8 Best Places For Afternoon Tea In London

Is there anything more British than a nice scone with a lovely cuppa?

When staying at your student accommodation in London, you don’t need to worry about being short of places where you can grab a cheeky scone or a finger sandwich.

Of course, The Savoy and The Ritz immediately spring to mind when you’re thinking about high-end afternoon tea places in London, but what about the options that won’t break your bank account?

There’s plenty of boujee central London spots that offer great value for money without the crazy prices.

We’ve done our research and gathered a list of the 8 best places you need to go for afternoon tea in London, we hope you’re feeling hungry!

1. Number 16

This place is super stylish and relaxed, the perfect place to visit for a spot of afternoon tea in the heart of London.

You can tuck into your scones in the private garden, or in The Orangery, which is very fancy, to say the least!

From £23 per person, you can enjoy a scrumptious selection of finger sandwiches including smoked salmon on granary, tomato and goat’s cheese quiche, homemade scones with clotted cream, and mouth-watering cakes.

Number 16 also have gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan afternoon tea available on request, so there’s something tasty for everyone!

Situated in the heart of lively South Kensington, Number 16 in Firmdale Hotel is close to the famous Hyde Park and the Natural History Museum. If you’re staying at our Lightfoot Hall property, the delicious scones are only a short, 10-minute walk from your accommodation.

2. Dean Street Townhouse

Located in a very classy Georgian townhouse built in the 1730s is Dean Street Townhouse in Soho.

If you fancy a couple of glasses of fizz with your Afternoon Tea, to really push the boat out, why not! You’re in the perfect atmosphere to be glamorous.

You may even see a few famous faces when visiting here, so make sure you’ve got your camera ready for some selfies!

The food comes in a 3-tier stand with 4 cakes, 2 warm scones, and 4 sandwiches, now that’s enough to make your mouth water.

Afternoon Tea runs between 2pm-6pm with a choice of fizz, finger sandwiches, scones, traditional British cakes, and a tea of your choice. Students living in the Janet Poole House will only be a 15-20-minute walk from this sunny Afternoon Tea spot.

3. The English Rose Tea Shop

Feeling peckish? The English Rose Tea Shop on Lower Grosvenor Place is super close to Buckingham Palace and proud winners of the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards for six years running.

Traditional afternoon tea for two in this fancy London spot is just £15 per person, offering a mixed selection of finger sandwiches, cakes, and warm scones with clotted cream, and a pot of tea for two.

If you’re feeling extra, why not add a 200ml bottle of prosecco for £6.75 per person? It’d be rude not to!

This hidden London gem offers a very calm and quaint environment, with pleasant smiley service to match.

Get yourselves down here if you need to wind down after some intense studying, and enjoy a few sweet treats!

4. The National Café

Set in the charming National Gallery is The National Café, where you can have a hearty Afternoon Tea following a day of London sightseeing.Prices start at £22.50 per person and you will enjoy a selection of homemade finger sandwiches, pastries and cakes with a scone and a choice of Peyton and Byrne Preserves, Devonshire Clotted Cream, and tea/coffee.

Ask them about their cake of the day for a nice surprise, because everybody loves a bit of cake!

5. The Wallace

For just £19.50, sit in the bright airy conservatory and sip on a hot sweet cup of the tea soaking in the sights at The Wallace!

The restaurant is situated inside the Wallace Collection Gallery in the fancy Marylebone, dotted with stunning aesthetics, to say the least.

Enjoy a sweet treat amongst rose-pink walls and trees dotted throughout, with a choice of dainty sandwiches, scones, mini pastries and cakes.

Served between 2:30pm and 4:30pm every day of the week, this Afternoon Tea spot is especially popular with Londoners, so book in advance here, if you don’t want to miss out on a scrumptious scone!

6. The Tea Terrace

Fancy a bit of afternoon tea midst shopping spree? Then look no further than The Tea Terrace on Oxford Street, and Victoria Street too!

Most famous for their afternoon tea, they take a lot of pride in serving up soft, warm scones and a lovely cuppa.

There are four options for afternoon tea, the traditional, the indulgent, the celebration, and the gluten-free, so you’re spoilt for choice!

All four scrumptious options are served on Royal Albert fine bone china and a 3-tier cake stand to make you feel extra fancy.

The bottom tier is reserved for sandwiches, the middle tier for warm, buttery scones and the top tier for plenty of delectable cakes! Students living in our Hawley Crescent accommodation are just a 20-minute train ride from this fancy London tearoom, so there really isn’t any excuse not to visit!

7. The Ham Yard Hotel

Over the past few years, the iconic Ham Yard Hotel has excelled in popularity amongst afternoon tea lovers, offering alternative choices such as healthy, reduced sugar, gluten-free and vegan options.

You’re in cake heaven at Ham Yard hotel, as Head Chef Robin Read has ensured a vast array of yummy cakes are on offer as well as macaroons, desserts, scones, and home-made jams.

If that’s not enough to tempt you, their smoked salmon sandwiches, Cumberland sausage rolls, and tomato arancini are a must-have, guaranteed to satisfy your belly.

To top off your visit with a sweet treat, the cakes on offer include lemon drizzle, a chocolate tiffin, raspberry financier and of course, homemade scones with clotted cream and preserves!

For £25 per person, this London Afternoon Tea won’t break the bank. You can enjoy the ultimate indulgence at Ham Yard hotel, with the option to add a glass of champers for an extra £10!

8. Cinnamon Bazaar

If you’re around the pretty Covent Garden and fancy something a little different, you need to visit Cinnamon Bazaar for their daily afternoon tea from 3pm-5pm!

Forget bog standard cucumber sandwiches and try some authentic Indian alternatives.

There’s a large choice of teas including ginger and cardamom masala chai, with a whole bunch of tasty snacks like the Kolkata fish finger sandwich with tomato chutney.

Great British Bake Off star Tamal Ray has got sweet treats covered too, including cinnamon cream macarons, pistachio cake with rose meringue, and a steamed Bengali yoghurt with mango curd.

If you’re quick, until the end of September 2020 there’s a new unlimited afternoon tea deal for just £15 per person, originally £25!

Planning to study in or visit London? Check our other useful guides on how to travel cheaply in London, where to go shopping or clubbing and how to manage your budget so you can make the most of it.