

Soft, warm scones are served with lashings of Somerset clotted cream and the most delicious raspberry, strawberry and wild blueberry jams which left us scraping the bottom of the jar. Terrifically knowledgeable 'Tearistas' are on hand to help narrow down the choice. It remains a traditional affair and, located on the fourth floor of the iconic Fortnum & Mason shop (where London afternoon teas have been served for almost 100 years), it's a delightful place to while away an afternoon.Īnd who knew there were so many different types of tea? If Willy Wonka ever swapped chocolate for tea, the menu might resemble that at the Tea Salon, listing around 45 fantastically-named infusions like Jasmine Dragon Pearls, Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe, and Hattialli, which takes its name from the Assamese words 'Hathi Alli', meaning 'Elephant Road'. An oasis of tea and cake! It seems as if it hasn't changed in decades, in a wonderfully old-world way, but in fact was refurbished and subsequently reopened by the Queen in 2012. Here's our pick of the best afternoon tea in Londonīest for: a classic afternoon tea – and still one of the bestĭressed in trademark eau-de-nil, right down to the tea plates, Fortnum & Mason's Tea Salon is a peaceful oasis (accessed in a lovely wood-panelled lift) off Piccadilly.

Best for a French flair: Cédric Grolet's Goûtea at The Berkeley, from £85.Best for old-school glitz: Afternoon tea at The Ritz London, from £67.

Best for fashion fans: Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley, from £80.Best for a taste of London: Afternoon tea at The Wolseley, from £36.

TIMELESS TEA ROOM CENTRAL AVENUE UPDATE
We update this list regularly as new afternoon teas open and existing ones evolve. We're always looking for stand-out dishes, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. When choosing London afternoon teas, our editors consider both high-end and affordable options that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. How we choose the best afternoon tea in LondonĮvery afternoon tea spot on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that afternoon tea. We’ve sat down to countless cups of tea, finger sandwiches, scones and macarons to bring you our editors’ reviews of the best afternoon teas in London – from the traditional spreads to the modern interpretations that roll on into evening drinks. Flutes of Champagne and pretty pastries are a given, while exotic nibbles and potent cocktails mean that what now constitutes this most genteel of refreshments might well shock the Duchess of Bedford. Today, afternoon tea in London enjoys celebratory status. It was in 1840 that the Duchess of Bedford shared her guilty secret of enjoying tea and snacks a few hours before dinner, setting a trend that would evolve to become a national tradition complete with a new set of afternoon tea etiquette rules.
