I had heard about the Alice In Wonderland Afternoon Tea boat trips so contacted The Folly (river cafe, restaurant and boating) but was told the Alice trips were only for large private parties.

Instead they suggested afternoon tea in the restaurant and a short boat trip which sounded exactly what I wanted, especially as it coincided with a visit by my father. It was a wonderful chance for him to remember his many visits to Oxford when he and his cousin would hire a rowing boat from Salters at Foley Bridge, as it was called then, and proceed up the Thames/Isis. They were there for VJ Day too.

The Folly is a very inviting restaurant dominating one side of the river. We sat in a big table in a bay window with window seats and lots of cushions, and were offered Prosecco with a strawberry perched on the rim which we accepted with glee.

Dad chose English breakfast tea and a glass mug with boiling water duly arrived with a fabric tea bag, which brewed a beautifully reddish colour and Dad, who is notoriously hard to please, declared it especially delicious. I chose Mulberry tea, which I have never had before, a green tea which was very mild and easy to drink.

All the sandwiches were tasty; chicken and tarragon, ham and whole grain mustard, egg and cress, smoked salmon with cream cheese and dill and cucumber. They were all served with watercress garnish as well as pickled beetroot, carrots, onions and capers.

The fruit scones were delicious with clotted cream and a fragrant raspberry jam. We were also served a passion fruit panna cotta, a lemon tart made of excellent pastry and a tangy soft lemon creme; a salted caramel cheesecake (buttery and yummy topped with spun sugar and a chocolate twirl).

I liked The Folly very much. It was a truly pleasing and special afternoon tea experience. And the little boat trip, which we embarked on from The Folly’s own deck, was a real treat.

The Folly, 1 Folly Bridge, Oxford no1-folly-bridge.co.uk 01865 201293

Afternoon Tea £16.25 High Tea (with Prosecco) £21.25 oxfordrivercruises.com 0845 2269 396