Afternoon tea is one of my favourite British traditions and is a must when in the UK. I have had my fair share of afternoon teas, and although most are similar both in selection and price, I wanted to share my five favourite afternoon tea experiences.
For preface, afternoon tea consists of a variety of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, and a pot of tea. Usually the tea menu is extensive but most restaurants will offer a traditional blend too, which is what I mostly opt for. The difference between a high tea, an afternoon tea and a cream tea is that high tea often comprises tea alongside savoury goods and was historically for the working class, afternoon tea comprises tea alongside mostly sweet foods and is considered posh (often there is a smart casual dress code too), and a cream tea simply includes scones, clotted cream, jam, and tea and is mainly served in Cornwall and Devon.
The Ritz
Starting with arguably the most world-renowned afternoon tea, we have The Ritz. This is a five-star luxury hotel in Mayfair, with the most famous stars and royalty having frequented, including Queen Elizabeth II, Charlie Chaplin, and Anna Pavlova among many others.
I visited with some colleagues in August 2021 and it was only £55 each. The service was amazing, with the tea being regularly refilled and additional sandwiches offered; there was also live music and a cloakroom. The only downside was that one of my friends got told that she wasn't dressed formally enough as she was wearing white trainers, so make sure you stick to the dress code if you attend. The hall was fairly small so there wasn't much privacy but the location was very convenient and we were even offered lemon cake and meringue on the house once we'd finished our afternoon tea. I usually am not a huge fan of the desserts in an afternoon tea, however these were definitely better than most and I'd highly recommend visiting this iconic landmark.
OXO Tower
I attended the OXO Tower for afternoon tea in August 2023, which was only £40 and by coincidence we visited during 'Afternoon Tea Week', meaning that we received a complimentary glass of champagne upon arrival. I went with a colleague and the food was lovely but a very filling, which is to be expected. Service wasn't superb as the food arrived significantly before the tea, however I think that this was down to a misunderstanding and we were able to stay longer than we'd booked for.
This isn't one of the most famous afternoon tea destinations but is well worth it for the cheap price tag and stunning views over London.
British Pullman
I celebrated Mother's Day in 2023 with my family on a Pullman train doing a round trip from London Victoria via Kent. As we arrived on the platform, singers with a speakeasy vibe were performing and we boarded our carriage not knowing what to expect. As it turned out, my family of four were placed in our own little cabin, which was reminiscent of that which Ron, Hermione and Harry share on the Hogwarts Express. This was great, as it provided some privacy whilst allowing us to enjoy our afternoon tea.
The staff were incredibly professional and helpful; we had a waiter from Ecuador who taught us all about the train, including the different eras of each carriage, ensured that the tea and champagne were constantly topped up, and explained exactly what was on each plate as it was served. I usually don't opt for a champagne afternoon tea as I'm not a huge fan of champagne, however this was the only option for Mother's Day and the champagne was Veuve Clicquot, which is a Royal Warrant Holder, meaning that it is the champagne of choice for the British Royal Family, and it went down a treat.
During our 4-hour train journey, we encountered gorgeous views and at different intervals we were entertained: firstly by the singers who had been performing on the platform, who knocked on our cabin and asked if we'd like a song (which, of course, we did), followed by a magician from The Magic Circle, who managed to make a card with my mum's signature disappear and then reappear outside of the cabin, and turned a burned paper into a lollipop (which I got to keep).
The sandwiches, scones, and desserts were all delicious, and there was a big enough break between meals in which we could digest so we didn't feel too stuffed too quickly. There was a large selection of teas offered, and half a bottle of champagne each so by the end of the journey I definitely felt tipsy. We also managed to explore the various carriages of the train, each belonging to a different era and with a different theme (ours being Art Deco), which was very entertaining and even met a Portuguese member of staff. The toilets were very fancy (by far the nicest loos I've ever seen on a train) and all in all the whole experience was incredible. Admittedly, at £400 a head, it was fairly expensive, but definitely worth every penny and one of my favourite Mother's Day experiences to date. We were offered daffodils and brownies, as well as a free recipe book each, written by Luminary Bakery, a social enterprise designed to create jobs and support disadvantaged women (who also made the desserts that we ate), which was great to see. It was also on this journey that I learnt that we'd be spending my mother's birthday in Kenya, which had been on my bucket list for years, so overall it was a very special memory with my family and my favourite afternoon tea experience to date.
Betty's
Whilst in York in June 2022, I came across Betty's Tea Rooms, which I'd see featured on TV. I went with my boyfriend at the time, who had never tried afternoon tea so I wanted to surprise him for our anniversary. This only cost £35 per person, which is the lowest price I've come across thus far and it was a great experience, with excellent service and ambience. Furthermore, we went at 11am so it was very quiet and we got to enjoy the live music for ourselves (as a note, usually afternoon tea is consumed between 2-5pm). There is also a Betty's Tea Room in Harrogate, however I am yet to visit that one.
The Dorchester
In December 2020, Covid was rife and travel was extremely limited. My birthday is on Boxing Day (26th December), and despite living in London, it would be my second ever birthday there. In order to celebrate, my parents decided to treat me to a jazz afternoon tea at the Dorchester on the day, which I was very excited about.
Unfortunately, only a couple of days before Christmas Day it was announced that London was going into another lockdown, so the afternoon tea was cancelled. Luckily, we managed to rebook for May 2021, and despite the lack of jazz, it was still a lovely experience. The tea selection was outstanding and the food was wonderful, leaving me stuffed afterwards. The hotel was very grand and the pianist was exceptional. The only downside to this experience was that we forgot to pay the congestion charge on the day and received a fine, but it was worth it overall. That said, this afternoon tea comes in at £110 per person so is one of the most expensive that I've been to.
Final thoughts
It is often necessary to book afternoon tea in advance, especially at the most well-known places, such as the Ritz, and although afternoon tea is generally fairly expensive, it is a great opportunity to catch up with loved ones over sweet treats and sandwiches and is one of my favourite ways to celebrate good news. The service is usually excellent and additional tea and food is offered on the house.
It is worth also shouting out Fortnum & Mason's afternoon tea, which I visited with my mother in January 2022 for afternoon tea and is a classic. Other places where I would like to experience an afternoon tea include Claridge's, The Savoy, and The Langham.
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