Afternoon Tea Week: The most unique luxury tea experiences in London

There is something serene about enjoying a quiet day with your loved ones as you all drink a beverage of your choice on a warm, sunny afternoon. A cup of tea or coffee in hand, some sweet and savoury treats and the company of your friends and family all make for a delightful time that many afternoon tea experiences across London strive to create. And here at Tempus, we’re always on the lookout for unique luxury afternoon tea experiences.

From sky high views to an afternoon in the museum, below we compile some of the best and most unique afternoon tea experiences in London for your luxury afternoon tea fix.A Regency Tea at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Covent Garden

Step back in time to a bygone era at Theatre Royal’s The Lane. Discover the beautifully restored Grand Saloon – a Regency dream filled with twinkling chandeliers and fine art – while enjoying a truly English tea, featuring bitesize portions of English crumpets with Earl Grey infused cream cheese and smoked salmon, Coronation chicken pies, miniature sticky toffee puddings, and a strawberry ice cream sandwich with marshmallow, strawberry parfait, brown sugar biscuits, and dark chocolate.

With vegan and gluten-free options available, this elegant experience is a truly timeless treat.A Japanese Afternoon Tea at The Prince Akatoki, Marylebone

For an experiential afternoon, discover the Malt Lounge at Japanese jewel, The Prince Akatoki. Combining fusion blends and authentic Japanese flavours, guests can opt for organic matcha and premium teas or sparkling sake, as well as chicken katsu sando, seared tuna brioche, and matcha and pistachio flavoured desserts.

Accompanied by live music from Japanese musician Keiko Kitamura, this afternoon experience will truly transport the senses.A Parisian Afternoon Tea at Ladurée, Covent Garden

Ladurée has opened its new afternoon tea room in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. The Parisian Maison has curated a delectable afternoon tea offering that transports guests straight to Versailles. The offering includes their signature macarons, some savoury sandwiches, scones and cakes.

If you’re looking to beat the summer heat with a luxurious afternoon tea experience in London, it cannot get any better than Ladurée.The Art of Afternoon Tea at The Kensington Hotel

The Kensington Hotel in South Kensington has created an afternoon tea experience like no other by taking inspiration from some of the most renowned artists in the world. Called The Art of Afternoon Tea, this experience will see guests indulge in a selection of carefully curated cultural confections and libations like the Starry Night or the Girl with a Balloon cocktail that is inspired by the works of Banksy.

There is also a vegetarian option available for those who would like a meat free experience.An English afternoon tea at the Dalloway Terrace

If you’re looking for a quintessential English afternoon tea experience, you can’t go wrong with the offering at the Dalloway Terrace — all with the stunning views of London as your backdrop.

On a savoury note, there are dishes like smoked salmon and lemon butter on charcoal pain de mie; roast beef, rocket and horseradish on onion bread; and Irish cheddar scone with leek butter. For those looking for something sweet, there are vanilla and sultana buttermilk scones with rhubarb and campari jam, rhubarb and custard éclair, raspberry and passionfruit drizzle cake, and limoncello and honey cheesecake.

After all, there is nothing more English than a good cup of tea.A 1920s inspired afternoon tea at The Coral Room

Enter the world of 1920s glamour at the Coral Room in the heart of London with an afternoon tea experience in their 1920s inspired cocktail bar. Enjoy some sweet and savoury treats surrounded by 20th century glamour in vivid colour with unparalleled views of Bloomsbury through the hotel’s enormous sash windows.An afternoon tea amongst history at the Natural History Museum

Have you ever wanted to have a luxurious afternoon tea in a museum? You can now do exactly that with the newly launched afternoon tea experience at the Natural History Museum. 

Called Inspired by Nature, the savoury and sweet treats on offer here have been created by Benugo pastry chefs to celebrate British farmers and growers and is inspired by nature’s wonders to showcase the very best of British seasonal produce. It even includes vegan options.

Guests will be able to choose from a hand-picked selection of loose-leaf teas alongside coronation chicken sandwiches, a cherry tomato, red onion, super straccia and pesto tart, Earl Grey scones served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam, a sweet pea and lemon cake and more. 

There will also be an Earth pot filled with raspberry and chocolate, a dinosaur-footprint macaron or an ammonite cookie, to ensure a truly nature-immersive experience.A sky high afternoon tea at Bōkan 38

If you’d like to have an afternoon tea experience amongst the clouds, then head to Bōkan 38 at Canary Wharf for a sky high afternoon tea. Available every weekend, guests can enjoy some afternoon tea with breathtaking views of the London skyline.

Enjoy an assortment of traditional savoury and sweet delights meticulously prepared by Bōkan’s Executive Chef Robert Manea. These include finger sandwiches like smoked salmon and cream cheese, roast beef and horseradish cream, egg mayo with mustard cress and cucumber, as well as mini burgers with a ginger glaze and smoked mayo. 

For the sweet tooth, there are mini banana cakes, traditional scones with Isigny cream, berries and jam, and a selection of macarons.A French-inspired afternoon tea at Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is hosting the world touring immersive exhibition: Notre Dame de Paris, The Augmented Exhibition until 1 June, which explores the history and spectacle of the French gothic masterpiece from its earliest origins in the 12th century. And to celebrate this event, a French-inspired afternoon tea will be served at Cellarium, set within the Abbey’s medieval cloisters.

A selection of elegant sweet and savoury treats has been expertly crafted by Benugo pastry chefs to pay tribute to the Parisian cathedral and the French capital’s world-renowned patisserie. Expect savoury treats like quiche Lorraine, ham and dijon mayonnaise sandwich, mini brioche with crab and crayfish and more.

For sweets, there are macarons, homemade scones with jam and cream, mini chocolate orange tart and more.A botanical afternoon tea at London Marriott Hotel Park Lane

Savour in the views of Hyde Park with London Marriott Hotel Park Lane‘s botanical afternoon tea, which is inspired by the very park the hotel overlooks.

This experience incorporates seasonal ingredients and flavours in its menu, where guests can enjoy a range of perfect pastries, finger sandwiches, and visually pleasing sweet treats paired with soothing and flavourful JING teas.

Highlights from the offering include spring vegetable and truffle egg mayo in a charcoal basket; delicate rose and raspberry cream choux swan; a light and refreshing garden pond cheesecake; homemade rose and hibiscus scones, and a lemongrass and a pistachio chocolate forest log.

Read more food and drink stories with Tempus.