London Afternoon Tea

Not everyone does afternoon tea, but it's also not just for tourists. I like this place - no dress code, frequented by lots of Londoners. It was recommended to my son by a work colleague when he was working and living in London. I"ve been there a couple of times over the years and enjoy it. I believe that I could have had more tea sandwiches for the asking but there was more than enough food for the 2 of us.

It is not cheap, but the food is very good and the service was wonderful.

https://www.thewolseley.com/afternoon-tea

Are you looking for a classy place or something more offbeat? We had afternoon tea at Sketch on Conduit Street near Carnaby Street. We made a reservation in case they'd be busy. They have several off-the-wall rooms. We were given a table in the pink room - pink puffy chairs, pink walls, with weird art. The unisex bathroom was out of this world - almost literally. The toilets are inside giant eggs and there are sinks along the wall. Two staircases lead up to the bathroom and between the stairs is a white spaceship-type room.

The tea cost 60 pounds per person. The food and tea were very good. I never spend a lot of money on food but I'm glad I did for this. It was a great experience.

If you go to TripAdvisor and search for afternoon tea, London, you will see a list, and description of most places that offer this. Number 1 is the Ritz Hotel. I had tea there several years ago and it was fabulous. Pricey, but lots of food -- too much really. Gorgeous setting. I'm going to London soon and plan to have tea at the Orangery, on the grounds of Kensington Palace, which also gets good reviews and is in a lovely setting.

Afternoon Tea isn't just for tourists. Many places do AT, starting around £15. Paying more gets you posher surroundings and fancier food, but it's all essentially the same experience.

The British Museum does AT, maybe combine the two.

If you are staying in the lovely Notting Hill neighborhood the Orangery is the perfect spot for afternoon tea.

While in Nottinghill be certain to take in Portobello and Golborne Road Markets. Go early (8am) have coffee and a nosh at Gail's Artisan Bakery then stroll along Portobello market to Golborne market. Check out the stalls but dont ignore the stores along Portobello Road. All of you will find something of interest I promise. Don't rush. Its wonderful fun.

Lastly, its more Holland Park than Nottinghill but you can have a nice Sunday roast dinner at The Castle.
Unfortunately the nearby tube station is closed to install new elevators but walking along Bayswater Road as it morphs into Holland Park provides a nice look of a lovely London neighborhood. Nice shops and homes.

Great city. Have fun.

I really like the British Museum for afternoon tea. It's not one of the "break-the-bank" afternoon teas. £19.50 per person, and they have delicious cakes, sandwiches and scones.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/at_oct_menu.pdf
I like that I can spend all morning looking at exhibits around the museum, then take an afternoon break about 3:00 for tea. Then I resume covering the galleries and exhibits in the museum. Tea is served daily at the Great Court Cafe from 15.00 until 17.30.
There are many great places to have afternoon tea around London, and I have been to many of the fancy places. But £60 per person adds up really fast for a family of four. So....check prices online before going to some of the posh places, so you won't have a shock when it is time to pay.
If you want the posh experience, and don't mind the big price tag, then go for it.
The Orangery, on the grounds of Kensington Palace, is one of my favorite places. A reasonable £27.50 per person.
http://www.orangerykensingtonpalace.co.uk/afternoon-tea/
Afternoon tea at The Wolseley (suggested by someone in an above post) is a reasonable £27.50 per person.
Another great place is Bea's of Bloomsbury, which has several locations.
http://www.beas.london/afternoon-tea-2/
Have a great time in London! One of my favorite places!

I had tea at the Victoria & Albert Museum cafe, and it was reasonably priced. Also, the Wallace Collection's cafe does a very nice tea that is not expensive. The cafe is an atrium with a glass roof over it; very pleasant, and of course you can go see the collection afterward.

I do remember popping into some sort of little bakery (the name of which escapes me) and wasn't really thrilled with it. Next time I'm going to do more research and find a couple of tearooms.

If you want something in the luxury category, Brown's Hotel on Albemarle Street is one of the very best. A very old hotel, with wood paneled dining room walls. Queen Victoria used to take afternoon tea here. Excellent food and service, with the sound of a baby grand piano being played to set the mood. £39.50 per person.
https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/browns-hotel/restaurants-and-bars/english-tea-room/

Other places:

• The Orangery Restaurant: http://www.orangerykensingtonpalace.co.uk/afternoon-tea/

• Camden Town Basement Tea Room: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d5817765-Reviews-The_Basement_Tea_Rooms-London_England.html

• RIBA Restaurant & Café: http://www.ribavenues.com/Hospitality/RIBA-Bistro-and-Cafe.aspx

• Brown’s Hotel, The English Room: https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/browns-hotel/restaurants-and-bars/english-tea-room/

Thank you so much, all so much really great information. I am definitely talking to my wife and daughters about where they would like to go. Thank you again.

Hi Raymond: Would love to know where you went for your afternoon tea once you return from London. Did your family enjoy the tea, what did you have and how was the food and atmosphere?

Afternoon tea is not a daily event for locals, but certainly popular. There is the full (or savory) tea which includes finger sandwiches (maybe hot ones too) and the cream tea, which is just scones and maybe pastries, depending on the venue. A full tea is a meal. Either have a light lunch and then a mid-afternoon cream tea, or skip lunch and have an early full tea.

I just read about a place in the British Heritage magazine that a friend gave to me:

Tea and Tattle - Traditional Tea Room
"Affordable Quality Afternoon Tea".
Looks like they serve all kinds of teas, Scones, Clotted Cream........
It is across the street from the British Museum on Great Russell Street

I will definitely try this place next time I'm in London -
I did the $50 + tea at the Ritz, but this place looks better to me

There are 190 reviews on TripAdvisor for this tea room.

Many a long year ago, on one of my first trips to London, we had afternoon tea at the Rembrandt Hotel. It was a totally English experience, right down to the Church of England bishop, complete with gaitors, sitting across from us and looking very holy.

I had afternoon tea at the Wallace Collection. You don't have to pay to enter the museum; you can just walk right through to the dining area, which is a lovely, light filled space with a glass roof. I don't recall the price but it did not break the bank.

Another vote for the Orangery in Kensington Gardens, we really loved it. We toured Kensington Palace, had tea, then visited Diana's playground. There is lot's to do and see in Kensington Gardens. Have fun!

Remember that the cost of afternoon tea is somewhat offset by its ability to serve as dinner if it includes a lot of food. We loved tea at Fortnum and Mason-expensive but so peaceful (piano being played), lots of food, and dress code is business casual (no t-shirts with names, maybe no jeans, but khakis and polos fine.)

This is an old post, his trip is over.