Twinings has sold tea at 216 Strand since 1706, when Thomas Twining bought Tom’s Coffee House on the site. The shop stands opposite the Royal Courts of Justice, on the stretch of the Strand between Westminster and the City. Twinings says it is the oldest company to have traded continuously on the same site with the same family.
The logo and the Royal Warrant
The Twinings logo was commissioned in 1787 for the shop’s entrance at 216 Strand and is still in use. Twinings describes it as one of the oldest unchanged commercial logos in Britain. Queen Victoria granted the company its first Royal Warrant for tea in 1837, and Twinings says it has supplied every British monarch since.
The essentials
- Address: 216 Strand, London WC2R 1AP
- Since: 1706
- Classic Tea Masterclass: two hours, £50, over-18s
- Nearest station: Temple
The shop
The narrow shop runs back from the Strand and sells loose-leaf and bagged teas, from everyday blends to unusual ones. A loose-leaf tasting bar, added in a refit, lets visitors try teas with staff before buying.
Tea masterclasses
The Classic Tea Masterclass lasts two hours and costs £50. It is for over-18s and is booked through the Twinings website, which lists the other classes on offer.