London’s Best Afternoon Teas
Whether you are dining out or baking scones at home, the results are in, and I’m sharing them with you.
World’s best! How many times have we heard this? World’s best coffee, world’s best pizza, and if you live in England…
World’s Best Afternoon Tea.
Few things are more British than a cuppa tea with freshly baked scones with cream and jam.
Ting, Shangri-La Hotel
Many places around London claim the title and reputation of London’s Best Afternoon Tea.
Of course, it takes more than a pot of PJ Tips and a plate of biscuits. It’s an elegant ritual, accompanied by ornate three-tiered trays with assortments of tiny perfect cakes, warm scones, fresh preserves, and fancy crustless finger sandwiches.
There is an even proper “tea etiquette” if you’re going to do it right.
Finger sandwiches before cakes.
Eat the scone halves separately. Never sandwich them together.
And for the love of Queen and country, pinky finger down and never lift your saucer with your cup while you drink.
Whatever the variations that surround afternoon tea, one thing stands at the centre from which all will be judged, and that is the scone. There has been much debate on whether the pronunciation rhymes with John or Joan. But as scones were invented in Scotland and the Scots say scone (John), that is deemed the correct pronunciation. Although I think most Americans say scone (Joan). I blame Starbucks.
So I did my in-depth research (work, work, work) being a lover of this sweet afternoon ritual. Obviously, with so many places in London offering afternoon tea, I could not visit them all, but I did get to many. On a related side note, I have recently renewed my membership at SoulCycle.
London’s Best Afternoon Teas
Caviar Man and Shawn Martin (@60feelslike40) at Sketch
Best Overall Experience ~ SKETCH
The second you walk into Sketch, you know you are in for something extraordinary and unique. Although impressed by the creative displays of pastries and crustless finger sandwiches, the very pink, Instagram-worthy dining room sets the tone. The Caviar Man (every restaurant should have one) is dressed in pink to match the decor, and there is a waiter whose only job is to pour champagne with a long theatrical flare. This pageantry is accompanied by a string quartet playing everything from Oasis to Beethoven.
The Most Expensive ~ CLIVEDEN HOUSE
This hotel in Berkshire has designed a spread boasting a cost of an astonishing £550 per couple for their afternoon tea. What does that buy you, you might ask? It includes; the rare Da Hong Pao tea, mini canapés of 30-month air-cured Iberico ham, Beluga caviar, chocolate Opera cake garnished with gold leaf, and vintage Dom Perignon Champagne to wash it all down.
Full disclosure, I have not sampled the Cliveden House for their pricey afternoon tea, as it is clearly out of my limited budget as a blogger, but if anyone is up for taking me, drop me a DM, I will not object.
Most Traditional ~ THE DORCHESTER HOTEL
With its grand, elegant room, perfumed with enormous fresh bouquets of seasonal flowers, The Dorchester gives all the feeling that you have walked into a royal palace. An impeccable English waiter greets you as you sit down, and the food, like the ambience, is rich, traditional and elegant. With the room filled with posh, well dressed Londoners and a live piano player, it gives all the impression that at any moment, the Queen herself will be walking in.
Best Value, With All the Glam ~ THE HAM YARD HOTEL
This has all the liveliness, colour, and eclectic vibe one would expect from being in the centre of Soho. The Ham Yard serves all the traditional favourites at a more affordable price then the other places I visited. £30 for afternoon tea, or £40 with a cocktail. Compare that to an average cost of the others hovering between £55 and £70, and the Ham Yard is the perfect balance between affordable artsy and British traditional.
Most Elegant ~ THE SAVOY HOTEL
London is not short of elegant places to have tea. The Ritz, Claridge’s and The Wolseley, to name a few, are exceptional, but my favourite has to be The Savoy Hotel. Maybe it was the friendly way the elegant waiter took care of me or the stunning room. But I think overall it was a delicious combination of their perfectly art-directed food and the impeccable service, without airs. They made me feel like royalty.
Best Afternoon Tea For Kids ~ ONE ALDWYCH
Inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic story, One Aldwych’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Tea is an excellent place to bring the kids. Candy floss, golden eggs, snozzberry jam and chocolate milk, all with a theatrical twist.
Best Afternoon Tea for Tourists ~
Brigit’s Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus London Tour.
New to London, and short on time? This tea puts on you on Brigit’s Afternoon Tea Bus, a traditional double-decker bus and takes you by Central London’s iconic tourist attractions. Sip tea and eat the equivalent of dessert tapas while snapping photos of Big Ben.
Best Jaw-Dropping View
Aqua Shard, Peter Pan Brunch
This is a three-way tie. The Oblix, The Aqua Shard, and Ting.
All three restaurants are part of the Shangri-La Hotel and sit over thirty floors above London in the Shard, London’s tallest building. All boast breathtaking views of the Thames, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, but each restaurant has its own particular vibe.
The contemporary Aqua Shard is known for its various themes for teas that entice people with young families. They have included Peter Pan or Mary Poppins.
Ting, with its floor to ceiling windows, tends to magically blend in their Asian roots, with some items served in bamboo steamers.
The very cosmopolitan Oblix is modern and, like the room itself, serves vertical, delicious treats.
The Oblix
For those who can’t make it out to London for afternoon tea anytime soon, do not despair. I also did my version of The Great British Bake-Off at home, TO FIND THE BEST SCONE RECIPE.
I tried seven different recipes; Leith’s Cooking School, The Dorchester Hotel, Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, Nigella Lawson, BBC Good Food and Martha Stewart, who has never led me astray in the kitchen.
After trying these various scone recipes, my favourite was The Leith’s Cooking School. They came out perfectly delicious, light and perfect, and I have attached the recipe here.
My research for London’S BEST Afternoon Tea is far from complete.
I will diligently and faithfully continue to explore and experience this time-honoured British tradition. If you have places to recommend, please drop me a line. I’d be happy to try them all. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am off to the gym. Too much cake makes too much Christina.
