15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (2024)

Posted on 8 Jan 2015

Scones + jam + cream, please.

by Ailbhe MaloneBuzzFeed Staff, UK

1. Claridge's

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (3)

Claridge's has an actual tea connoisseur on board for their afternoon tea menu, so you know they take it seriously. It's worth noting this review, which adds that "the sandwiches arrive on that distinctive stripy china, and they keep on arriving until you stop asking for more."

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2. Sketch

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (6)

Sip your tea and nibble your sandwiches in the sumptuous pink velvet booths of this Michelin-starred restaurant. If you're on a budget, their cream tea (fruit scones with jam, clotted cream, and a choice of teas) comes in at a very reasonable £10 per person.

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (8)

3. Cinnamon Soho

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (10)

High chai? Don't mind if we do. An Indian twist on afternoon tea, including bites like a Bangla scotch egg, and ginger and garam masala cake. It's also very affordable, starting at £20 for two people.

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (12)

4. Drink, Shop & Do

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (15)

5. Bea's of Bloomsbury

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (17)

An afternoon tea with *two* types of brownie? Yes please. For a more casual affair, you can also opt to have "sweet tea", which is afternoon tea without the sandwiches, with no reservation necessary.

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (19)

6. The Ritz

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (21)

There are few more glamourous options than afternoon tea at The Ritz. There's a piano player! Look at that clotted cream! Dreamy.

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7. Fortnum and Mason

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (25)

8. Betty Blythe Vintage Tearoom

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (28)

9. The Berkeley

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (30)

15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (31)

10. Bake-a-boo

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (33)

Sure, they do a marvellous traditional afternoon tea, but what makes Bake-a-boo really stand out is their "sensitive" menus. There is a gluten- and dairy-free menu, a dairy-and-egg free menu, and a sugar-free menu. Wonderful!

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11. Teanamu Chaya Teahouse

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (36)

Chinese and Japanese teas, wakame seaweed brown bread, and slices of apple and mango chiffon cake. This isn't your average afternoon tea.

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (38)

12. The Delaunay

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (40)

Sink in, and enjoy a Viennese afternoon tea. You can indulge in "assorted savouries, poppy seed Gugelhupfs with apricot jam and whipped cream, a selection of classic Viennese cakes". YUM.

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (42)

13. Original Maids of Honour

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (44)

The first Maids of Honour shop was founded in the 18th century, so you can be sure that these guys know their scones. There are plenty of options to choose from, and all menus apart from the champagne cream tea come in at under £15.

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14. The Orangery, Kensington Palace

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (47)

15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (48)

15. Le Chandelier

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (50)

With an impressive tea menu alone, Le Chandelier is perfect for a cosy bite with pals.

If you're looking for a more casual cup of tea and a cake, Franklin's is just around the corner, and splendid.

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15 Places For Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die (52)

If you're searching for more options, AfternoonTea.co.uk is a great resource.