Author: 4lobsters
Date: 10/11/2007, 10:35 am
Hi all: Will be in London soon and looking for a non-hotel afternoon tea experience. (Complete with sandwiches, scones etc can even be a la carte) Hoping to find something pretty and relaxing. Maybe it DOES have to be in a hotel?? Also: Are there places in London that offer tea leaf readings? Thanks for any help.

I'll answer your second post.

If you do a search here for "london tea" you will get some useful information.

High Tea at Harrods is (or perhaps was?) a London tradition.

Sorry for the double post. Wish I knew how to erase the second one. Thanks for the suggestions. Will try searching "London tea". Just thought that there might be some hidden litle tea shop that isn't too formal or touristy.

Just thought that there might be some hidden litle tea shop that isn't too formal or touristy

well there no doubt is so keep toppping - or bringing your post back to light and someone will have one - i've read about ones before on Fodors!

High tea at Harrods is not (and has never been) a tradition.

For a non-hotel tea, try the Wolesley on Piccadilly, very reasonable, easy going but with just the right amount of theatre.

It's also great for lunch. Their Wiener Schnitzel is one of the best I've ever had.

Afternoon tea at Harrods is definitely a tradition for me in the Georgian restaurant.

Fortnum & Mason's is nice also.

We are having afternoon tea at The Capital Hotel, after I read a fantastic review on the place. It's opposite Harrod's apparently. It is only 18pounds for their afternoon tea, which is quite reasonable compared to some.