Afternoon tea experiences are a delightful way to spend an afternoon with friends or family. Many hotels and restaurants offer traditional high tea, complete with finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries. Some even offer unique twists like themed teas or champagne options. It’s a great way to indulge in some delicious treats while enjoying good company.
Are you looking for an afternoon tea experience that combines elegance and indulgence? Our webpage presents a curated selection of exquisite venues and their unique offerings. Delve into our top selections and discover afternoon tea experiences that promise decadent pastries, fragrant teas, and (not to mention) impeccable service!
What to Know Before You Book your Afternoon Tea Experience.
- Afternoon tea is a proud British tradition and it normally takes place between 2pm and 5pm.
- It usually consists of (in addition to a pot of tea) a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and cakes or pastries.
- There are also different types of afternoon teas available. These include traditional, champagne, themed (e.g. Alice in Wonderland), or vegan/gluten-free options.
- Some tea venues have a dress code! The exact dress code varies depending on the venue: some places require smart casual attire, while others have a more relaxed dress code (if at all).
- You should consider reservations as a necessary step to secure a table at popular venues.
- Etiquette plays an important role during afternoon tea. Guests are expected to wait until everyone has been served before eating or drinking anything, use utensils appropriately (e.g. teaspoons for stirring), and avoid making loud noises or talking with their mouth full.
In recent years there has been a trend towards more contemporary interpretations and offerings included in the Afternoon Tea Experience. All of the gift experience websites and venues mentioned below have vegetarian and vegan options available if you request it. There’s also seasonal themes like Christmas and Halloween available, so you may want to wait until your favorite season rolls around to book your afternoon tea.
1. BuyAGift
Buyagift offers a variety of afternoon tea experiences, including traditional, champagne, and themed teas. What you may not know is that you can save 15% off an afternoon tea experience box from BuyAGift on our discount codes page.
Prices start from around £25 per person.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide variety of afternoon tea options | Limited control over specific venue or menu |
| Convenient online booking process | Restrictions on available dates |
| Potential for discounted prices | Limited ability to customize the experience |
| Gift options available | Dependence on availability of chosen venues |
| Ability to browse customer reviews | Potential for additional booking fees or charges |
| Buyagift’s customer service support | Not all locations may be available in your area |
2. Virgin Experience Days.
On the Virgin Experience website you have 3 options for afternoon tea! They are: afternoon tea for two, afternoon tea in London, and luxury afternoon tea. The prices for Virgin’s Afternoon Tea gift experiences are more varied than BuyAGift, with some tea experiences priced at £222.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3 different categories of afternoon tea options | Limited control over specific venue or menu |
| Simple and user-friendly online booking process | Restrictions on available dates |
| Reputation for quality experiences | Limited ability to customize the experience |
| Flexible gift options and customizable vouchers | Dependence on availability of chosen venues |
| Trusted brand with positive customer reviews | Prices can be sky-high |
| Variety of locations and venues to choose from | Not all locations may be available in your area |
| Excellent customer service and support | May have limited selection in certain areas |
| Option to exchange for alternative experiences | Less personal touch compared to direct booking |
| Option to purchase as a gift for others |
Prices start from around £25 per person.
3. Red Letter Days
Red Letter Days offers the widest selection of categories of afternoon tea. You can filter by experiences under £50. You can also conveniently search by location (i.e. West Midlands, London, Yorkshire, etc.). You can even book the afternoon tea bus tour!
Red Letter Days offers afternoon tea experiences in a variety of settings, including hotels, castles, and gardens.
| Features | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Location & Atmosphere | 3.9 |
| Quality & Variety of Tea | 4.25 |
| Presentation & Quality of Food Items | 5 |
| Staff Service | 3.8 |
| Price Point | 4.95 |
| Special Dietary Options | 5 |
| Overall Value | 4.48 |
Prices start from around £20 per person.
4. Fortnum & Mason.
Fortnum & Mason in London is famous for its afternoon tea. Its history with tea dates back over 200 years. The Diamond Jubilee tasting room on Piccadilly is the height of afternoon tea. But the prices are steep: tea starts at £78 per person. You can also have a ‘tearista’ at your table as part of an expert tea tasting experience.
Another way to enjoy their famous tea is to purchase The Fortnum’s Afternoon Tea Hamper. This is a convenient way to enjoy luxury afternoon tea from the comfort of your own home.
Tea menu
You can download a PDF of the afternoon tea menu here.
| Features | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Location & Atmosphere | 5 |
| Quality & Variety of Tea | 5 |
| Presentation & Quality of Food Items | 5 |
| Staff Service | 5 |
| Price Point | 1.8 |
| Special Dietary Options | 4.2 |
| Overall Value | 4.33 |
Prices start from around £78 per person at the Piccadilly Tea Salon.
5. The Ritz London
Instead of a gift experience voucher like Red Letter Day and BuyAGift, The Ritz London is another place you need to book directly. Like Fortnum & Mason, The Ritz London is a destination where high tea has a long and distinguished history. It even has a smart casual attire dress code.
The Ritz London offers some cool features you won’t find anywhere else: there’s a pianist available to play music to suit the ambiance. There’s also Children’s Afternoon Tea that starts at £48 per person.
| Features | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Location & Atmosphere | 5 |
| Quality & Variety of Tea | 4.85 |
| Presentation & Quality of Food Items | 5 |
| Staff Service | 5 |
| Price Point | 2.2 |
| Special Dietary Options | 4.2 |
| Overall Value | 4.25 |
Prices start from around £70 per person.
More Honorable Mentions for High Tea.
While these afternoon tea experiences didn’t make our top picks, they are notable places to enjoy a premium pot of tea.
Claridge’s.
Claridge’s in London offers a luxurious afternoon tea experience. Prices start from around £70 per person.
The Savoy.
The Savoy in London is known for its traditional afternoon tea experience. Prices start from around £65 per person.
Some More Tips Before You Go.
Aspects of Afternoon Tea Experiences like the dress code and prices (especially lately) may change. Check the official websites to get the latest information.