While I love a traditional afternoon tea, there are a bunch of cool, unique afternoon teas in London that are worth experiencing just as much. Depending on your personality and interests, you might think that tea experiences in this list are more up your alley than the typical one.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image Courtesy of Sanderson
Mad Hatter’s Tea at Sanderson
If you’re an Alice in Wonderland fan, check out the Mad Hatter’s Tea at Sanderson in Fitzrovia. Each treat in the tea is beautifully crafted and tastes good too. If it’s a nice day and it’s not too crowded, you may be sat in the hotel’s courtyard for your tea experience, which is lovely.
Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea | Fitzrovia | ££££ | WA
Image Courtesy of City Cruises
City Cruises Thames Afternoon Tea
For a themed afternoon tea with a view that never stops changing, hop aboard a City Cruises boat and take your scones to the water. As you float down the Thames, you’ll get to tuck right into finger sandwiches, little cakes, macarons and clotted cream–topped scones while London’s landmarks drift past your window, from the London Eye to Tower Bridge.
City Cruises Thames Afternoon Tea | Westminster | ££ | WA*
*See more about City Cruises’s accessibility information here.
Image Courtesy of sketch via Facebook
sketch Afternoon Tea
sketch isn’t just an afternoon tea, it’s an experience. Set inside a 18th-century Mayfair townhouse, the restaurant is known for its ever-changing art installations and candy-coloured interiors. The themed afternoon tea menu is as creative as the space itself in my opinion — think beautifully designed cakes and pastries that look as good as they taste. And yes, even the bathrooms are iconic with their futuristic toilets that allow you to essentially “pee in an egg”.
sketch Afternoon Tea | Mayfair | £££
Image Courtesy of One Aldwych
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon tea at One Aldwych
Both adults and kids love the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea at the luxe One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden. It’s beautifully done, with the treats being as delicious as they are adorable. The cocktails are also magical, I recommend upgrading to get one (or a few? I’ve been there…) In December, One Aldwych typically “Christmas-fys” the tea, so it’s even more magical. It’s included in my Festive Teas to Try in London guide.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea | Covent Garden | ££££ | WA
Image Courtesy of Rosewood London via Facebook
Art Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London
Rosewood London is one of the most luxurious hotels in London; I actually had lunch with the cast of Mary Poppins Returns here (magical). Their Art Afternoon Tea was voted Best Contemporary Afternoon Tea in the UK. The Executive Pastry Chef, Mark Perkins, created a colourful collection of pastries inspired by David Hockney’s exhibition at the Lightroom- ‘Bigger & Closer’. The true immersive experience is complete with a ‘Hockneyfication’ by stylist Camilla Wordie at Mirror Room. Plus, if you’re looking to try tea (the drink) that’s the best of the best, this is the place to do it, as they serve Mariage Frères varieties. Watch a full review of this tea here.
A few times a year, instead of the art tea, Rosewood serves a seasonal tea for special events, like Wimbledon and the Chelsea Flower Show. They definitely serves some of the most unique afternoon teas in London.
Art Afternoon Tea | Holborn | ££££ | WA
Image Courtesy of Ampersand Hotel via Facebook
Science Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel
Now one of London’s most famous afternoon teas, the Science Tea at the beautiful Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington is great for families, although, adults without kids tend to like it too. The inspiration for it comes from the nearby Science Museum, so pair your tea experience with a visit and you’ll have a very science-y half-day in London. The tea is served in the Ampersand’s drawing room, a beautifully-decorated part of the hotel, which is actually under the Small Luxury Hotels of the World label.
Science Afternoon Tea | South Kensington | £££ | WA
Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days
B Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
B Bakery combines a vintage bus tour with afternoon tea, taking you around to see some of the most famous sights in London while enjoying a lovely traditional afternoon tea, gin (optionally) included. Tourists tend to love this as it’s a very unique afternoon tea, however as I have pretty bad motion sickness it’s definitely not a tea I’ll try anytime soon :/
B Bakery Afternoon Tea Tour Bus | Victoria | £££
Image Courtesy of Ting, The Shard
Afternoon Tea at Ting The Shard
This tea is served in the Shangri-La hotel’s restaurant Ting, which does modern British cuisine with Asian influences and signature dishes. When I visited, they were doing the limited-edition Cloud Forest Afternoon Tea, but the tea’s theme changes depending on the theme that’s around the hotel at that time. For example, in the past they’ve had a Mary Poppins-inspired afternoon tea.
As with all restaurants in the Shard, you’ll want to book well in advance and request a table at the window. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get that coveted window seat, but of course it’s not guaranteed.
Afternoon Tea at The Shard | London Bridge | ££££ | WA
Image Courtesy of The Berkeley
Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley
If you love high-end fashion, then I’d 100% book into the stunning Collins Room at The Berkeley (named after designer David Collins) for Prêt-à-Portea. It’s a fashion-themed afternoon tea where the sub-theme changes every six months. At present, they’re taking a break for the season, but if you have a trip booked for 2026, keep an eye out for their reopening.
For something equally creative for those visiting this year, I recommend The Berkeley’s Goûtea Afternoon Tea, which blends French pâtisserie with British afternoon tea. The menu celebrates summer with small savoury bites followed by miniature masterpieces like strawberry biscuits, peach flowers and zesty lemon meringue tarts.
Afternoon Tea at The Berkeley | Knightsbridge | ££££
Want to know which afternoon teas are 100% recommended by the Love and London team? Grab one of our London itineraries, which include our top recommendations, extra travel guides, digital maps, and much more.
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Thanks for your recommendations! We just tried a vegan Mad Hatters afternoon tea last week. We loved everything about it: the food, the setting, the whole experience!
Great!