What started as the Duchess of Bedford’s hankering for a mid-afternoon pot of tea and snacks in Victorian times, has evolved into the delicious, quintessentially British afternoon tea tradition we know and love today. Bridging the gap between lunch and dinner with a spectacular spread of sandwiches, cakes and patisserie, and tea served in fine china, Brits have afternoon tea down to a fine art. Whether you prefer white linen tablecloths, tiers of cream-cheese-and-cucumber sandwiches and warm scones with dollops of cream and jam, or enjoy tea rooms with a contemporary twist where global flavours and whimsically decorated treats look almost too good to eat, in London, there’s an afternoon tea to suit everyone. Read on to savour the best afternoon teas in London.
This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue
1. NoMad London, Covent Garden
Best for a striking setting
It’s hard to believe that NoMad London’s light-flooded, three-storey glass-roofed atrium, hung with art nouveau lanterns and tumbling greenery, is moments from Covent Garden’s thrumming piazza. Taking afternoon tea perched on a comfy apple-green mohair bench, flanked by sage-hued columns and citrus plants, feels like stumbling into a secret garden. Herbed cream cheese sandwiches come decorated with intricate cucumber slivers, while pastrami, daikon and mustard, and smoked salmon on mini bagels nod to the hotel’s NYC roots. Edible flowers adorn golden orbs of tropical cheesecake and lemon meringue choux, there are sweet (rum and orange zest) and savoury (blue cheese) scones to enjoy, as well as Rare Tea Company teas and a tea-inspired cocktail list.
Price from £65pp
Family friendly Y
thenomadhotel.com/london
Advertisement
2. The Peninsula London, Hyde Park
Best for sheer charm
Hand-blown crystal chandeliers, walls adorned with de Gournay murals depicting London’s leafy royal parks, and tinkling piano keys; afternoon tea in the Peninsula London’s swish Lobby is an occasion. Polished luxury is the watchword, with immaculately turned out staff delivering a spread that fuses British and Asian flavours — think tuna tartare with avocado, ponzu and oscietra caviar or Baron Bigod cheese, with dried fruit and truffle sandwiches. The chocolate and tonka battenburg, and pineapple creme brûlée Peninsula honeypot are rather special too. There’s also the “Naturally Peninsula” version, catering to vegetarians and gluten-free folks.
Price £95pp, including a glass of sparkling wine, sparkling tea or a G&T
Family friendly Y
peninsula.com/london
3. Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall
Best for historic grandeur
In days gone by this was the place for tête-à-têtes between statesmen and spies — if the wood-panelled walls in the Drawing Room of London’s former Old War Office could talk they’d have plenty of stories to share. Rather than state secrets, now you’ll hear joyful gasps over pretty patisserie served under golden tiered lighting, or by the ornate fireplace, a live pianist’s performance periodically accompanied by the clop of the Household Cavalry passing on Whitehall. A rainbow spread of top-notch sandwiches (such as prawn rillette, avocado on tikka bread, and silken tofu truffle) is followed by the likes of dainty earl grey cake, blackcurrant choux and ginger-marmalade tart. Sip a glass of champagne or non-alcoholic French Bloom, or work your way through brews from Camellia’s Tea House — the Churchill blend, a smoky lapsang-bergamot number named after one of the building’s former residents, feels particularly appropriate.
Price from £80pp
Family friendly Y
Advertisement
raffles.com/london/experiences/afternoon-tea
4. The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel, Knightsbridge
Best for a French twist
Adding a certain je ne sais quoi to the traditional British afternoon tea experience is famed French chef pâtissier Benoît Blin, who has 30 years’ experience at the Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, a Belmond Hotel. Served in the light-filled, lilac-hued Cadogan Lounge at the Cadogan (a favourite of socialite Lillie Langtry) Blin has crafted a French-accented feast featuring salmon gravlax croissants with quail egg; coffee bean and cardamom religieuse; and a trolley laden with zingy lemon as well as hazelnut-chocolate marble cakes. In addition to a raft of teas — from the malty Cadogan Blend to green sencha — there’s also English sparkling wine from Rathfinny and decadent Parisian chocolat chaud on offer.
Price from £75
Family friendly Y
belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/london/belmond-cadogan-hotel
5. The Savoy, Strand
Best for a special occasion
Afternoon tea has been served in the Savoy’s pretty Thames Foyer since 1889. A pianist plays Adele and Fred Astaire numbers on a grand piano set under a stained glass dome and gazebo. Sandwiches elevate the classics and include pickled cucumber, sundried tomato and Scottish smoked salmon with nori and lime cream. Warm scones are followed by pistachio and red plum cake and citrus choux, and paired with a choice of 30 teas, a glass of champagne, Nyetimber English sparkling wine or JING Jasmine Pearls, a tea-based non-alcoholic fizz.
Price from £80
Family-friendly Y
Advertisement
thesavoylondon.com
6. LaLiT London, South Bank
Best for Indian flavour
Go back to school — but not as you know it — with High Chai Afternoon Tea in the Assembly Hall of this former Victorian grammar school that’s a stone’s throw from London Bridge station. Royal blue walls, high vaulted ceilings and sapphire chandeliers inject grandeur, while a tower of treats inspired by Indian cities and their street food is a riot on the tastebuds. The typical afternoon tea staples of scones and sandwiches are swapped out for the likes of paneer tikka burgers and bhel puri from Mumbai — puffed rice tossed with fresh tomatoes, onions and homemade chutneys. Wash it down with endless cups of masala chai, and a glass of gulabi lassi, a yoghurt drink sweetened with rose syrup.
Price from £49
Family-friendly Y
thelalit.com/the-lalit-london/eat-and-drink/baluchi
• Read our full review of LaLiT London
7. The Platinum Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly
Advertisement
Best for high tea
Serving over 500 pots a day, this salon sits on the fourth floor of the St James’s department store. Expect white linen tablecloths laid with camellia china, a tinkling Steinway and a classic spread. Finger sandwiches include Suffolk cured ham with English mustard and Cotswold Legbar egg mayonnaise; followed by strawberry jam-topped scones and pâtisseries including rose eclairs. Sip Fortnum’s blanc de blancs fizz or bespoke tea blends as you dine. Upgrade to high tea for an additional savoury course such as lobster and truffle omelette.
Price from £80
Family-friendly Y
fortnumandmason.com
8. The Lanesborough, Hyde Park
Best for set-jetters
The Lanesborough’s Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story Afternoon Tea, created in partnership with Netflix and the American TV production company Shondaland, is the pick for fans of the ever-popular period drama. The setup — with wax-sealed menus and floral-wrapped tiered stands in the duck egg-blue Lanesborough Grill, which sparkles under ornate chandeliers and a glass-domed roof — has been designed with discerning diners in mind. Tea-cured salmon and lemon caper cream sandwiches, scones aplenty and prettily decorated sweets — “Your Majesty”, a strawberry and orange cream bavaroise, has its own crown; “Danbury Delight” is a berry-violet pistachio gateaux in bright lilac — bring Regency-era hedonism to life marvellously. Wash it down with The Queen Charlotte, a gin, Chambord, lychee, vanilla, lime and champagne cocktail, inspired by Regency-era gin punch.
Price £80pp, £90pp with a cocktail/mocktail
Family-friendly Y (afternoon tea from £35 for children under 12)
Advertisement
oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough
9. Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End
Best for theatregoers
All pale pink walls, green marble, crystal chandeliers and gilded ceilings, the Grand Saloon at the Theatre Royal lives up to its name. This showy space, in the heart of Covent Garden’s theatreland, is the setting for a seasonally shifting Regency-inspired afternoon tea created by in-house chefs and star baker Lily Vanilli. It’s a playful affair — think madeleines topped with English feta and carrot, a crumpet with earl grey-flavoured cream cheese and sticky toffee pud alongside warm scones. Rare Company Teas, Taittinger champagne and an ice cream sandwich add another layer of lighthearted deliciousness.
Price from £59
Family-friendly Y
thelane.co.uk
• Best afternoon teas in Edinburgh
• Best afternoon teas under £30 in the UK
10. Peggy Porschen, Chelsea or Belgravia
Best for pink-lovers
Possibly the prettiest place to come for afternoon tea in the capital is marshmallow-pink Peggy Porschen. Snap a photo under its flower-framed entrance before heading inside to tuck into even prettier freshly baked cakes, pastries, sandwiches and scones — each linked to themes that change every few months. Endless pots of tea are inspired by flowers and you can fill your cup with everything from earl grey and orange blossom to Chelsea floral rose or upgrade to a petal-topped mimosa. There are also special menus for those who require a gluten-free, vegetarian or child-friendly option.
Price from £52
Family-friendly Y
peggyporschen.com
11. The Beaumont, Mayfair
Best for an American take
Served in the art deco-feel, bookshelf-lined Gatsby’s Room, this afternoon tea provides a dose of Stateside flavour. Bespoke artisan JING teas, including high-altitude Red Dragon from Yunnan and organic Darjeeling, can be enjoyed with finger sandwiches filled with the likes of smoked chicken caesar and devilled egg and Reuben salt beef. Desserts include rhubarb tart, William pear choux and Manjari chocolate brownie. It’s a good vegan pick too, with pulled jackfruit sandwiches and cashew clotted cream available.
Price from £66
Family-friendly Y
thebeaumont.com
12. Bulgari Hotel London, Knightsbridge
Best for a touch of la Dolce Vita
The chic Italian-style living room at this landmark Knightsbridge hotel — with black walls, glass-domed pendant lighting and flickering fireplace — is as cosy a setting as it gets. Pastry chef Gianluca Fusto’s menu places Italian flavours front and centre; tuck in to egg and chive sandwiches topped with Umbrian truffle, and salmon, olive pesto and cream cheese served millefoglie-style. Sweets, such as tartelletta di limoni, packed with Amalfi lemon cream and candied citrus, transport tastebuds to the sun-kissed Mediterranean coast in a flash, while teas from far-and-wide (think Australian lemon myrtle and South African honey bush) come presented in floral china.
Price from £105
Family friendly Y
bulgarihotels.com/en_US/london/the-hotel/overview
13. The Goring, Belgravia
Best for regal glamour
The Goring is fit for royalty and, indeed, Kate Middleton stayed the night before her wedding. Afternoon tea is served in the Veranda, a fig-tree-filled and birdcage-adorned space that has an opulent indoor-outdoor feel. A seasonally shifting menu includes the likes of roast sirloin beef and horseradish and Coronation chicken sandwiches, warm scones, lemon posset and pear and caramel choux buns. Add in a glass of Bollinger Special Cuvée for extra sparkle, and watch out for themed teas — previous ones have included a Shetland pony motif.
Price from £70
Family-friendly Y
thegoring.com
14. The Ampersand Hotel, South Kensington
Best for kids
You’ll find a dinosaur-themed affair just five minutes from the Natural History Museum, where Dippy the Diplodocus is back in residence. After descending into the Ampersand’s Victorian cellar arches, kids can play archaeologist as part of a Jurassic Afternoon Tea, uncovering an edible fossil from a chocolate soil box and watch a raspberry and lemon crémeux “erupt” volcano-style. Scones become canvases thanks to squeezy tubes of passionfruit curd, while unfussy kids’ savouries include mini hot dogs and T-Rex cheese straws. Adults are well catered for too, with quiches, mini brioches and cocktails such as the gin-based Dino Sour.
Price from £54.50
Family-friendly Y
ampersandhotel.com
15. Rosewood London, Holborn
Best for creativity
For an art hit without setting foot inside a gallery, the latest of Rosewood London’s Masterful Art afternoon teas sees acclaimed artworks from the likes of Banksy, Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali turned into photogenic cakes and pastries. Displayed in a looking-glass afternoon tea box, Kusama’s Flowers That Bloom at Midnight — combining coconut mousse, strawberry yuzu jelly and matcha green tea sponge — and a black forest version of Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup can show off executive pastry chef Mark Perkins’ considerable artistry, and are utterly delicious to boot. The dramatic bauble lighting and reflective walls of the Mirror Room, where treats are served, as well as levelled-up finger sandwiches — including truffle egg mayonnaise and confit tomato on onion brioche — and Mariage Frères tea add further appeal.
Price from £68
Family-friendly Y
rosewoodhotels.com
16. Ting at Shangri-La The Shard, London Bridge
Best for spectacular views
Unrivalled views of the city are served on the 35th floor of the Shard at the Asian-inspired Ting restaurant, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Tower Bridge and beyond. Themes change with the season and the latest is Bees in Bloom — a honey-infused afternoon tea in partnership with jeweller Alex Monroe. Underneath wildflower-draped ceilings, tuck in to smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches and cute-as-a-button bee and ladybird-inspired sweets (vanilla sable with lemon sponge and lavender-honey mousse, and poppyseed sponge with mango passionfruit jasmine tea infusion and caramelised chocolate mousse). Other apiary-appropriate flourishes include pastries made with Bermondsey honey, and rum Honeybee Spritz cocktails, stirred with hot chilli honey. It’s hard not to gasp at the showstopper: a honeycomb-decorated chocolate shard, served over a bed of dry ice that cascades over the table — it’s truly the bee’s knees. Bees in Bloom is served until mid-May when a summer offering will take its place.
Price from £79pp, with the option to add a donation to the charity Bees for Development
Family-friendly Y
ting-shangri-la.com
17. The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park
Best for elegance
Founded as a tea room in the 1920s, the Rosebery is a vision in pistachio ice cream shades and calming Jenny Smith prints. Suspended cake stands come laden with finger sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked scones with seasonal jams such as lemon curd or wild plum. Delicate desserts such as jasmine and clementine crème brûlée, and plum and tonka tart shift with the seasons. Tea sommelierIvan Stoyanov helps diners choose their brew — options include Darjeeling Second Flush Canton tea from India and Apricot White from China. Wine, saké and beer pairings are also available.
Price from £79
Family-friendly Y
mandarinoriental.com
18. The Ritz, Mayfair
Best for grande dame glitz
Just the ticket for traditionalists, the Ritz’s tea is served in the hotel’s Palm Court, which is decorated with marble columns, wrought iron chandeliers and a gilded central fountain. The strains of Puttin’ on the Ritz on the harp or piano fill the air and a formal dress code sees everyone done up to the nines (tie and jacket required for men). Expect warm scones, pastries, cakes such as wild strawberry fingers with lemon verbena, and service as exacting as the precision-cut sandwiches on offer. As for drinks, sip champagne or raise a cup of one of 20 varieties of loose leaf tea — tea sommelier Giandomenico Scanu curates a bespoke list, while decaf options keep kids involved.
Price from £75
Family-friendly Y
theritzlondon.com
19. One Aldwych, Covent Garden
Best for chocoholics
Wonka fans should hot-foot it for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea in Covent Garden. Dreamt up in partnership with the Roald Dahl Story Company, thankfully, it doesn’t require a golden ticket. Feast on not-quite-as-they-seem salmon and beetroot macarons and spinach roly-poly, while sipping caramel chocolate milkshake (mixed by waterfall, of course) or lemon verbena tea. Other highlights include scones with snozzberry jam, candy floss pops, “fizzy lifting” champagne and a range of quirky cocktails served from teapots. Scrumdiddlyumptious indeed.
Price from £70
Family-friendly Y (£50 for under-12s)
onealdwych.com
20. Petersham Nurseries, Richmond
Best for something casual
For a more relaxed afternoon tea in London, make for this next-level garden centre in leafy Richmond. During summer its wild-at-heart afternoon tea is taken in an outdoor courtyard, and a jasmine-filled greenhouse when the temperature drops. Seasonal tidbits bring out the flavour of top-notch, organic produce and are presented atop Florentine-style hand-blown glass cake stands. Nibble on red pepper tartlets with mascarpone, focaccia topped with fior di latte and nasturtiums, buttermilk scones and lemon polenta cake. While there’s a small selection of loose-leaf tea available, adding in a rose petal bellini feels in keeping with the bloom-packed surroundings.
Price from £55
Family-friendly Y
petershamnurseries.com
21. Nobu London Portman Square, Marylebone
Best for a Japanese twist
Once you’re settled into curved green velvet sofas in the David Collins-designed lounge, shrimp salad rolls and beef tataki shokupan with wasabi pepper sauce canapés arrive to start this Japanese-infused afternoon tea. Next come salmon and yellowtail jalapeño sushi cups. Scones layered with raspberry mint jam nod to English traditions, but predominantly, the likes of miso chocolate tart and yuzu mousse champion Japanese ingredients. Teas include kabuse sencha and honey orchid oolong, and an innovative vegetarian menu is packed with avocado-tomato ceviche and mushroom-sesame tostadas.
Price from £63pp (vegetarian) or £68pp (regular)
Family-friendly Y
london-portman.nobuhotels.com
22. Carlton Tower Jumeirah, Knightsbridge
Best for grown-up palates
Not a sugar fiend? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Taking inspiration from British garden botanicals, this clever, free-from-refined-sugar afternoon tea makes the most of naturally occurring sugars in whole fruits, only using honey and brown sugar occasionally. Flavours are more sophisticated than your average; think cheddar foam with marinated beetroot, beetroot jelly and zaatar sandwiches, honey or cardamom-accented scones, chocolate tacos with guava cream, and lemon-thyme tart. Baby blue, flower and bird-patterned Raynaud Limoges ceramics add a touch of whimsy, and an excellent roster of brews comes courtesy of Mariage Frères, France’s oldest tea house.
Price from £75
Family-friendly N
jumeirah.com
23. Mariage Frères, Covent Garden
Best for tea aficionados
You’ll need to be decisive at this Parisian-inspired salon de thé that’s taken over a listed Georgian townhouse in Covent Garden: there are close to 1,000 options on its tea menu to choose between — including the new Ume Cha 2024— a blue tea made with plum blossom. Head chef Felix Richard is behind the afternoon tea menu and you can choose a larger savoury and sweet Covent Garden option or go sweet-only with the Paris Bohème option. Feast on ever-changing savouries such as mini puff pastry with mushroom, mustard and almond candy, or chicken baguette with matcha mayonnaise, and superior scones served with tea-infused jelly. On the third floor, there’s a fascinating tea museum with caddies, teapots and pewter chests to discover.
Price From £42pp (Paris Bohème afternoon tea), from £59pp (Covent Garden afternoon tea)
Family friendly Y
mariagefreres.com
24. The Prince Akatoki, Marble Arch
Best for a cultural hit
The calming notes of Keiko Kitamura, who plays the strings of the koto, Japan’s national instrument, fill the room at the Prince Akatoki in Marylebone. Your chance to get another taste of the country comes in the form of sweet and savoury treats that are part of its Koto Afternoon Tea, including Yuzu crème brûlée and brioche topped with seared tuna, avocado and wasabi dressing. Wash it all down with matcha-infused tea or upgrade your afternoon tea with a saké pairing.
Price £55pp or £77.50 including the Akashi-Tai saké pairing
Family friendly N
theprinceakatokilondon.com
25. Sketch, Mayfair
Best for escapism
For an immersive backdrop to indulge in high tea, look no further than the fabulously eccentric Sketch. Served amid the warm yellow (formerly pink) glamour of the Gallery, afternoon tea is a truly elegant experience. Perched on velvet booths, slurp your way through a decadent selection of tea and coffee blends before the first of many ornate dishes arrive on your plate. Come for the chocolate and raspberry entremet, stay for the live musicians and the famously wacky egg-shaped loos.
Price from £80
Family friendly Y
sketch.london
Additional reporting by Lucy Perrin and Hannah Gravett
• The best hotels in London
• Best dog-friendly hotels in London
Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here
