The summery selection of sandwiches and cakes offers something a bit different to traditional afternoon tea. It's truly a meal fit for a royal. We think we’ve eaten more scones, clotted cream, finger sandwiches and cakes than any other food magazine, and after careful consideration we’ve settled on the below as our favourite London afternoon teas. There are also chocolate dinosaurs and a citrus cocktail served in a laboratory beaker, to add to the Dr Jekyll experience. From £50 5/10.Warm savoury and sweet scones come next, the former super-cheesy with a hint of chives, and the latter served with a smooth citrussy lemon curd, raspberry jam and vegan cream. Time Out is a registered trademark of Time Out Digital Limited. Those looking for a boozy addition to their afternoon can opt for the Dom Pérignon-themed tea time that is served with a vintage bottle of the celebrated spirit. The Landmark London is a 5-star hotel with a unique Winter Garden atrium that serves Traditional, Chocolate, and Gluten-free Afternoon Teas daily as well as offering seasonal specials during particular times of the year. Price? Try another? Plus, there are unlimited refills of everything except the champers. We take you through five of the most sweet and savory locations around the city to take your high tea—from the Savoy’s elegant tea parties on the Thames to Sketch Gallery’s Instagrammable art gallery. The contents of your stand will include all sorts of savoury twists ranging from mini bagels fills with smoked coronation chicken to a ploughman’s tartlet with puff pastry, while pretty cakes and pastries adorn the top tier – perhaps rhubarb mille-feuille, hazelnut and banana paris brest or salted caramel tarts. Some places may sound like a great idea for children, such as the Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson but as they charge the same rate for children, it's not really cost effective. Gluten-free menu available. It’s worth asking if they have any tropical blend in, too – a punchy tea with a pleasant bubblegum aroma. Because alongside the requisite sandwiches and scones, their afternoon tea features dainty desserts shaped like the Gherkin, the Shard, classic red telephone booths and Big Ben. SKETCH GALLERY | AFTERNOOON TEA AT THE GALLERY, historically looking for a way to stave off her pre-dinner hunger pangs, Champagne House Billecart-Salmon Keeps It in the Family, How to Host The Clambake That Will Impress Your Guests, These Restaurants Are Taking the Multi-Sensory Experience to, Previous Story: Palmaz Winery: The Art and Science of Passion in a Napa Vineyard, Next Story: The Perfect Eve to Share Hot Chocolate by the Fire. What’s the vibe? Enjoy Healthy Afternoon Tea at London's Oldest Hotel. The Louis XVI-style set is beautifully ornate, with pristine white tablecloths laid out beneath intricate chandeliers, giant palms and gold-gilt mirrors. The meal is halal, with vegetarian options available on the day. 24 hours’ notice is preferred. There is an incredible amount of places to have afternoon tea in London, which makes deciding which tea house or the room you should visit for that time-honored tradition a daunting task. Add a glass of refreshing Bollinger for an extra £10. What’s the vibe? But that’s not the only difference. –. And if you would like to do it all again at home here's where to learn how to make your own afternoon tea. Scones (plain or fruity) come tucked up in a napkin nest to keep them toasty warm, and the clotted cream is in just-perfect scoops. £58 per person, £68 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne, £75 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier rosé champagne, £90 with a glass of Dom Pérignon vintage champagne. Naturally, there’s a solid tea selection here – but if you’re feeling indulgent, line up some sake or shiso palomas to go with it. Video: check out our pick of five of the best afternoon teas in town. Amidst richly wood-panelled surroundings, you’ll be treated to dishes like mini smoked coronation chicken bagels and rhubarb mille feuille, alongside your pick from their library of tea – including one grown relatively locally, in Cornwall. –, Mr. Fogg’s | Mayfair, Fitzrovia & Covent Garden. While there are many places to grab a spot of tea in the city, a few stand out as the best afternoon tea places in London for their charming ambiance, excellent cakes and scones, and high-quality customer service. Finally, check out the place that started the grand tradition of getting fancy for afternoon tea, The Palm Court at The Langham London. Highlights include a chocolate and passion fruit ‘planet mousse’ that arrives billowing clouds of dry ice, a choccy spaceman, jelly in a petri dish and lemon curd squeezed from a tube. Welcome to our collection of the best afternoon teas in London, updated quarterly to make sure you get the best afternoon tea deals of the moment. The fact that you can add on a DIY biscuit decorating session is just the icing on the cake, really. The pastries are decent, the just-baked scones even better (look out for the sensational Marco Polo ‘tea jelly’), but at Claridge’s, it’s the savouries that are the stars. What’s the vibe like? Lyaness has created a collection of quirky, innovative cordials and liqueurs that form the base of all of the bar’s cocktails, including the complex, fresh and elegant drinks for their afternoon tea. The Wolseley is a lovely place to visit at any time of day. Scones are pedestrian but the (unlimited) finger sandwiches are terrific (elevated by interesting breads, such as caraway seed or walnut), as are pitch-perfect pastries: the moist battenberg, wrapped in homemade marzipan, is not one we will easily forget. First introduced in 1840 by the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna, the tradition of afternoon tea has been a staple of British culture ever since. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free alternatives available on the day. The driver will take you round all the London sights during your tea, and the tables are even fitted with cup holsters to avoid any scalding spillages. The elegant foyer is where the tea is savored and where Thierry Despont’s 1930s-inspired design drips with baroque detailing and a creamy color palette inviting guests to drink and dine like royalty. Dietary needs? –. £58 per person, £68 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne, £75 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier rosé champagne, £90 with a glass of Dom Pérignon vintage champagne. The changing menu is put together by chef-owner Valentina. Your ultimate guide to high tea in London. Tea at The Lanesborough ticks all the boxes. Those looking for an ambiance of whimsy will fall in love with the Millennial-pink interiors at Sketch Gallery designed by celebrated artists and designers. Come if you’ve got a sweet tooth: the (unlimited) sandwiches and scones are somewhat ordinary, but the showstoppers here are the wonderful pastries, from a delectable ‘rhubarb and custard’ choux to a nicely sharp lemon posset macaron. Some hostels and simple tea shops have options at £15-20 per person. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ SKETCH GALLERY | AFTERNOOON TEA AT THE GALLERY This artist conceived restaurant is one of the most memorable and photo-ready places for afternoon tea in all of London. Remember, during the current crisis, there are alternatives to visiting the restaurant, while still supporting them – home delivery, forward-booking vouchers and more. Now dubbed ‘Seasoniltea’, the spread is based on the best seasonal produce – so expect a calendar-tuned line-up of speciality sandwiches, home-baked scones, cakes and pastries, all served on Wedgwood china.