If there's one thing we love more than afternoon tea, it's a themed afternoon tea. And if that theme happens to be one of our favourite books, so much the better. Here's our pick of literary inspired afternoon tea menus in London, from Shakespeare to Peter Pan to Alice in Wonderland to Roald Dahl — ideal for treating a bookworm friend... or yourself.
Mad Hatters afternoon tea at The Sanderson London
You're late, you're late, for a very important date! THE OG themed afternoon tea in London, the Sanderson has been serving up its Mad Hatters menu for years, and the fact that it's still going strong is testament to its charming whimsy (and delicious food).
The world of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is the inspiration, so fall down the rabbit hole with a 'Drink Me' potion (peach bubble tea), along with a selection of sandwiches named after elements of the book, including the 'Mad Hatter', a French toast bite with truffle and parmesan custard, topped with blue cornflowers.
The tea party continues with sultana and plain scones, served with preserves and whipped clotted cream.
A Little Hatters version of the menu is available for 4-11 year olds, with child-friendly options such as juice and milk. Note that no fancy dress is allowed, and neither are table decorations including balloons.
Mad Hatters afternoon tea at The Sanderson London.
A Midsummer Night's Dream afternoon tea at Kona
Kona is always top of our list for a themed afternoon tea in London. Whatever the current topic (in the past they've done Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes) they commit to it fully, from the menu to the decor. Currently, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is getting the Kona treatment, served on charming themed crockery, surrounded by woodland decorations. The menu has been bound into a charming hardback book, which each course takes inspiration from an act of the play.
Begin with Puck's Mischief, an (alcoholic) berry drink served in an enchanting potion bottle and goblet, accompanied by the first course, a viola moelleux served on a cross section of a log, surrounded by a garland of purple flowers. That's followed by a selection of savouries including a butternut squash and hummus pastry puff, a roast chicken and apricot mayo sandwich, and a smoked salmon and cream cheese open sandwich.
Desserts star a chocolate mousse heart filled with passion fruit jus right in front of you, adding a touch of theatricality* and representing the unexpected twists of love. Our personal favourite is the Mystical Grove, a creamy pistachio lemon finger, topped with edible flowers and butterflies.
Unusually for an afternoon tea, the scones follow the desserts — though if you're anything like us, you'll be full by then. Fear not, the Kona team will happily pack them up for you to take home with you.
*If you can't get enough theatricality, splash out extra for the Moonlit Alchemy, a cocktail that'll make you 'ooh' and 'ahh' as it's served at your table.
A Midsummer Night's Dream afternoon tea at Kona at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate.
Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard
Forget the second star to the right; you just need to take the lift to Level 31 of The Shard to enter Neverland. Aqua Shard magics up a Peter Pan afternoon tea, served on a custom-made tea stand resembling the Jolly Roger pirate ship.
The menu itself is a treasure map of Neverland, promising treats such as the Lost Boy Sandwich (pastrami, mustard mayo, emmental, lettuce, pickled gherkins), and the Neverland Lagoon (salmon, cream cheese, salmon roe). Vanilla and raisin scones are served with apricot and raspberry jams, and coconut clotted cream. Round off your adventure with sweet treats including Peter Pan's hat, made from choux pastry, lemon curd, Chantilly and buttercream, and Tinkerbell (sweet pastry topped with red icing and fairy dust).
Tea or coffee is of course included, but for an extra charge you can enjoy a 'Fairy Dust' (vodka, green apple liqueur, fresh lime juice, sugar syrup) or 'Never Grow Up Punch' (pineapple, peach purée and elderflower tonic, lime and grenadine).
All that, with views over London to boot. Who'd want to grow up?
Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard.
Romeo and Juliet afternoon tea at The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe
In Fair Verona Bankside, where we lay our scene, The Swan takes inspiration from its thespian neighbour. While The Globe is showing a version of Romeo and Juliet set in the Wild West, the Swan takes all that romance/tragedy, sticks an edible cowboy boot on it, and serves it on a tiered stand.
You've two choices. The classic tea which is afternoon tea as you know it, with traditional sandwiches, followed by sweet elements named for a line or quote from the play: 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet' is a vanilla heart sable biscuit with rose buttercream, while 'These violent delights have violent ends' takes the form of a smoked cherry bakewell tart topped with a chocolate cowboy boot.
Alternatively, go for the curveball Cowboy afternoon tea, which leans towards the savoury with dishes such as a smoked salmon and avocado soft shell taco, a fried cajun chicken and ranch dressing brioche bun, and a sweetcorn and smoked cheddar scone served with cowboy butter. Finish up with a smoked cherry bakewell tart.
Romeo and Juliet afternoon tea at The Swan. Available until 2 September 2025.
The Wicked Wizard afternoon tea at The Franklin
Follow the Yellow Brick Road over to South Kensington where The Franklin has a Wicked Wizard afternoon tea, inspired by L. Frank Baum's novel, The Wizard of Oz. Munch(kin) your way through treats including The Lion (a lemon meringue tart), The Tin Man (tiramisu), and The Scarecrow’s (chocolate mousse ice cream). These sweet treats, and their savoury counterparts, including the Over The Rainbow (a tomato, avocado and roasted veg sandwich) are all served up in a wicker basket akin to the one Dorothy carries as she skips down the Yellow Brick Road. We're just disappointed that there's no mention of Toto.
The Wicked Wizard afternoon tea at The Franklin.
Sherlock Holmes afternoon tea at Sherlock Escape Rooms
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London's Sherlock Holmes themed escape room — disguised as an optician's storefront — offers a Sherlock themed afternoon tea with a mini mystery thrown in. The menu is standard afternoon tea fare (a selection of sandwiches, savoury muffins and scones, plus a raspberry and lemon sable, chocolate brownie, hazelnut choux, and honey and orange sable breton) but you can upgrade for 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco if that's what's called for in order to solve this mini tabletop mystery.
Sherlock themed afternoon tea and mini mystery at the Sherlock Escape Rooms (Shepherd's Bush). Minimum two people, age 10+.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych
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Chocolate swudge milkshake, and chocolate or lemon sherbet tea are among the bizarre bevvies you can have alongside the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych, based on Roald Dahl's children's confection. As you'd expect, the menu is geared towards a sweet-toothed audience, with items including fabulously fluffy floss, 'Hair toffee' mousse and fizzy lifting lemonade posset. Even the savoury section has twists: the scones are served with snozzberry jam, and the first course includes a 'Not quite as it seems beetroot macaron'. Never a Dahl moment.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych.
