Tea and sweet music | Leith Hill Place

Scones piping hot from a 1930s Aga, the tinkling of ivories and stunning views of the rolling Surrey Hills is the perfect recipe for a relaxing day out.

Tea with a view!

I had a very musical outing at the home of composer Ralph Vaughn Williams, Leith Hill Place in Surrey. I only discovered this special place fairly recently and I am so glad I did. The house is run by the National Trust but it is still quite a small operation. While the house is quite rough around the edges compared with other National Trust properties, it feels more alive than some other stuffy stately homes.

The house's musical tradition is kept alive by having pianos everywhere! Not only can you see Vaughn Williams's piano but visitors are also serenaded by fantastic pianists on the grand in the drawing room. Moreover, there are plenty of other pianos dotted around the house so I couldn't resist having a little play. What I love is that all the visitors get involved so you needn't feel bad at your amateur attempts!

The house comes alive not only with the sounds of music but also the sweet aroma of baking. Instead of a commercial tearoom, refreshments are provided by volunteers. The lovely sign in the kitchen sums up their philosophy:

Recipe for a Leith Hill Place Cream Tea

Fire up the original 1930s Aga.
Take 1 talented volunteer baker.
Add the fresh, quality ingredients.
Mix in 1 friendly kitchen helper.
Choose your homemade cake or scone.
Make your kind donation.
Enjoy your tea.

The cakes and scones on offer are British classics. I and my companions took a hot cheese scone, a slice of Victoria sponge and a slice of coffee cake. After giving our donation, we savoured our magnificent tea on the terrace outside the house. The view is absolutely breathtaking and you would have no idea that you were near a town.

View from the house

Leith Hill Place has become one of my new favourite places. You can't ask for much more that beautiful music, tasty cake and fantastic scenery.

If you are not familiar with Vaughn Williams's work, this piece is lovely. It's a Christmas song but I still listen to it at other times of the year!

Comments

Tea with a ghost? | Tiny Tim's Tearoom | Canterbury

Canterbury is such a historic city so I was looking for a traditional place for afternoon tea. Tiny Tim's Tearoom was the perfect place. Housed in a gorgeous 17th century building, this tearoom is particularly inviting with its baked goods displayed in the shop windows. Inside, Glen Miller was playing softly in the background, giving the place a nostalgic, vintage feel. Many British favourites were on offer, such as, crumpets, scones and hearty sponge cakes. I had an excellent coffee and walnut cake which had a wonderfully potent coffee flavour unlike many shop-bought ones. Served with a dollop of cream, ice cream or custard, these cakes are the ultimate comfort food. Tea is also in abundance. I tried Keemun Orchid which was a black tea that had notes of plum, orchid, sesame and pine. There are also more traditional blends for those who prefer more conventional tea. I attended this tearoom alone after a pleasant morning visiting Canterbury Cathedral. However, was I t

The Apple Pie Map | Hirosaki, Aomori

Are you a fan of apple pie? If you are, then Hirosaki might just be the place for you! Hirosaki is in Aomori, a prefecture in the Tohoku region in the north of Japan. Aomori is famous for its delicious apples, and nowhere is this fruit more greatly celebrated than in the city of Hirosaki. There are over 50 shops in the town selling different types of apple pie. With so many options, it can seem overwhelming. How can you possibly find the perfect pie for you?! Well, the answer is simple. All you need is the Apple pie map ! Not only does the map tell you all the different locations for pie shops and bakeries, it also rates each pie on its sweetness, sourness and amount of cinnamon. My personal favourite is スリーブリッヂ or Three Bridge, a cute little bakery near Hirosaki station. Their pie is rated 3/5 for sweetness and sourness. But don't take my word for it, head to Hirosaki and do your own research! There's plenty of pies to enjoy and beautiful sites in Hirosaki. Why

Fried Chicken Parfait? | Karafuneya Coffee, Kyoto

We've been around the world and tried many strange ice creams, from the tomato flavoured ice cream of Nice to the salt ice cream of Dublin . However, nothing quite matches the crazy ice creams available at Karafuneya Coffee in Kyoto. As soon as you enter this lovely cafe in the Sanjo area of Kyoto, you are greeted by an enormous number of plastic models representing the amazing desserts. The best thing about Karafuneya is the sheer range of sundaes. We were equally thrilled by the classic chocolate and strawberry parfaits and the slightly more unusual Japanese flavours, such as macha and black sesame. There were even enormous sundaes (about 2 feet tall) that you can share with all your friends. However, the real eye catchers are the more outlandish ice cream combinations. We spotted a model for a French fries parfait, a deep fried chicken parfait and an American hot dog parfait. The models actually looked surprisingly delicious, but we weren't feeling too adventurous. So

Crumbs to Crunch

Search This Blog