The tastiest afternoon teas in the UK (7 must-tries)

Ah, afternoon tea. Not every afternoon tea is the same, but you know one when you see it. Those light finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries atop a tiered silver tower – all washed down with a cup of tea. Ahh.

Originally a way for the upper classes to eat a bit more between lunch and dinner, it's now available in many establishments across the country. And while the prices are no longer eye-watering, the ritual of afternoon tea still has an undeniable touch of class.

But where can you go for the best of the best? Perhaps unsurprisingly, there's a high concentration of afternoon tea shops and cafes in London. But scratch below the London-centric surface and there's plenty to enjoy across England and Wales. Here are seven of the tastiest.

The Ritz, London

The Ritz is famous for many things – its opulent rooms, its famous guests and its premium location, to name but three. But no account of the Ritz is complete without a mention of its legendary afternoon tea.

Guests can choose from 20 types of loose-leaf tea, sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, pastries and teacakes – all soundtracked by a resident pianist. You can even throw a glass of champagne into the mix.

Prices start from £81 for adults and £59 for children.

Orestone Manor, Devon

Yes – "The Country House Hotel by the Sea" sounds a bit like a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. In fact, it's the tagline for Orestone Manor, a family-run hotel in the village of Maidencombe, Devon.

Close to walking trails, beautiful bays and a plethora of outdoor activities, Maidencombe is a jewel in the crown (or juicy currant in the scone) of the English Riviera.

Their afternoon tea includes scones, cakes, summer fruits and Devon clotted cream – all presented in classic style on a silver tier.

Jurassic Afternoon Tea, London

Anyone who's visited Stump Cross Caverns will tell you we're mad about our prehistoric past. Fossils, dinos, gemstones and rocks: all have a special place in our 21st-century hearts.
So, we can't resist mentioning Jurassic Afternoon Tea at Apero – a Mediterranean restaurant in South Kensington.

Apero's extravagant dinosaur-themed afternoon tea is a sight to behold. But the restaurant's afternoon tea-takers aren't just impressed by the food and drink. They also praise Apero's attentive customer service. At Jurassic Afternoon Tea, you won't be looking at the waiter and wondering, "D'you think 'e saw us?"



Zindiya, Birmingham

Birmingham has many spots for traditional afternoon tea. But in the birthplace of balti, why not try a spicy Indian variation?

Zindiya is an Indian street food restaurant in Moseley, south Birmingham. It provides tapas-style dishes, craft beers and cocktails. And at certain times of the week (check before you diarise), it offers Indian-inspired afternoon tea – "a traditional treat with a twist".

Spicy tea. Cardamom scones. Macaroons. The Mumbai sandwich. If you're looking for taste, inventiveness and a touch of spice, Zindiya is the place to be.

Storrs Hall, Lake District

On the shores of England's largest lake, with sweeping views of the fells, Storrs Hall is a hotel in what was once a Georgian mansion.

Storrs serves a fine traditional afternoon tea, all sandwiches and scones ("very proper", they say!), jam and clotted cream. They also serve a Tiny Tots afternoon tea for the little ones.
Storrs Hall is the perfect choice if you want some natural splendour with your leisurely repast.

Celtic Manor, Newport

Celtic Manor is a five-star hotel and 19th-century manor house in the Usk Valley – that idyllic part of Wales where, in T.S. Eliot's words, "the grey light meets the green air".

Its traditional Resort Afternoon Tea hits all the right notes with a confident touch. This is Afternoon Tea with a capital A and a capital T.

Celtic Manor also offers Champagne Afternoon Tea and Pink Gin Afternoon Tea. Prices start from £32 per adult and £16 per child.

Afternoon tea at Stump Cross Caverns

Here at Stump Cross Caverns, we're about so much more than just the caves beneath our feet. We also make the most of the jaw-dropping Yorkshire Dales that surrounds us – and no more so than in our Time Cafe.

This quirky themed cafe offers commanding views of the Dales. Whether you've just come up from the caves or in from the Dales, it's the perfect spot to satisfy your appetite and quench your thirst.


But don't just take our word for it. Local influencer The Yorkshireman sang its praises in his viral video , where he rounds off a ramble with our afternoon t ea.

 On top of our usual refreshments, we serve afternoon tea for just £19.50 a person . For £25 a head, you get afternoon tea with a beautiful calcite heart you can take home and keep. Or for £35 a head, you get afternoon tea, a calcite heart and a self-guided trip through the caves.

Where does afternoon tea come from?

You might think tea is as English as Saint George. But this predominately Chinese herb was introduced to England by a Scotsman, Charles II, and his Portuguese wife Catherine de Braganza. 

Back then, tea was the preserve of the upper classes thanks to its high cost. Afternoon tea, too, has aristocratic origins.

It was introduced by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, a friend of Queen Victoria. The Duchess was unhappy with the increasing gap between midday lunch and evening dinner. To solve this problem, she began the "afternoon ritual" of having tea, cake and bread and butter delivered to her room in the late afternoon.


Fancy freshly cut sandwiches, plump scones and a few of our favourite hand-picked treats? Book for afternoon tea in the Time Cafe at Stump Cross Caverns today.