The Air Raid Shelter Cafe & Tea Room in High Wycombe is like stepping back in time in the most wonderful way.
The whole experience starts before you even walk into the WW2 themed cafe. Outside there’s bunting, sand bags piled up by the door and an old fashioned pram loaded with metal bits and bobs and a sign saying “your scrap is wanted for spitfires. Help up win. Pile it in!”
Inside, the quirky Air Raid Shelter Cafe & Tea Room has lots of different zones. While it might look like a museum set up just to observe, what makes this so fantastically fun is that this is where you sit. The challenge is choosing where you want to go as they’re all so fascinating.
One section is set up like a little house with kitchen and all the accessories you might expect and then you pass through a little doorway and you could settle yourself down in the lounge with a nice cuppa tea.
If your kids have been learning about WW2 at school this would be a great spot to take them out for a treat. They have great cakes and super milkshakes. There’s a range of food available too from the All Day Breakfast menu (sometimes finishes at 1pm on weekends), burgers, toasties, sandwiches, cream teams and afternoon tea.
The kids menu has the usual safe favourites including chicken nuggets and burgers or items from the breakfast menu and all reasonably priced too.
I loved that everything has been thought of, so you’ll also find the plates, cups and tea pots in keeping with the times too.
The cafe is a warren of little spaces and of course with it’s name you’ll also find an air raid shelter.
If you’re looking for a more private space for a group, there’s a room upstairs which I was thinking would be great for a hen party get together or baby shower or a little tea party with a difference.
It’s worth taking a wonder around all the rooms and checking out all the details from ration books pinned to the walls, a corgie ornament tucked in a corner and pictures hanging on the wall. Even the toilets have the wow factor.
It’s not just the decor and selection of cakes that won me over but the really friendly service too. I loved that the person who served was dressed in costume and there was no rush, plenty of time to take it all in and enjoy.
The Air Raid Cafe & Tea Room is situated in central High Wycombe so it doesn’t have it’s own car park. However, there’s one just a couple of minutes walk away at Dovecot Car Park HP13 5FX
Fancy a little tour? Check out my video on Tik Tok
@redkitedays The @Air Raid Shelter Cafe in High Wycombe is like stepping back in time in the most wonderful way. The whole experience starts before you even walk into the WW2 themed cafe. Outside there’s bunting, sand bags piled up by the door and an old fashioned pram loaded with metal bits and bobs and a sign saying “your scrap is wanted for spitfires. Help up win. Pile it in!” Inside, the quirky Air Raid Shelter Cafe & Tea Room has lots of different zones. While it might look like a museum set up just to observe, what makes this so fantastically fun is that this is where you sit. The challenge is choosing where you want to go as they’re all so fascinating. #highwycombe #immersivedining #buckinghamshire #airraidsheltercafe #highwycombecafe #WWIlexperience #DDay #DDay80th #LestWeForget #buckinghamshireblogger #cafevlog ♬ original sound – Red Kite Days
If you’re looking for more step back in time immersive experiences, the Chiltern Open Air Museum is fantastic and a great family day out.