Afternoon tea is one of Britain’s most famous gourmet traditions, so if you’re looking for the perfect post-lockdown treat to enjoy with family or friends, why not treat yourself? Here are six of the best places offering afternoon tea in London right now…
Lead image: The Chesterfield Mayfair
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Liv Facey is a community champion for Greenwich & Lewisham. Find more of her work at livswonderfulescape.wordpress.com
1 The Chesterfield Mayfair
The Chesterfield Mayfair’s iconic Original Sweetshop Afternoon Tea is back in action and available daily. Recently commended in the 2019 Afternoon Tea Awards and awarded OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award 2019, The Chesterfield’s afternoon tea, inspired by Hardys Original Sweetshop, is a delight for kids and adults alike. Rediscovering old Hardys favourites makes for a real trip down memory lane, while the kids just love the sweets. Plus, you can enjoy £10 off per person as part of the Eat Out to Help Out campaign (valid Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August). £40pp (£21.50 per child under 12) or £47 with a glass of champagne.
35 Charles Street, Mayfair W1J 5EB; chesterfieldmayfair.com
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2 Palm Court at the Ritz, Piccadilly
The Ritz reopened its iconic Palm Court to serve its world-renowned afternoon tea on 18 July. It’s a quintessentially British experience, with finely cut finger sandwiches like Scottish smoked salmon with lemon butter and egg mayo with chopped shallots and watercress, as well as freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream, French pastries, tea cakes and a choice of 18 loose-leaf teas. Served daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm priced from £53.50 for adults and £35 per child. Reserve a table online.
150 Piccadilly W1J 9BR; theritzlondon.com
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3 Corinthia London, Whitehall
Corinthia London is now offering a new summer Afternoon Tea menu daily from 2pm-6pm. Executive Pastry Chef Loic Carbonnet has crafted a menu featuring seasonal treats such as the strawberry and rhubarb éclair, lemon drizzle cake, and a peach and Jivara milk chocolate mousse with thyme chantilly. Finger sandwiches include classics with a twist, such as cucumber, radish and cream cheese, truffle egg mayo, and salt beef with horseradish cream and watercress. Prices start at £55pp. You can reserve a table online.
Whitehall Place, Westminster SW1A 2BD; corinthia.com
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4 Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly
Fortnum & Mason reopened for afternoon tea in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon on 4 July and is currently running a Together for Tea promotion that offers a free afternoon tea for your friend when you buy one. For every Fortnum’s Classic Afternoon Tea paid for in July and August, they will serve another to a member of your group for free. It’s the perfect excuse for a catch up with a friend, and to sample Fortnum’s famous Battenberg! Open Monday to Saturday 11.30am-7pm and Sunday 12noon-6pm. Prices start at £60pp.
181 Piccadilly W1A 1ER; fortnumandmason.com
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5 Sketch London, Mayfair
The Lecture Room & Library at Sketch London was awarded its third Michelin star this year, making it one of only five UK restaurants to hold three stars. High praise indeed. While its afternoon tea is served in a different restaurant, The Gallery, the accolade certainly still stands your tea and cake in good stead. Sketch reopened on 17 July with reduced hours, and you can now enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches, scones and desserts such as strawberry and hibiscus Battenberg from Friday to Sunday 11.30am-6pm (from 6 August The Gallery will be open from Thursday). Prices start at £49pp.
9 Conduit Street, Mayfair W1S 2XG; sketch.london
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6 Brigit’s Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus London Tour
Afternoon tea on a bus is a hoot, so we’e glad that Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tours are up and running again. Tours run daily from Trafalgar Square and Victoria Coach Station on board a 1960s Routemaster double decker bus, weaving through the streets of central London to take in some of the City’s best sights. Brigit’s Bakery has also partnered with Slingsby Gin for a special Gin Lovers Afternoon Tea Bus Tour featuring G&Ts and gin-infused cakes, and will launch a new Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea experience in the middle of August with singalong songs, activities and more. The tours lasts 90 minutes. Prices start from £45pp.
b-bakery.com
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Love tea and cake? Afternoon Tea Week will return this year, running from 10-16 August 2020, when hotels and restaurants across the UK offer exclusive discounts on afternoon teas. Watch this space for details of unmissable offers in London…
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