Who doesn’t love afternoon tea? There’s something so charming, and so intrinsically British, about taking time to sit down for an elaborate mid-afternoon meal of miniature pastries, warm scones, and delightful finger sandwiches. Throw in a pot of premium tea, and maybe even a glass or two of bubbly, and you’ve got a simply divine day ahead of you.
Needless to say, we have some pretty stunning afternoon teas here in London. Whether you’re after a quirky theme, a flamboyantly fancy day out, or just love miniature foodstuffs, our city is sure to be home to an offering that checks all the boxes. So without further ado, here are our picks for the best afternoon teas in London.
From Page to Palm Court: The Langham’s Seasonal Afternoon Tea
What do you do when you literally wrote the book on afternoon tea? You make sure that you never forget the dishes that put you on the map. And that’s why The Langham, which recently published The Langham Afternoon Tea Cookbook, now serves an evolving afternoon tea that brings the pages of the book to life.
Each month, they’re highlighting a signature pastry from the book, “thoughtfully selected to harmonise with the changing seasons and showcase ingredients at their peak.” Among the desserts being featured are the Custard Cream, the Caraïbe Tea Cake, and the Strawberry Peppercorn Tarte. And naturally, the afternoon tea sittings also feature “The Langham’s iconic selection of finger sandwiches, delicate pastries, and warm scones with Cornish clotted cream and seasonal preserves”.
It’s an afternoon tea that is, in their own words, “both timeless and continually refreshed.”
Find out more and book here.
Art Afternoon Tea
This is the ultimate afternoon tea experience for art lovers. Within the stunning interiors of the Rosewood London, guests can enjoy a truly special Art Afternoon Tea. Drawing inspiration from “the light and colour of Claude Monet’s most celebrated works”, the offering includes a selection of “refined savouries, floral patisserie and signature Art Cakes” that bring Monet’s artwork to life.
Find out more and book here.
Embark on a captivating journey through centuries of Western European art at the National Gallery. Delve into the rich history and beauty of a mesmerising array of masterpieces by acclaimed artists such as Leonardo, Monet, and Van Gogh. Afterwards, treat yourself to a delightful afternoon tea experience at Ochre, the gallery’s charming in-house restaurant, where you’ll enjoy savoury sandwiches, freshly baked scones, seasonal pastries, and a selection of coffee and tea.
The Gallery at Sketch’s Seasonal Afternoon Tea
For the prettiest afternoon tea in London, you naturally have to head to the prettiest restaurant in London. And that’s where sketch comes in. Frequently topping lists of London’s most jaw-dropping venues, sketch’s The Gallery is home to a seriously stunning afternoon tea. As well as being easy on the eye, the delightful seasonal treats are sure to please your taste buds with one step in tradition and one in modernity. Pictured above is their ever-popular Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea that arrives every year – isn’t it dreamy looking?
Find out more and book here.
Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
Dust off your Regency best for this Afternoon Tea experience that draws inspiration from the acclaimed series, Bridgerton. With a menu of finger sandwiches, home-baked scones, and sweet treats that pay homage to the series’ characters and setting, you’ll be transported to another time. We have it “On good authority from Lady Whistledown, [that this is] a social event not to be missed”.
Pair it with the Bridgerton x Candlelight concert for a truly magical day out.
Find out more and book here.
Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley
The worlds of pastry and art intertwine here, at Cedric Grolet’s first pâtisserie outside Paris. And for those who want an elegant taste of France for afternoon tea, the venue offers Goûtea. This unique take on the meal “fuses the French tradition of sweet snacking with the best of afternoon tea”. Settle in and prepare for some of the most picture-perfect and delicious treats in town.
Find out more and book here.
Here’s another museum-inspired afternoon tea for you to enjoy, this one inspired by pure opulence and grandeur. Drawing from the V&A’s exhibition on Marie Antoinette, Let Us Eat Cake transports diners afternoon tea-ers to the Palace of Versailles to enjoy a variety of sweet and savoury delights. And yes, despite the name, there is more than just cake on offer.
Act fast, though, because the exhibition-tie-in-afternoon-tea is only available while the exhibition is open. And Marie Antoinette: Style closes on March 22, 2026! (Fortunately, we can likely expect another V&A-inspired afternoon tea to take its place.)
Drawing inspiration from the Wes Anderson exhibition at the Design Museum, the museum’s Design Kitchen offers a seriously gorgeous afternoon tea. At the heart of the experience is the kitchen’s take on an iconic dessert that fans will recognise from The Grand Budapest Hotel: the ‘Courtesan au Chocolat’. The rest of the afternoon tea draws from the director’s recognisable aesthetic style, with food that’s as pretty as it is delicious.
The Chesterfield’s offering surely takes the ‘sweetest afternoon tea in London‘ title. Taking place in the hotel’s beautiful conservatory, filled with pick ‘n’ mix and jars of old-fashioned sweets, the experience has a real retro vibe. Feast on finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and cakes, all inspired by a retro sweetshop. Think Coca-Cola slices, chocolate chip scones, peanut butter cups, drumstick macaroons, and strawberry Liquorice Allsorts cheesecake. It’s a truly nostalgic affair.
Afternoon Tea at The Coral Room
Inject your afternoon tea experience with a dose of style by heading to London’s famed The Coral Room and its iconic pink-hued room. Staid afternoon tea classics are given new life here, with sweet and savoury treats ranging from Earl Grey cake and passion fruit and mango tarts to smoked salmon pinwheels and harissa chicken mayonnaise. Even the scones have style, here, thanks to flavours of vanilla and sultana, as well as a unique rhubarb and Campari jam.
Find out more and book here.
Aqua Shard’s Peter Pan-themed afternoon tea brings a touch of magic to the 31st-floor restaurant housed inside The Shard. Take a trip to the enchanting world of Neverland and enjoy panoramic views of the London skyline while you nibble on sweet and savoury treats served on a tea-stand resembling Captain Hook’s infamous ship.
Regardless of the time of year, Dalloway Terrace is one of the most gorgeous spots in London for afternoon tea. That’s because with each new season, the stunning site is transformed with a makeover that fills it with flowers, foliage, blooms, and more. Surrounded by a veritable garden within a restaurant, you can enjoy an evolving menu that reflects the season and the decor around you.
Located inside the dimly-lit, oozing-with-sophistication, underground bar, Lucy Wong, this Asian twist on the classic afternoon tea is like no other in London. Inspired by memories of afternoons sipping tea and tucking into Dim Sum and sweet treats, Lucy Wong’s unique offering includes a variety of traditional Dim Sum, Cantonese delicacies and hand-finished patisseries. A free-flowing teapot of Chinese tea will help wash everything down nicely, and you can even add on a glass of Champagne.
At the Science Museum, guests can enjoy a “luxury afternoon tea with a science-inspired twist”. The ‘out-of-this-world’ experience gives you permission to play with your food (in the name of science!). The creative culinary offerings include everything from “petri dish jelly to Earl-grey soaked scones to… pink lemonade where you use chemistry to create your own fizzy drink!”
Kona Afternoon Tea
Within the luxurious environs of Kona, guests can choose from two afternoon teas. The A Midsummer Night’s Dream Afternoon Tea draws inspiration from the classic Shakespearean work. Guests can enjoy “a whimsical journey through flavour, fantasy, and romance… [with] poetic savouries, magical sweets, and a signature tea blend brewed with fairy dust.” Or there’s The Indian Jasmine Afternoon Tea, which brings Indian tradition to London with an offering that combines the “rich traditions of the Indian dining culture with a bold and innovative twist on the traditional afternoon tea.”
Find out more and book here.
Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon Afternoon Tea
With a rich history of over 300 years of producing and selling tea, there’s arguably no better place for a classic and elegant brew. Afternoon tea is served in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon – which, we’ll have you know, was opened by the late Queen herself! Everywhere you look, you’ll spot Fortnum & Mason’s famous pale blue accents, and the selection of finger sandwiches and cakes is traditional (as expected). Choose from the traditional menu or opt for the vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free versions.
Find out more and book here.
This theatrically-inspired experience invites you to take a seat for “a three-act culinary experience inspired by the iconic musical ‘Phantom of the Opera’.” The hauntingly elegant afternoon tea takes guests on a sensory journey through mystery, passion, and timeless romance. (Oh, and a glass of Laurent-Perrier Brut or a Red Rose cocktail is included as standard!)
You’ll be up on your seat giving a standing ovation by the time it’s done!
Afternoon Tea at Westminster Abbey
Did you know you can have afternoon tea in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey? Yup, tucked away from the busy streets of Central London, you can enjoy all the usual finger sandwiches, pastries, tea, and more, in an iconic, historic building. Just think – monarchs have been crowned in this building, and here you are sipping on some Champagne. How FANCY!
Find out more and book here.
Jurassic Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel
The Ampersand Hotel’s highly revered afternoon teas draw inspiration from their proximity to the cultural powerhouses of the Exhibition Road museums. This can be seen in the Science- and Jurassic-themed afternoon teas. Our pick is the Jurassic-themed option – featuring T-Rex cheese straws, dinosaur jam sandwiches, and homemade scones. But that’s not all – oh, no! There’s also a raspberry and lemon crémeux volcano eruption, a dark chocolate and caramel dinosaur egg nest and a mini dinosaur biscuit & milk chocolate fossil. Yum!
Find out more and book here.
Lanes of London is hosting a limited-time ‘Guess How Much I Love You’–themed afternoon tea, with a special offering inspired by the classic children’s book. The menu draws from the book’s most iconic passages, and children will leave the special afternoon tea with a gift bag that includes a Nutbrown Hare soft toy and a copy of the book.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea
If we can’t visit Willy Wonka in his chocolate factory to lick the wallpaper and eat everlasting gobstoppers, then this is certainly the next best thing. The menu at One Aldwych is full of scrumdiddlyumptious, imaginative treats, such as beetroot and horseradish ‘hot ice cream for cold days’ and classic Coronation chicken, as well as fabulously fluffy floss, wondrous cakes, sweets, and more.
Find out more and book here.
Take your afternoon tea to the sky and enjoy pastries suspended in the air above London, at the London Eye’s afternoon tea sessions. Guests will journey 135 metres into the sky above the city as they munch on seasonal quiches, charming finger sandwiches, and more, and enjoy 360° views of the city. Oh, and don’t forget the tea! Or the Champagne – go on, you know you want to…
This charmingly-themed afternoon tea invites you to eat your way through London – literally! The city’s most iconic sights and landmarks are represented in the afternoon tea’s selection of finger sandwiches, fluffy scones, and handcrafted cakes. You can munch on the likes of The London Eye, Big Ben, and more. The treats come on a London-bus shaped tiered tray – and you can enjoy it all with a view over world-famous Piccadilly.
The Clermont boasts two hotel locations in London, with both of them serving up a Wicked-ly good teatime treat if you’re an aspiring thespian or lover of the West End. Channel your inner Elphaba or Glinda, and enjoy a high tea that’s worthy of being a standout favourite in the Emerald City itself. With The Clermont Victoria conveniently located a stone’s throw away from the Apollo Theatre, it’s the perfect pre-Wicked treat that’ll transport you to the merry old Land of Oz.
Prepare for a sumptuous tea experience at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel, featuring breathtaking views of the Royal Mews. Delight in an array of bite-sized sandwiches, delightful pastries, and scones paired with rich clotted cream and homemade preserves. Elevate your tea experience with a diverse selection of teas from P.M. David Silva & Sons. Immerse yourself in luxury as you soak in the opulent surroundings and savour each exquisite bite.
Step into the history of sea-faring and tea with a special tour of the Cutty Sark, followed by afternoon tea directly beneath the ship’s iconic copper-clad hull. You’ll receive exclusive access to the world’s last remaining tea clipper, which dates back to 1869 and historically shipped tea to London. See the world of tea in a whole new light with this unforgettable experience.
London’s La Bibliotheque invites you to enjoy a unique afternoon tea with a Japanese and Mediterranean twist. Combining the worlds of Japanese cuisine, tapas dining, and afternoon tea, guests are invited to indulge their senses with the “curated selection of sweet and savoury bites made with premium ingredients”. Dishes range across the likes of peanut tart ganache, miso salted caramel, strawberry matcha macarons, and bao buns with pork belly. Complete the affair with a selection of premium Japanese teas, sakes, and expertly crafted cocktails.
Beyond all the swanky hotels and upmarket London venues, there are also some fabulously unique offerings for afternoon tea that add a fun and quirky twist. One of our absolute favourites is the English Afternoon Tea Bus, which provides a one-of-a-kind tour around London, hitting up some of the city’s most iconic landmarks in the process. From Picadilly Circus to the bustling streets of Westminster, savour this tantalising teatime experience while exploring the wonders of our beautiful city.
Afternoon Tea at The Beaumont
The Beaumont Hotel’s afternoon tea is served in the art-deco elegance environs of Gatsby’s Room, hearkening back to the building’s 1926 origins. As one might expect from The Beaumont, the British tradition is served up with respect – but also with a light American accent. Finger sandwiches are followed by decadent scones and pastries – and a wide choice of loose-leaf teas from JING.
Find out more and book here.
Immerse yourself in luxury at the iconic Milestone Hotel for an Afternoon Tea experience like no other! Renowned for its delectable treats and impeccable service, this award-winning venue promises an unforgettable indulgence. Savour a delightful selection of teas, sandwiches, scones, and desserts while basking in the elegant ambience, and elevate your afternoon to new heights of sophistication and taste.
Experience London in a whole new way with this Afternoon Tea Cruise! Sail along past the city’s iconic riverside landmarks and indulge in a delightful assortment of sandwiches, pastries, and scones, all while enjoying stunning 360˚ views of the city.
