Best Bets for Afternoon Tea
 

Does anyone have a favorite location for afternoon tea? I know it's a dying tradition in England, but I would really like to partake while I'm there. Thanks for any suggestions!

Check this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1

Sorry, my mistake.

I'm not quite sure how to reference threads -- but do a search for "London afternoon tea" (there was an extensive thread called "Suggestions for High Tea in London?" or something like it).

Hi
if you can find the past threads by doing a search in the little box above, you'll find many comments
The most popular and praised places for a formal dress up afternoon tea are in some of the best hotels: The Ritz, Browns, the Dorchester, the Lanesborough.
A notch below that are the restaurants in stores like Harrods and Fortnum and Mason--a little less expensive, but still very nice.
Some nice teas can also be had in some museum cafes, other hotels,other restaurants and cafes where you don't have to dress up particularly, it takes less time, and you can spend less. Is budget an issue?

You can often find tea menus and prices on the various hotel and store websites.

By the way, to add to what Elaine wrote -- you can actually book online for the Ritz tea. Ritz and Browns both have websites; I didn't check others.

I've also seen tea at the Portrait Gallery (?) and the Orangery (this one especially, in the Kensington Gardens) recommended. Tea at the Orangery is only ten pounds or so, I believe.

Never been to the Orangery though. Years ago I had tea at the Savoy. I'm planning to try Browns on this trip.

Have a nice cuppatea.

try The Westbury on Bond St.-really great, one order can be split between two people

My daughter had tea more than once in the Orangery. She really liked it and it was very comfortable, not stuffy at all.

I had afternoon tea at Harrods. Very friendly and comforable. You won't be hungry for dinner.

http://www.gofortea.com Excellent website, but mainly showcases the grand hotel teas.

Kandy Tea Room in Kensington is nice. The Orangery at Kensington Palace, also in that neighborhood, is an excellent value.

Enjoy your tea!

Here's another vote for tea at The Orangery. Very relaxing, dressy attire not required, good service. We've had tea there on several occasions and enjoyed each one. Have a great trip!

We are regulars to London and my wife loves to go for Tea at Browns. Enjoy

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and suggestions. Only 2 weeks to go and I am so excited!

If you like crumpets, the Lanesborough serves them for afternoon tea in the beautiful pink and green Conservatory. Not everyone has crumpets. Also on the tea menu are fresh strawberries and cream, another rarety.

FWIW, the Dorchester was awarded the designation of Best Afternoon Tea by the Great Britain Tea Council in 2002 (their most recent designation, I think).

In fact, the Tea Council publishes a nice book on the best tearooms in the UK. I saw the book on the shelf at Borders, in the UK travel section.

My husband and I had tea at Fortnum and Mason's. It was lovely, and it is a great place to do some shoppping too!

If you choose to take at Fortnum & Mason, please be aware that there are at least two different tea venues there: the Fountain, which is casual and offers tea a la carte as well as lunch, dinner, and ice cream treats; and St James's Resturant on the fourth floor, which is more formal and offers more expensive, set teas (a cream tea, a high tea, and a lovely, cozy "nursery" tea) to live piano music.

Afternoon tea is my absolute favorite, and when I think of it I automatically think of Brown's Hotel. There's just something so right about it!

Yesterday I tried to make a reservation for Afternoon Tea at Brown's and received an email from them saying that starting April 8th, 2004 the hotel was being closed for renovations. I truly am disappointed as I heard so many wonderful things about it.

Why not pop into Fortnum and Mason for some Darjeeling Chamong, quite simply the finest tea available.

I know Brown's gets a lot of votes, but I just want to put in my two pence for The Ritz. We took my 9 y.o. daughter there during her first trip to Europe (since she was a toddler) last summer. It was the most gorgeous room and the food was marvelous. We did "dress" for the occasion (coat and tie, dress, and dressy pants) so we didn't look exactly like scruffs. But we are essentially ordinary folks and the Ritz staff were totally delightful -- indulgent even. Interestingly, there were two young women with babies in highchairs at an adjacent table, so any faux pas at my table seemed mild in comparison to their sometimes enthusiastic behavior. It was by far the most expensive meal of our entire trip and a memory of a lifetime. Ritz has not entered the lexicon for nothin'.

I preferred the Queen Anne blend from Fortnum & Mason. Brought some home to Canada with me!