We have the Duchess of Bedford to thank for our wonderful tradition of the afternoon or high tea. In the mid-19th century, her stomach would start rumbling sometime between lunch and dinner. To counteract this, the Duchess would graze on an assortment of small sandwiches (with the crusts cut off, of course) and dainty cakes. Now, afternoon tea has become a reassuring tradition and a fabulous way of celebrating special occasions. Whether you’re a cake or sandwich type of person or prefer a scone with jam and cream, there’s nothing quite as special as an afternoon tea in London. The choice of places to enjoy an afternoon tea – whether quirky or classic – is endless, so to help you take that first bite, we’ve put together five of our favourites.
1. Afternoon tea at the London Ritz Hotel
Good to know
- Price range: £55 – £81 per person (Traditional tea is £35 for children)
- Sittings: 11.30 am until 7.30 pm
- Address: The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, St James’s, London, W1J 9BR
- Website: https://www.theritzlondon.com/dine-with-us/afternoon-tea/
What to taste
One of the best afternoon teas in London can be enjoyed at the Ritz Hotel. Finely cut sandwiches filled with tempting treats such as cucumber with cream cheese, dill and mint, or Scottish smoked salmon with lemon butter are accompanied by scones hot from the oven. The scones are topped with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream (or cream followed by the jam depending on whether you follow the Cornish or Devon tradition). Then enjoy exquisite-looking (and tasting) pastries and cakes such as rhubarb and custard choux, or sharp lemon macarons. A choice of 18 loose-leaf teas helps make this the best afternoon tea in London. Or, if the occasion is really special, you can add extra sparkle with a glass of the finest champagne.
The London Ritz Hotel is a certified Tea Master
What makes afternoon tea in the London Ritz Hotel even more special is the presence of Giandomenico Scanu, a certified Tea Master. The Ritz is the only hotel in the UK lucky enough to have one. Your tea is served in the elegant high-ceilinged surroundings of the Palm Court with its stunning chandeliers and gilt-edged decor. As you sip your tea (or champagne) and nibble your sandwiches, resident music ensembles discreetly entertain you. Unlike many of the best places for afternoon tea in London, the only limit on the number of sandwiches, cakes, and scones you can eat is your appetite.
What to see and do near the London Ritz Hotel
Have your afternoon tea in the London Ritz Hotel early and then pop around the corner to the splendid Royal Academy of Arts (where afternoon tea is also served). Buckingham Palace is also nearby. Visit the State Rooms in the summer or simply admire the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony.
2. Afternoon tea in the London Savoy Hotel
Good to know
- Price range: £65 – £135 per person
- Sittings: Monday and Tuesday sittings from midday until 2.45 pm. Wednesday until Sunday sittings from midday through to 4.45 pm
- Address: The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EZ
- Website: https://www.thesavoylondon.com/experience/afternoon-tea-london/
One of the best afternoon teas in London can be had at the Savoy Hotel. Since the 1920s, the location for afternoon tea has been the warm and sociable Thames Foyer with its glass-domed atrium. Tables are placed around a stage where sounds conjured up by a talented pianist add to the atmosphere.
What to taste
Choose from an impressive selection of 30 teas, Laurent-Perrier champagne or English Nyetimber sparkling wine, and savour your drink alongside classic sandwiches with a twist, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam or lemon curd, and pastries that look like mini works of art. The sandwiches with a twist include Burford brown eggs with Wiltshire truffle, Scottish salmon gravlax with fennel pollen, or salt-cured scallop brandade with oyster leaf.
High tea in the London Savoy Hotel also offers a vegan or vegetarian menu with delicacies such as pear, cheese, and honey savoury tarts, or organic tofu, rocket pesto and rocket sandwiches.
What to see and do near the London Savoy hotel
Stroll along from the Savoy Hotel to the buzzing surroundings of Covent Garden, home to markets, cafes, independent shops, and its iconic busking culture. In Covent Garden, you’ll also find the London Transport Museum and St Paul’s Church (locally known as the Actor’s Church).
3. Afternoon tea in the London Bridge Hotel
Good to know
- Price range: £25 – £35
- Sittings: Monday to Friday from 2.30 pm until 5.00 pm. Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from 1.00 pm until 5.00 pm
- Address: 8 – 18 London Bridge Street, SE1 9SG
- Website: https://www.londonbridgehotel.com/food-drink/afternoon-tea/
Affordable afternoon tea in the heart of London
Afternoon tea in London can be expensive, but don’t worry if your budget is tight as there are venues where this quintessentially British treat can be enjoyed for less. Right in the heart of the capital is the London Bridge Hotel where the Quarter Bar & Lounge provides an atmospheric backdrop for one of the best and most economical afternoon teas in London. Relax and take your time over finger sandwiches with classic fillings such as beef and mustard, smoked salmon and cream cheese, or egg with watercress. Finish with freshly-baked scones and gourmet mini desserts. Enjoy with a cup of tea or make the day special with a glass of bubbles or one of the hotel’s signature cocktails.
What to see and do when you have afternoon tea in the London Bridge Hotel
There is plenty to see and do within a short walk of the London Bridge Hotel. Let the kids scramble around HMS Belfast or admire the Engine Rooms at Tower Bridge. If you’re lucky, you might catch the bridge opening as a yacht or ship sails elegantly beneath the raised platforms.
4. Afternoon tea in Kew Gardens
Good to know
- Price range: £34 per person (Plant-Based Afternoon Tea £32.50 per person)
- Sittings: From 1.00 pm until 2.15 pm
- Address: Kew Gardens, Richmond (car park address is Ferry Lane, TW9 3AF)
- Website: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/eating-and-drinking
Enjoy tea in a wild botanic garden
Spend a few hours exploring one of London’s most glorious parks before enjoying afternoon tea at Kew Gardens. The gardens with their exotic blooms from around the world are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They also contain historic buildings such as Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte’s House, and the magnificent glasshouses. When you book afternoon tea, you have access to all the attractions of Kew Gardens as well as the opportunity to tuck into a classic spread in the Botanical Restaurant.
What to taste
Savouries and delicate sandwiches, fresh scones with jam and cream, and dainty pastries make up a delightful experience where a love of food, history, and nature come together. Kew is also an excellent place to enjoy a vegan afternoon tea in London. The fillings of finger sandwiches on the plant-based menu include beetroot hummus with carrot, crushed avocado with chilli and coriander, and plant cheese with sundried tomato.
What to see and do near Kew Gardens
It’s easy to spend a whole day exploring Kew Gardens as well as enjoying one of the best afternoon teas in London, but if you have time to spare, Syon House with its parkland and gardens is just a 20-minute walk away. Still the working home of the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House is packed with history.
5. Afternoon tea at the Shard
Good to know
- Price range: £49 – £75 per person
- Sittings: Midday until 4.00 pm
- Address: Oblix at The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
- Website: https://www.oblixrestaurant.com/afternoon-tea/
Drink tea in the sky
One of our favourite spots for afternoon tea in London is The Shard, Europe’s tallest building. Located on the 32nd floor, Oblix at The Shard is definitely the best spot for afternoon tea in London with a view. You’ll need a head for heights as you look through floor-to-ceiling windows at the sights spread out below you such as Canary Wharf, city skyscrapers, and iconic river landmarks including the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Inside, the decor is stylishly contemporary and while the Oblix menu is inspired by New York Grills, the inspiration for its afternoon tea lies much closer to home.
What to taste: Peter Pan Afternoon Tea
Choose the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea menu and whatever your age, enjoy stepping into this classic children’s story. Tuck into a Codfish Captain Hook brandade, a Lost Boys chicken and bacon sandwich, a Tinker Bell cookie, Tick-Tock the Crocodile dessert, and Peter Pan’s Secret Hollow Tree Entrance chocolate cake. To go with this are Wendy Darling and Adventure teas. A £2 donation from each Peter Pan Afternoon Tea sold goes straight to St Ormond’s Street Children’s Hospital.
Things to see and do near the Shard
If your children have enjoyed their Peter Pan Afternoon Tea, they’ll have plenty of energy for exploring (while getting excitingly scared) inside the Clink Prison Museum while for adults, there’s so much to see and do in London Borough Market. Its stalls sell everything from oysters to Ethiopian food, or flowers to handmade jewellery.
We hope we’ve whetted your appetite for afternoon tea in London. But if, for any reason, you can’t make it to one of our five tea (s)pots then why not have afternoon tea delivered to your London address? You can have afternoon tea in London delivered from The Savoy Hotel and Oblix at The Shard.
Excited for your next adventure? Our friends at Where to Go, produced by the team behind the award-winning DK Eyewitness travel guides, are here to help!
Each fortnight, hosts James and Lucy talk to local experts about the destination they have chosen to call their home, exploring their personal connection to the place, what makes it so special and the best things to see and do.
Listen to the podcast below for more inspiration and tips from London:
