London does a sweet line in afternoon tea, from fancy hotels to themed menus to treats for kids. It can be a pricey affair — but it doesn't have to be. We've hunted out the best value and most affordable afternoon teas in London, so you can celebrate that special occasion/eat your body weight in scones and cakes/ just spend a couple of hours feeling a little bit fancy, without the huge price tag. These afternoon teas are all under £35 per person.
Prices are correct at time of writing, but do check with individual venues, as these things have a habit of going up. And yes, we know, there's many a cream tea to be had for cheaper in London, but we're focusing on full afternoon teas here: think sarnies, scones, and cakes, ideally served on a tiered stand with a bit of a flourish.
The Tea House in Bishop's Park, Fulham: £29 per person
A lovely park, with the river running along one side, a palace on the other, a lake, tennis courts... what more could you want from Bishops Park? Afternoon tea? Oh go on then... the park's Tea House offers one of the best value afternoon teas in London. £29 per person (minimum of two people) gets you finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and a selection of mini cakes, served on a traditional three-tiered stand.
Choose between tea or coffee to accompany it, and make sure you book in advance. Note that the area (though not necessarily The Tea House itself) tends to get busy on Fulham FC matchdays, as Craven Cottage is very close by.
Afternoon tea at The Tea House, Bishops Park, Fulham, SW6 6EA. Available daily.
Masala High Chai at Masala Zone: £27.50 per person
The Piccadilly Circus branch of restaurant Masala Zone serves a British-style afternoon tea with an Indian twist. The Masala High Chai includes the flavours of various Indian regions, with samosas and pakoras on the menu, along with mini beetroot croquettes. Traditional finger sandwich fillings are given a punchy makeover, with flavours including chutney and cheddar cheese
Sweet menu items including a traditional nankhatai biscuit — a popular shortbread found in Gujarat.
Masala High Chai afternoon tea at Masala Zone, 224 Piccadilly, W1J 9HP.
The Angel of Bow: £28.95 per person
Afternoon tea in a pub? Yep, stick with us here. The Angel of Bow is a family-run place, where focus is very much on quality food, specifically local and well-sourced ingredients. To that end, afternoon tea is served on Friday and Saturday — somewhat incongruously on Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, Royal Albert and Worcester crockery. You don't get that in every local boozer.
Choose between 15 teas (or hot chocolate) to wash down your meal of homemade scones with jam and clotted cream, finger sandwiches (think cucumber, smoked salmon, hummus and red pepper, prosciutto and cheese — though they can be changed to suit your taste with advance warning), and homemade cakes, usually cooked up by landlady Odette herself. Vegan and gluten-free options are available when booked in advance, and you can add a glass of prosecco for £8.95.
Oh, and if you need to sleep all that food off afterwards, the pub doubles up as a B&B, with five rooms upstairs.
Afternoon tea at the Angel of Bow, 171 Devons Road, E3 3QX.
Budget stretching to £35 or a jot above? Try these options:
- Boulevard Brasserie's classic afternoon tea with a French twist: £37.95 per person
- Afternoon tea at the Cellarium at Westminster Abbey: £39 per person
- Afternoon tea on board the Sunborn London yacht, permanently moored in Royal Victoria Dock: £40 per person.
