Classic Afternoon Tea In London- where should we go?
 

We arrive to London on a Saturday morning. Assuming we will be able to get a few hours of sleep after we arrive, we were thinking this would be the perfect day to enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea. My 9 yo daughter is most excited about this and I'm looking for the quintessential Afternoon Tea. Where do you suggest we go- Claridges? The Connaught? The Ritz? We are staying at the Dorchester, but don't mind venturing out? TIA!

The Connaught is very nice - not far from the Dorchester.
I'm sure the Dorchester will do an excellent tea as well.

Maybe check this out

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...noon-teas.html

The problem w/ some of the posh hotels is they need to be booked well ahead (sometimes 2 or 3 months) and you won't know how you'll feel. The £50+ per head is a LOT to spend when one is feeling like a rag.

At least some of you will likely be jet lagged so I'd either wait and have your posh afternoon tea a few days later - OR - plan a less formal tea like at the Orangery.

You don't have to do it in a posh hotel - here are some more affordeable options:-

http://www.timeout.com/london/food-d...teas-in-london

Following!

We had afternoon tea at the Claridges and loved it. They refilled our trays as many times as we would like and they made accommodations to give us alternatives due to certain allergies (nut free).

I know this is not the norm but my son got food poisoning from the Orangery. The rest of us had tea and scones and were fine but son wanted lunch and insisted on the shrimp salad and ended up in the emergency room at University College Hospital. The doctor confirmed it was food poisoning. That was the only food different that he ate from us so it had to be the bad shrimp or bad mayonnaise.

The Lanesborough does a very nice afternoon tea and it is served on Wedgwood as opposed to plain white stoneware like you would get at Harrod's or the Orangery.

All are good . . . I just wouldn't book Claridges, or the Lanesborough, or the Ritz, or the Connaught, or even Harrods/Fortnum & Mason for your <i>arrival</i> day.

Maybe stick to the Dorchester -- it is quite nice and being a guest they might be able to squeeze you in w/o a booking. Or book at the Dorchester and then cancel when you check in if you are just too pooped to pop. Most of the posh properties do set aside a few slots for hotel guests.

The Ritz has a wonderful tea; each of the women receives a "Ritz rose." However, I was a little perturbed they made me check my camera.

There is only one place to take afternoon tea in London, and that is at Fortnum and Mason. Afterwards one call also go shopping there, which is an experience not to be missed.

However, as my wife and I never take afternoon tea, except when we have guests, I would be reluctant to spend that sort of money.

If I may suggest a better way. Go into a local supermarket, buy a bottle of single malt whisky, preferably an island malt, (though any variety would be OK as long as it is not Glenfiddich which tastes like sump oil), some Scottish Smoked Salmon and Scottish Oatmeal biscuits. (You would also have to buy something appropriate for your nine year old daughter).Have a hot bath (tub) or shower, put on some comfortable night clothes and enjoy your Scottish meal. Afterwards relax with a good book, or if your daughter has a separate bedroom *****well I leave that to the imagination.!

Bumper - Bravo to the Ritz for outlawing cameras !

When are you going? The Lanesborough is still closed for renovations. Does the Ritz make you check your phone too?

I can't imagine any upscale hotel will be happy with someone snapping away at the diners - who are there in a private capacity and not part of a random stranger's trip report. Obviously you can take pictures of your own room if you want - but should be respectful of the privacy of others in public areas.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I am rethinking having our traditional tea on our arrival date thanks to many of your suggestions. Perhaps we will do it on Monday since i think we will be too full from Sunday roast on sunday :-). Thanks so much and i still welcome suggestions.

If you have a full tea it will replace both lunch and an early dinner -- you definitely won't want a roast lunch and tea too. It really is a full meal.

Most times when I have a full afternoon tea, I forego dinner and instead go to the theatre, a concert, or one of the museum late openings then have a light late supper afterwards.

yes, I was thinking forego lunch and have tea instead. My husband doesn't t understand the appeal, but it is something my daughter and I are looking forward to- i told him he can go grab a big sandwich somewhere while we have our tea!

There's plenty to eat at an afternoon tea, there are sandwiches too (small ones). We do what Janisj does; afternoon tea replaces lunch and dinner on a day when we go to the theatre. then supper after theatre.

Go to the Wallace Collection. It's lovely for afternoon tea. Your husband can see the paintings while you have tea.

>>there are sandwiches too (small ones).<<

And at most of the hotels teas they replenish the sandwiches (and everything else) as needed. No one will go hungry

The Wallace collection is a good idea if you want to visit the gallery. Lovely room in a wonderful museum. http://www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk/the-...ant/index.html

If you were to choose between the ritz and the savoy, which would you choose and why?