I visited The Old Parsonage Hotel for afternoon tea, a renowned Oxford institution whose history dates back to 1660. Located just a 10–15 minute walk from Oxford city centre, the hotel is tucked away on Banbury Road, offering a quieter setting away from the bustling streets.
The building itself is beautiful, with a well-preserved façade and its original 17th-century heavy oak front door still welcoming guests today. Stepping inside feels like entering a classic English country house. The interior is tastefully decorated with artwork, plush velvet armchairs, dark accent walls, and elegant wooden furnishings, creating a cosy, intimate atmosphere that feels quintessentially English.
I had originally hoped to sit on the terrace, but it was an exceptionally warm summer day, so we chose a table indoors instead.
Afternoon tea is served daily from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A gluten-free option is available with advance notice. We ordered the Very High Tea, priced at £38 per person, including one gluten-free set. It came with a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade miniature cakes, plain and fruit scones served with clotted cream and preserves, and a choice of tea or coffee.
The bottom tier featured an assortment of finger sandwiches: cucumber with cream cheese, chicken and tarragon, smoked salmon, honey-baked ham with mustard, and egg mayonnaise with cress.
The middle tier consisted of freshly baked plain and fruit scones served with strawberry jam and rich clotted cream.
The gluten-free top tier included carrot cake, fruit cake, brownie, and orange posset, while the regular version featured a coffee choux bun, lemon drizzle cake, salted caramel brownie, vanilla cheesecake, and orange posset.
The finger sandwiches were enjoyable, although none particularly stood out. The scones were light, flaky, and buttery. The miniature cakes were the highlight. Each was thoughtfully prepared, with a good variety of flavours and textures. The orange posset was wonderfully smooth and refreshing, while the brownie was rich without being overly sweet. My favourite was the fruit cake—it was wonderfully moist and delightfully chewy, packed with dried fruits that gave it plenty of flavour and texture without being overly sweet.
Overall, I enjoyed the experience. While the food was very good, what made the afternoon truly memorable was the setting.
Old Parsonage Hotel
1-3 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 6NN, United Kingdom
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