The Foyer & Reading Room, Claridge’s

Claridge’s serves the most balanced afternoon tea in London in the Foyer and Reading Room, under the Chihuly chandelier, with a string quartet and scones with Marco Polo jelly.

The Foyer is the art deco heart of the hotel, black and white marble, a silver glass chandelier, a quartet in the gallery; the Reading Room next door is quieter and serves the same tea. The stand balances savoury and sweet better than any in the city: five sandwiches, raisin and plain scones with Marco Polo jelly and Cornish cream, and a seasonal pastry tier. The tea list runs to thirty teas with a sommelier.

This is the tea Londoners book for themselves; the Christmas edition sells out in summer.