London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tea-with-a-view">TEA WITH A VIEW</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/446827579_828282779167957_8917058010209163649_n-1000x668.jpg" alt="Afternoon tea at Shangri-La, The Shard London" class="wp-image-96775" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Instagram @shangrilalondon</figcaption></figure>



<p>Bag a window-side pew on level 35 of London&#8217;s tallest building for a side of jaw-dropping views along with your beautiful &#8216;A Decade in the Clouds&#8217; Afternoon Tea at <a href="https://www.ting-shangri-la.com/afternoon-tea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shangri-La&#8217;s TĪNG</a> restaurant. An homage to Shangri-La&#8217;s first decade in the London skyline, expect a quintessentially British afternoon. Start off with finger sandwiches including the classic coronation chicken and smoked salmon and cucumber, as well as a British pea burger (with truffle crème fraiche). Classic scones, clotted cream and jam accompany insta-worthy, London-themed sweets like banoffee-inspired &#8216;Big Ben at Ten&#8217;, and &#8216;London Calling&#8217;, a jazzed-up strawberries and cream. Our fave is the pièce de résistance &#8211; a miniature chocolate Shard to share, filled with brie cheese mousse and berries and served in a cloud of vaporised liquid nitrogen for extra theatrics.&nbsp;Costs from £78pp, £88 with fizz. Veggie and vegan available. </p>



<p><strong>See also:</strong> <a href="https://www.sevenrooms.com/experiences/searcysatthegherkin/champagne-afternoon-tea--7205433450" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Searcy&#8217;s at The Gherkin</a>, <a href="https://www.seacontainerslondon.com/eat-drink/lyaness-bar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lyaness at Sea Containers</a>, <a href="https://ivycollection.com/restaurants/the-ivy-tower-bridge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ivy Tower Bridge</a>, <a href="https://oxotowerrestaurant.com/whats-on/time-for-afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The OXO Tower</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-classic-one">THE CLASSIC ONE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-26-at-11.03.26.png" alt="Afternoon tea at The Ritz " class="wp-image-88523" /></figure>



<p>Setting the standard for all other afternoon teas, you really can&#8217;t consider yourself an aficionado until you&#8217;ve sampled the spread at <a href="https://www.theritzlondon.com/dine-with-us/afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ritz</a>. Served in the spectacular surroundings of heavily gold-leafed Palm Court, where a live pianist or harpist provide the background music, you&#8217;re in for a treat. Things kick off with six types of classic, slender sandwiches (think cucumber with cream cheese, dill and mint and breast of chicken with tarragon creamed mayonnaise). Next up are your vintage freshly baked plain and fruit scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve. Apparently Ritz London is the only hotel in the UK to have a certified Tea Master, Giandomenico Scanu, who travels around the world to various tea plantations selecting the 20 on offer. From £76pp, and it can be adapted to veggie, vegan, gluten and nut-free. Add a glass of bubbly for £23. Booking ahead is a must, which is the case for most of our choices. </p>



<p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="https://www.fortnumandmason.com/afternoon-tea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fortnum&nbsp;&amp; Mason</a>, <a href="https://www.claridges.co.uk/restaurants-bars/afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Claridges</a>, <a href="https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/london/the-dorchester/restaurants-bars/afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dorchester</a>, <a href="https://www.thewolseley.com/menu/afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wolseley</a>, <a href="https://www.thesavoylondon.com/experience/afternoon-tea-london/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Savoy</a>, <a href="https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/london/hyde-park/dine/the-rosebery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mandarin Oriental</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cat-lover-s-choice">THE CAT-LOVER&#8217;S CHOICE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-07T140351.746-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3583" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-07T140351.746-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-07T140351.746-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-07T140351.746-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-07T140351.746.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>And from the sublime to the absolutely adorable, we giddily present to you, <a href="https://ladydinahs.com/">Lady Dinah&#8217;s Cat Emporium</a>. The modern phenomenon of the cat café hasn&#8217;t won everybody over, but Lady Dinah&#8217;s cats will do their very best to convince you. The food is a bit humbler than aforementioned alternatives, but it&#8217;s certainly not to be sniffed at. Delicious plain, raisin and vegan scones are paired with a changing selection of twelve teas, plus cakes, brownies or even a mini pie &#8216;n&#8217; mash! It&#8217;s 12+, which might rule out the little ones, but it does make for a calm atmosphere where human and feline peacefully coexist. Plus, £28 gets you tea, scones and 90 minutes with your new furry friends. You can even <a href="https://ladydinahs.com/pages/meet-the-cats">meet them all online</a> before you go, in case that&#8217;s what&#8217;s holding you back. </p>



<p><strong>See also:</strong> <a href="https://jackandbeyond.com/pages/dog-afternoon-tea">Jack &amp; Beyond Dog Afternoon Tea</a>, for an even more out-there experience &#8211; £14 per dog for an afternoon tea of handmade dog-treats. Human food is available too. Tentatively recommended for the bold.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-little-and-big-kids-one">THE LITTLE (AND BIG) KIDS&#8217; ONE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/454136517_1037928917770340_4013056232588833750_n-1-1000x665.jpg" alt="The Twits Afternoon Tea at County Hall" class="wp-image-96770" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Instagram @marriottpr_uki</figcaption></figure>



<p>There are few stories more iconic than Roald Dahl&#8217;s <em>The Twits</em>, and what better way to bring it life than the new afternoon tea at <a href="https://www.thetwitsafternoontea.com/">County Hall</a> (launches 15 Aug)? The story of Muggle-Wump the monkey&#8217;s daring escape from the captivity of ghastly Mr and Mrs Twit played out in food form is bound to appeal to kids, think a roulette of buttermilk and marmite scones, wormy spaghetti and &#8216;maggoty green cheese and mouldy cornflakes&#8217; arancini, and pretty much anything else you might find in Mr Twit&#8217;s beard! Available<strong> </strong>for a limited time only (£65 for adults and £45 for kids). If you miss it, the regular afternoon tea in <a href="https://www.thelibraryatcountyhall.com/afternoon-tea">The Library at County Hall</a> is well worth a visit too. </p>



<p><strong>See also:</strong> <a href="https://www.smeguk.com/news/projects/sofitel.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mad Hatter&#8217;s Tea Party at Sanderso</a><a href="https://morgansoriginals.com/sanderson/restaurants-bars/mad-hatters-afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">n</a>, <a href="https://www.onealdwych.com/food-drink/charlie-the-chocolate-factory-afternoon-tea">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at One Aldwych</a>, <a href="https://georgianhousehotel.co.uk/wizard-experiences/">Harry Potter at Georgian House</a> &amp; <a href="http://a.https//aquashard.co.uk/peter-pan-afternoon-tea/">Peter Pan in the Shard</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-tea-for-globetrotters">THE TEA FOR GLOBETROTTERS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Untitled-design-2023-08-01T114730.465.jpg" alt="The Prince Akatoki" class="wp-image-75423" /></figure>



<p>Marylebone&#8217;s <a href="https://www.theprinceakatokilondon.com/dining-bar/restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Prince Akatoki</a> is the unlikely location of one of London&#8217;s most quirky afternoon teas. The luxe Japanese style hotel offers a Koto Afternoon Tea experience which goes way beyond a scone platter and brings with it an entire cultural experience from rare teas, to traditional themed decor, and even to Japanese live music if you time it right. Expect savoury mini delights like brioche of seared tuna, avocado, wasabi dressing and chicken katsu sando,<em> </em>with matcha and pistachio cake and yuzu crème brûlée to follow. Of course, the teas are the coup de grâce, with top-grade organic matcha on offer, or an upgrade to sake pairings with each dish. Costs £70pp.</p>



<p><strong>See also:</strong> <a href="https://www.taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk/Fine-dining/Afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indian Jasmine Afternoon Tea</a> at Taj at 51 Buckingham Gate, <a href="https://www.tozigrandcafe.co.uk/whats_on/afternoon-tea-at-tozi-grand-cafe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Italian afternoon tea</a> at TOZI Grand Cafe Battersea, <a href="https://www.comohotels.com/london/como-the-halkin/dining" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Balinese afternoon tea</a> at Como at The Halkin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-gardener-s-choice">THE GARDENER&#8217;S CHOICE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-26-at-11.57.38.png" alt="Afternoon tea at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond " class="wp-image-88556" /></figure>



<p>Need a little inspo for the back garden? How about an afternoon in the whimsical setting of Richmond&#8217;s <a href="https://petershamnurseries.com/restaurants/the-teahouse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Petersham Nurserie</a><a href="https://petershamnurseries.com/locations/the-teahouse-afternoon-tea/#pnm_block-block_aa3a2c3f291d354ccc575ee540d31f01" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">s</a>? The teahouse serves cake and tea all week but on Fri-Sun, you can book the full shebang, Garden Afternoon Tea amid the floaty foliage and antique mismatched furniture. It&#8217;s a seasonal menu, naturally, but could include dishes like smoked chicken brioche with black tomato and beetroot relish, sun dried tomato and basil scones or white chocolate madaleine with crushed pistachio. Dairy free and vegan available. Served with loose-leaf teas £55pp or £65pp with a glass of Champagne. </p>



<p><strong>See also:</strong> <a href="https://www.kew.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Afternoon%20tea%2C%20Botanical.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kew Gardens</a>, <a href="https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/cafe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Garden Museum</a> (for tea and cake/scones), The <a href="https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/london/number-sixteen/the-orangery-at-number-sixteen/afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orangery at Number 16</a>, <a href="https://www.taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk/en/dine-central-london/kona-afternoon-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Secret Garden</a> at Taj. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-arty-one">THE ARTY ONE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/280341245_1865374500316166_7989656186749239422_n.jpg" alt="Artistic pastries at afternoon tea at Rosewood London" class="wp-image-96766" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Instagram @chefmarkperkins </figcaption></figure>



<p>Here&#8217;s where it gets artsy. Ever wondered what might happen if you put a master pastry chef, a tea sommelier and a modern artist in a room together? Well, now we know. <a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/london/dining/art-afternoon-tea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Art Afternoon Tea</a> (£75pp) at Rosewood London came into existence in 2017, and this summer executive pastry chef Mark Perkins draws inspiration from contemporary artist John Booth with truly astounding results. Things start comparatively conventionally but without a corner cut on quality, but beyond the sarnies and scones is gets really creative (Instagrammable). Pastries as perfect as artworks called &#8216;The Twins&#8217;, &#8216;Tropical Tulip&#8217; and &#8216;Painter&#8217;s Palette&#8217; &#8211; you&#8217;ll feel bad scoffing them, but scoff them you will. </p>



<p><strong>See also:</strong> <a href="https://sketch.london/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sketch</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sightseer-s-choice">THE SIGHTSEER&#8217;S CHOICE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mocktails-x-Brigits-Bakery-.png.jpg" alt="Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus with Mocktails Uniquely Crafted cans" class="wp-image-96765" /></figure>



<p>One last tip off! Available only during Afternoon Tea Week: <a href="https://b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours/afternoon-tea-bus-london">Brigit&#8217;s Bakery x Mocktails Uniquely Crafted.</a> Yep, Brigit&#8217;s Afternoon Tea Bus (our favourite dining experience on the move) is shaking things up, literally, by offering four non-alcoholic mocktails (flavours include the <em>Mockherita</em> and <em>Sansgria</em>) along with classic sandwiches, artisan pastries and cakes hand-crafted by Brigit&#8217;s executive Pastry Chef. It&#8217;s the perfect excuse to see London&#8217;s best bits, either as tourist doing the sights or a local having a love-in with the hometown. Just book onto the 5pm tour on any day during Afternoon Tea week (£62.50pp). You heard it here first! </p>


Cake expectations! The best afternoon teas in London

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