Finger sandwiches, dainty cakes and pastries, scones with jam and cream, and all, of course, with a hot pot of tea. When you’re visiting England, experiencing a classic afternoon tea has got to be on your to do list. But when you’re on a budget in London, cheap and affordable high teas aren’t the easiest to find. We’ve scouted out the most indulgent afternoon teas in London that all come up £30 or less, so you can feel quintessentially British without breaking the bank!
Article overview of London's best cheap afternoon teas:
The Wallace, £19.50
Paul in Covent Garden, £19.95
Browns, £20
To A Tea, £25
The Wolseley, £29.75
BBar, £30
Roast, £30
Number 16, £30
The English Rose Tea Shop, £36 for two
1. The Wallace, £19.50
Manchester Square, Marylebone, London W1U 3BN
Sit in the big, bright conservatory at The Wallace in Marylebone and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with a three-tiered tea. You’ll find the restaurant inside The Wallace Collection gallery with rose pink walls and trees dotted throughout. Here, you’ll be served a selection of dainty sandwiches, fruit or plain scones and some mini pastries and cakes between 2:30pm and 4:30pm every day of the week. Make sure you book in advance or you may find yourself looking around the gallery without that long-awaited scone and cream…
2. PAUL IN COVENT GARDEN, £19.95
29 Bedford St, London WC2E 9ED
Expect a Parisian twist on an afternoon tea at London’s popular French cafe chain Paul in Covent Garden. At £14.95, and the cheapest on this list, you might be surprised at how much variety is offered on this high tea menu. Great veggie and non-veggie sandwich options, tasty pastries, mouthwatering macarons and an almond brioche as opposed to the classic scone - you just can’t go wrong when it comes with such an affordable price tag!
3. Browns, £20
Locations across London
Sit down in an old buzzing brasserie for an afternoon tea with some added sophistication. At Browns Brasseries across London, you can indulge in one of the most affordable high teas on this list that’s served in a beautiful setting from 3-5pm every day. At just £20 for a selection of traditional, proper British sandwiches, as well as scones with jam and cream and a few dainty cakes, there’s no doubting the fact that Browns is the place to go for good value for money. Book a table for a taste of classic, old school English culture and enjoy the charming service in a warm, friendly setting.
4. TO A TEA, £25
14 Farringdon St, London, EC4A 4AB
Tasty finger sandwiches, dainty petit-fours and homemade crumbly scones. To a Tea does a lovely afternoon indulgence the proper British way at amazing value for money. Not only does it taste divine, but it all comes out the kitchen looking perfect. The tea is served brewing in a pot and the food comes out in 3-tiers... How else would want that #afternoontea Insta post to look?! Plus, for only £10 extra you can go bottomless with the bubbles...
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5. The Wolseley, £29.75
160 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9EB
Right in the heart of Piccadilly is a London institution serving up a surprisingly affordable afternoon tea that’s perfect for something a little more special. The Wolseley, once a car showroom, adds that extra bit of fancy to your traditional tea. Served on the classic three-tiered tea stand, you’ll get an assortment of finger sandwiches with some fruit scones (always with jam and clotted cream), along with some delicious homemade cakes and a pot of tea. It might not be the cheapest on the list but for a little taste of luxury the small splash of cash is well worth it.
6. BBar, £30
43 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PP
Serving one of the more quirky afternoon teas in London, BBar does your high tea with a South African twist. Visit the restaurant in the heart of Victoria from 2:30pm until 5pm any day of the week for scones and cakes, but rather than finger sandwiches they do ‘mini bunny chows’. Bunny chows are usually hollowed out bread rolls filled with curry; here they’re scaled down and filled with smoked salmon & cream cheese, salt beef, tomato & mozzarella and more delicious options all brought to you on stacked up plates.
7. Roast, £30
The Floral Hall, Stoney Street, London SE1 1TL
Roast in Borough Market knows how to do British food. Their Sunday roast is , and now their afternoon tea is taking London by storm. For a price of just £30 per person or £35 with a glass of champagne, you can enjoy a selection of classic British tea time treats while overlooking London's oldest and most famous food market. This includes a selection of finger sandwiches, mini savouries, freshly baked scones with preserves, cakes and a vast selection of teas to suit anyone’s taste buds. Guests have a choice of twelve different teas to choose from. The cake selection changes with the seasons but coming from such a well-loved British eatery, you know that they're going to be delicious.
8. NUMBER 16, £30
16 Sumner Pl, Kensington, London SW7 3EG
When the sun’s shining, step into The Orangery of the Number 16 hotel for tea and cake in a secret garden. This place will really make you feel like you’re splashing the cash on a seriously fancy afternoon tea, when in reality it only costs £22! Simple sandwiches, mouth-watering cakes and buttery scones to go with your English tea. Number 16 offers the classic, British experience in a beautiful, characterful setting.
9. The English Rose Tea Shop, £36 for two
4 Lower Grosvenor Pl, Westminster, London SW1W 0EJ
Just around the corner from Buckingham Palace serving finger sandwiches, scones and a great range of tea, it doesn’t get much more quintessentially British than this. The English Rose Tea Shop has made its name by serving one of the best yet cheapest afternoon teas in the whole of London. Plated over three tiers, the assortment of finger sandwiches are bite size pieces of savoury heaven, while the scones with jam and clotted cream are delicious (and enormous!). At just £30 for two people - plus £15 per extra person - this is great value afternoon treat, and it’s smack bang in the centre of London’s hustle and bustle.
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