THE AFTERNOON TEA.
the 4 best afternoon teas in london from traditional tea times to quirky fantasy adventures
⏺ CLARIDGE’S
THE UNDISPUTED QUEEN OF TEA
This isn't just tea, it’s a pilgrimage. Claridge’s has been the gold standard for over a century, and they aren't slowing down. You’re here for the iconic jade-striped china, the crispest linen in W1, and a sandwich-to-filling ratio that has been scientifically perfected. The foyer is pure Art Deco glamour, and the service is so attentive they practically anticipate your next jam-to-cream craving. It’s expensive, it’s legendary, and it’s worth every penny for the ‘living like royalty’ flex. Mayfair’s most essential ritual.
Mayfair
claridges.co.uk
photos from @claridgeshotel
⏺ THE WOLSELEY
HIGH TEA, LOW KEY COOL
If Claridge’s is a ballgown, The Wolseley is a perfectly tailored blazer. It’s the grand café experience without the stifling formality. Sitting under those massive black pillars, you’ll be served a classic three-tiered spread that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel because when your scones are this fluffy & your finger sandwiches this precise, you don’t have to. It’s the best spot in London to feel like a sophisticated regular, even if you’re just in for the afternoon. Grandeur, minus the ego.
Mayfair
thewolseley.com
photos from @thewolseley
⏺ THE SAVOY
TRADITION WITH A SIDE OF JAZZ
Walking into The Savoy is like stepping back into the 1920s. With the glass dome overhead and a live pianist tinkling away in the gazebo, The Savoy delivers that movie-set magic better than anywhere else. Their afternoon tea is a marathon, not a sprint: over 30 tea blends & pastries that look like miniature works of art. It’s theatrical, it’s historic, and it’s the only place where a cucumber sandwich feels like a main event. Classic London at its loudest.
Covent Garden
thesavoylondon.com
photos from @thesavoylondon
⏺ SANDERSON
TEA THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
If the traditional stuff feels a bit too ‘white tablecloth’ for you, the Mad Hatters Tea at the Sanderson is the antidote. It’s Alice in Wonderland on a plate: menus hidden inside vintage books, teapots adorned with Kings and Queens, and Drink Me potions that actually taste good. Expect mocha chessboard cakes and savory scones that break all the rules. Set in a stunning, minimalist courtyard, it’s whimsical, highly immersive, and a total riot for your tastebuds. Curiouser and curiouser. And deliciouser.
Fitzrovia
morgansoriginals.com/sanderson
photos from @sandersonsocial