Who doesn’t love traditional afternoon tea in a lavish venue, set amongst beautiful gardens? If this sounds like heaven but the thought of taking the kids conjures up images of broken fine china teacups and finger sandwiches all over the floor, think again.
Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea is the perfect treat for your family. Not only is afternoon tea an exciting experience for kids that will keep them entertained, but Coombe Abbey and its grounds have loads of things for families to do.
Voted as one of the 30 best places for afternoon tea as chosen by Telegraph experts – read more
If I haven’t enticed you so far, keep reading to find out more about our Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea experience and everything else that Coombe Abbey Park has to offer.
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How to get to Coombe Abbey
Coombe Abbey is located in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside and just a short distance drive from Coventry, Leamington Spa, Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon. Getting to Coombe Abbey by car is straightforward given its easy access from the M1, M6, M40 and M42.
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Warwick Castle is just a short half hour drive from Coombe Abbey and a great family day out!
Click here to read what we got up to when we visited Warwick Castle.
The nearest train station is Coventry and from there you can take a bus. Click here to find your best route to Coombe Abbey Park and different methods of transport that will get you there.
We were lucky enough to be able to take a short walk across the fields to Coombe Abbey from a cottage we were staying in on the edge of Coombe Abbey Park. Coombe Pool Cottage is a lovely, cosy cottage big enough for a family of 4.
In summer, there is a lovely outdoor decking area with BBQ, chiminea and hot tub (weather permitting). And in winter, there is a cosy log burner in the front room to keep you nice and toasty.
Click here to check availability and prices.
Find out more…
Click here to find out why we love Coombe Pool Cottage. Read our review, see our photos and watch our video tour of the cottage…
BOOK COOMBE POOL COTTAGE NOW and save 25 off your first booking.
You may also be interested in staying at Coombe Abbey Hotel itself – check prices and availability here.
Or if you are looking for other accommodation in the area, you can use the Booking.com search box below.
Useful info on Coombe Abbey car parking
Although we didn’t need to park having walked, if you are driving to Coombe Abbey, there is a car park charge.
The Coombe Abbey hotel car park is £2 for up to 8 hours. There is another car park next to it for Coombe Abbey Park, which is usually £3 all day.
Make sure you drive past the first car park until you reach the Coombe Abbey Hotel car park just after on the right. Both car parking areas are located in front of the Abbey and opposite the Visitor Centre.
What to expect when arriving at Coombe Abbey
As you might typically expect given its name, arriving at Coombe Abbey involves making your way down an impressively long drive, lined with trees. Eventually, you catch sight of the beautiful Abbey building and grand entrance via a bridge over a moat.
Originally a monastery, Coombe Abbey was built by monks in the 12th century. It was the largest and most powerful monastery in Warwickshire. As Coombe Abbey changed hands several times over the centuries, the building developed and new wings were added.
From reception, we were directed to the Garden Room for our Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea. We admired the period features and charming character on our way. Our eldest daughter clocked the Grand Piano, so we made sure to return to it later for a little play.
The Garden Room was full of people eating, drinking and chatting away happily. Their tables full of enticing tiers of delicious looking food. We waited to be seated and it wasn’t long before a waiter took our name and seated us at our table.
Top Tip
Combe Abbey Afternoon Tea is very popular so make sure you book in advance.
Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea menu & prices
Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea starts from £14.95 per person for either a Monk’s Savoury Tea (savoury scones, cheeses, chutneys, celery, grapes and loose leaf tea) or a Coombe Cream Tea (baked scones with strawberry jam, clotted cream and loose leaf tea).
Then you have the Abbot’s Afternoon Tea from £26.95 per person. The Abbot’s Afternoon Tea includes a unique selection of finger sandwiches, a selection of cakes, freshly baked scone with jam and clotted cream and loose leaf tea or coffee).
You can choose to upgrade you Abbot’s Afternoon Tea to Sparkling Afternoon Tea (glass of Prosecco), Champagne Afternoon Tea (glass of House Champagne), Laurent-Perrier Rose Afternoon Tea or a Hendrick’s Gin Pot Afternoon Tea (G&T served from a Hendrick’s Gin Pot). Prices range between £30.95 and £44 per person.
And finally, there is the Knight’s Afternoon Tea which is a twist to the traditional afternoon tea. This comes with both a savoury and sweet selection and choice of tea and coffee from £26.95 per person.
Click here to look at the Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea menus in more detail.
We were also provided with the bar menu in case the kids wanted something different but we really wanted to try the different afternoon tea options. We chose 2 x Abbot’s Afternoon Tea (1 x Sparkling and 1 x Hendricks Gin Pot) and the kids shared a Knights Afternoon Tea with fresh orange juice.
Our Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea favourites
We didn’t have to wait long which was great for the kids! They often don’t seem to understand why your food doesn’t instantly appear as soon as you sit down.
The Abbot’s Afternoon Tea came on a 3 tiered circular stand. Our favourite sandwich was the Smoked Ham & Small Chunk Branston Pickle. The girls also loved the Curry & Coriander Infused Egg Mayonnaise Mini Brioche Roll. And I loved the Severn & Wye Oak Smoked Salmon & Chive Cream Cheese Roulade Lemon Bread, although the others weren’t as keen.
It’s hard to choose between the sweet selection but the girls definitely enjoyed the Nutella Filled Madeleine and the Trio of Belgian Chocolate Slice. Our favourite was the ever so flavoursome Forced Yorkshire Rhubarb, Vanilla & Speculoos Potted Cheesecake – delicious!
The Abbot’s Afternoon Tea was amazing but we absolutely loved the Knight’s Afternoon Tea with its twist on the savoury selection. Its presentation is even different being served on a wooden tea rack. We all loved the Mini Fish & Chips, Beer Battered Smoked Haddock Goujon, Chips & Malt Vinegar Powder and Coombe Merguez Sausage Roll. The sweet selection is the same as the Abbot’s Afternoon Tea.
So what was our verdict?
The girls were perfectly behaved because they were so consumed in the delicious food and excited about which piece we were going to try next.
Overall, we couldn’t fault the food and we loved the variety and flavours – a real culinary experience!
The atmosphere in the Garden Room was full of energy, with people chatting away happily – another aspect that made me feel relaxed with the kids.
The waiters were also very attentive and friendly, making us feel welcome with the kids.
The 3 x afternoon teas between the 4 of us were more than enough. We did polish it all off but that was because we didn’t want to waste a single crumb, although we couldn’t have eaten another bite!
We were definitely ready to go for a walk and explore the grounds.
Wait… there’s loads more things to do at Coombe Abbey Park
Yes, that’s right! If you come to Coombe Abbey for afternoon tea, you might as well make a family day out of it (or at least half a day).
Over the centuries as the Abbey grew larger, formal gardens were designed, trees planted and a lake created. Today, Coombe Abbey Park has over 500 acres of beautiful woodland, gardens and lakes for the public to explore. If you love the outdoors, there’s enough to keep you there all day!
Keep reading to find out more…
You can’t miss the beautiful Coombe Abbey Gardens
If you leave the inside of the Abbey from the Garden Room, you’ll exit straight into the formal gardens. Don’t forget your camera because there are some stunning photo opportunities, particularly if you head down the steps in front of the Abbey towards the lake.
If the weather is nice, you might want to come back here later and sit outside with a drink, admiring the stunning lake in front of you.
I’m not sure what the gardens look like throughout the seasons but when we visited in May, they were full of vibrant colours. We loved walking alongside the lake, admiring the deep pink roses, striking yellow laburnum trees and deep purple rhododendrons.
The girls loved running around and exploring the arboretum, trying their hardest to climb up the giant tree trunks.
Find out more in the Visitor Centre
Take a look inside the visitor centre to learn more about the history of Coombe Abbey Park and what the park has to offer today. Pick up a map and trail guide and talk to the members of staff for help with more information.
The discovery centre will help you discover more about the plants and wildlife at Coombe Abbey Park.
You can even paint your own pottery in the Pottery Studio or maybe try your hand at the traditional craft of wood-turning. Click here to find out more, including opening times.
You’ll also find a café, gift shop and toilets within the Visitor Centre. Toilets are also available near the Top Pool behind the Abbey.
Don’t miss out on the Coombe Abbey Park walks
As we followed the lake round, we spotted a couple of proud looking swans bobbing about on the lake with their sweet fluffy cygnets – so cute!
Within the 500 acres of land, there is certainly no shortage of walks to do at Coombe Abbey Park. For those just looking for a leisurely stroll, stick to the area closest to Coombe Abbey, the Visitor Centre and the Top Pool.
If you’re looking for longer walks and don’t want to miss any of the sights, pick up a map from the Visitor Centre. There are a few walks to choose from, ranging from 1.5 miles to 2.5 miles. If you really want to see everything Coombe Abbey Park has to offer (including the heronry and bird hide), why not do all of them?
Between April and September, you can also take a walk through the wildflower meadow and admire the pretty delicate flowers, spotting the wildlife together with the kids.
Let the kids loose in the Children’s Play Area and Climbing Forest
The Children’s Play Area is located near the Visitor Centre and has a variety of swings, slides and climbing frames suitable for all ages. The girls enjoyed playing here but don’t stop here, there’s something much better…
The Climbing Forest is by far the most exciting part for kids, located near the Top Pool behind the Abbey.
Make sure you pick up a map from the Visitor Centre. Nestled in the woodland, there’s a complete course of climbing posts, cargo nets and more to really challenge your kids balancing skills and strength.
According to the guide and map, the Climbing Forest is recommended for over 12s but our 6-year-old daughter made her way around the whole thing with little help from us. This left us free to help our nearly 3-year-old around the course, which she equally loved!
Still want more? Take to the treetops at Go Ape
If you are looking for something more exhilarating, then Coombe Abbey Park is also home to Go Ape. There are vertigo-inducing platforms, stomach-wrenching crossings and high speeds zips. You’ll also find the Plummet – a stomach-churning 12-metre vertical drop.
Top Tip
If you’re planning on visiting Coombe Abbey Go Ape, make sure you book in advance to save on price – click here to find out more
Relax and enjoy some family time
If you’ve taken our advice and treated the family to Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea, then you certainly won’t be planning more food. But it’s worth noting that there are plenty of picnic and BBQ areas.
It was a beautiful sunny day when we visited and it was lovely to see so many families spending quality time together, having BBQ’s, relaxing and playing ball games.
Wait… there’s still more with Coombe Abbey events
Coombe Abbey Park is also host to lots of events throughout the year including outdoor theatre experiences, open-air cinema and family fun days and activities. Click here to take a look at what’s going on at Coombe Abbey Park.
Our final thoughts…
If you want to treat the family, then Coombe Abbey Afternoon Tea is a perfect choice. We love the fact that we felt completely relaxed during our luxury dining experience.
The Garden Room has such an energetic atmosphere that we weren’t afraid of the kid’s making a noise or dropping something on the floor. In fact, they behaved so well because they were so excited about the delicious food and variety to choose from.
And it really is so much more than just afternoon tea. It was great to turn it into a family day that ticked so many boxes with what Coombe Abbey Park has to offer.
If you love traditional afternoon tea and want to treat the whole family, then choose Coombe Abbey.
Disclaimer: Our thanks go to Coombe Abbey Hotel who agreed to a complementary afternoon tea for us to review, but as always we have shared our completely honest opinion of our experience.
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