Sight-seeing in Oxford involves a fair amount of walking about, and a good cup of tea (or coffee) provides fuel and the chance to take the weight off your feet. However, bear in mind that all not tea-rooms are equal...
The Vaults and Garden
Organic is the watchword at this coffee-shop, situated within the vaults of the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin on High Street. Fairtrade drinks are served alongside bottles of ginger beer and the soup of the day, at a cafeteria-style counter. It all has a vaguely “National Trust” feel, and the garden tables allow you to take in the architectural splendour of Radcliffe Square whilst you sip your ethical beverage of choice.
The Queen’s Lane Coffee House
Unsurprisingly at the entrance to Queen’s Lane, just by The Queen’s College, this is the oldest coffee house in Oxford, and older than many of the colleges. It provide good cakes, and a bustling atmosphere, but this isn’t a place you’d want to linger for too long – it favours fast put-through and service can sometimes be a little hurried. A good stopping place if you’re caught in the rain though, and it’s worth pausing under the awning to wait for a free table.
The Rose
A sign in the style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh announces the Rose Tearoom on High Street. This establishment takes its tea very seriously, devoting an entirely separate menu simply to the numerous different varieties. Whilst bold spirits may want to try Keemun Oolong, or even the premium Phoenix Pearl Dragon, the Rose’s own house blend provides a tasty cup for the less adventurous. The teas are served in individual pots, and the uninitiated should remember to use the strainer provided to avoid a murky dose of leaves in their drink. Despite all the arcana, tea at Rose is quite reasonably priced, and the traditional cream tea, (tea, scones, clotted cream and jam) is a real treat for a fiver.
The Old Parsonage
Up on Banbury Road is The Old Parsonage, where afternoon tea is served with finger sandwiches and scones – one gets the feeling that the tea itself has arrived recently on a clipper. The price is high – from seven pounds a person, all the way up to nineteen for a graduation tea with a glass of champagne – and the standards are higher, with the calm atmosphere of a small country house hotel. You do not rush afternoon tea at The Old Parsonage, it’s an experience to be enjoyed at leisure.
