Best Afternoon Tea in London: 10 Classic and Quirky Spots

Synonymous with British culture, the custom of afternoon tea was started by one of Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting, Anna, Duchess of Bedford. Frustrated by the fashion for late dining, she ordered a snack of bread, butter and tea. As the trend took hold, offerings expanded to finger sandwiches, cakes and scones with clotted cream and jam. High tea features a hot savoury course. Essential for a first-time stay in London, afternoon tea is an experience worth having. Teatime is typically 3 or 4pm, but most places offer extended hours. The average price varies, from under £10 for cake and a cuppa at a humble tearoom to over £100 per person for a posh, multi-tiered service accompanied by champagne. Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available. Want afternoon tea with a breathtaking view of London? Several restaurants in the 87-storey Shard serve afternoon tea at a cost of around £60.

• Best for: An iconic hotel tradition
• The Strand, WC2
• Hours: noon-4pm Monday-Tuesday; noon-6pm Wednesday-Sunday
• Price: £75-£85; £37.50 children
• Transport: Bakerloo or Northern line tube to Charing Cross

London’s first purpose-built deluxe hotel, The Savoy has been serving its celebrated afternoon tea service since it opened in 1899. Featuring an ornate glass dome and a pianist in an intricate central gazebo, the elegant Thames Foyer is a delightful place to linger over savoury tartlets, tea sandwiches, house-baked scones and sumptuous cakes. Choose from more than 30 teas or add some sparkle to the occasion with a glass of champagne. The Savoy is the best place to have high tea in London and offers vegetarian and vegan versions.

• Best for: A right royal tea
• Fourth Floor, 181 Piccadilly, St James’s, W1A
• Hours: 11:30am-8pm Monday-Thursday; 11am-8pm Friday & Saturday; 11:30am-6pm Sunday    
• Price: £78-£82
• Transport: Bakerloo or Piccadilly Line to Piccadilly Circus

Established by William Fortnum, a one-time footman of Queen Anne, London’s oldest department store has a long-standing royal connection. The late Queen Elizabeth officially opened this lavish tea room on the site of the Fortnum family’s private quarters. Known for its beautifully packaged provisions, Fortnum’s offers more than 150 varieties of teas. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, you can opt for a menu with savoury scones and other delicacies like a Scotch egg (a Fortnum’s invention in the 18th century). Good to know: Tea connoisseurs can pay an extra £6 for a curated tasting.

• Best for: French luxury
• 6 Waterloo Place, SW1Y
• Hours: noon-5pm Wednesday-Sunday
• Price: £70; £35 children
• Transport: Bakerloo or Piccadilly line to Piccadilly Circus

The quintessential British custom takes on an undeniable je ne sais quoi at The Rose Lounge, a seductive tea salon in the five-star Sofitel London St James. Repose on plush crimson seating as you indulge in delights such as a coconut and chocolate délice and scones with clotted cream and rose-infused strawberry jam. Pair the delectable spread with one of a wide range of the finest Dammann Frères teas or, for a mere £10 extra, a glass of champagne.

• Best for: Tea and a show
• Catherine Street, WC2
• Hours: vary, by reservation
• Price: £59; £35 children
• Transport: Piccadilly line tube to Covent Garden

For an indulgent prelude to a hit musical (or a lavish finale to a Covent Garden shopping spree), repair to the opulent Grand Saloon at this historic theatre, restored to its full Regency splendour in 2021. Magnificent chandeliers and gilt-topped columns set the stage for a lavish array of sausage rolls, tarts and cakes created by artisan baker Lily Vanilli. Good to know: Tea is by reservation only and if you’re seeing a show it’s advisable to book at least two hours before curtain-up.

• Best for: Sipping and sightseeing
• Departs from Victoria Coach Station or Trafalgar Square
• Hours: Select times noon-5pm
• Price: from £45; £35 children
• Transport: Circle, District or Victoria line tube to Victoria or Bakerloo or Northern line tube to Charing Cross

Combine two iconic London experiences by having tea aboard a double-decker Routemaster bus as it winds around famous landmarks from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace. Parisian transplants Brigit and Cedric Bloch had the idea for an afternoon tea bus tour after opening their London patisseries. Both decks are kitted out with tables for such French-accented treats as mini quiches and choux. A top choice for a quirky afternoon tea in London, themed outings include a Paddington Bear tour and one for gin lovers who prefer a G&T!

• Best for: A literary pitstop
• 14 Bury Place, WC1
• Hours: 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday
• Price: varies; about £3-£5 for baked goods, £3 for tea
• Transport: Piccadilly line tube to Russell Square

This cosy spot is beloved by book lovers and cake connoisseurs for its affordable afternoon tea in Central London. The unpretentious café in the London Review Bookshop is helmed by the baker who made Lena Dunham’s seven wedding cakes. Terry Glover creates confections such as a wheat-free rose and pistachio cake or an almond and raspberry slice made with Notting Hill honey instead of sugar, and offers plenty of vegan options. Good to know: The Bloomsbury hangout makes the perfect follow-up to a visit to the British Museum less than a block away.

• Best for: Tea at the Palace
• Kensington Gardens, W8
• Hours: 10am-6pm daily
• Price: £46; children £42
• Transport: Circle or District line tube to High Street Kensington

Channel the spirit of the late Princess Diana as you sip tea in the glass-fronted pavilion or on the outdoor terrace. The restaurant overlooks the Sunken Garden, one of her favourite spots at Kensington Palace. For an extra charge, you can pair your coronation chicken sandwiches and sweet treats with a Pimm’s – the quintessentially British garden-party drink.

• Best for: Garden delights 
• Church Lane, off Petersham Road, TW10
• Hours: 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday; 11am-4pm Sunday
• Price: £45
• Transport: District line tube or Overground to Richmond

Experience the colours and scents of an English garden at The Teahouse, on the grounds of chic Richmond gardening mecca Petersham Nurseries. Seating is in a rustic glasshouse or outside at weekends. Seasonal fare might include a pea, mint and feta tart and fresh strawberry Victoria sponge. Good to know: You can also have afternoon tea at The Petersham in Covent Garden, run by the same family.

• Best for: Scones and Scrabble
• 139 Vauxhall Walk, SE11
• Hours: 9:30am-10pm Monday- Friday; 9am-10pm Saturday; 9:30am-8pm Sunday
• Price: £6-£24.50
• Transport: Victoria line tube to Vauxhall

With mismatched furniture, groaning bookshelves and free-roaming cats, this former Victorian pub offers a relaxed atmosphere – and one of the best afternoon tea deals in London. Order the Unlimited Duchess Tea featuring sandwiches, freshly baked goodies and house-made jams, or the Tea House Cake Taster if you prefer to stick to sweets. You can challenge your companions to chess or Scrabble. Fancy attending a poetry reading or a jazz session? The Teahouse Theatre doubles as an evening venue.