LUXURY HOTELS: The Langham, Sydney

As we walk into The Globe Bar at The Langham Sydney it is like stepping back in time. Wood panelling lines the walls and there is the delicate tinkle of silver spoons in tea cups and the buzz of genteel conversation.

The creation of the quintessentially English Afternoon Tea is credited to the 7th Duchess of Bedford almost 150 years ago. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria and after experiencing a 'sinking feeling' in the middle of the afternoon, she asked her footman to deliver all the tea making equipment with some bread and butter to her private room. She found this new meal so satisfying that she soon started inviting other ladies-in-waiting to join her for 'afternoon tea'.