Who doesn’t love French pastries? Elegant, delicate millefeuille, macarons that are light as air and dainty Madeleines. They’re the kind of delicacies that instantly transport you to a café terrace in Paris, where you’d sit and watch the world go by.

But if you can’t make it to the City of Lights, then the next best thing might be closer than you’d think.

With a French population of between 300,000 – 400,000, it’s no wonder London is known as France’s sixth largest city. And Kensington is one of the most prominent French enclaves in town. Which is why The Kensington has created a French version of its popular Afternoon Tea.

Launching in October, the ‘Oh, So French!’ Afternoon Tea will feature classically French pastries that appear to have leapt straight from a chic Parisian patisserie.

For those with a sweet tooth, there’s passion fruit Madeleines, rose macarons with wild berry buttercream and rose petals, strawberry millefeuille, Paris-Brest with baked almond choux accented and hazelnut crème patissière, and cherry and pistachio clafoutis with Provence figs and toasted almonds.

Did you know that when Marie Antoinette declared “Let them eat cake!” she was referring to brioche? The tea also includes a chocolate chip and classic brioche from the local bakery ‘Aux Merveilleux de Fred’.

The savoury options take just as much of the spotlight – there are Goat’s Cheese Vol-Au-Vent with Swiss chard, traditional Nicoise Pissaladière, Quiche Lorraine, Pan Bagnat with tuna, olive oil, tomatoes and quail egg and a classic Croque Monsieur with tomato tapenade.   

The ‘Oh, So French!’ Afternoon Tea costs £35 per person and will be available from the 15th October until 1st December at The Kensington. You can read more on the TownHouse website.