London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin-Hotel-_building-1024x683.jpg" alt="Franklin Hotel exterior" class="wp-image-9687" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin-Hotel-_building-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin-Hotel-_building-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin-Hotel-_building-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin-Hotel-_building.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>One of three Starhotels Collezione outposts in London (alongside The Gore and The Pelham in South Ken), The Franklin is the very model of a red brick Knightsbridge boutique hotel. Distinguishable from the row of grand townhouses either side by a flag hanging off the facade (and expensive cars out front), it&#8217;s a short walk from Harrods and the V&amp;A museum and overlooks Egerton Gardens, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_-Bar-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9685" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_-Bar-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_-Bar-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_-Bar-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_-Bar-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_-Bar-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Well, Toto, we&#8217;re not in Kansas anymore, that&#8217;s for sure. The Franklin&#8217;s elegant  exterior conceals a more opulent Anouska Hempel-designed interior, including a sparkling lobby and bar &#8211; it&#8217;s confidently modest and tastefully glitzy throughout.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_The-Emerald-Parlor-view_H-1024x683.jpg" alt="The Franklin Library" class="wp-image-9690" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_The-Emerald-Parlor-view_H-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_The-Emerald-Parlor-view_H-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_The-Emerald-Parlor-view_H-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/The-Franklin_London_The-Emerald-Parlor-view_H.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The bright, airy dining area, where afternoon tea is served, feels more fancy conservatory than buttoned-up restaurant, and the unique marble patterned floor and mirrored walls gives the place a magical &#8216;through the looking glass&#8217; vibe. </p>



<p>There are little nods to Oz around the room &#8211; a pair of red shoes here, a little tin man there, and &#8211; argh! &#8211; lions and tigers and bears, oh my! There&#8217;s even a person-sized scarecrow in the corner (not to be confused with a waiter after your fourth glass of Prosecco). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<p>So why the theme? Turns out the hotel&#8217;s head chef uncovered some connections between The Franklin and the Wizard of Oz movie, including the fact leading lady Judy Garland loved The Franklin&#8217;s sister hotel The Gore so much, she even had a suite there complete with her own bed shipped over from the US (it&#8217;s still there, apparently). </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/Wicked-Wizard-of-The-Franklin-afternoon-tea-2.jpg" alt="Wicked Wizard afternoon tea the Franklin" class="wp-image-9694" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/Wicked-Wizard-of-The-Franklin-afternoon-tea-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/Wicked-Wizard-of-The-Franklin-afternoon-tea-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/Wicked-Wizard-of-The-Franklin-afternoon-tea-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/Wicked-Wizard-of-The-Franklin-afternoon-tea-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/Wicked-Wizard-of-The-Franklin-afternoon-tea-2-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Like any afternoon tea worth its clotted cream, things start with a glass of fizz (£11/£16), followed by mouth-watering savouries. There&#8217;s an inspired choice of sandwiches, the best of which is a scrambled egg and black truffle pan-brioche (below). Pretty and delicate, but doesn&#8217;t pull any punches on flavour.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/trufflesandwich-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9692" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/trufflesandwich-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/trufflesandwich-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/trufflesandwich-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/trufflesandwich.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Next up, petit fours served in a cute Dorothy-esque wicker basket. Each are  named after an intrepid explorer of Oz &#8211; the standout (unsurprisingly, it being an Italian hotel chain) is the Tin Man Tiramisu made with homemade Savoiardi and served in a little steel funnel. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/franklinsweets-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9695" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/franklinsweets-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/franklinsweets-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/franklinsweets-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/franklinsweets.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>And yet, despite all of the beautiful detail on the sweets and sandwiches, the most appetising thing on the table turned out to be the scones (regular and choc chip, no less). Fluffy, buttery and warm, they stole the spotlight from the movie-themed sweet treats and were the perfect bite when topped with strawberry jam and clotted cream (in that order, obvs). </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/scones-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9693" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/scones-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/scones-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/scones-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/scones.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<p>Knightsbridge doesn&#8217;t go in for modesty much, which is why you&#8217;ll find a string of bling designer shops on Brompton Road between <a href="https://www.harrods.com/en-gb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harrods</a> and <a href="https://www.harveynichols.com/store/knightsbridge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvey Nichols</a>. Don&#8217;t have five figures to blow in one go? Not a problem as there are more than enough high street retail therapy classics like Zara and Reiss to keep you entertained. Our top tip: swing by <a href="https://www.sellierknightsbridge.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorh3Eq2pB4Aus94u5SWaR9cAOifEc6Z4qJpSUgP5nru3KPYrVSy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sellier Knightsbridge</a> to scoop up some pre-loved high-end items at a fraction of the retail price.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/luis-coronel-dNw457ee9ZU-unsplash.jpg" alt="Harrods exterior" class="wp-image-9696" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/luis-coronel-dNw457ee9ZU-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/luis-coronel-dNw457ee9ZU-unsplash-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/luis-coronel-dNw457ee9ZU-unsplash-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/luis-coronel-dNw457ee9ZU-unsplash-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/03/luis-coronel-dNw457ee9ZU-unsplash-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Best for</strong>: Afternoon tea lovers young and old. This has enough of the classic elements to satisfy the purists and charming little flourishes for the dreamers. The theme stays firmly on the right side of gimmicky and the quality is high throughout.</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: If you&#8217;re looking for old-world grandeur, then you&#8217;re in the wrong place. Italian Gatsby-esque chic only.</p>



<p><strong>The damage</strong>: You&#8217;ll break a fifty per head on the tea alone (£49), with the fizzy, ahem, Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs version setting you back an extra £11. Or run it right to the top, with Ferrari Maximum Rosé for +£16pp.</p>



<p><em>Words: Joe Wald</em></p>


Review: The Wicked Wizard Afternoon Tea, The Franklin Hotel, Knightsbridge

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