In bloom at The Athenaeum

There is something unmistakable about London during Chelsea Flower Show week. The city begins to soften. Balconies spill over with colour, quiet streets become gardens in full bloom, and familiar corners feel transformed by the season. As the Chelsea Flower Show and Chelsea in Bloom return from 18th to 24th May, The Athenaeum becomes part of that atmosphere in its own way.

Just moments from Chelsea and overlooking the greenery of Green Park, the hotel offers a quieter pause after a day spent exploring floral installations, garden displays and flower lined streets. This year, guests arriving at The Athenaeum will find the celebration continuing beyond the show itself, with a floral arrangement inspired by Chelsea in Bloom bringing the season into the heart of the hotel.

The feeling carries naturally into 116 at The Athenaeum, where a limited-edition Afternoon Tea reimagines the colours and character of the flower show across the table. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary Flower Spritz before settling into an experience designed to feel vibrant, uplifting and unmistakably springlike.

The pastries take inspiration directly from blooms found throughout Chelsea in Bloom. A sunflower appears through mango and passionfruit, hydrangea through chocolate and blueberry, while allium combines rose, lychee and raspberry. Elsewhere, pistachio tiramisu takes the shape of a lotus flower, joined by The Athenaeum Flower, a softer pairing of strawberry and cream.

Alongside them sits a selection of savoury sandwiches, from Maldon cured smoked salmon with horseradish crème fraîche to Coronation chicken with fresh coriander, followed by warm plain and raisin scones served with strawberry jam, raspberry jam and clotted cream.

For those looking to make more of the afternoon, guests can add English sparkling wine, Champagne, or free-flowing Prosecco and settle into the afternoon a little longer.

The Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea captures what makes this week in London feel so special. Colour, creativity and a softer pace woven together in a setting that feels calm, welcoming and quietly indulgent. A chance to step away from the crowds and continue the experience somewhere that feels just as much a part of the season itself.

Available from 18th to 24th May at £60 per person. Each guest will also receive a handcrafted marshmallow flower to take home, a small reminder of spring in bloom.

Book Afternoon Tea:  https://www.sevenrooms.com/explore/attheathenaeum/reservations/create/search