The 10 Best Afternoon Teas in London (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 10 picks

The best afternoon tea in London in 2026 is at The Ritz's Palm Court for the full grand-hotel ritual, Claridge's for Art Deco elegance and Fortnum & Mason for tea itself. The Savoy, The Langham and sketch are close behind, and The Wolseley is the best-value classic.

A London afternoon tea means finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and a tier of pastries, with refills of tea and often sandwiches too. At the grand hotels, book weeks ahead (months for weekends at The Ritz), allow two hours and arrive hungry — it is closer to a meal than a snack.

The list at a glance

The Ritz London — Palm Court Piccadilly, Soho & the West End
Claridge's Mayfair, Soho & the West End
Fortnum & Mason — The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon Piccadilly, Soho & the West End
The Savoy — Thames Foyer Strand, Soho & the West End
The Langham — Palm Court Marylebone, Soho & the West End
sketch — The Gallery Mayfair, Soho & the West End
The Goring Belgravia, Westminster & South Kensington
Brown's Hotel — The English Tea Room Mayfair, Soho & the West End
The Dorchester — The Promenade Park Lane, Soho & the West End
The Wolseley Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

1. The Ritz London — Palm Court — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

The definitive London afternoon tea, served in a gilded room with a pianist.

$$$$ Splurge

Tea at The Ritz is the one everyone has heard of, and the Palm Court lives up to it: gilt, mirrors, a fountain and a pianist, with formally dressed staff serving set sittings through the afternoon. The food is classic and generous — sandwiches, warm scones, pastries and cake, with refills offered.

It is a special-occasion booking, and the dress code is strict: jackets for men, no jeans or trainers. If you can't get a weekend table, the earliest and latest weekday sittings are the easiest to book.

Good to know: Book as far ahead as you can — weekend sittings often sell out weeks in advance.

150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

Google Maps Website

2. Claridge's — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

Art Deco grandeur and pitch-perfect service in the Foyer.

$$$$ Splurge

Claridge's serves afternoon tea in its Art Deco Foyer, under a glass light sculpture, with live music in the background. The sandwiches, scones and pastries are classic and done very well, and the service is relaxed rather than stiff.

It suits anyone who wants grand-hotel glamour without the formality of The Ritz. Smart casual is fine.

Good to know: Ask for the Foyer rather than the Reading Room if you want the full atmosphere.

Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR

Google Maps Website

3. Fortnum & Mason — The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

Afternoon tea from the shop that has sold tea on Piccadilly for centuries.

$$$$ Splurge

Fortnum's top-floor Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, a calm room in the store's signature eau de nil green, is where tea is the point. You choose from a long list of Fortnum's own blends, and the tiers of sandwiches, scones and cakes are excellent.

It is slightly more relaxed than the hotels and a good choice for families. You can buy the tea you liked downstairs on the way out.

Good to know: Ask your server to recommend a tea to match the savoury course and another for the cakes.

181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER

Google Maps Website

4. The Savoy — Thames Foyer — Strand, Soho & the West End

Tea under a glass cupola with a pianist, close to the theatres.

$$$$ Splurge

The Savoy serves afternoon tea in the Thames Foyer, beneath a glass dome with a gazebo and a pianist at its centre. The setting is airy and elegant, and the service is polished without being stuffy.

It is perfectly placed for a matinée or evening show in the West End.

Good to know: Book an early sitting before an evening show — the theatres of the Strand are on the doorstep.

The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EZ

Google Maps Website

5. The Langham — Palm Court — Marylebone, Soho & the West End

A hotel that claims to have helped launch the afternoon tea tradition.

$$$$ Splurge

The Langham, opposite the BBC at the top of Regent Street, says it was among the first hotels to serve afternoon tea, and its Palm Court is a light, elegant room for it. The pastries are inventive and change with the seasons.

It is a little calmer than the Piccadilly hotels and easy to combine with shopping on Regent Street or Oxford Street.

Good to know: Check the current seasonal menu online — the pastry themes change through the year.

1c Portland Place, Regent Street, London W1B 1JA

Google Maps Website

6. sketch — The Gallery — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

London's most photographed afternoon tea, in an art-filled dining room.

$$$$ Splurge

sketch is a Mayfair townhouse of eccentric bars and dining rooms, and afternoon tea is served in the Gallery, one of the most Instagrammed rooms in London. The menu is playful, with caviar and quail egg among the savoury course and creative pastries to follow.

It suits birthdays, friends' outings and anyone who finds hotel teas too formal. Don't miss a look at the famous egg-shaped toilet pods.

Good to know: Book a table in daylight hours if you want photos of the room.

9 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XG

Google Maps Website

7. The Goring — Belgravia, Westminster & South Kensington

A family-owned hotel near Buckingham Palace with a garden-view lounge.

$$$$ Splurge

The Goring, a few minutes from Buckingham Palace, is London's only family-owned five-star luxury hotel and has long royal connections. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and veranda overlooking the hotel's private garden, with impeccable, unhurried service.

It feels the most English of the grand teas: quiet, polished and traditional. Good for a royal-themed day out.

Good to know: Ask for a table by the windows onto the garden.

15 Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW

Google Maps Website

8. Brown's Hotel — The English Tea Room — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

A wood-panelled tea room in one of London's oldest hotels.

$$$$ Splurge

Brown's serves afternoon tea in the English Tea Room, a cosy, wood-panelled space with an open fire, in a hotel that has been in Mayfair since the 19th century. The tea list is long and the scones are among the best in the city.

It is the choice for a quiet, traditional afternoon in Mayfair, away from the crowds of Piccadilly.

Good to know: Come on a wet winter afternoon, when the fire makes the room at its best.

33 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP

Google Maps Website

9. The Dorchester — The Promenade — Park Lane, Soho & the West End

A long, gilded promenade for tea on Park Lane, by Hyde Park.

$$$$ Splurge

The Dorchester serves afternoon tea on The Promenade, a long, opulent lounge of marble columns and soft sofas running the length of the hotel's ground floor. Expect classic sandwiches and scones and refined pastries.

It is an easy pairing with a walk in Hyde Park, across the road.

Good to know: Walk across to Hyde Park after tea to make the most of the location.

53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA

Google Maps Website

10. The Wolseley — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

A grand café-restaurant with a classic tea at a lower price than the hotels.

$$$ Upmarket

The Wolseley is a vast, high-ceilinged café-restaurant in a former car showroom next to The Ritz, open all day in the Viennese café style. Its afternoon tea is classic and more affordable than the grand hotels, and you can also just order a cream tea.

It suits anyone who wants the occasion without the four-figure-bill feeling, and it is good for people-watching.

Good to know: Order a cream tea (scones and tea) if you don't want the full tiered stand.

160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

How much does afternoon tea cost in London?

Expect roughly £70–£100 a person at the grand hotels in 2026, with champagne adding £15–£30 or more. Cafés and department stores are cheaper, and prices rise at weekends and over Christmas. Check the venue's own site for the current price before booking.

Is there a dress code for afternoon tea in London?

At The Ritz, yes: smart dress, with a jacket required for men and no jeans or trainers. Most other grand hotels ask for smart casual — no sportswear or flip-flops. Department stores and cafés are relaxed.

Do I need to book afternoon tea?

Yes for the hotels. The Ritz sells out weeks ahead (longer for weekends and December), and Claridge's, The Savoy and Fortnum's are busy most weekends. A weekday sitting is easier to get.

Which afternoon tea is best for children?

Most hotels offer a children's afternoon tea at a lower price, and sketch's quirky rooms go down well with older children. The Wolseley and Fortnum & Mason are the most relaxed of the classic options.

Is there a kosher afternoon tea in London?

The grand hotels are not kosher. For kosher dining, see our guide to the best kosher restaurants in London.

1. The Ritz London — Palm Court — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

2. Claridge's — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

3. Fortnum & Mason — The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

4. The Savoy — Thames Foyer — Strand, Soho & the West End

5. The Langham — Palm Court — Marylebone, Soho & the West End

6. sketch — The Gallery — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

7. The Goring — Belgravia, Westminster & South Kensington

8. Brown's Hotel — The English Tea Room — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

9. The Dorchester — The Promenade — Park Lane, Soho & the West End

10. The Wolseley — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

Frequently asked questions

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