Davenports Tea Room

A vintage van parked outside signposts this quintessential English tea room. It sits at the side of the canal in the idyllic Weaver Valley and is adorned with antique furniture, William Morris wallpaper and murals of Alice in Wonderland, making it look like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

It’s open for breakfast, snacks and light lunches (think sandwiches and ploughman’s), but the afternoon teas are the real speciality, and need to be pre-booked. Cakes are homebaked by ladies in nearby villages and china cups will be pre-warmed. The array of teas is bewildering, from English Breakfast to mint choc Rooibos; with over 50 different teas from around the world as well as homegrown British ones, you may need owner Belinda to advise you on the perfect blend.

Roll out onto the gravelled terrace on fine days to listen to the birds singing and admire the donkeys and alpacas. The tea room is popular and can get very busy, so if you’re set on the Davenports experience it’s a good idea to call ahead and book.