Afternoon Tea Week is finally upon us, and from 11th to 17th August, London will showcase the best of its delicate sandwiches, warm scones, and intricately crafted pastries in celebrations that honour a timeless tradition woven into the fabric of British dining.
Here’s a roundup of the best that London has to offer this Afternoon Tea Week:
Aromatherapy Associates Wellbeing Afternoon Tea at The Westin
The Westin London City has teamed up with Aromatherapy Associates to offer a sensory afternoon tea experience at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Mosaic. Curated by Head Chef Fabio de Paolis, the menu explores typically British afternoon tea flavours through the lens of holistic wellness. Savoury highlights include ginger and orange-infused prawn cocktail in a mini bun, Burford egg with black pepper and rosemary on rolled brown bread, and a spectacular Peking duck with camomile mayonnaise in a bao bun. Freshly baked plain, citrus, and ginger scones are served with bitter orange marmalade, while sweet options feature hazelnut financier with mascarpone and nougatine, peach, raspberry and rose torte, and lemon and rosemary olive oil cake.
Guests can complement the menu with JING tea blends crafted for relaxation and wellbeing, including jasmine, hibiscus, and the standard black tea blends.
Red Carnation Hotel Collection
The luxury hotel group has marked the occasion in distinct ways, each blending classic charm with each of their unique settings. At The Milestone Hotel, guests can indulge in a “Palace Picnic in the Park” with an afternoon tea or picnic feast served in traditional wicker baskets, perfect for a leisurely afternoon in Kensington Gardens. Meanwhile, The Rubens at the Palace offers the exclusive Golden Tips Tea experience, featuring rare Ceylon tea handpicked at sunset, measured with golden scales and served with white-glove precision alongside a Royal Afternoon Tea and a bottle of champagne.
For the even more indulgent experience, The Montague on the Gardens invites diners to a Bottomless Afternoon Tea on its outdoor terrace, offering 90 minutes of unlimited champagne and food while overlooking the private Bedford Estate. Covering London’s key postcodes, the hotel group truly captures all that is quintessentially British, making it the ideal partner to mark this cherished tradition in style.
A departure from the traditional, The Greenhouses offers a Middle Eastern-inspired afternoon tea experience set within its private floral dining rooms. Groups of 14 or more can enjoy a menu of delicate finger sandwiches on the venue’s signature challah bread, including pomegranate-cured salmon with fennel and rose harissa crème fraîche, and roast marinated beets with labneh, truffle honey, and dukkah brittle. On the sweeter side, spiced fruit scones are served alongside fig and molasses jam, complemented by a Valrhona chocolate délice infused with Turkish delight, cardamom, and vanilla cream, and a rose pavlova with saffron Chantilly and mango-peach syrup.
Guests can pair their selection with classic English breakfast tea or a glass of bubbles, enjoying a serene garden setting with a menu that takes afternoon tea beyond the ordinary.
This experience brings a regal touch to the occasion with its Crown Afternoon Tea, served on the Mercer Roof Terrace with its panoramic views from St. Paul’s to The Shard. The menu features classic royal-inspired savoury bites such as truffle egg mayonnaise brioche, mini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish, and smoked salmon with herb cream cheese. Plain and raisin buttermilk scones come with Cornish clotted cream and a selection of jams, followed by a carefully crafted assortment of pastries.
The experience can be paired with a Royal Teapot cocktail or a glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne to complete the occasion. This is a celebration for all the family, with a dedicated Princess & Prince’s Afternoon Tea for children available alongside the usual offering.
KIBOU Battersea adds a contemporary Japanese flair to the classic British afternoon tea, with a carefully curated menu that includes standout dishes such as Salmon Tataki with mango salsa, prawn tempura California rolls with wasabi mayo, and delicate sea bream nigiri. Sweet treats offer playful nods to Japanese tradition, featuring cinnamon and apple gyoza alongside a fluffy custard dorayaki.
The experience can be upgraded with additional drinks, with sparkling sake on the menu, along with signature cocktails such as the refreshing Tanoshii. The elegant setting and meticulous presentation make this a fully immersive dining experience as well as a unique take on the standard afternoon tea.
Situated in London’s cultural quarter, The Ampersand offers two distinct experiences inspired by its neighbouring museums. The award-winning Science Afternoon Tea is perfect for guest of all ages, blending culinary creativity with scientific themes. The afternoon tea is served alongside playful touches like passion fruit curd in a squeeze tube, and freeze-dried fruit toppings. The pastry selection is filled with imaginative touches such as a caramel chocolate and raspberry planet, apricot, hazelnut and almond mooncake, and a honey chocolate spaceman. For fans of natural history, the Jurassic Afternoon Tea echoes the prehistoric wonders of the nearby museum, featuring the same savoury offerings alongside inventive sweet dishes like an apricot and lemon crémeux volcano eruption and a dark chocolate, caramel and raspberry dinosaur egg nest.
Both experiences are highly interactive, and transform traditional teatime into a journey with science and nature that serves up a thrill for all ages.
