We will be in London the last two weeks of March, and plan to do afternoon (high?) tea. I have read many discussions about this on both frommers and fodors, and want to know which afternoon tea venue do you believe gives you the most bang for the buck? (Or pound as the case may be?) And, at the same time, offers a pleasurable authentic afternoon tea experience, which is really what we want.

What is your recommendation, and why do you recommend it? Looking forward to your responses. THANKS!

Hi kays,

This site might help you.

http://www.gofortea.com/

I would spend the money and reserve at Brown's hotel for the ambience of being in a statley country home.

Wear a flowered dress, gloves and a wide brimmed hat.

My wife has been to numerous and prefers Browns.

My favorites are Brown's and the Ritz (I know, many fodorites pooh-pooh the Ritz but I really enjoy it)

But neither is inexpensive. I often book a later sitting and then go to the theatre afterwards. The tea usually is more than enough food, but if I'm hungry after the show, I can always get a late light supper in Chinatown, Soho or at a tapa bar or Indain reaturant.

Hi
Value is always in the eye of the beholder so to speak, some feel that the formality and tastiness of some hotel afternoon teas is more than worth it as a special experience, others can't see the point.

It depends on what you're in the mood for. I've enjoyed some formal afternoon teas very much, but here's one alternative:
the Terrace lounge (name may have changed, it was recently renovated) in the Charing Cross Thistle Hotel, next to Charing Cross Main Line station. If available, ask for a table with views of the Strand towards Trafalgar Square. I took Ben Haines's advice and had afternoon tea thre in '02. Tea there was not the ceremonial formal experience you will have at the Dorchester or the Ritz or Browns, but on the other hand you don't have to change clothes if you've been out doing some hard sightseeing. For 13.75# plus service, at that time, they offered a complete tea of good sandwiches, outstanding scones with clotted cream, and pastries. A la Carte sandwiches and snacks were also available.
Perhaps the hotel website can provide current details.

Hi Everyone,

Last week I tried to make reservations for Afternoon Tea at Brown's and they told me starting April 8th they are closing for renovations.

Hi Madison,

Did they happen to mention how long the renovations will last? My children & I were planning on stopping in for Afternoon Tea when we'd be there next Christmas. I do hope they open back up by then.

Ira, I don't think that www.gofortea.com is a working website any longer.

If Brown's is reopened by next Christmas, you might think about going for the wonderful Christmas lunch, complete with hats and crackers.

The Dorchester Hotel has an amazing high tea. It is very special and everything was fabulous. You will enjoy going for high tea, it is a relaxing experience.

This might not be too extravagant but tea at selfridges was very nice

Hi Beatchick - I just checked my email from Brown's and it said they would reopen sometime next year. I think we're both a bit disappointed.

Thank you, Madison, for letting me know!! I was planning on doing afternoon tea with the children at a few places and Brown's was at the top of the list.

Next time then!!

Hi, I just spent an enjoyable afternoon tea at the Ritz.I really loved it. Its unlimited sandwiches, tea (of course) and lovely cream cakes/scones. The tea serving area was beautiful, very lavish and grand and there was a pianist, adding to the atmosphere. It was £36 per person, but I feel worth it for a once in a lifetime experience. Here is the website. I suggest going for the 5.30 sitting, as if you go any earlier, (I believe there is a 230 sitting), you may feel rushed out.

Here is the website : http://www.theritzlondon.com/tea/index.asp

Have a great time wherever you go. But book early.

I opted for Brown's this past Sunday. Two options -- 25 pounds for regular and 32.50 for the chocolate tea. Nice experience, but since the exchange rate is now around 2 dollars to 1 pound, and the service charge is not included, this is a little scary. We had dinner at Andrew Edmunds the same night, and the dinner tab was less than the tea tab.

Never been to the Ritz. Surprised that the Savoy doesn't seem to come up much; I had a good time there in the summer of 2000. Coat and tie may be required there, I believe. Smart casual at Brown's -- a friend wore jeans, even.

I plan to look into Orangery in a future trip. It sounds like very good value at ten pounds (?). I've heard this recommended by a number of people and guide books.

111op, what exactly is a "chocolate tea"? I have not heard of that before.

I'm sorry (re chocolate tea). This is some special that Brown's is running. Check this out:

http://www.brownshotel.com/offer_tea.html

Personally I opted for the Brown's afternoon blend. One friend picked mint. The other picked Lapsang Souchong, if I remember correctly.

Here's an excerpt from a little trip report I sent to friends on the Brown's and Andrew Edmunds dining experience:

"Sunday started off with afternoon tea at Brown's. We were banished to the children's room, since we didn't
have reservations. I suppose Agatha Christie had had tea in the main "Drawing Room." A. still got to sit on one of Brown's signature couches. The pianist's repertoire
proved a bit limited, since he had reverted back to the Mozart he had been playing when we started two hours later when we left. Oddly I think that it was the A major concerto (K. 488), sans orchestral accompaniment, and he played only the first two movements.

[Stuff snipped]

We had dinner at Andrew Edmunds, a small and intimate restaurant, whose underlying concept seemed akin to that of, say, Clinton Fresh Food [located in NYC (Wylie Dufresne was the chef at this much touted restaurant on the Lower East Side)] and a new generation of restaurants emphasizing fresh ingredients and homey and unfussily cooked food. This was a very decent meal and fairly good value,
especially when the tab came to be less than that of the afternoon tea."

[Rest of report snipped]

Bunnygirl, I had tea at the Ritz in Paris last year - it was a WONDERFUL experience!! The maitre d' was so kind. I wouldn't mind having tea at the Ritz in London but I was so looking forward to the cozy couches & fireplaces in the drawing room. I thought the kid might like that. Do they have the same ambience at the Ritz? I wasn't sure.

Has anyone mentioned Fortnum & Mason's yet? That was another place I was looking into. The Champagne Tea, I believe, is what drew me.

> I don't think that www.gofortea.com is a working website any longer.<

Thnaks for the heads up. It was working the day I posted.

bunnygirl, tea at the Ritz in London is actually £32 per person according to the Ritz's own website. I just checked because four of us have a booking for tea in April and I could have sworn I budgeted £32 per person for it.

Maybe Bunnygirl was factoring in the tip?