The best afternoon tea in London
The British tradition of afternoon tea, with its delicate sandwiches, cakes and scones, pretty tea services and patterned china, is a justly treasured one. It takes us back to a more genteel time, when the leisured sections of society could sit down to a light four-o-clock meal to tide them over the long expanse between lunch and dinner. Today not many of us have the time to make it a daily routine, so it's become the preserve of special occasions - birthdays, Mother's Day, or just a relaxed Saturday afternoon. You can find afternoon tea in many guises all over the UK, and indeed in many places around the world, but London has a particularly high concentration of beautiful venues - from elegant hotels, to hipster cafés and glamorous restaurants. The House & Garden team has selflessly ventured out to try them and bring you the best afternoon tea in London, so scroll down for our picks.
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1/19L'oscar, Holborn
For a lavish afternoon tea near London's theatre land look no further than L'oscar. Set within the former headquarters of the Baptist Church in a Grade II listed building, designer Jacques Garcia, the man behind La Mamounia and the NoMad hotels, resurrected the building and turned it into one of London's most decadent stays. The daily afternoon tea on offer is inspired by its baroque surroundings, featuring delicious sweet and savoury dishes from egg mimosa and black truffle sandwiches to picture-perfect pastries like ‘La vie en rose’ with lime biscuits, strawberry confit and rose lychee mousse. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Price: £49 per person for the classic option, £59 with champagne
When: Monday to Sunday, 14.30 to 17.00
Website: loscarlondon.com
Address: L’oscar London, 2-6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA
2/19The Beaumont
Afternoon tea at The Beaumont hotel is a feast for the eyes as much the mouth. Redesigned in 2021, the hotel – with its white, 1920s building – had an Art Deco makeover, the overall effect being one of gilded age opulence. Tea is served in the Gatsby Room, which, with panelled leather walls and mahogany fittings, a (replica) Picasso still life and portraits of high society, Scott Fitzgerald himself would feel 'within and without' here, to quote The Great Gatsby. The tea itself is English refinement-meets-American plenitude: a glass of champagne, a stack of sandwiches (one is pickle and pastrami, a nod to New York), two types of scones, three patisserie and a huge choice of teas to choose from. The menu changes every three or so months, with a festive tea at Christmas. A live pianist means that your ears will also be satisfied. And on your way out, don't miss the Antony Gormley sculpture ‘ROOM’ on the roof, to bring yourself back into the 21st century. – Kitty Grady
Price: £62 per person with glass of champagne
When: Monday to Friday from 2.30pm and 5:30pm (last orders) and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5:30pm (last orders)
Website: thebeaumont.com
Address: 8 Balderton St, Brown Hart Gardens, London W1K 6TF
3/19Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square
The Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square's location (right next door to the Tower of London) is as equally grand as the building itself. The grade II-listed Art Deco building, which dates back to 1922, hosts tea in its circular Rotunda, an all-day dining area topped by a dome and centred around a grand piano standing on a circular stage. Their latest afternoon tea is fittingly themed around the crown jewels. Delicate pastries comes shaped as the crown paired with traditional finger sandwiches (Coronation chicken included, naturally) and freshly baked scones with all of the trimmings. There's of course a huge selection of fine teas on the drinks menu. A highlight during our visit was actually the non-alcoholic sparkling tea, one of the best we've tried. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Price: From £65 per person
When: Available every Friday to Sunday
Website: fourseasons.com/tentrinity
Address: 10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ
Phone: 020 3297 9200.jpg)
4/19The Orchid Lounge at Pan Pacific
London via Singapore might sound like an unlikely route to follow for a brilliant afternoon tea, but something about the shared, elegant formality of British and Singaporean culture means that The Orchid Lounge’s southeast Asian take on the famous ritual works perfectly. Elegantly laid out on the ground floor of Liverpool Street’s Pan Pacific hotel, the Orchid Lounge draws on Singapore’s longstanding kopi tiam coffee-shop tradition – albeit with tea sommeliers on hand to give this afternoon tea a distinct Crazy Rich Asians feel. This is hardly one for those who suffer decision fatigue: head pastry chef Cherish Finden has concocted a menu that spans the globe, tea-wise, and which will take you at least two hours to wander through. We tried oolongs from New Zealand and China, tea matured in port barrels in Belgium, sweet white tea from Malawi, a Kashmiri saffron blend and the Orchid Lounge’s own proprietary blend – as well as a range of sweet and savoury accompaniments that change seasonally. A truly glamorous experience with surprises galore.
Price: From £72 per person
When: Thursday to Monday, 12pm to 4:30pm
Website: panpacific.com
Address: 80 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AB
5/19Petersham Nurseries's The Teahouse
Cake, sandwiches, tea and champagne may all be requirements of a good afternoon tea, but the setting is as important and none come prettier than Petersham Nurseries. Surrounded by green plants and pretty flowers in the utterly lovely gardens, it feels like being in another world entirely. Plus, what could be better than a wander around the garden centre afterwards? The display is a showstopper too, with a handblown glass cake stand from Florence, the top half of which is a vase for a floral display. For a more central experience try The Petersham's afternoon tea which runs from Thursdays to Saturdays, 3pm to 5pm.
Price: £45 served with loose-leaf tea, £55 with rose petal Prosecco and £60 with Champagne
When: Saturday and Sunday from 12.30pm
Website: Petershamnurseries.com
Address: Church Lane, Off Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 7AB
6/19The Stage at The Londoner
Every element of The Londoner's afternoon tea stopped us in our tracks. This west-end tea is all about show-stopping elements and starts with an untraditional Amuse-Bouche Du Jour. Ours was a lemon sorbet with cucumber coulis with flash frozen crumble. Next were the sandwiches, which are generous in quantity, taking up all three tiers of the cake stand, and come with a twist on the traditional fillings, think smoked salmon and Devon crab with yuzu kosho crème fraîche, tea-smoked cured beef on brioche and duck egg with spiced Peppadew mayonnaise on sourdough. Scones are freshly baked on site and the patisseries from the trolley are the artisanal grand finale. You're in good hands when it comes to libations too, the tea cellar menu has been crafted by The East India Company and champagne pairings range from stalwarts like Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon to smaller English vineyards. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Price: From £55 per person
When: Saturdays & Sundays, 12pm to 4.30pm
Website: Thelondoner.com
Address: 38 Leicester Square 7DX, London
7/19Fortnum & Mason
The Diamond Jubilee tea salon at Fortnum & Mason is a stalwart of the afternoon tea scene, and has long been one of the renowned best in London. Their signature Eau de Nil colours are resplendent on the ceramics, which as every bit as delicate as the cakes, tarts, eclairs, scones and sandwiches on offer.
Price: £70 per person
When: Mondays – Thursdays and Sundays 11:30am – 7.30pm, Saturdays 11am - 8pm
Website: Fortnumandmason.com
Address: Fourth Floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1A 1ER (W1J 9LE for maps)
8/19The Dorchester
You know you're in good hands for afternoon tea when the chef on hand has just won the UK pastry team European Cup 2022. Michael Kwan's afternoon tea at The Dorchester includes creations like ‘tea-infused ice cream’ and ‘zesty lemon drizzle’. Tea is taken at The Orchid room, and you can pick from the regular or vegan menus. Little ones can choose the children's afternoon tea.
Price: £75 per person or £45 for the children's afternoon tea
When: Daily from 11.30am - 6pm
Website: Dorchestercollection.com
Address: The Dorchester, Park Lane, London W1K 1QA
Menu: Afternoon tea menu
9/19The Chinoiserie Tea Room at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, Knightsbridge
Sweet-toothed folk who want to leave behind the sugar should book themselves into Knightbridge's newest festive afternoon tea which runs daily. French baker Jessica Prealpato, the first woman to be named World's Best Pastry Chef no less, has created a sugar-less but sweet festive afternoon tea menu inspired by Kew Gardens. - Tal Dekel-Daks
Price: From £75 per person
When: Daily, 12pm to 5pm
Website: jumeirah.com
Address: 1 Cadogan Place Ground Floor The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, London SW1X 9PY
10/19Ham Yard
In our eyes, Ham Yard Hotel can do little wrong. From the central location – perfectly placed yet tucked down a quiet side street – to the Kit Kemp interiors, everything is lovely there and afternoon tea is no exception. Settle yourself into the artful surrounds and enjoy a different take with small plates such as duck à l'orange croquettes, rhubarb and custard macarons and baked strawberry cheesecake. If you're in the mood for bubbles, the team serve Rathfinny sparkling wine – a winner in our book.
Price: From £45
When: Daily from 12pm - 4pm
Website: Firmdalehotels.com
Address: 1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT
11/19Sketch
Mayfair's Sketch ticks all the requisite boxes for afternoon tea (dainty cucumber sandwiches, pretty pastries, oodles of freshly brewed Earl Grey), but with a couple of pretty exciting USPs. First, there's the famous Gallery setting, with its powder-pink walls and cocooning, marshmallow-like velvet chairs. It's an Instagrammer's dream. Add in the fact that the walls are lined with 239 original and amusing artworks by David Shrigley, and the setting alone is delicious enough to spread on a warm scone. Secondly, the spacey egg-shape loos are not to be missed. Escape into your own little pod, marvel at the multi-coloured ceiling, and try to get your head around the concave mirrors - trickier than it sounds after a glass or two of the Pommery Champagne. As for the food? The coronation chicken sandwiches are a triumph and I really couldn't choose between the strawberry tart and the Yorkshire rhubarb cheesecake. But why choose at all? All the food is replenishable, so you can eat to your heart's content.
Alex Maguire12/19Maison Assouline
Publishing house Assouline is best known for its books on all things beautiful and glamorous, and its shop in London fully lives up to that reputation. The building contains a bookshop, a gallery-cum-shopping space, and a café-bar which serves a truly delicious afternoon tea. There are only a few tables, so it's a peaceful place to sit, browse through a book of photography on costume balls or Maria Callas, and take in the serene atmosphere. The Parisian afternoon tea features appropriately-themed sweet and savoury treats, plus a glass of champagne. The service is impeccable, and we think this is one of the most sophisticated places for a quiet tea you're likely to find in London.
13/19The Wolseley
The grand European setting of The Wolseley on Piccadilly is home to one of London's finest afternoon teas. The dark, elegant restaurant space is perfect for a rest after doing battle with central London, and the impeccable service has its regulars coming back again and again. The Wolseley offers a range of afternoon teas, complete with exquisitely presented sandwiches, cakes and scones, a silver tea service, and optional champagne.
Adam Kang14/19Good and Proper Tea
Good & Proper Tea started life in a caravan 'popping' up with carefully-crafted brews at festivals across the country. After a second crowd-funding campaign, owner Emilie Holmes opened her first tea bar on Leather Lane in Clerkenwell. Brick walls, wooden worktops, hanging glass pendant lights and potted plants gives the 28-seater space a fresh, stylish vibe: it has a rustic, hipster air. Each of the 25 different types of loose-leaf black, oolong, green, white and herbal teas sourced from Japan to China, Kenya to India, are served in delicate Japanese ceramics, whilst an impressive aluminium Steampunket brewing system ensures the variety of teas are brewed to their specific times and temperatures. Whilst a formal afternoon tea isn't on the menu, sweet and savoury buttermilk sourdough, rye and gluten-free crumpets (baked in house) make tasty companions. It makes a welcome change to the parade of coffee bars that pepper the city, celebrating tea in all its flavours.
15/19Dalloway Terrace
The Bloosmbury Hotel's secret-garden restaurant, Dalloway Terrace, is simply lovely. It's half-inside and half-outside, with blankets and heaters for cooler days and protection from any British rain. The afternoon tea is a fragrant delight with treats such as apricot mousse, raspberry and pistachio opera cake and blueberry and violet cupcakes, as well as scones and sandwiches of course. If tea isn't tipple enough, there is of course the option to add champagne, which is always a good idea in our book.
16/19The Goring
As you walk into The Goring, the subtle nuances of distinction, refinement and quality are immediately recognisable. In an elegant lounge, guests are first shown a menu with a huge variety of teas before an assortment of sandwiches, scones and cakes are then delivered. The refinement of the delicacies is impeccable, the taste is no less of a delight and they are quick to top up anything you particularly enjoyed. No surprise that The Goring pastry chefs were chosen to make Prince Charles' christening cake.
17/19The Connaught
Choose a table overlooking Tadao Andro's peaceful fountain in the heart of Mayfair and as the harpist plays a wonderful assortment of tranquil arrangements, a delicious array of mouth-watering sandwiches will be laid out and a glass of golden champagne poured for you. Scones (both fruited and plain) follow, accompanied by clotted cream and the best selection of home made jams, as well as a teapot of the finest tea. To complement the tea, a heavenly selection of the most beautiful cakes arrives. Almost too pretty to eat, you will eventually succumb and polish off the lot with a top-up of tea and champagne, poured for you by the very friendly and attentive team. If you want to while away some hours doing something wonderful, book yourself a table.
18/19Oscar Wilde Lounge at Café Royal
Placed between Piccadilly and Oxford Circus, the iconic Oscar Wilde Lounge at Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street is quite the location for afternoon tea. A choice of custom-blend teas, including the eponymous Oscar (a Lapsang Souchong black tea), and an eclectic menu of champagnes are on offer. Once tea is served, sit back and enjoy the luxurious surroundings in which an endless array of delicacies are offered, featuring edible London icons and traditional treat. With 'underground' macaroons inspired by London Transport's famous 'Roundel' logo and a dainty yet delicious array of sandwiches, it's an experience you won't forget in a hurry.
19/19Van Gogh inspired afternoon tea
This most whimsical afternoon tea also takes place in the most opulent of settings, the Oscar Wilde Lounge at the Hotel Café Royal on London’s Regent Street. The menu has been designed in tandem with the Van Gogh Experience, an immersive exhibition of the world-renowned artist's most famous works. Created by the hotels’ head pastry chef, Michael Kwan, each delicious morsel takes inspiration from an element of Van Goghs’ work, such as Crab and Dill on Lemon Bread, inspired by his 1887 piece: Two Crabs, or a cheesecake delicately decorated to resemble Starry Night, all accompanied by a wide selection of teas, or champagne if you prefer. Immerse yourself in the delicious and delicately prepared treats as the piano plays in the background.
hotelcaferoyal.com/afternoontea
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