“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.

“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”

“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”

“Nobody asked your opinion,” said Alice.”

― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

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Alice in Wonderland may be the epitome of literary nonsense but the tea party, or afternoon tea at least, has become a wonderful English tradition.

Fortnum and Mason has been celebrating both tea and Alice this summer.  You can’t miss the tea theme if you look up at the outside of the store from Piccadilly:

Inside, on the first floor, there is a display of tea and Alice in Wonderland items, including a Wonderland chess board, a lunacy certificate and tea-themed hats:

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If you fancy taking a look for yourself, here’s some advice on how to get there:

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

Good Luck!

Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER

Linked to For the Promptless: Amphigory.

Update: I just came across a fellow blogger’s photo of street art in Moscow.  In particular a tea promotion using Alice in Wonderland imagery.