In London, contrast is part of the design - fast-moving roads edged by manicured green squares, red brick softened by blossom, rush met with pause. Nowhere is this more present than in Chelsea, a short stroll from its neighbour Knightsbridge, where nature is not an escape from the city, but part of its structure.

Just moments from Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge, elegant façades and tree-lined avenues open onto green spaces - private gardens hidden behind wrought-iron gates, espaliered walls blushing with roses, gravel paths edged with wisteria. In this pocket of the city, Britain’s horticultural story first began to grow.

Chelsea’s Botanical Beginnings

Long before the area became synonymous with style, Chelsea was a centre for experimentation and growth. In 1673, the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries established the Chelsea Physic Garden along the Thames, a walled sanctuary for cultivating medicinal plants. It was the first of its kind in Britain. Here, botanists catalogued thousands of species, many brought back from distant expeditions, and shared knowledge that would lay the foundations for modern plant science. Sheltered by high walls and warmed by the river’s microclimate, even delicate specimens, from olive trees to jasmine, were able to thrive.

This same spirit of experimentation extended to the Cadogan Estate, formally established over 300 years ago. At the time, Chelsea was a sparsely inhabited landscape of farmland and nurseries. Cadogan Place was the first square to be developed by architect Henry Holland, alongside nearby Sloane Square. Its southern garden became known as the London Botanic Garden, housing a library, hothouse, greenhouse, and conservatory. Though its collections once included the largest orange tree grove in London, it later transformed into a public promenade. Today, this southern garden forms part of what is now Cadogan Gardens. 

Cadogan Gardens: A Living Legacy

As a resident on the square, Jumeirah Carlton Tower offers its guests rare access to Cadogan Gardens, one of the borough’s most secluded green spaces. Bordered by red-brick townhouses and shaded by mature plane trees, the green oasis is divided into two distinct sections: the Mediterranean Garden and the Royal Garden. Together, they reflect Britain’s enduring fascination with both global flora and traditional design. Lavender spills into the paths, olive trees grow alongside wild herbs, and cherry blossoms brighten the air each spring.
This deep-rooted connection to nature, and to the idea of the garden as both refuge and inspiration, now forms the heart of Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s newly reimagined Afternoon Tea: A Tribute to Nature.

The Afternoon Tea Experience

Created by Executive Pastry Chef Martin Haidar, who was born in Byblos and trained in Paris, the menu draws on both his classical French training and Mediterranean roots. From vibrant notes of pineapple, guava, and elderberry to gentler infusions of lavender, bay, and Japanese quince, each ingredient is carefully chosen to reflect a sense of place and season.

The experience begins with a bright amuse-bouche of beetroot and orange espuma, followed by a traditional quartet of finger sandwiches. These include classics such as Burford Brown egg paired with peppery watercress and the classic coronation chicken - a recipe first created for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, and now a nod to the heritage of British teatime.

Next, the signature scone experience brings a more unexpected moment. Served warm, four seasonal scones are presented with inventive pairings: chocolate thyme with black mulberry jam, and a pine scone with citrus cream. 

To finish, a selection of four intricate pastries offers a final tribute to the gardens’ botanical palette. Highlights include a mascarpone cherry blossom sponge layered with cherry raspberry gel, and a lavender chocolate barquette topped with whipped lavender cream - both delicate and carefully composed, much like the gardens that inspired them.
Accompanying the menu, is a bespoke rose and Ceylon tea blend, specially created in honour of Jumeirah’s Arabian heritage – floral, fragrant, and quietly complex.

Once known as the market garden of London, Chelsea has long nurtured a connection to nature - from the apothecaries and botanists of the past to the annual spectacle of the Chelsea Flower Show, which transforms the neighbourhood into a sea of colour each spring. At Jumeirah Carlton Tower, this legacy finds expression in the Afternoon Tea: A Tribute to Nature.

The experience draws the outside in - echoing the rhythms of the garden just beyond. Every element, from the first infusion to the final pastry, reflects a landscape shaped by tradition, curiosity, and the beauty of the natural world. It’s a story of place, told not through words, but through fragrance, flavour, and the slow unfolding of the seasons.

Experience A Tribute to Nature at Jumeirah Carlton Tower - a seasonal afternoon tea inspired by Cadogan Gardens.