London's Best Spots for Afternoon Tea

Renowned for its timeless elegance and flawless service, The Ritz is a must-visit for any afternoon tea connoisseur. Put on your finest clothes and take a seat in the hotel's luxurious Palm Court, with its stunning marble floors and sparkling chandeliers. 

The resident harpist or pianist will play while you peruse the extensive tea menu. Choose from 18 different types of loose-leaf tea, from The Ritz Royal English to the more unusual chocolate mint Rooibos.

A selection of crustless and expertly sliced sandwiches will arrive at your table, followed by warm scones, Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve. To finish, you'll enjoy an assortment of seasonal cakes and exquisite handmade pastries.

Head to Oblix East at The Shard for afternoon tea with a view. Located on floor 32, you will have unrivalled views of the London skyline while enjoying a contemporary afternoon tea selection.

While sandwiches are still on the menu, you can also feast on lavish prawn and lobster rolls or an avocado, tomato, and mozzarella pesto tart. You’ll have a choice of a plain or cranberry scone, which you can top with lashings of cream and raspberry preserve, or a dollop of fresh honeycomb. 

Their sweet selection also features unusual flavours, such as a bergamot and vanilla mousse, and a praline and pear rocher. 

Award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier Gianluca Fusto has teamed up with executive chef Adriano Cavagnini to serve up an afternoon tea menu with an Italian twist. 

Served in the contemporary Bulgari Lounge, guests here will enjoy a zesty and fragrant tea selection, featuring a unique New Zealand Oolong and an unusual Australian lemon myrtle blend. Sandwiches feature delicious Italian ingredients, such as spicy burrata and fig chutney. For something sweet, try the classic scone with a bespoke Gianluca Fusto jam selection. 

To finish your meal, choose from a range of homemade gelato or a delicate Millefoglie with sesame seeds and Amarena cherry gel. 

For a royal afternoon tea, visit the Edwardian-style Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason, opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. With over 90 teas available, the knowledgeable tea sommeliers will help you select the perfect blend. 

Their afternoon tea menu is seasonal but always offers an array of exquisite finger sandwiches and warm, homemade scones. Their patisserie selection is second to none, with a range of expertly made sweets, from tarts to éclair, or if you’re in a cake mood, ask to see the cake carriage, where you can peruse the options at your leisure. 

This five-star British institution has served iconic afternoon teas in the stunning Thames Foyer for over a century. The ornate domed glass ceiling and resident pianist provide the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of indulgence.

Here, traditional sandwich fillings are reinvented - Moscatel pickle, chive and lemon cream cheese, and spinach bread provide a modern twist to the classic cucumber sandwich.

Scones are served warm with clotted cream and a choice of preserves. To finish, try their famous Signature Savoy Sandwich with a honey sponge and clementine marmalade. Wash this down with one of the 30 teas available, or upgrade to a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne.

Inspired by the nearby Natural History and Science Museum, diners at The Ampersand Hotel can choose between two themed menus – Science or Jurassic. Each menu combines science with gastronomy to create a unique culinary experience.

The Science menu features a mandarin and jelly Petri dish, as well as a honey and chocolate spaceman. Or, if you opt for the Jurassic, there’s a lemon Cremieux volcanic eruption and a dark chocolate and caramel dinosaur egg nest to enjoy.

Located in stylish Soho, Sketch’s Gallery restaurant has become a favourite amongst afternoon tea enthusiasts. Sink into one of the lavish booths and admire the artwork as you look over the contemporary afternoon tea menu. 

Savoury options include the delicious egg brioche bun and salmon and ricotta sandwiches. Scones here are also served with a unique, organic strawberry and poppy jam.

Finally, round off your meal with a ‘petit gateau’, such as the quince and vanilla Battenberg or the chocolate and four spice éclairs.

Served in the 1920s-style Coral Room or the flower-filled Dalloway Terrace, the afternoon tea menu at The Bloomsbury Hotel is like no other. Created by head pastry chef Chris Dodd, the menu will delight and surprise your tastebuds. 

Teas range from traditional English Breakfast to Ayurvedic Herbs and Ginger. To eat, you’ll feast on delicious flavour combinations, such as salmon and citrus crème fraiche sandwiches on rye bread. You’ll also have a choice of scones – there’s lemon and vanilla or savoury cheese.

End your meal with one of their mouth-watering sweets, such as the smooth dark chocolate, coffee and passionfruit delice.

The team at Claridge’s has been perfecting their tea-making skills for over 150 years. Their resident tea connoisseur works hard to source the best blends from small producers worldwide. Each cup is then brewed to perfection and poured into fine bone China cups at your table.

The food selection is carefully sourced to bring you the highest-quality ingredients. Sandwiches include classics, such as honey-glazed ham and tarragon chicken, while scones are served with Claridge’s very own ‘afternoon tea jam’.

To finish, choose a sweet treat made by Claridge’s pastry chefs. Favourites include the mandarin and shiso cake and the punchy pineapple and kaffir lime pavlova.

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