The Best Afternoon Tea in London: Our Top 5 for 2026

Our top pick is Afternoon Tea at The Ritz — the most complete grand-hotel experience and the classic choice for a first visit. Claridge's runs it close for Art Deco glamour, while Fortnum & Mason is the one to choose if the tea itself matters most, thanks to its exceptional loose-leaf selection. The Savoy offers the grandest riverside setting, and Goûtea at The Berkeley leads on pâtisserie. Which is 'best' really depends on the occasion — see our full ranking above for who each one suits.

At the top hotels expect an indicative £90 to £95 per person for a traditional tea, rising to roughly £110 to £130 with Champagne. The Ritz and Claridge's both start from £95; a glass of Champagne adds about £26 at The Ritz, while Claridge's Champagne tea is £110 and its rosé version £125. A discretionary service charge (typically around 12.5%) is usually added, and festive-season menus cost more. Treat all figures as indicative and check the venue's current menu when you book.

It varies. The Ritz is the strictest, requiring formal wear with a jacket and tie for gentlemen and no jeans or trainers (the code is waived for children under 16). Claridge's and The Savoy ask for smart or smart-casual dress. Fortnum & Mason and The Berkeley are more relaxed, though smart-casual is still sensible. Always check the specific venue's policy before you go.

Most venues allocate around 90 minutes to two hours per sitting, which is comfortable time for the full run of sandwiches, scones and cakes plus a few pots of tea. Some grand hotels run tightly scheduled sittings, so if you want to linger, book an earlier or later slot rather than a peak mid-afternoon one, and confirm your table time when you reserve.

Yes. All five venues welcome children, and several offer a smaller children's tea; The Ritz, for example, charges around £73 for under-16s and waives its jacket-and-tie dress code for them. It is worth mentioning ages when you book so the kitchen can adjust portions, and note that some sittings are calmer and better suited to families than the busiest weekend slots.

Yes. All five venues in our guide offer a vegetarian version as standard, and most can provide vegan and gluten-free menus if you request them in advance. Flag any dietary requirements when you book rather than on the day, as the kitchens prepare these separately.

Afternoon tea is the full spread: finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes and pastries, served with pots of tea. A cream tea is the pared-back version: just scones, jam, clotted cream and tea. 'High tea' is often used incorrectly by tourists; historically it was a heartier, hot early-evening meal rather than the dainty hotel affair, so what the grand hotels serve is afternoon tea, not high tea.

For The Ritz and Claridge's, book several weeks ahead, and further for weekends, festive dates and Mother's Day, which sell out fastest. Weekday and earlier sittings are easier to secure. A card is usually required to hold the booking, and many venues charge for late cancellations or no-shows.