High Tea in London?
Aug 14th, 2025 | 12:00 PM
#22
Joined: Oct 2005
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Aug 15th, 2025 | 04:51 AM
#23
Joined: Aug 2025
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I’ve really enjoyed reading through all the suggestions here. Afternoon tea at Claridge’s is still my personal favorite for a special occasion, but for something more relaxed, I had a lovely experience at the Orangerie at Kensington Palace — beautiful setting without feeling too formal.
Aug 15th, 2025 | 06:57 AM
#24
Joined: Mar 2005
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I've only had Afternoon Tea at the Dorchester, which was a lovely room and service. I always prefer a more casual setting, though, as I'm a cheapskate, and I enjoy a plain cream tea and cake nearly anywhere. I'd enjoyed my cream teas at the Orangery at Kensington Palace before the renovation. It seemed more casual before. The OP mentioned casual clothes, but since we appear to be recommending nicer teas, I think a great one would be the tea at the Cafe Royal in the Oscar Wilde room.
Aug 31st, 2025 | 05:52 AM
#30
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 74,969
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you’ll have to bite the bullet and pick one
You’ll likely not have the ‘appetite’ for more than one full on afternoon tea in a few days stay. It will be a full meal and can be sort of cloying if you take full advantage of all the sweets and cakes (and champagne) so one time is plenty. Plus - they do eat up more time than just a nice lunch. Each of the posh hotels does a lovely tea so you can’t really go wrong with any of them.
Sep 1st, 2025 | 04:32 AM
#32
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We're off today and so excited - so many things to look forward to starting with the Braemar Games. My husband and I went in 2012 and it remains a highlight of my travels. I think the girls have decided on Fortnum & Mason because it fit our itinerary but I will look forward to trying more of these great suggestions on future trips. Thanks again!!
Sep 2nd, 2025 | 01:30 AM
#34
Joined: Apr 2009
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When American friends come to stay with us we often take them for afternoon tea and have tried a wide range of places around town. The Ritz is always a favourite, if a little stuffy. We like The Langham - overseen by the world renowned Michel Roux Jnr. it was the first ever London hotel to offer afternoon tea.
Incidentally, 'high tea' is something totally different; it is an antiquated term dating back to the last century referring to an early evening "working class' meal usually meaning tea plus heart savoury food like pies , cheeses, pickles ..
Incidentally, 'high tea' is something totally different; it is an antiquated term dating back to the last century referring to an early evening "working class' meal usually meaning tea plus heart savoury food like pies , cheeses, pickles ..
High tea is a meal eaten in the late afternoon or early evening, typically consisting of a cooked dish, bread and butter, and tea.
Sep 3rd, 2025 | 10:06 AM
#35
Joined: Jan 2003
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"High tea" could be a variable pick and mix affair. In my family it might well include some seafood from a chap who came by with a trolleyful on a Saturday afternoon (cue song "If you don't want the whelks, don't muck 'em about"), or my dad's favourite tinned salmon.
The main thing was that it wasn't a dainty /elegant occasion for the leisured classes to have a polite chitchat to fill the gap between lunch and dinner in the evening, but a proper feed when father came home from a hard day's work.
The main thing was that it wasn't a dainty /elegant occasion for the leisured classes to have a polite chitchat to fill the gap between lunch and dinner in the evening, but a proper feed when father came home from a hard day's work.
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