Best Places For Afternoon Tea In London

Going for afternoon tea in London is a must-do for when visiting the city, but it doesn’t all have to be prim and proper with pinkies up. You can have tea in a trippy Alice-In-Wonderland style complete with magic marshmallow mushrooms and small glass bottles of a sweet elixir labeled, “drink me.” Or you could go for a modern super-hero style, sipping tea with a great view of the Thames in a restaurant featured in the movie, Thor. There’s even a High Chai Indian-themed tea, and for the quintessentially British experience – a gin & tonic tea.

From a fun twist on traditional English tea, to teas with a creative twist, here’s a list of fun places you can have afternoon tea in London. (Recently updated to include new experiences from our autumn trip!) And if you’re only traveling for a short weekend in London, pick your favorite tea experience below and make reservations.

Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Sanderson London

Spend an afternoon falling down a rabbit hole of fun, reading menus tucked inside vintage books and eating delectable deserts designed to look like edibles from Alice In Wonderland. The tailor-made tea selection is presented in beautiful perfume bottles and perfectly square sugar cubes are hidden in music boxes. The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea  is pretty popular, so make your reservations well in advance!
WHERE: 50 Berners St, London W1T 3NG, United Kingdom
WEB: Morganshotelgroup.com/SandersonLondon
COST: £48 to £65, £35 for children

High Chai Tea At LaLit

Did you know London has more Indian restaurants than pubs? It’s true! There are about 9000 Indian restaurants, but only 6000 pubs, so curry is as quintessentially British as fish and chips! A traditional Indian afternoon tea is the perfect way to experience the blend of two cultures and the High Chai Tea at LaLit is a luxurious experience. The menu offers masala chai, samosas, kathi rolls and more under the stunning blue ceiling of the historic Baluchi dining hall. Our favorite bite was the soan papdi, a light and airy little cube that melts in your mouth with the sweet taste of cardamom. 
WHERE: LaLit London
WEB: thelalit.com
COST: £47

Free-Flowing G&T Afternoon Tea With A View at Gillray’s Bar

After a long flight, a gin & tonic with a view sounded like a relaxing afternoon to me. And Gillray’s Bar offers 100 different types of gin and the best views on the Thames combined with a unique afternoon tea service – Free-Flowing G&T Afternoon Tea.

Even though the gin & tonic was unlimited, I capped out after two. But spending a leisurely afternoon with a classic British cocktail, and looking out at iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye while nibbling on tea sandwiches and scones was just delightful. And, yes, there was tea too!

Gillray’s Bar offers unlimited Gin & Tonic with afternoon tea between 1pm – 4pm, every day. Reservations not needed, but recommended!
WHERE: Gillray’s Bar
WEB: gillrays.com/bar
COST: £39+

OXO Tower Restaurant & Brasserie

OXO Tower’s rooftop brasserie has one of the best views of London. Their lunch and dinner both offer artfully designed dishes, but a modern-style afternoon tea here is even more of a treat. OXO offers a great selection of teas from Tregonthan, the only plantation to grow tea on English soil.
WHERE: Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House St, London SE1 9PH, United Kingdom
WEB:  Harveynichols.com/the-oxo-tower
COST: £35 to £45, £16 for children

Sky High Tea & Champagne At The Shard

For the best views in London, you can’t beat the view from the Shard. And there’s several different options for tea there!  There’s a modern London Afternoon Tea at Oblix on the 32nd Floor, with views of the Thames from The Shard and a culinary journey through the city with ingredients from all over the city, including chai spices from the famous Brick Lane Market and honeycomb from the local bees in Harrow.

And a little higher up, on the 35th floor, you can have afternoon tea at TING in the Shangri-La Hotel with gorgeous views of London’s Skyline. (Reservations highly recommended)

But for a more unique (and affordable!) tea-at-your-own-pace experience, I highly recommend browsing through nearby Borough Market to taste all the confections and cakes from their many traders. From macarons, to handmade chocolates, to pork pies, and fresh baked cakes, there’s everything you need to have a delicious afternoon tea walkabout including a few tea purveyors too. Grab a tea to-go and sample whatever treats catch your eye. Then finish the afternoon by walking to The Shard and splurging on their champagne experience while watching the sunset. The Shard’s All Inclusive ticket includes a glass of of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial.
WHERE: 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, United Kingdom
WEB: Boroughmarket.org.uk and TheViewFromTheShard.com
COST:  Bring cash for Borough Market.  Around £33.95+ for The Shard.

Kensington Palace

If you want to experience a traditional English afternoon tea, then you might as well do it in a palace! Yes, there is a little secret at Kensington Palace. Just outside is a place is an elaborate greenhouse-turned-restaurant called The Orangery where you can go for afternoon tea. It was built in 1704 by Queen Ann in order to protect her citrus trees in winter, thus the name. The high ceilings and pristine white walls reflect the afternoon light coming through the soaring windows just perfectly, creating an atmosphere fit for royalty.
WHERE: Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom
WEB: OrangeryKensingtonPalace.co.uk
COST: £26 to £36

Photo Gallery Of Unusual Places For Tea In London

Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea Menu and Music Box

A clock-themed Victoria Sponge Cake at the Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea

A deliciously modern pistachio rose dessert at OXO.

Sidewalk cafe tables in Borough Market.

Miniature cakes in Borough Market.

Sampling teas in Borough Market.

Pink champagne and sunset at the top of The Shard.

The observatory at the top of The Shard.

The Orangery at Kensington Palace.

Tea sandwiches at The Orangery.

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Originally published in 2016. Updated 2019.