‘Tis the season to be jolly, so why not treat yourself to a festive afternoon tea in the capital? Sip on a glass of Champagne, enjoy a pot of tea, and tuck into home-made scones while you take a break from present hunting. We’ve selected some of the best spots for a festive afternoon tea in London so you can be swept away by the Christmas spirit.
After ice-skating at the Natural History Museum, why not warm yourselves up with a Christmassy afternoon tea at Scoff & Banter? Sweet treats include a lemon and white chocolate meringue and raspberry and vanilla choux crumble. Of course, you can also get stuck into freshly made sandwiches and warm scones.
Available until 23rd February. £30 per person or £36 with a glass of prosecco.
Fancy something stronger than tea? How about a glass of Bollinger Rosé Champagne with your scones? The Goring are serving a festive afternoon tea in the hotel’s elegant Dining Room, where you can enjoy seasonal sweets created by executive chef Richard Galli and his team. There’s a coconut roche with white chocolate and lime, a chestnut cheesecake with mulled wine jelly, and ginger shortbread inspired by the classic yule log. Be sure to save room for the snowman dome – a dainty bergamot curd tart topped with meringue.
Available throughout December from £80 per person.
The Chesterfield Mayfair has created a winter wonderland afternoon tea which will make you feel like you are in Santa’s very own living room. Treat yourselves to a warming glass of mulled wine before sampling their Christmas tea blend which is full of aromatic spices. The sweet bites are inspired by traditional Christmas flavours so expect gingerbread man cupcakes, chocolate yule logs, and clementine macarons.
Available until 5th January. £47.50 per person, £56.50 with Champagne, and £25 per child.
The ultimate Christmas treat can be found at The Lanesborough, which has won numerous awards for their afternoon tea delights. Enjoy Santa and Rudolph-inspired pastries and delicious savouries accompanied by festive tunes on the piano (weekends only). If you’re looking for first class food and service, then The Lanesborough is the place for you.
Available until 7th January from £60 per person.
If you’re celebrating the festive season with little foodies, then The Rosebery is an excellent choice. This winter, children can enjoy a Festive Harrods Afternoon Tea which includes chocolate penguins, reindeer swiss rolls, and a Harrods Joshua Bear to take home. There are plenty of treats for grown-ups, too – teriyaki salmon sandwiches, mince pies, and a pineapple-coconut Christmas tart, for example.
Available until 5th January. £62 per adult, £44 per child.
Fans of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker are in for a treat this winter. The Waldorf Hilton is charming its guests with a Sugar Plum Fairy tea featuring scones with homemade sugar plum jam and ballerina biscuits by the award-winning Biscuiteers. Tuck into vanilla choux crowned cakes and lemon-raspberry bonbons and feel the magic of the famous Christmas ballet come alive.
Available until 15th January from £39 per person.
Tired of running around busy London streets during Christmas time? Then take the bird’s eye view and treat yourselves to a relaxing afternoon tea with fantastic views across the capital. Of course, there’ll be plenty of freshly made sandwiches, scones and Christmas-inspired treats to feed your foodie desires, too.
Available until 5th January from £68 per person.
This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.
