Bettys (Belmont Room), York

Bettys has been a Yorkshire institution since 1919, and its bookable afternoon tea in York's Belmont Room is the city's benchmark: dainty sandwiches, miniature cakes and scones, a wide leaf-tea list and a resident pianist across a 90-minute sitting. It earns the top spot on reputation and consistency that no rival in York matches, and vegetarian, vegan, non-gluten-containing and children's menus are all available. The trade-off versus The Grand below is price and access: at an indicative £44.95 per person it is the priciest pick here, the Belmont Room currently has no lift, and the ground-floor café teas run on a first-come basis that often means queues. If you specifically want the guaranteed, seated Belmont Room occasion, book ahead rather than joining the café line.