Discover London’s finest afternoon tea venues, from affordable budget options from £15 to luxury treats at iconic five-star hotels – with something for everyone to enjoy
London is renowned for its cherished tradition of afternoon tea, and the capital is brimming with hotels and tea rooms offering this quintessentially British ritual. Whether you fancy classic finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones or prefer to toast the occasion with a glass of fizz, there’s no shortage of venues to satisfy your cravings.
Be it a Mother’s Day treat, a birthday celebration or simply a catch-up with a close friend, afternoon tea remains one of the most elegant ways to show someone you care. From timeless, traditional settings to contemporary takes on the classic format, London boasts a venue to suit every taste and occasion.
With that in mind, we at MyLondon have rounded up 10 of the finest spots in the city for afternoon tea. Whether you’re watching the pennies or pushing the boat out for a truly lavish experience, there’s something here for everyone.
The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum and Mason
Address: 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER
Price: from £84
Few places embody the spirit of traditional afternoon tea quite like the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum and Mason, an institution that traces its roots back to 1707. Having long prided itself on sourcing only the finest produce and delivering impeccable service, it now boasts a remarkable selection of over 100 rare and exotic teas sourced from India, China, Nepal, Japan and Ceylon, alongside its own signature blends.
The constantly changing menu prominently includes lobster scones with cream cheese and caviar topping. A children’s afternoon tea is also on offer, comprising light finger sandwiches, plain and fruit scones and an assortment of cakes accompanied by hot chocolate, fruit juice or a glass of milk.
Café Rouge
Address: St Paul’s (5-14 St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8BX) and St Katherine Docks (Tower Bridge House, 4 St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1BA)
Price: from £15 per person.
For those seeking afternoon tea with a French flair, Café Rouge is worth considering. Despite the company entering administration, two London venues remain where you can secure a reasonably priced afternoon tea starting at £15.
Indulge in sweet delicacies and French-influenced savouries, such as French onion sausage rolls and miniature meringue tarts.
The Savoy
Address: The Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
Price: from £90
The Savoy remains a quintessential choice for afternoon tea. An impressive selection of more than 30 teas awaits, served alongside traditional sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream, jam and lemon curd, plus an array of pastries.
For those wanting to elevate the occasion, a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne or Nyetimber sparkling wine can complement your afternoon tea.
Oblix at The Shard.
Address: 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Price: £59 per person
If you’re on the hunt for an afternoon tea with a spectacular backdrop, Oblix – perched on the 32nd floor of the Shard – is the destination for you. Sink into one of its plush sofas and soak up the breathtaking vistas of Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and beyond while enjoying a cup of tea – or a glass of Champagne.
Blending the classic with the inventive, the menu boasts mozzarella and cherry tomato tarts, prawn and lobster rolls crowned with salmon roe and duck egg and truffle mayonnaise buns. For those with a sweet tooth, there are madeleines served with hot chocolate sauce, fresh honeycombs, strawberry jam and clotted cream, alongside indulgent treats such as raspberry and pistachio financiers and crunchy hazelnut rochers.
Brigit’s Bakery
Address: 6-7 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HU
Price: from £40 per person
Brigit’s Bakery London is renowned for its afternoon tea with a distinctly French flair – L’Afternoon Tea. Beyond its charming Covent Garden bakery, guests can also jump aboard one of their Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tours.
Setting off from Victoria Coach Station or Trafalgar Square, the bus tour offers a wonderful opportunity to admire some of London’s most iconic landmarks, including Westminster Abbey, St James’s Park, Hyde Park, the Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch and Downing Street. All the while, passengers can savour the sweet and savoury tastes of France, with a selection of finger sandwiches including smoked salmon and cream cheese, alongside an array of cakes and pastries.
The Gantry
The Gantry Address: 40 Celebration Ave, Stratford, East London E20 1DB
Price: from £25 per person.
The Gantry’s new location overlooks the skyline of Stratford. Visitors can sample London East End staples, including mini fish ‘n’ chips and Brick Lane’s mini salt beef beigels, complemented by British classics such as brioche sandwiches featuring aged Cheddar Gorge cheese, cultured butter and homemade red onion jam.
Also on offer are fruit scones accompanied by Cornish clotted cream and homemade field strawberry preserve, a ‘Jellied Eel’ comprising retro Champagne jelly, fruit gummies and strawberry dust, plus a range of chocolate biscuits to accompany The Gantry’s tea and coffee selection.
The Coral Room at the Bloomsbury Hotel
Address: 16-22 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3NN
Price: from £55 per person
Situated within a Grade II-listed neo-Georgian building that once housed Princess Elizabeth’s teatime suite, the Coral Room at The Bloomsbury Hotel offers an ideal setting for a quintessentially English afternoon tea. Elaborate candelabra and patterned sofas create the atmosphere for a traditional selection featuring buttermilk scones and distinctive sandwiches alongside seasonal fruit tarts, Victoria sponge and other timeless cakes.
Boulevard Brasserie Covent Garden
Address: 40 Wellington St London, WC2E 7BD
Price: from £37.95 per person
This classic afternoon tea at Boulevard Brasserie Covent Garden sits right in the heart of London’s vibrant theatre district, mere moments from the Royal Opera House. Select from premium teas and coffees served alongside savoury bites, freshly baked scones and a variety of cakes and tarts.
Petersham Nurseries
Address: Church Lane, Off Petersham Road, London TW10 7AB
Price: from £65 per person.
Few settings rival the enchanting atmosphere of the intimate tea house at Petersham Nurseries. Here, you’ll discover a conservatory worthy of inclusion in Alice in Wonderland, filled with foliage, antique garden chairs and whimsical touches.
The menu features savoury delights such as salt beef mini bagels with pickled cucumber, and radicchio and wild mushroom sandwiches, complemented by clementine and pomegranate cakes and pecan tarts with crème fraiche. The scones, wonderfully buttery and dotted with fruit, come with orange jam and clotted cream – vegan and vegetarian alternatives are also on offer.
Little Tea House
Address: 1152 High Road, Whetstone, North London, N20 0RA
Price: from £38 per person.
Tucked away between Barnet and North Finchley, Little Tea House is an independent establishment that launched just a few years back. Guests can choose from three menus: halal, vegan and vegetarian.
All options come with scones served alongside clotted cream and jam. Guests can also enjoy savoury bites, including garlic and coriander quiches or chicken tikka pies, alongside indulgent sweet treats such as mille feuilles and chocolate cakes.
