To celebrate the wall’s first birthday, the hotel has launched the Evergreen Tea, a botanic-inspired afternoon tea that I was lucky enough to try.

The afternoon tea began with a floral champagne cocktail while we browsed the tea menu, which included 13 different teas. Not only can you read about the tea, but the wooden menu includes a sample of tea leaves from each type so you can examine it too! I was tempted by Egyptian camomile but played it safe with a fragrant Earl Grey.

Next, we chose from a selection of sandwiches including salmon; cream cheese and cucumber; and guacamole and chive wraps.

The sandwiches were followed by scones – either plain or orange blossom, served with clotted cream and The Athenaeum’s own jam. Yum!

The piece de resistance was the huge cake trolley which was wheeled over after the scones. It was full of sweet treats, from a naughty-looking chocolate cake, to champagne jelly, to cupcakes. I opted for a slice of lemon-drizzle cake which was light and tasty.

What I particularly liked about this afternoon tea was that we could choose exactly what we wanted. It meant that nothing was wasted and no-one ended up with a sandwich or cake that they didn’t really like.

Evergreen Tea at The Athenaeum, £27.50 per person or £34 including floral cocktail. Available until September 2010.

Here are just a few ideas for half-term activities with kids:

• Bake cakes together
• Go swimming or hire a boat in one of London’s lovely parks
• Help your kids plan and cook a meal, and let them invite a few friends over for dinner
• Look at local sports centres they often have half-term events you can get involved with
• Arm the kids with digital camera and go for the Elephant Hunt around London! It’s especially cost-effective if you bring a packed lunch
• The National Theatre is running backstage workshops for families all week

I’m pretty sure my girls will want to do a bit of 10-pin bowling followed by the cinema. Whip It, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut (as opposed to what I thought was Whippet – about a dog), is on their list.

Half-term in London is as adventurous as you can make it, and by the look of all the suggestions above that came in from Magic listeners, I think I’m going to have a busy one!!

On Saturday afternoon, I took my mum and sister along to Harvey Nichols to sample the new Floral Afternoon Tea inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show.

Served in the formal Fifth Floor Restaurant, the tea started with a pretty Chelsea Rose Cocktail, made from gin, black cherry jam and elderflower liqueur, topped with champagne and flower petals.

Next came a selection of delicious finger sandwiches on different breads. Our waiter explained that they bring sandwiches before cakes and scones, so the scones aren’t left to go hard while you’re eating your sandwiches. They really had thought of everything!

Then, what we’d been waiting for: the cake stand, which was loaded with a selection of floral cakes. Our favourites were the fruit scones with cream and violet-infused strawberry jam.

We also munched our way through hibiscus financiers, amaretti, rose petal eclairs and lavender cupcakes with pansies on top.  The cakes aren’t just decorated with flowers, they actually taste of flowers. The jam reminded us of old-fashioned violet sweets, while the cupcakes had a strong lavender taste.

The tea seemed to be popular with women – the dining room was full of mainly female groups enjoying cakes and cocktails, Sex and the City-style. I’d definitely recommend the experience for a girly day out, or as a special treat after visiting the flower show.

Floral Afternoon Tea is available at Harvey Nichols’ Fifth Floor Restaurant throughout May. £24.50 per person, including a Chelsea Rose Cocktail.