The 11 Best Afternoon Teas in London
Craving warm scones, gleaming silver teapots and rooms that feel made for lingering just a little longer? These are the 11 London afternoon teas that turn a timeless ritual into something unforgettable.
There is something unmistakably enchanting about afternoon tea in London. The soft clink of china, the perfume of freshly baked scones, the quiet theatre of pastries arriving like tiny jewels on a tiered stand. It is a ritual woven into the fabric of the city, one that blends indulgence with intimacy and tradition with imagination. From sky-high feasts in the clouds to whimsical storybook spreads and art-inspired patisserie masterpieces, London’s finest teas offer far more than a mid-afternoon pause. They are experiences to savour, stories to step into and moments that linger long after the last pour.
Best for Escaping Reality Above the Clouds
London Bridge
A whimsical escape set high above the city, this Peter Pan inspired tea feels like drifting into the clouds with the Darling family. Tinkerbell cookies sparkle with playful charm, Hook cakes arrive with a hint of mischief and the Lost Boys lend their name to sandwiches that disappear far too quickly. Expect surprises tucked between tiers, views that stretch into forever and a sense of wonder that lingers long after the last crumb. From £75 per person or £94 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Pure Imagination
Covent Garden
Wander into Wonka’s world through a tea that brims with childhood delight and golden ticket magic. Sweets shimmer with colour, mousses melt like daydreams and scones arrive with a touch of mischief. Even the tea list nods to Dahl, with chocolate and lemon sherbet blends that feel like potions from the factory gates. It is playful luxury served with theatrical flair. From £75 per person or £94 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Old-World London Glamour
Picadilly
The Ritz is afternoon tea in its purest, grandest form. Gilded ceilings glow, a live pianist drifts through the Palm Court and tiered trays glide in with perfect precision. Finger sandwiches are cloud soft, scones arrive warm beneath crisp linen and patisserie glitters like tiny works of art. It is London tradition at its most cinematic. From £95 per person.
Best for A Spice-Laced Twist on Tradition
Covent Garden
Vibrant, fragrant and full of colour, this reimagining of afternoon tea is an ode to India’s bold flavours. Expect chaat layered with crunch and tang, sweet treats infused with cardamom and warming cups of masala chai that feel like a hug from the inside out. It is a feast of textures and aromas served with joyful generosity. From £27.50 per person or £35 with a chai bellini.
Best for Parisian Chic with a London Twist
Knightsbridge
A celebration of pâtisserie artistry, Goûtea blends the French ritual of sweet snacking with the best of British afternoon tradition. Apple and lemon illusions arrive like tiny sculptures, each one hiding layers of brightness and surprise. Chocolate and vanilla flowers open to reveal rich praline and silken ganache, while the Hyde Park Hazelnut offers a final flourish, its crisp shell giving way to autumnal elegance. This is afternoon tea reimagined with Parisian finesse and London style. From £85 per person or £102 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Champagne-Soaked Celebration
Picadilly
A tea that sparkles with heritage and indulgence, served in a room that blushes with soft pastels and silver service. The scones are legendary, the patisserie playful and the Champagne flows with cheerful generosity. Fortnum’s tea feels like a celebration even when there is nothing in particular to celebrate. From £84 per person or £102 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Contemporary London Luxury
Holborn
Step into the Mirror Room at Rosewood London and allow afternoon tea to become a gallery in motion. This experience is beautifully rooted in the capital’s vibrant art scene. Savour imaginative sandwiches, freshly-baked scones and a loose-leaf tea selection, all followed by a display of pastries that mirror celebrated works of art. From £90 per person or £116 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Storybook Whimsy
Fitzrovia
An invitation to fall down the rabbit hole, this tea transforms the everyday into a spellbinding tea party. Menus hide inside vintage books, napkins reveal unexpected riddles and each dish nods to a beloved character. The Queen of Hearts appears as a jewel-bright strawberry Jammy Dodger, while the Mad March Hare arrives as a vanilla pocket watch macaron. It is eccentric, enchanting and endlessly photogenic. From £65 per person or £86 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Quiet Five-Star Refinement
Mayfair
Soft clinks of china, the glow of Art Deco interiors and service that feels instinctive from the first pour. Claridge’s tea is a lesson in timeless London elegance. Sandwiches are made with jeweller precision, scones lift into clouds of steam and patisserie arrives with delicate restraint. Nothing here is rushed. Everything feels beautifully poised. From £95 per person or £110 with a glass of Champagne.
Best for Art-Soaked, Avant-Garde Indulgence
Mayfair
Afternoon tea at Sketch is an experience wrapped in whimsy and high design, where every room feels like stepping into a different dream. Set within the soft glow of the Gallery, tea becomes a playful kind of performance: pastel velvet curves beneath you, crystal glints overhead and every pastry arrives with the precision of a miniature artwork. Sandwiches are delicate and imaginative and patisserie comes sculpted, glazed or feather-light, each piece revealing its own quiet surprise. It is afternoon tea for those who love style as much as flavour, a place where art, fashion and indulgence meet in the most delicious way. From £79 per person.
Best for Classic Elegance with a Modern Twist
Whitehall
Afternoon tea at the Corinthia London unfolds under the glow of a 1,001-crystal Baccarat chandelier, in the hushed splendour of the Crystal Moon Lounge. With a Steinway piano playing softly in the background and fine china set on white linen, the setting feels simultaneously grand and intimate. Service is thoughtful: your tea-master will introduce bespoke blends, the pastry trolley arrives with refined theatre and every course feels full of polish and grace. From £95 per person.
