There's nothing quite like the luxury and indulgence of an afternoon tea, and nowhere has more options than London. Almost every hotel and many restaurants in the capital offer up the opportunity to spend a couple of hours sipping your favourite brew while nibbling on finger sandwiches, cakes, and scones. So where do you even begin when choosing? We're rounded up some of our absolute favourites, from the famous hotels offering pure luxury, to hidden gems, to amazing themed teas, to those that'll give you an incredible view [1]. What are you waiting for? Grab that Oyster card [2], and make that booking!
Mad Hatters Tipsy Evening Tea at The Sanderson
Where: The Sanderson [3]
Cost: £58 per person including a flight of four cocktails
Best for: Night owls and party people
Don't fancy taking tea in the afternoon? Head to The Sanderson! The hotel may not look like much from the outside, but step inside, and you'll be transported into a modern Wonderland where you can indulge in an evening tea (served from 7 p.m.). Begin with savoury treats, like smoked salmon scotch eggs and brie sandwiches, move onto booze-infused desserts like Cherry Noir vodka and cranberry tartlets, and sip your way through a tray of minicocktails. The Sanderson also offers an afternoon tea with a similar theme, but a little less of the hard stuff!
Champagne Afternoon Tea at 11 Cadogan Gardens
Where: 11 Cadogan Gardens [4]
Cost: £25 per person
Best for: A truly peaceful, relaxing experience.
If the bustling tea rooms of the larger hotels don't appeal to you, head to this oasis of calm in Knightsbridge, where you can enjoy your tea next to a roaring fire, or out in a pretty covered terrace. This boutique hotel feels more like someone's (very large, very luxurious) home, and you'll get exceptional but unobtrusive service as you sip first from a glass of Champagne, then from a long list of special teas. The food spread includes all the classic afternoon tea options, plus a few modern twists, and it's all delicious. This is one of the best value teas in the capital, a best-kept secret we couldn't help but share!
Afternoon Tea at Sketch
Where: Sketch [6]
Cost: £58 per person, £72 with Champagne, £30 for children.
Best for: Millennial pink fans and Instagram obsessives!
The candy pink dining room of Sketch is one of London's most instagrammed venues, and of course they offer up a decadent afternoon tea you can snap from your velvet bucket seat. Everything is pastel perfection, from the pink Champagne to the macarons. As an extra sweet touch, Sketch is one of the few venues to encourage kids, offering up a children's afternoon tea, which includes a toy bear. Top tip: don't leave without visiting the space-age pod toilets!
Afternoon Tea at Claridge's
Where: Claridge's [7]
Cost: £60 per person, add a glass of Champagne from £10.
Best for: Pure art deco splendour.
Good news if you're craving those cucumber sandwiches: Claridge's has them, along with every other traditional afternoon tea treat. Ingredients are meticulously sourced from around the country, so you'll enjoy Dorrington ham from the West Midlands, chicken from Cotswold White birds, and Clarence Court duck eggs in your egg mayo sandwiches. There's also a seasonal savoury dish chosen by the chef depending on the time of year. And that's just the savoury! When it comes to sweet you'll get scones, macarons, cake, and all kinds of delicate, delicious handmade pastries. You'll enjoy the lot with hand-picked teas from around the world in the beautiful foyer of this 1930s-inspired art deco masterpiece.
Confessions of a Chocoholic at the Hilton Park Lane
Where: Podium Restaurant at the Hilton Park Lane [8]
Cost: £39 per person, £49 with a glass of Pommery Champagne
Best for: Chocoholics, of course!
Executive Chef Anthony Marshall has created a four-course feast for chocoholics, with plenty of delicious sweet treats that'll delight even the most discerning chocolate fans. You'll start off with open sandwiches, before moving on to chocolate chip scones, macarons, chocolate tarts, and all manner of other cocoa-laced confections. Throughout the year, the tea undergoes amazing themed makeovers for special occasions. We were lucky enough to try the "Confessions of a Fashionista" version during Fashion Week, which included desserts in the shape of shoes, bags, and dresses!
Traditional Afternoon Tea at the Savoy
Where: The Savoy [9]
Cost: £60 per person, add a glass of Champagne from £10.
Best for: A truly traditional experience in a central location.
The Savoy offers one of the most famous afternoon teas in London, and it's so intricate it requires a video, not a photo, to truly understand! You'll dine under the beautiful glass dome of the hotel's Thames Foyer, while a pianist serenades you from a gazebo. The food is quintessentially English, though you might be surprised to see cucumber sandwiches missing from the current menu! Scones come with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream (enjoy arguing over what comes first, jam or cream) and you'll also enjoy over half a dozen sweet dishes, including the classic Victoria sponge. The hotel is located just a stone's throw from Covent Garden and is a marvel in itself.
Festive Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych
Where: One Aldwych [10]
Cost: £42 per person, £52 including a cocktail or glass of champagne.
Best for: Fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka inspires this whimsical afternoon tea, which has been given a mini makeover for the festive season. Indulge in treats inspired by some of Wonka's confections, including a golden chocolate egg, and handmade candy floss. There are seasonal savoury items to try too, and you can even swap the traditional champagne for a special Charlie cocktail!
Wyld Afternoon Tea at Dandelyan
Where: Dandelyan at the Mondrian [14]
Cost: £55
Best for: Those who love a touch of retro
This tea, served up in the buzzy restaurant of one of the city's coolest hotels, looks to a surprising era for inspiration: the '70s. You'll enjoy retro favourites with a modern twist: look out for menu highlights like the goats cheese rarebit and the blackcurrant and verbena battenberg cake. The all-in price includes a selection of cocktails to go with the four courses, as well as a choice of teas. Enjoy the whole lot whilst taking in the beautiful views over the Thames.
Afternoon Tea at the Zetter Townhouse
Where: The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell [15]
Cost: £33 with tea, £40.50 with a cocktail, £43 with Champagne.
Best for: A touch of eccentric decadence
The Zetter Townhouse is all about character, so prepare to settle down for tea at your weird rich uncle's home, complete with curiosities, old books, taxidermy, and comfy furnishings. When you choose your afternoon tea, you can pick from specialities from either Uncle Seymour (who had us at the truffled sausage roll) or Auntie Wilhelmina (whose offerings are a little more traditional). Both come with the requisite scones and cakes, plus an extensive drinks list including the wonderful nettle gimlet.
Afternoon Tea at Forntum and Mason
Where: Fortnum & Mason [16]
Cost: From £44
Best for: Tradition, with a royal warrant!
Step into the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, on the fourth floor of Picadilly's famous department store, for an afternoon tea steeped in tradition. Fortnum and Mason has the royal warrant, providing "groceries and provisions" to the Queen, so you may just be spreading the exact same jam on your scones as she has on hers. Everything here is as you'd expect, from the cucumber sandwiches to the huge selection of teas. You'll also get a selection of sweet treats from the "cake carriage", which is just as delightful as it sounds.