1 Cedric Grolet’s Afternoon Goutea at The Berkeley
French pâtissier Cédric Grolet’s Goûtea is a fusion of Anglo-French traditions. Enshrined in its namesake pâtisserie at The Berkeley, this fusion of Goûter (the French tradition of savoring sweet food) and the finest British afternoon tea, is a showcase for small pâtisserie.
Price: From £85
Address: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL
Website: the-berkeley.co.uk
2 The Berkeley’s Pret-a-Portea Cakewalk
This tea makes a contemporary change to the afternoon tea with creations inspired by the catwalk, and wins the Best Tea at the Afternoon Parties 2023. As the tea party groups do, the tea “cakewalk” also does, and is currently opened with a Loewe Anthurium dress, Hermès’, a Zimmerord bucket and Zimmerord brand Shells. the late and great Vivienne Westwood with a classic vanilla Madagascar biscuit image, complete with the queen’s red hair.
Price: From £80
Address: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL
Website: the-berkeley.co.uk
3 BAD Afternoon Tea at The Clermont, Victoria Hotel
For fans of wicked music, The Clermont at Victoria Hotel has teamed up with West End hit WICKED for an afternoon tea to create an enviable green. In addition to finger sandwiches and scones, sweet desserts are also green – chocolate and pistachio bombs and lemon cheesecakes for example. And add a few cocktails to your tea while you’re at it.
Price: From £40
Address: 101 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0SJ
Website: theclermont.co.uk
4 Grand Saloon Afternoon Tea at Theater Royal Drury Lane, West End
Served in the Grand Saloon, the Drury Lane afternoon tea is created by Lily Vanilli and starts with madeleines with lapsang-souchong glazed salmon, and canelés bites with whipped ricotta and roasted beetroot. For dessert at the end, the trolley will move around the room serving Absinthe ice cream cones and scoops. Also, check the weather forecast for days like Mother’s Day.
Price: From £59/£35 adult/child
Address: Catherine Street WC2B 5JF
Website: thelane.co.uk
5 Traditional Afternoon Tea at The Savoy
Housed in the Thames Foyer, The Savoy offers elegant tea that is both traditional and fresh. Expect the likes of chilled cucumber on chive and lemon cream cheese spinach, traditional marinated chicken, and feta and leek tartlet. Finish with fresh and fruity flavors of seasonal fruit, apple pie or vanilla mousse with cocoa nibs.
Price: From £75
Address: The Strand, WC2R 0EZ
Website: thesavoylondon.com
6 Cherish Finden at Kopi Tiam in Pan Pacific, City
Acclaimed pastry chef Cherish Finden (formerly of Langham & Bake Off: The Professional Judge) infuses English afternoon tea with Singaporean influences. Kopi Tiam’s afternoon tea starts with bao, dim sum and choux, and ends with delicious dishes that look like small sculptures, and change with the seasons and are often inspired by London events. You can also have an English afternoon tea – currently themed Summer Garden – which comes with the same chocolate-y, sweet, creamy texture.
Price: From £66
Address: Pan Pacific, 80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB
Website: papapacific.com
7 High Chai at Cinnamon Bazaar, Covent Garden
Steeped in the traditions of West Bengali – the region of India where Executive Chef Vivek grew up – High Chai at Cinnamon Bazaar brings notes of fire and spice to the tea time spread. Finger sandwiches are replaced with spices like Kadhai spiced paneer roll and inventive chaat bites, followed by delicacies like Shrikhand cheesecake and saffron macarons.
Price: £27.50
Address: 28 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7JS
Website: cinnamon-bazaar.com
8 Hotel Cafe Royal, Piccadilly
This West End hotel offers its afternoon tea in the beautiful Oscar Wilde Lounge, which is still in its 1800s glory (including the wine drops on the ceiling from the most difficult night). The room is worth a visit on its own, but the afternoon tea served within its beautiful baroque walls is just as well. At the moment the hotel offers a simple tea, but watch out for seasonal riffs and collaborations with big shows. If you’re lucky, the piano player on the grand piano will play modern hits like Toto’s Africa while you eat.
Price: From £70
Address: 10 Air Street W1B 4DY
Website: hotelcaferoyal.com
9 Garden Afternoon Tea at Petersham Nurseries, Richmond
Combining the charm and romance of the English countryside, Petersham Nurseries’ Garden Afternoon Tea is a celebration of the best of Britain as it is. With wild backyard gardens, stock up on the likes of ricotta, confit tomatoes and basil crostinis; goat cheese, beetroot and candied nuts; and plum and thyme cheesecake. Don’t forget to walk around the grounds afterwards.
Price: From £45
Address: Church Lane, Off Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 7AB
Website: petershamnurseries.com
10 Champaign Afternoon Tea at Searcys at The Gherkin
The Gherkin offers the best views in the City, along with afternoon tea, which you can enjoy with a glass or two of champagne, or go unlimited.
Price: From £55
Address: 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8BF
Website: searcysatthegherkin.co.uk; sevenrooms.com
11 Petersham, Covent Garden
Petersham has a number of afternoon teas to choose from, which come with all the elegance and floral splendor of its sister tea in Richmond, near the city. To eat, you have the likes of Cornish lobster crostino; smoked trout and labneh blinis; and pear mousse and lemon meringue tart.
Price: From £55
Address: The Gardens, 27 King Street, WC2E 9DS
Website: petershamnurseries.com
12 High Palms High Tea at The Landmark London
London’s quintessential afternoon tea held in Landmark London’s eighth floor glass atrium. The award-winning menu includes the likes of Scottish smoked salmon; and egg mayonnaise, black truffle and chive sandwiches, then treats like rhubarb bakewell tart with honey and finely chopped ginger; and dark chocolate custard with salted caramel and vanilla sauce – delicious.
Price: From £65
Address: 222 Marylebone Road, NW1 6JQ
Website: landmarklondon.co.uk
