The Ivy St Helen's Square, York

The Ivy St Helen's Square is part of The Ivy Collection, and its afternoon tea from an indicative £29.95 per person (around £39.95 with a glass of Champagne) is the best-value central option here. Served daily on a three-tier stand with freshly baked fruit scones, finger sandwiches, sweet treats and a choice of teas or coffee, it's a relaxed brasserie experience in the collection's characteristically ornate room right on St Helen's Square. It ranks fifth because it's a smart national brand rather than a York original, so it lacks the heritage of Bettys or the one-off settings above; details and availability can also vary by branch across the collection. Choose it when price, a central location and easy daily booking matter more than a landmark occasion.