Afternoon tea at the Gardener’s Cottage in Tatton Park is a beautiful way to spend a couple of hours before or after visiting the gorgeous gardens.
My dad is now 81 years old and had his first afternoon tea at the Gardener’s Cottage in Tatton Park (a National Trust property) just a few weeks ago.
Disclosure: my parents and I were hosted for Prosecco afternoon tea at the Gardener’s Cottage in Tatton Park with no strings attached. As always, all opinions are my own.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Even he was surprised at how much he enjoyed it, but what’s not to enjoy? Delicious savory sandwiches, mile-high scones with cream and jam, sweet treats and endless cups of tea. Oh, I forgot to mention that we started with a glass of sparkling Italian Prosecco!
Let me back up a bit and tell you a little more about Tatton Park before sharing our afternoon tea. Only 20 miles from Manchester, Tatton Park is a National Trust property in England. US residents, this means you gain free entry with a Royal Oak Foundation membership AND you can get a 10% discount by using my special code: CUCINA2020 (NB: this is not usually the case at National Trust properties, but there is a parking charge at Tatton Park. The Royal Oak Foundation parking pass is not valid here.)
Tatton Park is situated within 1000 acres of a deer park, with so much to see and do, such as visiting the mansion (I’ve been twice and still have to go inside!), gardens, working farm and stableyard.
Not to mention, Tatton Park hosts 100 events each year, so there’s often even more entertainment. Before the National Trust acquired the property in 1958, it was the home of the Egerton Family for 400 years! You can find more detailed information about the park HERE.
The Gardener’s Cottage is located at the entry of Tatton Park’s gardens, and is just like a hidden garden itself. I can only imagine how beautiful the atmosphere is on a warm, sunny day when one can eat in the courtyard.
Afternoon Tea at the Gardener’s Cottage
Since it was so cool and overcast, we had our afternoon tea inside the cottage. It was really a perfect day for afternoon tea! We chose our teas and our tea tray arrived shortly afterwards. It looked fabulous!
To me, these were perfect tea sandwiches: no crust, evenly matched sizes, good ratio of filling to bread and FRESH, soft bread! It’s so disappointing when this is not the case. The flavor of these lovely finger sandwiches was up to snuff, too: delicious. My parents loved them too.
And the scones–remember I described them as “mile-high”? Now you can see why.
The pastries were tasty; some delightfully whimsical, and some were traditional. A nice variety of flavors, too.
As shared on my Instagram story that day!
Service throughout our afternoon tea was very good and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves which was wonderful, given it was my father’s first tea outing. Afterwards, we headed out to explore the gardens.
Tatton Park Gardens
Although it wasn’t a bright, sunny day when we visited, the gardens were still spectacular since the rhododendrons were in bloom. One could spend an entire day in the gardens at Tatton Park!
It was a shame that we were there a week or two early for the roses to be in bloom.
Are you going to be in or near Manchester some time in the future? Make it a point to stop in to Tatton Park to visit the gorgeous grounds, mansion and more, but be sure to plan breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea at the Gardener’s Cottage while you’re there. The kitchen uses real butter, local, free-range eggs, and salad, root vegetables and herbs from the walled garden right in Tatton Park. For more information, click on the links below.
Don’t miss another recipe or travel post, sign up for my free subscription below.
Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I do hope you blog a recipe for mile high scones, they look insane! Gorgeous photos as always.
Mine rise high, but not this high! Thank you, Cathy! :)
did you get the secret to how those scones are so tall? I hope so, I’m drooling over the photos and as a gardener, the botanical gardens are gorgeous
I think scones just always turn out better in the UK, Nancy! Mine rise quite tall, but never this high! Yes, the gardens are phenomenal. I hope you go there sometime!
As I sit here so close (in Heathrow) it pains me that I can’t exit the airport to go for tea! Looks perfect!
That is a horrible feeling to know you’re so close, and yet, so far! :( Next time, David!
I am envious of the lovely “tea” with your family. The tea and gardens are so special. I live in the US and get to visit some of the tea rooms locally on occasion with friends but nothing compares to what you have shared with us today. I always enjoy your emails. Wish I could make those mile high scones! Wonder if they have a cookbook or offer recipes occasionally?
Hi Gayle! I do hope that you might be able to pop “across the pond” one day to experience afternoon tea in the UK yourself! In the meantime, I am trying to fill my site up with lots of British recipes so that people like me can have a taste of “home” and others who have never been can enjoy new delights. However, I’ve found that baking in other countries does differ due to the ingredients. For example, I made lots and lots of scone recipes before that this was the best one to make here in the US with our ingredients (goo.gl/HKFYwH). I do believe the National Trust does have a cookbook, but it will be for British kitchens. All my British recipes are converted for use in US (and other) kitchens. Take a look at my list of those recipes here (goo.gl/fxBtv3) and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Gayle!
Christina,
You just made my day with your kind response! I cannot wait to make your scone recipe. After looking through your recipes I must ask with high hopes….Do you have a cookbook out or are you planning on publishing one with all of your wonderful British (and Scottish) recipes. If you do I need to know how to order it but if you don’t PLEASE, publish one! I am certain you would make a lot of people very happy.
Again thank you for taking time to respond to me and I will look forward to your next newsletter.
Best regards,
Gayle Durkin
You are much too kind, Gayle!
In regards to a cookbook, sadly, I do not have one (yet)! I would love to have my own cookbook one day, but at the moment, I’m traveling a bit too much to have time to work on one. I promise I will let you know if/when I do have one published, though!
Thanks so much and let me know how those scones turn out!
Christina
I have just spent the last 1 1/2 hours on your blog site and know I am in trouble now. You are an awesome gal and as much as I love to cook and bake you have inspired me beyond words. I cannot wait to make your Burrata & Prosciutto Focaccia. The response you sent me earlier today about the scones recipe was just the tip of the iceberg. Wow, wow, wow, thank you for inspiring me. Can’t wait for your next blog post!
Reading your history was wonderful and I think knowing you live in the US (which I didn’t initially) I can see how helpful your conversions to American measurements etc. will be. Keep your strong cultural background and keep traveling. I am an avid British Baking show addict and love food from all over the world and trying my hand at some of it. Many thanks.
I’m very happy that you’ve found so many recipes that you like on my site, Gayle! Yes, if you’re a GBBO fan, you’ll love my recipes: traditional British baking (what I grew up with). Although I LOVE some American baking recipes, like really good chocolate chip cookies, nothing can take the place of my British baking :)
Have you seen this post yet? I was hanging out with Paul and Mary and going out to dinner with them before anyone in the US knew who they were! ;) goo.gl/xdP8xt
Thanks again for your lovely sentiment. CC
I just love your blog. I get so excited when i see your emails! I cant wait to open them to see where you have been this time! Keep up the good work and keep sending recipes!
Oh my goodness, Rosa! What a lovely comment to read first thing in the morning! Thank you so very much. Honestly, you don’t know how much it means to me to read a comment like yours! Have a lovely weekend! :)
Awesome Place ..article,,and report ..On top of that i liked very much your Dad..would you kindly convey to him best wishes for every lasting happy life..The article is shared and posted to my social accounts..I wish to assign special Board on My Pinterest just for your articles and recipes ,would you kindly suggest suitable Title for the Board?? many thanks
Oh thank you, Zouhair! You are too kind! Hmmm, is it too uncreative to call the board “Christina’s Cucina”? :)
Simply scrumptious! Those mini jam jars!!
It really was scrumptious, and I ADORE those mini jam jars! :)
This is 15 minutes from my mum! Have been many times but never had tea. Must do that next time!
How wonderful, Lucinda! Yes, I do hope you have tea at the Gardener’s Cottage next time you visit your mum!