Clotted cream at the ready - let’s celebrate the traditional past time in new, modern, and exciting ways. Read on for the best afternoon tea spots in London…
Tea lovers rejoice! It’s been a long while since the Duchess of Bedford revealed her secret love for enjoying tea and snacks before dinner and a lot of us can agree with the sentiment. With plenty of exclusive offers in tribute to the nation's favourite pastime - tea drinking. So whether you enjoy a fancy 5-star experience or more traditional home baked treats, we have lined up some of the finest offerings in the city. Read on to discover the best afternoon tea spots in London...
TWG Tea
48 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LT
For more of a traditional afternoon tea approach, head to TWG Tea, where their primary focus is the artisanal technique of acquiring the perfect blends of tea leaves. TWG Tea is a luxury tea brand founded by glamorous entrepreneur Maranda Barnes, who opened two stunning tea houses in Leicester Square and Knightsbridge. TWG Tea Salon & Boutiques offer over 800 blends of tea from 46 tea-producing regions, and they even have a tea museum in the Leicester Square branch, packed full of artefacts from all over the world! For afternoon tea, the menu boasts beautiful and exotic offerings such as duck rillette infused with Mandarin pickles - and smoked salmon with creamy Moroccan mint-infused cucumber on malt bread. Sweet treats include scones served with TWG Tea jelly, and their delicious jasmine tea-infused ice cream.
The Chinoiserie: Afternoon Tea at the Carlton Tower
1 Cadogan Place, Ground Floor, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, London, SW1X 9PY
For those moments when only the best is good enough, Chelsea hotel Jumeirah Carlton Tower is one of our first selections when it comes to Afternoon Tea with a luxurious twist. The Royal Botanical Afternoon Tea is an experience that takes you on a sensory journey exploring intricate teas from across the globe and accompanying it with sweet and savoury delights. The decor of the Chinoiserie itself is based on the European interpretation and imitation of Far Eastern artistic traditions represented seamlessly through their furniture, art and antiques alike. Relax into a comfortable armchair and sip on their Mariage Frères selection of teas (and with over 400 years of experience, this brand has been around for as long as the idea of afternoon tea itself) whilst savouring a succulent sandwich (we recommend the blue lobster and lime brioche bun) or a sweet treat (our favourite being the Rose, Lychee and Raspberry Macaroons).
The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London, W1J 9EB
An oldie but a goody, The Wolseley at Green Park has been serving traditional Afternoon Tea for many years with an extensive selection of sweet and savoury treats on their menu. There are three tempting options to choose from, with Cream Tea starting at £15.75 per person, followed by their quintessential classic afternoon tea at £36.00 per person and rounding off with their Champagne afternoon tea at £48.75 per person. They also cater for a number of different dietary requirements.
Their interior boasts a lovely old fashioned glamour with a classic black and white aesthetic and if the small selections did not suffice their all-day menu has some enticing choices.
Art Afternoon Tea at the Rosewood
Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EN
Did someone say afternoon tea with an arty twist? The Rosewood, London, offers a contemporary take on the traditional past time with executive pastry chef, Mark Perkins pushing boundaries with his baking combining unique Japanese flavours with traditional French pastry, bringing new themes to each season and constantly providing exciting ways to enjoy the afternoon tea we all love.
The interiors of the tea rooms itself are just as unique, having been inspired by the Tate’s Yayoi Kusama exhibition: Infinity Mirror Rooms.
There’s also a children’s art inspired afternoon tea option where the little ones can enjoy the experience too.
Tickets start from £72 per person. The menu can be accessed here.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF
For the lovers of uniqueness and theatrics, Afternoon Tea at the Grand Saloon in the newly restored Theatre Royal Drury Lane is an experience within itself. Baker Lily Vanilli treats you to a delicious and decadent Regency inspired menu for you to enjoy in the lavish renewed Saloon, with ornate ceilings, chandeliers, lavish furniture and beautiful art, they’ve really managed to capture the stereotype of afternoon tea whilst making it a fun and aesthetic experience.
Tickets start at £49 per adult and £35 per child and bookings can be made here.