For what it's worth:

My idea of a good cup of tea is PG tips, so when a British friend of mine wanted to treat me to a 'real tea' at the Savoy -- I balked at the price. She was insisting on treating me, and the cost was going to run into the hundreds of dollars -- so she finally agreed to my compromise of a less expensive venue and tried The Goring, where she had never been.

She is a devotee of afternoon tea, and she felt the Goring was a superior experience, especially for the quality of the food, and perhaps a bit because the royals have been known to duck into the Goring for their teas when -- for one reason or another -- don't want to take tea at Buckinham Palace, a stone's throw away.

I am no expert on tea, but we were treated very well at The Goring, the small sandwiches and pastries were actually very tasty (wonderfully fresh) and while the tea itself didn't hold a candle to good ol' PG Tips left to moulder in the pot, it was a very pleasant place to sit and gossip -- which is the point, afterall, si?

We have been to the Wolseley but not for tea. Liked it. IMO, Brown's has been spoiled by its modern renovation. I loved the chinz. And they add an automatic service charge that the other hotels don't. We liked the Lanesborough but I understand that the Conservatory is now an Italian restaurant. Too bad-they had a very nice tea in a lovely setting. The Ritz was a bit much but the Savoy was good. The Connaught had a wonderful tea until Angela H. took over and put bagels on the menu. We used to like the Goring but it wasn't as good the last two times there. The Dorchester is my favorite-a class act. Besides the taste of the tea sandwiches I judge by how generous the servers are. Do they voluntarily offer you more, until you can't eat another thing? We never have dinner after tea-that's one way we can afford it!

Another one I sometimes recommend is Liberty - not a hotel, but a beautiful venue nonetheless - their tea room is on the ground floor (ideally situated right next to the handbags and vintage jewellery - bliss!). It's a little cheaper than the hotels, so would be good for someone on a slightly tighter budget, though won't have that 'wing-backed chairs by the fire' feel.

Daph - I'm interested in your comments on the renovation of the Wolsely as in the pictures I'd seen (admittedly not quite the same as actually seeing it 'in the flesh') it looked rather impressive - sort of Viennese coffee house meets oriental boudior (ie a lot of black and gilt). Also quite masculine, so I would have thought a better bet if you've got to drag unenthusiastic male relatives along. Oh, and a bit cheaper than many of the other swish hotels - I think £12-£19.

Scratch that - just realised that your comments on renovation are referring to Browns - sorry!!

>>>traveller1959 -- The reason I first chose Brown's was because I wanted that cozy atmosphere you mention, but the more I read and the more pictures I saw, the more I thought maybe it had lost that coziness in its revamping.<<<

After I looked up their current website, I am afraid you are right. They have ruined the place. All of Agatha Christie's coziness is gone. The new Brown's is not any longer Bertram's. It has become one of those interchangeable yet nice boutique hotels you can find anywhere else on earth.

I am so sorry.

That's what I've suspected about Brown's renovations. Ahh. Too bad. I loved that old "English drawing room" atmosphere for tea, lots of chintz and cushions.

I don't see the point of tea as a pseudo-meal. But others do.

If your idea of tea's a cosy chat in armchairs with a rack of cucumber sandwiches and cakes in front of you, the Wolseley really isn't for you. Nor is it if you want the authentic suburban tea-room feel provincial housewives long got from department store cafes when they came Up to Town for a day's shopping.

Everything I've ever eaten at the Wolseley has been technically impeccable, and the staff are pleasant and exceptionally professionally managed (think the very best-run Paris or Lyons brasseries). But it's got hard surfaces, and it's a tad noisy. Perfect place for a Power Tea with a Mayfair hedge fund (or a reliable post-opera supper served quickly enough to let you drive back to the Cotswolds before 1 am)- but absolutely not the place to imagine yourself in some Merchant Ivory film set. And it's totally devoid of the relaxed, newspaper-reading, Viennese atmosphere. Everything about the Wolseley is aimed at the time-poor: relaxation just isn't its thing.

I've had tea at the Wolseley several times. Pluses: less expensive than the top tier hotels, good tea and food, excellent sherry list, attracts an interesting mix of international visitors (not just Americans) and British advertising/media/marketing business types. I've sat next to a few British TV celebrities (one of whom knocked over and broke three glasses in 20 minutes). Reservations strongly recommended.

The minuses: it's not romantic (if that's what you want), it can be quite LOUD (the room's acoustics aren't ideal for soft conversations), some tables are much better than others (try for the inner horseshoe or its outer perimeter, avoid the little front room).

My favorite place for tea is the Plaza Athenee salon in Paris.

perfectly said, flanner. I love the Wolseley for after theatre dining, but I've never understood the recommendation for it for tea -- at least the type of tea that posters here are usually thinking of.

NP, I find tea at the Wolseley a perfectly sensible option. If I arrive in London about 10:15 am (catching the first off-peak train from Maidenhead), I can sightsee or shop or whatever for several hours, skipping lunch, then stopping in at the Wolseley for tea around 4 pm. I have never felt in the least bit rushed and have indeed read newspapers there (offered by the staff). If I have tea at 4, I am usually finished around 5:30 pm, make my way back to Paddington (stopping at the Japan Centre on Picadilly to pick up some sake for DH, plum wine for us both, and inari for a home snack) and head home and then don't have to bother with cooking dinner, having something light instead. I often do this when my husband is out of town on business.

Another place that works perfectly with that schedule is the lovely wine bar at Fortnum & Mason's. The menu has some nice light meal options (including an excellent salad with goat cheese and walnuts) and I can try out some of their quite good wines by the glass. (The Slovenian bartender/waiter who works there weekday afternoons is particularly helpful and knowledgeable).

Well, I doubt the average tourist would know - or care - about a Mayfair hedgefunder sitting next to them. The room's the thing, the food is great, the service is attentive , what more do you need? And every visitor I have ever taken there has LOVED it, for every type of meal. Reservations definitely recommended although they reserve the front tables for "walk-ins". There is a small bar where you can wait.

Sallyky, just pop your head in if you happen to be walking past.

If you want a hotel tea, you can't go wrong with any of the major hotels. The Lanesborough won the UK Tea Council's Best London Tea award this year. The Dorchester won last year. Claridges won in 2006. I suspect it's the same 9 establishments competing year in, year out but still, you can't really go wrong with any of them.

Hey, don't get me wrong. The Wolseley is a lovely place. And I didn't mean to suggest there is anything wrong with it. In fact it could be really great for a single person, since that doesn't involve a lot of conversation. (I will say the two of us talking over after theatre supper is a bit of a trial with the noise level, however.)

But my point was that if you're picturing a small group, say four, sitting in big plushy chairs and sofas in a "drawing room" atmosphere, perhaps in front of a nice fireplace having quiet conversation -- well -- that is NOT the Wolseley! It used to be Browns, but I'm not sure where you find that atmosphere for tea now.

I see from the Wolseley website that you can buy their redundant silverware etc - I quite fancy the 50's coffee service (if I ever win the lottery!)

Since making e mail reservations at The Dorchester, I have received two e mail replies that make me feel very comfortable with my choice. They were very welcoming and friendly without being overly familiar. They had a feel of formal manners without being stuffy or snobbish. So if the service is like the e mails, it will be lovely indeed. I'm really looking forward to it.

One of the nice things about tea at the Dorchester is the cocktail piano music...at least, I hope it still is.

Please have a scone with lots of clotted cream and jam for me!

I'm more than happy to do a Fodors- sponsered tea-crawl to answer this very important question of best afternoon tea once and for all....

Perhaps the Editors would like to email me to discuss funding......8-)

?sponsored?

"They were very welcoming and friendly without being overly familiar. They had a feel of formal manners without being stuffy or snobbish".

The sign of class. Sadly lacking in a lot of places in London these days. I'm sure you will enjoy it!