The best afternoon tea in London in 2026 is at Claridge’s, where the traditional tea costs 95 pounds per person, closely followed by The Lanesborough, The Berkeley and Brown’s Hotel. We rebuilt this list around venues where we could find a current, official price.
The first edition of this article ran ten venues. Four of them (The Mandeville, Sotheby’s Café, The Capital Hotel and Bea’s of Bloomsbury) could not be verified for 2026, so they are left out. Prices in pounds sterling are from hotel pages and booking listings in 2026 unless a year is shown. Always check the menu before you book.
Where is the best afternoon tea in London? (at a glance)
| Rank | Venue | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Foyer at Claridge’s, Mayfair | £95 / £110 / £125 |
| 2 | The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge | From £92 (2026 themed menus) |
| 3 | Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley, Knightsbridge | £100 (festive 2023) |
| 4 | The Drawing Room at Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair | £80 per person (£160 for two) |
| 5 | The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, Sloane Street | £75 |
| 6 | The Gallery at sketch, Mayfair | From £85 |
The 6 best afternoon tea venues in London
1. The Foyer at Claridge’s, Mayfair
Claridge’s lists a Traditional Afternoon Tea at 95 pounds per person, a Champagne version at 110 pounds and a Rosé Champagne version at 125 pounds. A festive tea runs from 3 November to 3 January (excluding 25 December) at 120 pounds on weekdays and 130 pounds at weekends. The food mixes sweet and savoury, including smoked Scottish salmon, with pastries that change seasonally, and tea ranges from a rich oolong to the Claridge’s Blend. Prices are from the hotel’s own page, checked in October 2026; the page does not list serving times.
2. The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge
The hotel runs themed limited-edition teas through the year. In 2026 these include a Valentine’s tea (13 to 15 February, from 115 pounds) and a Bridgerton tea earlier in the year (from 92 pounds). The Bridgerton Festive tea runs from 5 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 at 110 pounds per person with a cocktail or mocktail, 116 pounds with Champagne and 120 pounds with Rosé Champagne, with a children’s tea at 60 pounds. We could not find a standard year-round price, so ask when you book.
3. Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley, Knightsbridge
The Berkeley’s fashion-inspired afternoon tea, where the cakes and pastries copy the look of catwalk designs, is now served in the Collins Room, not the Caramel Room named in our first edition. The most recent official price we could find was 100 pounds per person for the festive 2023 version, which included a glass of Champagne or a mocktail, with afternoon tea hours of 1 pm to 5:30 pm. Current prices were not found, so confirm with the hotel.
4. The Drawing Room at Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair
Brown’s still serves the afternoon tea that made Mayfair famous. Hotel gift-voucher menus from July 2026 list tea for two at 160 pounds, Champagne for two at 184 pounds and Rosé for two at 186 pounds, and a plant-based version at 80 pounds per person on its January 2026 menu. A 15% discretionary service charge applies. The tea room in our first edition was called the English Tea Room, and chef credits from that edition have changed.
5. The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, Sloane Street
The Belmond page lists a Traditional afternoon tea at 75 pounds per person, a cream tea at 50 pounds per person, with service daily from 12 pm to 6 pm. The page does not show a date, but a July 2023 Sloane Street guide quoted the same 75 pounds. Our first edition mentioned art by The Kings Road Art Gallery and 64 rooms, which we could not re-check.
6. The Gallery at sketch, Mayfair
The Gallery is the art-filled room in sketch where the tea is themed and changes through the year. In 2026 it listed a sketch in Bloom tea at 105 pounds (12 May to 7 June), a Wimbledon tea at 95 pounds (29 June to 12 July), and a standard menu listed from 85 pounds on a booking site. Afternoon tea runs from 12 pm Monday to Thursday and 11 am at weekends, according to a booking listing. The Parlour mentioned in our first edition may not match the current set-up.
How we put this list together
We ranked venues by how much of the experience we could confirm: a current published price, a clear setting and a distinct offer. The order is our own judgement, and prices vary by date, menu and drink pairing. Where we could not confirm a price, we say so.
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FAQ
What is the best afternoon tea in London?
Our pick is the Foyer at Claridge’s, where the Traditional Afternoon Tea is listed at 95 pounds per person.
How much does afternoon tea cost in London?
At the venues we checked, it ranges from about 75 pounds per person at The Cadogan to 95 pounds at Claridge’s and about 80 pounds at Brown’s Hotel.
Do you need to book afternoon tea in London?
Yes. All six venues take bookings, and themed seasonal menus sell out.
Is there a dress code?
Some hotels set one, and the Claridge’s page does not mention it. Check when you book.
When is festive afternoon tea served?
Claridge’s festive tea runs from 3 November to 3 January, and The Lanesborough’s from 5 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Last updated: October 2026.
