7 Best Afternoon Tea Experiences in London
If you’ve been planning your trip to London, you might already know that tea plays a really important role in the city, and in British culture as a whole.
It comes to no surprise that afternoon tea is a very popular thing to do when you come to London. Afternoon tea can now be enjoyed in hundreds of hotels and tea rooms across the city, with luxurious establishments in particular taking the lead among visitors.
We selected for you some of the best afternoon tea spots that you can find in London, from high-end establishments, to mid-range and budget-friendly alternatives.
So, if you are a first timer in London, hopefully our list will help you narrow down some of the options, making your choice easier and less overwhelming!
But, before we dig in..
What exactly is Afternoon Tea?
Afternoon tea started in the 1840’s, as a light snack to be had between meals, generally from 12am to 4pm. It has since then played an important role in the everyday lives of British people and, as we can witness today, drinking tea in the afternoon remains a popular habit.
Afternoon tea is nowadays something that is mostly enjoyed for special occasions or as a treat, mostly because of the price. Also, enjoying a 3 course meal of sweets and finger sandwiches, while delicious, is not something we recommend doing every day!
This is what you can expect to have for afternoon tea:
Tea (which you can also swap for coffee);
Finger sandwiches;
Scones with jam and cream;
Little sweet cakes.
These are most commonly served on a 3 tier plate. The idea is that enjoy your treats from savoury to sweet, from the bottom plate to the top one.
So, now that you are an expert on afternoon tea, let’s dive into our list!
The English Rose
Address: 4 Lower Grosvenor Pl, London SW1W 0EJ, United Kingdom
We’ll start this list strong with a more casual, family run café, that offers a delicious budget friendly afternoon tea selection. The English Rose Café and Tea Shop is truly a surprising gem in the heart of the city, less than 10 minutes away from Buckingham Palace.
Here you can expect to spend 22 pounds per person for their “Traditional Afternoon Tea”, which includes delicious treats, home-made scones and proper English tea!
Keep in mind that they accept walk-ins only and it can cause this cute little café to get quite busy, so you might have to wait outside before being seated.
This truly is an amazing meet-up tea spot, perfect to catch up with friends and family while sipping on a warm cup of delicious tea.
Come here for: Casual setting ∙ Delicious sweets and treats ∙ Cozy atmosphere
Café Royal
Address: Café Royal, 68 Regent St., London W1B 4DY, United Kingdom
Once visited by many royals and world leaders, Café Royal is a true historical location in the heart of London. You’ll get to experience an elegant afternoon tea in the same locale where Princess Diana, Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill once sat.
Enjoying your afternoon tea here can be a little pricy, starting at 75 pounds per person. What you’ll get in return are tasty and rich cakes, all-you-can-drink tea and live piano music in what is arguably one of the most beautiful settings you can find in the whole of London.
If you want to feel like royalty for a day, or are on the lookout for a classy and sophisticated location perfect for that special occasion, look no further!
Come here for: Memorable setting ∙ Amazing variety of tea ∙ Fancy and elegant interiors
Mad Hatters
Address: 50 Berners St, London W1T 3NG, United Kingdom
Located inside the Sanderson Hotel in London, Mad Hatters offers an Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea. The attention to detail in all of their cutlery, delicious food and tea, make it a very unique experience not to be missed in London!
With a base price of 55 pounds per adult, and 35 pounds per child, you can be assured that there will be no lack of food here. We found this place to be quite generous with its portions, and loved the inventive bites, topped with impeccable service.
This venue comes with a beautiful courtyard, perfect for those warmer sunny days in the city. We were able to take advantage of the outdoor area, and loved its cozy atmosphere.
If you are looking for your first afternoon tea experience in the city, and love all things wonderland, this is the place for you!
Come here for: Top-notch service ∙ Themed afternoon tea ∙ Great amount of delicious food
Mirror Room
Address: 252, Rosewood, High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, United Kingdom
Located in the Rosewood London Hotel, Mirror Room offers art-inspired afternoon tea, and is one of the finest experiences you can get in London.
To say that you will eat true art is an understatement! Delicate pastries served at the Mirror Room are replicas of some of the most recognisable sculptures and artworks from famous artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Andy Warhol.
This is a higher-end establishment, offering a wider menu with afternoon tea options starting at 68 pounds per person. Given its uniqueness and award-winning status, we find the price to be reasonable for what you get in return.
Considered to be the best contemporary afternoon tea in the UK, Mirror Room offers a true unique experience, with some of the best teas and delicacies, perfect for a special occasion with a special someone.
Come here for: Art-inspired pastries ∙ Contemporary afternoon tea ∙ Classy setting
Candella Tea Room
Address: 34 Kensington Church St, London W8 4HA, United Kingdom
Candella is a lovely and cozy tea room, that offers homemade sweets and, we dare say, the best tasting scones in London.
The menu is an absolute delight for tea lovers, with an incredible selection of international and premium local teas to try, making this an amazing venue for your first afternoon tea in London!
If you are a tea lover, and need some well deserved relaxing time away from the busy streets of London, make sure to not miss out on this place.
We would recommend, however, that you book your visit well in advance on their website, as it can get quite busy or booked-out quickly. All in all, for just 25 pounds per person, Candella offers a great value for money given the quality of its food and service!
Come here for: The most delicious scones ∙ Extensive tea menu ∙ Great value for money
The Ivy Chelsea Garden
Address: 197 King's Rd, London SW3 5EQ, United Kingdom
If we had to describe the atmosphere of The Ivy Chelsea Garden, we would say it feels more like being in a jungle than in London! The tropical decor, cozy wallpapers and variety of plants and flowers make this cozy café and restaurant truly memorable.
What is unique about The Ivy, when compared to the other places we listed, is that this is also a popular restaurant and brunch spot in London. So, not only do they serve delicious afternoon sweets and teas, but also an all-day service with amazing British food.
The afternoon tea menu at The Ivy starts at 30 pounds per person, and they have multiple locations all over London. For us, this was overall our favourite, especially for the atmosphere and service!
This spot makes for some incredible pictures, so don’t forget to snap a lot of photos, both from its interior and the stunning outdoor garden in the back!
Come here for: Stunning outdoor garden ∙ Jungle feel ∙ Great atmosphere
The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
Address: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1A 1ER, United Kingdom
Located in heart of central London, right between Piccadilly Circus and Green Park, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is located inside Fortnum & Mason, one of the oldest department stores in London, founded in 1707.
Named after the Queen Elizabeth II, this was one of her locations of choice for afternoon tea in the city.
The food offerings are plentiful and delicious, with gluten-free options available. It’s not by any means the most affordable afternoon tea on our list, starting at 85 pounds per person, but the quality of food and service make up for its steep price tag!
This is definitely a great place for anyone who wants to get the quintessentially British classic afternoon tea experience. If this is your first time visiting London, this might just be your perfect entryway into afternoon tea in the UK!
Come here for: Classic afternoon tea ∙ Traditional setting ∙ Historical venue with great food
With plenty of afternoon tea places scattered throughout London, it can be tricky to decide which ones to try.
Hopefully with our selection, you will find the afternoon tea place that best suits what you are looking forward to experiencing, making your decision a lot easier!
We really recommend checking these places out during your visit. Which one will you try first?
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As one of the top tourist destinations in the world, London is just brimming with incredible sights and fun activities. From hopping on a cruise down the river Thames to enjoying a real afternoon tea, there is enough to do and see to fill up your itinerary for days! However, there is no denying that London is an en expensive city..