The Pump Room (Searcys)

If you only book one afternoon tea in Bath, this is the safe, standout choice. The Pump Room is a soaring Georgian salon next to the Roman Baths where tea has been served since the 18th century, and the setting — chandeliers, columns and live music from the resident pianist or the Pump Room Trio — is the draw no hotel lounge can match. The spread is a classic full afternoon tea: finger sandwiches, savoury bites, handmade scones and a rotating pastry selection, with unlimited loose-leaf tea or hand-roasted filter coffee, at an indicative ~£44.50 per person. It runs at three fixed daily sittings (typically noon, 2pm and 4pm), and seasonal or themed menus appear through the year. It is central, wheelchair-accessible and by far the most photographed tearoom in the city, which is exactly why you should book well ahead. Choose it over the Royal Crescent if the room and the theatre matter more than a hushed, private setting.