anyone dining with me—always triggers a long explanation about the time I spent sneaking into that exact prison in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. At this point, my friends have heard the story more times than they would probably like, but I felt it was only fair to share it here, too.
Getting there is also surprisingly easy. The closest Underground station is London Bridge Station, which is directly connected to The Shard. Once you exit the station, the building is right in front of you, so it’s almost impossible to miss.
If you’re planning to go, the easiest way to book the afternoon tea is directly through the restaurant’s website. I’d definitely recommend reserving in advance, especially if you’re visiting London on a weekend or during peak travel seasons.
The Menu & Theme
Sitting by the window overlooking London already feels special on its own—but pairing that view with a Peter Pan theme somehow makes the whole experience feel even more magical.
What I really liked about this afternoon tea is that it actually comes in two parts. When you first sit down, you’re served the “Big Ben” part of the meal. The tiered stand is decorated like the famous clock tower and comes with the savory bites—things like sandwiches and small tarts.
Once you’ve finished that course, the stand is taken away and replaced with the second part of the tea: a pirate ship. This is where the sweeter part of the experience comes in, with scones and pastries arriving on a tier shaped like Captain Hook’s ship.
The theme is done incredibly well and shows up in all the little details. Even the small plastic picks that hold the sandwiches together are shaped like tiny swords. The menu itself is designed like a map of Neverland. It’s one of those experiences where you can tell they really thought through every element of the presentation. Honestly—no notes from me.
The menu even includes this quote from Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie, which I thought was a really nice detail—especially because some of the ingredients mentioned in the passage also appear in the menu items themselves. It’s small, but it shows how much thought went into the theme.
“Their chief food was roasted bread-fruit, yams, coconuts, baked pig, mammee-apples, tappa rolls and bananas, washed down with calabashes of poe-poe; but you never exactly knew whether there would be a real meal or just a make-believe, it all depended upon Peter's whim.”
And another thing I think is worth mentioning: for every Peter Pan Afternoon Tea sold, Aqua Shard donates £2 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, which is a nice touch given the connection between Peter Pan and the hospital.
The Food & Drinks
Like most afternoon teas, the menu follows the traditional structure: you start with savory bites like sandwiches before moving on to scones and sweet pastries.
You can also choose to add champagne to your afternoon tea, and there’s a selection of teas you can try throughout the experience. The teas are unlimited, which makes it fun to try a few different ones during the afternoon.
As I also mentioned in my Bridgerton Afternoon Tea review, I’m not exactly the biggest cake person. And since the sweet part of an afternoon tea menu is usually quite cake-heavy, it’s often a bit much for me personally—though that’s completely on me.
One thing I did like was that you could order more of everything if you wanted. If there was something you particularly enjoyed, you could simply ask for another one. Since the teas are also unlimited, it’s quite fun to try different ones throughout the afternoon.
Now I will say—and this was honestly the only real downside for me—but the food itself was quite dry. It almost felt like it had been kept in the fridge for a bit too long before being served. Even the scones were quite dry and a little hard, which was a bit disappointing.
The Verdict: Is it Worth it?
So, is the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea actually worth it?
If you’re going specifically for the food and consider yourself a big foodie, I would probably say no.
However, if you’re coming for the experience—the theme itself and all the little details that bring Neverland to life while you’re overlooking the Thames and Tower Bridge—then it really is a fun experience.
The presentation alone makes it memorable. From the fog surrounding the pirate ship to the small themed details throughout the menu and tableware, it’s clear that a lot of thought went into creating the atmosphere.
For me personally, it was a fun experience. But purely from a food perspective, I do think there are better afternoon teas in London. For example, the Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough is much more subtle in its theming, but the food quality is noticeably better, but more on that here:
So if you’re looking for the best afternoon tea in London strictly from a culinary perspective, this might not be it. But if you’re a Peter Pan fan—or simply want a themed experience with one of the best views in the city—it’s definitely worth considering.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any more questions, you can always reach out here or on Instagram, and I’m more than happy to answer any of your questions.
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