Best afternoon tea in London

To find the best afternoon tea in London, we ate our way through piles of finger sandwiches and tiers of cakes, and we also poured lots of pots of tea. 

We headed to the most popular venues across the city, including Claridge's, Fortnum & Mason, The Ritz London, The Savoy and more to try their afternoon tea menu.

Whether you're travelling into or across London for a special occasion afternoon tea, we've rated each one on the taste of its sweet and savoury courses, as well as the tea. We've also rated the presentation of the spread, the ambiance of the venue and the service.

The best afternoon tea in London to book in 2024

Compare our results and prices at a glance in our table below or read on for our full reviews.

 Claridge's

Our score and verdict 100%, Best afternoon tea we tried

How much is afternoon tea at Claridge's £90 per person

Pros 

• Elegant venue with live pianist
• Excellent service
• Delicious sandwiches
• Fresh scones
• Light and tasty patisserie
• Wide variety of teas
• Matching crockery in Claridge’s colours
• Luxurious bathrooms

Cons 

• Pricey compared with most afternoon teas in London

Other available afternoon tea menus Champagne Afternoon Tea (£100 per person), Rosé Champagne Afternoon Tea (£115 per person), Children's Afternoon Tea (£60 per person)

Extras Glass of champagne (from £30), glass of non-alcoholic fizz (£8)

Address Claridge's, Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR

Need to know Served between 2.45pm and 5.30pm, see the menu, food and tea refills available

As soon as you step into the grand Foyer and Reading Room at Claridge’s, you know you’re in for a treat. With ornate art deco mirrors that tower over the room and live music from a pianist sitting at the grand piano, you truly feel like you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of central London. 

Sandwiches were brought out first and the flavours impressed. The Severn & Wye smoked salmon paired beautifully with the lemon and dill crème fraiche. The roast chicken was tender and we enjoyed the unique combination of roasted ham with onion bread. 

Next were the scones, soft and warm on the inside and crunchy on the outside, served with a Claridge’s afternoon tea jam that was fruity but not too sweet. The patisserie that followed was light and delicate. Our highlights were the pineapple and passion fruit cake, which melted in your mouth, as well as the indulgent chocolate religieuse. 

The tea, which can often be overshadowed by eye-catching desserts, was wonderfully paired with each course. This was thanks to our brilliant server who offered recommendations. We had the White Silver Tip with our sandwiches, the Claridge’s Blend with our scones and patisserie, followed by Fresh English Mint as a digestif. These were all beautifully fragrant and regularly topped up without us having to ask. 

At £90 per person it’s not cheap, but when we visited it was an afternoon tea that we couldn't fault. 

Some online reviews mention the service is slow, however we didn't find this to be the case when we visited mid-week. 

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 The Savoy

Our score and verdict 98%, Narrowly pipped to our top spot

How much is afternoon tea at The Savoy £95 per person (including vegan and vegetarian) 

Pros 

• Elegant venue with live pianist
• Excellent sandwiches
• Light scones
• Delicious patisserie
• Tasty tea
• Beautiful table setting
• Fantastic and attentive service

Cons 

• Availability is limited 

Other available afternoon tea menus Children's Afternoon Tea (£90 per person), Champagne Afternoon Tea (from £95 per person), High Tea (from £110 per person) 

Extras Glass of champagne (from £21), cocktails (from £26)

Address Thames Foyer at The Savoy, The Strand, London WC2R 0EZ

Need to know Served between 12.30pm and 7pm (Monday-Sunday), see the menu, food and tea refills available

The elegant Thames Foyer at the famous Savoy hotel is a charming setting for afternoon tea. A pianist tinkles beneath a pergola under the glass-domed ceiling and there are impressive chandeliers above your head. 

Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. She recommended the Savoy Afternoon Tea blend, a blend of fragrant black teas that have been made to pair with the menu. It was an excellent choice, delicious and light. 

Most of the sandwich fillings were spot on, particularly the deliciously light smoked salmon on spinach bread and the coronation chicken. The sublime parsnip and parmesan savoury muffin also tasted divine. However, the malted brown bread with the egg and mustard sandwich was a little dense, and the radicchio on brioche didn't blow us away. 

The patisserie included some unique but nonetheless tasty combinations of lemon choux with black sesame praline, as well as a pistachio and red plum cake. The chocolate cake was a little rich for us, though. Scones were bite-sized, light and fluffy, and you got lemon curd (which we'd not had since childhood), as well as jam and cream.

With no phone signal and the piano tinkering away, we had a wonderfully peaceful time in the Thames Foyer at The Savoy and couldn't find much to quibble about. We loved the chic takeaway bag as it was impossible for us to finish it all – and we were offered more of our favourites if we wanted them. 

We've seen some online reviews saying people felt a bit rushed, but we didn't find this to be the case when we attended in the middle of the week. 

Reservations are available up to three months in advance, but keep in mind these be booked up quickly. It also has the cheapest children's afternoon tea menu out of those we attended, so is a good choice if you want to take children up to 12 years old.

 Sketch

Our score and verdict 97%, Unique and modern

How much is afternoon tea at Sketch £80 per person

Pros 

• Beautiful venue with live music from a string trio
• Good service
• Delicious sandwiches
• Fresh scones
• Tasty patisserie
• Aromatic tea
• Unique and modern table setting

Cons 

• Strange palate cleanser
• Music was sometimes a little loud

Other available afternoon tea menus Champagne Afternoon Tea (from £94 per person), Children's Afternoon Tea (£55 per person)

Extras Glass of champagne (from £24), glass of sparkling wine (from £19), cocktails (from £18), non-alcoholic drink (from £11)

Address Sketch, 9 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XG

Need to know Served from 11.30am to 4.30pm (Monday-Sunday), see the menu, food and tea refills available

The sunshine yellow and copper gold walls of The Gallery Sketch feel a world away from the silverware and white table cloths of the more traditional London hotels we visited for afternoon tea. It's nonetheless impressive when you step in with live music from a string trio filling the room and beautiful, striking artwork lining the walls. 

Our savoury course was light and flavoursome. As well as classic finger sandwiches, we enjoyed the toasted croque monsieur with smoked cheddar and gammon. However, the truffle palate cleanser, served at the start, felt too strong to have upfront. 

There was a huge variety of patisserie to choose from. We loved the fruity flavours, including the zingy pineapple éclair and delicate blackcurrant macaron. We enjoyed the creativity of the coconut and raspberry marshmallow too. Scones were just as delicious – warm, light and served with strawberry and poppy jam. If you can fit it in, there are even sweet treats from the cake trolley. 

There were lots of colourful, modern touches in The Gallery, including the stone teapots, yellow crockery and unusual pod-style bathrooms with a bar underneath. The live music from the string trio was wonderful, but sometimes a little loud. 

We had a fantastic waiter who explained everything in detail and helped us make swaps based on dietary requirements. Some reviews mention the service isn't as attentive when it's busy, which we sometimes noticed. If you want to feel really looked after, try to book mid-week.

 The Ritz London

Our score and verdict 96%, Lives up to its name

How much is afternoon tea at The Ritz London £76 per person

Pros 

• Elegant venue with live music from a pianist and violinist
• Excellent sandwiches
• Fresh scones
• Tasty tea
• Beautiful table setting
• Fantastic and attentive service

Cons 

• Patisserie was a bit too rich
• Not offered water 

Other available afternoon tea menus Children's afternoon tea (£55 per person)

Extras Glass of champagne (from £23), glass of sparkling tea (£17), glass of alcohol-free bubbles (£19)

Address The Ritz London, 50 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1J 9BR

Need to know Served at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm, see the menu, food and tea refills available, men are required to wear a suit jacket and tie

The Palm Court at The Ritz London, where it's been serving afternoon tea for more than 100 years, is truly a magnificent setting. On the table, silver tea pots and crockery with gold accents feel in keeping with the elegance of the venue. There are only five sittings a day for afternoon tea, so there are not lots of people coming and going. 

Sandwiches were fresh, plentiful and replenished on demand without us having to ask. We enjoyed the variety of breads and fillings served, including smoked salmon with lemon butter on sourdough and egg mayonnaise with chopped shallots and watercress on a brioche roll. 

Warm plain and fruit scones were served with thick Cornish clotted cream and a fruity strawberry preserve. The patisserie had punchy flavours, including strong coffee in the tiramisu and fragrant chocolate orange, which might not be to everyone's taste. 

We couldn't fault the fantastic service at The Ritz London. We had a few different servers, but they were all friendly and regularly offered us refills. Our only slight niggle is that they didn't offer us any water when we sat down, which other venues did. 

If you can fit it in, they even bring around a cake trolley to finish off your tea or to put in a box to take home. 

 The Dorchester 

Our score and verdict 93%, Not quite as top notch as others

How much is afternoon tea at The Dorchester £95 per person

Pros 

• Beautiful venue with live piano music
• Delicious patisserie
• Fresh scones
• Tasty sandwiches
• Aromatic tea
• Elegant rose-themed table setting
• Luxurious bathrooms

Cons 

• Pricey compared with most afternoon teas in London
• Can only book by email

Other available afternoon tea menus Children's Afternoon Tea (£50 per person), Champagne Afternoon Tea (from £105 per person), Vegan Afternoon Tea (£95 per person), 

Address The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA

Need to know Served from 12pm to 4.30pm (Monday-Sunday), 11.30am to 8pm (Saturday), 12pm to 6pm (Sunday), see the menu, food and tea refills available, dress code is smart casual with no sportswear or caps

The Promenade at The Dorchester underwent a makeover last year, so it feels fresh and modern. We loved the elegant touches, including the pink and sage upholstery and rose-themed crockery. 

Afternoon tea starts from £95 per person. It's not cheap, but it certainly feels luxurious. Keep in mind that you can't specifically book for afternoon tea online – we had to email the restaurant, however it was helpful and quick to respond. 

Although not particularly creative, the sandwiches were fresh and tasty. The salmon combined wonderfully with the rye bread, while the cucumber, dill and horseradish had a nice kick. 

The roast chicken sandwich was a trifle bland and the cheddar scone was a tad stodgy, but the camomile cream on top was delicious. 

The star of the show when it came to patisserie was the red fruit millefeuille, which was fruity and light with buttery pastry. The fruit in the spiced apple choux and pear tart tasted super fresh. We loved the addition of quince in the yoghurt mousse, too.

Our choice of tea, the Dorchester Afternoon Blend, was fragrant and not too overpowering. However, we would have liked a steer on other teas to try, which our server struggled to offer. 

Servers were friendly and attentive, but there were a few things that stopped it being top-notch. For example, the menu wasn't explained to us and we weren't given any personal recommendations, which we'd received at other venues.

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 The Harrods Tea Rooms

Our score and verdict 91%, Lovely tea with some letdowns

How much is afternoon tea at The Harrods Tea Rooms £75 per person, also available at Virgin Experience Days (£125 for two), Buyagift (£135 for two)

Pros 

• Light and fresh savoury course
• Delicious patisserie
• Fresh scones
• Aromatic tea
• Beautifully presented
• Good service

Cons 

• Bathrooms weren’t the cleanest
• Shoppers can walk through the tea room

Other available afternoon tea menus Vegan Afternoon Tea (£70 per person), Children's Afternoon Tea (£41 per person)

Extras Glass of prosecco (£15), glass of champagne (£19), cocktails (from £16), non-alcoholic cocktails (from £12)

Address Fourth Floor, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL

Need to know Served from 12pm to 7pm (Monday-Friday), 11.30am to 8pm (Saturday), 12pm to 6pm (Sunday), food and tea refills available, see the menu

If you’re in need of a shopping break, you can head to the Harrods Team Rooms to enjoy your afternoon tea. Its tea, which changes seasonally, is themed around the Year of the Wood Dragon for Chinese New Year in 2024. We loved that the decor was in keeping with the theme with an eye-catching wood dragon sculpture in the centre of the tea room. 

We enjoyed the variety of our savoury course that, as well as finger sandwiches, included a delicious poached salmon vol-au-vent and a caviar pastry. They were light and fresh, so we weren’t too full when the patisserie was served. 

Every dessert was its own little flavour adventure. Highlights included the fruity mango and coconut financier and the rich peanut, chocolate and praline sponge. The scones were soft, light and tasted like they had just come out of the oven.

Our server was superb – they knew the teas on the menu inside out and did an excellent job of making personalised recommendations. We had a lovely English Breakfast tea to start with, followed by aromatic Rose Bud tea with real rose petals. 

The Tea Room wasn’t as tucked away as we’d have hoped, so there were often Harrods shoppers passing through. The bathrooms, which had an empty soap dispenser, could have done with a bit more attention, too.  

 Fortnum & Mason

Our score and verdict 91%, Fantastic tea, but food wasn't showstopping

How much is afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason £80 per person, also available at Virgin Experience Days (£140 for two)

Pros  

• Elegant venue with live pianist
• Wide variety of tea
• Tasty scones and spreads
• Delicious patisserie
• Good sandwiches
• Beautiful table setting

Cons 

• Some patisserie was lacking in flavour

Other available afternoon tea menus High Tea (£85 per person), Savoury Afternoon Tea (£83 per person), Vegetarian Afternoon Tea (£80 per person)

Extras Glass of champagne (£17.50), glass of rosé sparkling tea (£7.50), cocktails (from £15.50)

Address Fortnum & Mason, Fourth Flour, 181 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1A 1ER

Need to know Served from 11.30am to 8pm (Monday-Thursday), 11am to 8pm (Friday and Saturday), 11:30am to 6pm (Sunday), see the menu, food and tea refills available

Fortnum & Mason is an iconic London spot for afternoon tea and it certainly lived up to our expectations. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, on the fourth floor of its expansive Piccadilly shop, felt charming and traditional with the live piano music from the foyer drifting into the seating area. We loved the elegant table setting that had crockery with accents of Fortnum's famous turquoise colour branding. 

Our server was very friendly and did an excellent job of explaining the menu and the vast range of teas on offer. We chose the Royal Blend to accompany our food and, upon the recommendation of our server, ended with the Moroccan Mint. Both were aromatic, but subtle, and were regularly topped up without us having to ask. 

The unique sandwich fillings, such as trout with dill cream cheese and cucumber with basil and mint, were a welcome change from your usual afternoon tea fare. 

The scones were warm and the perfect size. They were served with pots of strawberry and champagne preserve and, the real star of the show, lemon curd. It was creamy, citrusy and a wonderful combination with clotted cream. The jar was even big enough for us to take some home afterwards. 

When it came to sweet treats, some of the patisserie impressed. The blueberry yoghurt mousse was refreshing and fruity among the heavier, rich desserts, such as the salted caramel cheesecake. However, we found the Guinness loaf quite heavy and the fig bakewell tart a bit bland. 

 Ting at The Shard

Our verdict 72%, Style over substance

How much is afternoon tea at Ting £79 per person

Pros 

• Simple, but elegant table setting
• Impressive view
• Good service

Cons 

• Dry sandwiches
• Tiny scones
• Too much cream in desserts
• Weak tea

Other available afternoon tea menus Afternoon tea with a glass of champagne (from £88), afternoon tea with a cocktail (£85), afternoon tea with a mocktail (£81)

Extras Additional glass of champagne (from £24), signature cocktail (£20)

Address Ting Restaurant, Level 35, Shangri-La The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU

Need to know Served from 12.30pm to 3.30pm (Monday-Thursday), 12.30pm to 4pm (Friday-Sunday), see the menu, food and tea refills available, dress code is smart casual

For stunning views across London, you can head up The Shard to one of its many restaurants, Ting, for afternoon tea. The decor feels minimal, but classy with floor-to-ceiling windows that add brightness to the skyline restaurant. 

Unfortunately, the food from its Winter Afternoon Tea menu wasn't as much of a hit as the beautiful surroundings. The sandwiches, made up of afternoon tea classics, such as coronation chicken and smoked salmon, were tasty but not particularly inventive. We found the bread a little dry, too. Other savoury options included pâté on crisp bread, which was delicious, but the celeriac burger lacked flavour. 

We were presented with a fun white chocolate dessert made in the shape of The Shard, but it had an overwhelming taste of cream and not much else. This was a common theme with the desserts, which were too sweet and lacked variety when it came to flavour. 

The scones were tiny compared with what we've had at other afternoon teas in London, which felt a bit disappointing considering the price of the tea. However, we enjoyed the clotted cream and jam served alongside them. 

While we can't sing the praises of the food served to us at Ting, the service was far better. Servers checked in with us regularly, but not too often to be annoying. Although we didn't have a dedicated server, everyone we spoke to made us feel special and attended to. They arranged the table to make the space comfortable for us and even offered us a newspaper. 

The 'Bees in Bloom' menu (£79) is available from 12 February and will continue throughout the spring. 

 Fortnum's Bar and Restaurant at The Royal Exchange

Our score and verdict 66%, Cheap, but lacked showstopping cakes

How much is afternoon tea at Fortnum's Bar and Restaurant at The Royal Exchange £38 per person, also available at Virgin Experience Days (£87 for two)

Pros 

• Historical venue
• Wide variety of tea
• Tasty scones and spreads
• Reasonable price

Cons 

• Some sandwiches a bit soggy
• Patisserie is hit and miss
• Unimpressive table setting
• Not the most attentive service 

Extras Glass of champagne (£17.50), glass of winter sparkling tea (£7.50)

Address The Courtyard, The Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LR

Need to know Served from 2.30pm to 4.30pm (Monday-Friday), see the menu

If you want to experience the luxury of Fortnum & Mason's for a slightly cheaper price, you can try a pared-down version of its afternoon tea at the Royal Exchange in Bank. You won't get the elegant table setting and attentive service of pricier afternoon teas, but it's not bad for less than £40 per person.

The towering columns of The Royal Exchange feel liked a grand setting and Fortnum's bar in the centre of the room is stunning, with two seating areas either side to enjoy your afternoon tea. 

Our savoury course, which consisted of finger sandwiches in classic flavours, such as coronation chicken and egg mayonnaise, were generous. However, we felt that the bread didn't taste as fresh as our sandwiches at Fortnum's Diamond Jubilee Tea Room.

We loved the scones, particularly with the creamy and citrussy lemon curd spread. The desserts didn't really feel like showstoppers though. The Guinness chocolate cake was quite dense and rich, while the rose mini eclair was slightly lacking in filling. 

You get to choose from nine different Fortnum & Mason teas. Our server was knowledgeable about the different flavours and gave us a fantastic recommendation of the Countess Grey. With subtle notes of orange citrus, it paired wonderfully with both our food courses.  

 The Wolseley

Our score and verdict 64%, We found better

How much is afternoon tea at The Wolseley £44.50 per person 

Pros 

• Elegant venue
• Tasty scones
• Served quickly 

Cons 

• Hectic service
• Average sandwiches
• Patisserie is hit and miss
• Noisy venue

Other available afternoon tea menus Cream Tea (£19.50 per person), Champagne Afternoon Tea (£58 per person)

Extras Glass of champagne (from £19.75), glass of prosecco (from £15.25), cocktails (from £14)

Address The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1J 9EB

Need to know Served from 3pm to 6.30pm (Monday-Friday), 3.30pm to 6.30pm (Saturday-Sunday) see the menu, food and tea refills available

There was no waiting around for our afternoon tea at The Wolseley. As soon as we sat down our server bought us a glass of water and before we knew it, our cake stand with sandwiches, scones and desserts was brought out. 

The sandwich fillings were uninspiring. Smoked salmon was simply paired with butter and there was an overwhelming amount of cream cheese in the cucumber sandwich. We enjoyed the tomato bread sandwich, but were mostly left unimpressed.

Desserts were hit and miss – the salted caramel cheesecake had only a slight hint of caramel, the pistachio and cherry cake was flavoursome but a bit dry, and the apple tart was bland. The sweet course was saved by the scones, which were baked perfectly – crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside – with a jam that was fruity but not too sweet.

There were some nice touches on the table settings, including a scone cover to keep them warm and a tea strainer. However, the hectic service and noisy venue meant it didn't feel like the most relaxing experience. 

 Brigit's Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus London Sightseeing Tour

Our score and verdict 59%, Views impressed more than the tea

How much is afternoon tea on Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus £45 per person, also available at Virgin Experience Days (£122 for two), Buyagift (£120 for two)

Pros

• Food is well presented
• Tasty and generously filled sandwiches
• Delicious scones

Cons

• View on the bottom deck is limited
• Patisserie is hit and miss
• No bathroom
• Long wait to board the bus

Other available afternoon tea menus Vegan Afternoon Tea, Vegetarian Afternoon Tea, Halal Afternoon Tea, Gluten Free Afternoon Tea

Extras Bottle of sparkling wine (from £29), bottle of champagne (from £48)

Departing from Trafalgar Square or Victoria Coach Station

Need to know Daily tours depart at 12pm, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3pm and 5pm. Additional weekend tours are at 1pm and 3.30pm, approximate 80-minute duration, see the menu, no toilets on board 

For an afternoon tea with a twist, we hopped on board Brigit's Bakery afternoon tea London bus. While you enjoy afternoon tea, the vintage Routemaster bus takes you past iconic London attractions, including Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The Royal Albert Hall and more. 

Sandwiches included afternoon tea classics, such as cucumber and cream cheese, as well as more unique combinations including turkey ham and cheese on tomato bread. They were generously filled, but we would have liked a few more, as there was only one of each. 

There were a good range of savoury pastries, too, but they were hit and miss – the spinach and cheddar quiche was delicious, but the feta, tomato and red pepper muffin was a little dry.

The patisserie were a mixed bag, too. The scones, with little pots of jam and clotted cream, were fresh and warm, which we didn't expect on a bus. The chocolate cupcake and eggnog sable were light and tasty, but the cherry and chocolate tart was too rich. We had to scrape the cream off a few desserts as it overpowered the taste and texture. 

Tea was served in a Brigit's Bakery-themed insulated cup with a lid, instead of a pot, which you can take home after the tour. Although this lacks of the charm of a more traditional afternoon tea, it does prevent any accidental spills on the moving bus.  

Although this bus tour lacks the frills of our top-rated afternoon teas, it's a fun sightseeing option that is around half the price of sit-down teas at the London hotels. However, we'd recommend booking a table on the top deck to make the most of the views. Unfortunately, our view on the bottom deck was very limited, which wasn't helped by the film screen stuck on the window.  

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How we test afternoon tea in London

To find the best afternoon tea in London, we headed out to a selection of popular venues to try their standard afternoon tea menus. We paid for each afternoon tea that we attended and assessed the following factors:

• Taste We rated the quality of ingredients and flavours in the sweet course, savoury course and tea. 
• Presentation We rated the table setting, crockery and how the food is presented. 
• Ambiance We looked at the furniture, lighting, colour scheme and even the bathrooms to rate the ambiance of the venue. 
• Service We took note of how quickly the tea was served, how often our server checked in on us and how knowledgeable they were about the menu. The best go above and beyond to make your afternoon tea a wonderful experience. 

We also looked for certain factors that we think every good afternoon tea should include. For example, if there is someone to show us to our seat and take our coat, the menu is explained to us, extra food and drink is offered, scones are served warm and lots more. If an afternoon tea doesn't have one of these important factors, it's marked down. 

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

What to wear to afternoon tea

Some afternoon tea venues in London, such as The Dorchester or Ting at The Shard, have a smart casual dress code, with no caps or sportswear. It's worth checking on the venue's website before you attend. 

The strictest dress code we found was at The Ritz London where men are required to wear a suit jacket and tie.

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