The 9 Best Afternoon Teas in London: from budget to luxury to funky

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When we first moved to London there was one experience that I was cautiously excited about: afternoon tea. I’d seen afternoon tea in movies and generally knew the idea: you sit down for a fancy tea and eat little finger sandwiches and scones. And it seemed fantastic.

But I had my reservations. Did people who lived there actually go for tea? Was it actually as fancy as it looked? Was this going to be just one big tourist trap?

When I was invited to a birthday afternoon tea shortly after moving there I was thrilled. It really IS a thing. Heading to the tea I really wanted it to be just like I had imagined.

Good news? It was better.

Even better news? There are all kinds of ways to enjoy afternoon tea.

After dozens of teas and a lot of research, here are the best afternoon teas in London, in my opinion.

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What is afternoon tea?

A quick refresher on afternoon tea. It is not “high tea” or simply “tea.” Afternoon tea is an experience all to itself.

It is rumored to have started by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford in 1840. She would get hungry between lunch and her late dinner so she asked for tea and some bread and butter to tide her over. Once friends started joining her, the social afternoon tea was born.

Now afternoon tea is an event with tea, scones, sandwiches, cakes, and sometimes a glass of prosecco. 

High tea or “tea” is generally an evening meal. I’ve heard it sometimes referred to as a working-class supper. When our son started nursery school in England, he was served “tea” at school. As an American, I was very confused, but that was quickly cleared up when his carer informed me that no, they were not serving him hot tea but a light supper (which is what they referred to as “tea”). 

What comes with afternoon tea?

Things are going to be slightly different depending on where you go, but they all follow the same loose formula:

• Tea: Obviously. A selection of looseleaf tea that is prepared for you in a teapot.
• Champagne: Might be an option to add to your tea experience
• Sandwiches: A selection of finger sandwiches, often chicken, cucumber, smoked salmon, and roast beef
• Scones: Plain or sultana scones served with jam and clotted cream
• Desserts/Cakes: a plate of mini cakes and pastries to finish off the meal

If you want to see afternoon tea in action and get an inside look at some of the places we recommend, check out our video on the best afternoon teas in London. We did the hard work of testing them (and filming) them so you see them.

And yes, I still love afternoon tea, even after going to so many of them.

The 9 Best Afternoon Teas in London

We list prices for the basic tea and all prices are correct at the time of publishing, but you definitely want to double-check prices before you go.

Budget Afternoon Tea

M&S Cafe

Going to afternoon tea can be very expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you don’t want to spend a lot but still want to have a taste of what afternoon tea offers, the M&S Café is the spot for you (not the food hall, but the café). We went to the M&S on Oxford Street for our tea experience.

Yes, you’re in a department store café and you have to carry your tray of tea yourself, so it’s not really giving off fancy vibes, but for £20 for two people, the price can’t be beat. You get the basics: sandwiches, scones, pastries, and tea. But there are no refills on food or on tea.

The hours are a bit limited so check their website before you go. And they do occasionally sell out of the food, so you’ll want to arrive at the earlier end of their tea hours. But it’s not fussy and we love taking our kids here.

Classic Afternoon Teas

The Goring Hotel

Situated just down the road from Buckingham Palace, this spot always made me feel like I was having tea with royalty. And I was told by a waiter that the Queen did have tea there. I have no idea if it’s true, but I’m going to continue pretending that it is. Their menu does change, but I really enjoyed their coronation chicken sandwich.

I love this spot because it’s a smaller luxury hotel, and you can have tea on the veranda overlooking the garden. It feels really cozy and luxurious at the same time. Kate Middleton spent the night before her wedding here. I’m not sure if she had the tea, but I’d like to imagine she did. 

If I had a big manor house in some sort of a Downton Abbey situation, this is how I imagine I’d take my tea.

We’re jumping to the more expensive side of the spectrum with this one at £75 per person for a traditional afternoon tea. It’s served daily from 12:00 PM to 6:15 PM, and reservations can be made by phone, email, or online. There isn’t a set menu for those with dietary restrictions, but they do their best to accommodate, even offering a gluten-free tea (request in advance).

There is a dress code of smart casual.

The Stafford Hotel

I love going into the St. James area of London because it feels so officially London. It’s right in the center of it all, with Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, and a handful of private clubs all gathered in a very small area. 

In that area is also the five-star hotel The Stafford London, housed in a former aristocrat’s residence. Their afternoon tea won an Award of Excellence at the 2024 Afternoon Tea Awards, so they’re doing something right. 

This afternoon tea starts at £70 per person and is available daily from 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Book online and give 24 hours’ notice for any dietary restrictions so they can be accommodated. The Stafford Hotel also offers a private afternoon tea, if you want to elevate the experience for your party.

If you have yet to book your hotel, narrow down your options using our list of hotel recommendations.

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Restaurant and Cafe Teas

The Ivy

The Ivy is a chain of restaurants that are generally pretty great. And they also have an afternoon tea that I enjoy and feels well priced for the quality and the ambiance. There are a lot of restaurants that offer afternoon tea and I think the Ivy is a restaurant that does it exceptionally well.

This is always my first choice for a restaurant tea.

Pricing starts at £35.75 and is available daily with shorter hours than others on this list: from 3 PM to 4:45 PM. Reserve a table during this timeframe to book their afternoon tea. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with 48 hours’ notice.

Arthur’s at Liberty London

If you’re looking for a really fun day out with shopping and afternoon tea, look no further than Arthur’s. A restaurant at the luxury department store, Liberty of London, Arthur’s delivers a nice tea on the second floor of the store. It is a little hectic there, and while I will say it’s not the best tea I’ve ever had, I’m always looking for an excuse to browse at Liberty, so Arthur’s was a welcome stop. 

Arthur’s offers afternoon tea daily from 12:00 PM, and pricing starts at £40 per person. Much of their menu is already vegetarian-friendly. You can make a reservation in advance here.

Museum Cafe Tea

Another great option for tea is to head to a cafe at one of the museums. Reservations in advance are still required for a full afternoon tea, but you can explore the museum and then enjoy a break with afternoon tea. 

A lot of museums offer tea options including the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, and the Wallace Collection. While you will lose a little when it comes to the ambiance, is so convenient when sightseeing to be able to visit a museum and also have afternoon tea all in one spot.

The British Museum offers afternoon tea in their Great Court Restaurant daily, which would be a great way to cap off a morning of seeing the Rosetta Stone and Ramesses The Great.

Whether you go for afternoon tea or curiosity, London has hundreds of museums, but these are the museums worth visiting.

Luxury Tea

The Savoy

I don’t know why I waited so long to try afternoon tea at The Savoy, but I was missing out. The room is beautiful, the food is spectacular, and the service is beyond. Add in the piano player and this just might be my favorite afternoon tea. Though it is very expensive, it’s not one I will go to often.

They also offer a high tea option, which includes their afternoon tea menu plus another course, which gives you the choice of an entree. This is great if you are very hungry and prefer a full, hot meal in addition to your afternoon tea courses. 

Fun fact: when you walk into the Savoy, take note of the street. It is the only street in London where cars drive on the right-hand side. And the hotel was in the movie Notting Hill!

Afternoon tea at The Savoy starts at £90 and is available daily from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM (last seating at 5:15 PM). They have vegan and vegetarian menus available, and reservations open 3 months in advance.

In the luxury category, you also can’t forget the classics like Claridge’s and the Ritz London. These are great, classic, luxury tea experiences that it’s difficult not to enjoy. 

Fun and Funky Tea

Sketch

Somehow this became the go-to spot for me and my girlfriends when we were looking to celebrate something like a baby shower or a little Christmas get together. This is one of those fun spots where the champagne flows and your afternoon tea can really stretch on (and on).

The interior room is all pink, the seating is really fun, and the bathrooms are something right out of the Jetson’s. It’s always a fun and upbeat atmosphere and the food is great. They offer refills on any food you’d like more of, though honestly the first round of food has always been plenty for me. 

This afternoon tea costs £85 per adult over 16 years old and £55 for guests 15 and under. It’s available daily from 11 AM and dietary restrictions can be accommodated with 48 hours notice. It’s worth noting that they raise their prices to £110 per adult during holidays. Make reservations here (or play their website’s game until you forget what you went there for).

There is a dress code of “Art Smart.” Think about what you would wear to an art gallery.

Kids Tea

Ampersand Hotel

We’ve taken our kids to a lot of afternoon teas and they love them all, so I firmly believe that you don’t have to do a kid-centric tea for everyone to have a great time. 

That said, we treated our kids to the science tea at the Ampersand Hotel and they still talk about it. And it was both fun and delicious. Different courses are presented as science experiments. The kids enjoyed hot chocolate, a rocket ship pastry stand, and kid friendly foods like mini hot dogs and dinosaur jam sandwiches. 

As adults we enjoyed a more classic afternoon tea menu, so everyone was pretty thrilled with the food options. 

This experience starts at £60 per adult and £40 per child. They offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menus. Make reservations online here.

Afternoon Tea FAQs:

Is afternoon tea a meal?

It is not meant to be a full meal like breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It was originally created to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. However, it is very filling. If I’m having afternoon tea, I’m either skipping lunch or skipping dinner. My preference is to skip lunch, have an earlier afternoon tea, and then a light dinner if I’m hungry. 

What do I wear to afternoon tea?

If you’re headed to a budget afternoon tea or a tea in a cafe, don’t think too much about your attire. You can just wear whatever you are wearing for your day of sightseeing in London.

If you’re headed to a more upscale tea, take this as a chance to dress a little more festive. Ditch the jeans and sneakers, throw on a blouse or nice shirt, and enjoy this luxury you’re treating yourself to on your trip. Some afternoon teas have a dress code to guide you on what to wear.

Is it really worth it?

Do you love British TV shows, British traditions, or are you a bit of an anglophile? If so, you’ll probably love afternoon tea. Do you like unique experiences and treating yourself to something a little fun? You’ll probably also like afternoon tea.

I personally love afternoon tea. My husband Jordan doesn’t particularly care for afternoon tea, though he’s a good sport and goes along with it for me. 

It’s expensive, the food isn’t out of this world excellent, but the experience and fun of it keeps me booking a tea on every trip we make. 

Is this the same as cream tea?

Nope! Cream tea is something you’ll find in a cafe or at a restaurant. It’s simple and great: scones, clotted cream, jam and tea. It’s a nice little snack, especially when the weather is cold. 

Do I need a reservation?

Almost always, yes. The only tea I’ve been to where a reservation wasn’t required was the tea at the M&S Cafe on Oxford Street.

If you are planning to go to one of the very fancy teas (The Ritz, Claridge’s, Fortnum & Mason, etc) make your reservation well in advance during summer months and again around the holidays. They book up quickly!