A family afternoon tea at Palm Court is the perfect Twixmas treat

Christmas in London often involves a delicate balance for single parents: squeezing in some festive magic around the less magical realities of solo shopping, domestic and paid work, and deciding who has the kids on the day. There is never a time of year more ripe for an Expectation vs Reality Instagram reel, and never were the nerves more frazzled – certainly not for me and my fellow single mum Natalie.

With all this in mind, I invited her and her teen twins (Ziggy and Jasmine) to join me and my own teen Dylan for afternoon tea. And what better place to do it than the newly refurbished Palm Court at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane? The deal was simple: some Christmas shopping first, then a walk down Piccadilly to the hotel.

Jasmine ditched us at the last minute, having received a better offer from friends, so it became mums and sons for the win – or, more accurately, cake. Even so, the boys seemed grudgingly impressed by the uber-festive yet classy interior of Palm Court, and especially by the huge, sparkly centrepiece tree.

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The perfect afternoon tea setting for mums with scruffy(ish) teens

Palm Court is elegant yet welcoming, grand without being overwhelming. Original Art Deco details have been carefully restored and paired with softer, contemporary touches: curved lines, warm neutral tones and plush seating that encourages you to linger. Floor-to-ceiling windows give beautiful light even on a grey day, while subtle festive décor adds just enough seasonal sparkle.

A pianist playing gentle Christmas classics helped set the mood, and we all appreciated this understated, grown-up touch. The 12 Days of Christmas Afternoon Tea itself is beautifully put together and generous – though our bottomless-pit teenage boys made short work of their portions and made it look easy.

Cute finger sandwiches and filled brioche were followed by a gorgeously indulgent spread of festive cakes, pastries and scones. Everything felt seasonal without being gimmicky. We ate until we were full, then fuller still, and even left with a take-home bag for Jasmine. She may have abandoned us, but festive feelings were running high – and teenage girls, after all, suffer the most acute form of FOMO known to mankind.

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Festive drinks with plenty of sophistication

Drinks are where Palm Court really comes into its own. The tea menu is a joy for tea nerds like me, with house-brewed blends like an incredible chai. While day-drinking cocktails felt beyond us on this occasion — a shame, given how inventive and tempting they looked — we couldn’t resist the Champagne pairing, and promptly ordered a second glass. Christmas rules.

The boys, meanwhile, went straight for the hot chocolate, a classic for a reason and an excellent call in this setting.

The location only adds to the appeal. With Hyde Park Winter Wonderland just across the road for full-throttle festive fun, Palm Court works perfectly as either a restorative pause mid-day or the main event itself. Whether paired with shopping, ice skating or fairground chaos, it offers the luxury of sitting down – and being looked after – which, at this time of year, is pretty perfect.

We may not have captured the perfect festive photos – scruffy teenage boys and slightly frazzled mums don’t always deliver Instagram gold – but we left warm, well fed and buoyed by seasonal bonhomie. Elegant yet approachable, Palm Court at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane delivers a sensational festive afternoon tea that works just as well for families with kids as it does for grown-up gatherings. At Christmas, that kind of versatility really does feel like a small miracle.