Whether you’re a tourist visiting London for the first time or a born and bred Brit looking to fill the football and tennis free afternoons later in the month, finding an afternoon tea experience full of spectacle and splendour in England can be surprisingly difficult.
Sure, nearly every English town boasts a quaint tea room serving up a pot of lukewarm Earl Grey and a couple of scones, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but sometimes, only the full experience will do – dress code, rituals, savouries, sweets and all.
It’s said that afternoon tea was first served to the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna, in 1840. Perturbed by the fashionably late serving of dinner in her household (8pm, if you’re asking), she conceived of a way to fill the hunger and boredom during the long stretch after lunch. And with it, afternoon tea was born! Nowadays, you neither have to be royalty nor impatiently awaiting dinner to enjoy this very British tradition.
If you’re looking for an afternoon tea experience that keeps tradition intact with every sip and slice, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 5 of the best places to enjoy the full afternoon tea experience in England.
THE RITZ, LONDON
A Michelin starred afternoon tea experience at one of London’s most revered fine dining institutions? Yes, please.
Made for royalty, at £55 per head (rising to £60 in October of this year), afternoon tea at the Ritz certainly isn’t cheap, but if you’re looking for class and tradition, this is the one. The experience comes with a selection of 18 premium loose leaf teas and freshly made cakes, scones and sandwiches from their Michelin starred kitchen, all enjoyed under the glittering chandeliers of this most famous London establishment.
Though you won’t be chastised here for adding your cream before your jam (or vice versa), the Ritz does require some traditional afternoon tea etiquette is observed; gentlemen should wear a jacket, and shorts, with jeans and trainers not permitted.
Interestingly, in their Great British Guide to Afternoon Tea, the guys at Age Co tell us that there is no correct order regarding that jam and cream – it’s purely down to personal preference! Unless you’re in Cornwall, that is, but we’ll get on to that a little later.
That said, the utensil you use for cream and jam application does matter; always use a spoon to add the cream and jam to your plate (using a clean spoon for each) and a knife to apply the cream and jam to your scone in your preferred order thereafter. Interestingly, a freshly baked scone should be broken in two with your hands, rather than by using a knife. If it’s baked perfectly through, it should separate neatly into two even halves.
LUTON HOO HOTEL, BEDFORDSHIRE
We had to come to Bedfordshire, to where it all began, for a traditional afternoon tea. Though you won’t be sharing a pot with Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, you can enjoy the full afternoon tea experience at Luton Hoo Hotel, a gorgeous 5 star luxury hotel and spa in Bedfordshire.
In this most regal of settings, the full afternoon tea experience will set you back either £35 or £40, during the week and at weekends, respectively. In the hotel’s elegant dining room, do remember that afternoon tea etiquette dictates that when lifting your tea cup, the saucer should remain on the table if you’re sitting. Should you be standing, the saucer rises with you as you sip. Phew, glad we got that one covered.
THE SAVOY, LONDON
Regularly voted as the best afternoon tea in the country, the afternoon tea experience at the Savoy will amaze you even before any tea has passed your lips. This is because it all goes down in the world famous hotel’s Thames Foyer, a glass domed atrium that boasts incredible natural light and a convivial spirit to match it. In the centre of the room, a pianist sets the elegant yet playful tone beautifully.
At £65 per person, the full afternoon tea experience at the Savoy is the most expensive on our list, but with over 30 teas and an impressive selection of intricately conceived pastries, scones and cakes, you won’t feel short changed.
FOWEY HALL, CORNWALL
Though we said that the ol’ ‘jam or cream first’ debate is purely down to personal preference, this isn’t the case in Cornwall, where scones originated. Indeed, local Cornish tradition dictates that cream should always be added second, and since they invented this most beloved of British bakes, we think we’ll follow their lead from now on…
With views of the sea, the luxurious country house hotel Fowey Hall is thought to be the inspiration behind Toad Hall, the fictional home of Mr. Toad in Wind in the Willows. Because of this, the afternoon tea experience at this whimsical location is a little different, following a Wind in the Willows theme. What fun!
For £27 a person, you can enjoy Ratty’s lemonade posset and Badger’s chocolate and berry Swiss roll alongside more traditional treats.
BETTYS CAFE TEA ROOMS, YORK
Did you know that sticking your pinky finger out whilst drinking tea is considered impolite, and you should try to avoid it whilst enjoying this most traditional of afternoon teas at Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms in York. Or, anywhere else for that matter…
Anyway, the full afternoon tea experience at Bettys, which has been open since 1936, is an absolute steal at just £19.95. For that, you’ll enjoy a selection of four traditional sandwiches, their iconic ‘Yorkshire Fat Rascal’ sultana scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream, and three miniature cakes. Oh, and a pot of tea, too, of course.
Recently, Bettys was featured on the BBC Two show Remarkable Places to Eat. On the program, host Fred Siriex and national treasure (and Bake Off winner) Nadiya Hussain visited the tea room…do check it out for an insight into this beloved Yorkshire institution!
And although we don’t think we need to say this, etiquette and tradition dictate that the tea should always come before the milk. This is so the consumer can gradually add the milk to reach their desired colour and taste. That’s that one settled, then!
If you’d rather host your own event, then check out our 7 IDEAL tips for throwing the perfect afternoon tea party. Oh, and save a space for us at the table!