United Kingdom · The home of four o’clock
London
London did not invent the pastry, it invented the hour. Afternoon tea at the Ritz, Claridge’s and the Savoy is a ritual with a dress code, and around it a new generation of patisseries has grown that Paris now watches.
The great London hotels compete on one thing above all: the afternoon. The Palm Court at the Ritz, the Foyer at Claridge’s, the Thames Foyer at the Savoy, the Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental and the Promenade at the Dorchester pour tea to the sound of a piano or a harp, with scones that arrive warm and pastries that change with the season. The Berkeley turned the tea into fashion with Prêt-à-Portea, and then brought Cédric Grolet into the house.
London’s pastry scene beyond the hotels used to be a footnote. It is not any more. The Connaught opened a patisserie counter on Mount Street, Fortnum & Mason runs a proper patisserie above the tea hall, and Soho still has Maison Bertaux, France’s oldest outpost in London since 1871. Chocolate is a serious matter here too: Paul A. Young’s ganache and Rococo’s artisan bars are the two names to remember.
Prices are steep, especially with champagne, and the famous teas are booked weeks out. But the value is in the ritual: two hours at a table that nobody hurries, a second round of scones nobody minds asking for, and a walk through Mayfair afterwards to a chocolatier that closes late.
Sweet profile
- Afternoon tea
- €85
- One pastry
- €8
- Box of chocolates
- €35
- Sweet Index
- 82
Jacket and tie at the Ritz, smart casual elsewhere.
November to January, when the salons are decorated and the teas turn festive.
Guide prices per person or piece, editorial estimates in euros as of 2026.
A sweet day in London
From the first croissant to the last truffle
October to January and May
- 08:00Breakfast
A cardamom bun from a Nordic bakery or a full breakfast in a hotel dining room: London wakes up savoury.
- 11:00Elevenses
Coffee and a slice at Fortnum’s or the Connaught Patisserie on Mount Street.
- 13:00Lunch light
Keep it small. What comes at three deserves an appetite.
- 15:00Afternoon tea
The Ritz seats from 11:30 in sittings; the Foyer at Claridge’s and the Rosebery pour from around three. Book weeks ahead.
- 18:00Chocolate
Paul A. Young in Soho and Rococo in Belgravia for a box before the theatre.
- 21:00Dessert
A soufflé at a Mayfair dining room or a trolley in a hotel restaurant to end the day.
Districts
Mayfair
Claridge’s, the Connaught, the Dorchester and Brown’s: the tea rooms with the strictest dress codes and the softest scones.
Piccadilly and St James’s
The Ritz Palm Court and Fortnum & Mason face each other across the street; the most photographed tea mile in the world.
Knightsbridge and Belgravia
The Berkeley, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and Rococo Chocolates within a short walk of Harrods.
Soho and Covent Garden
Maison Bertaux, Paul A. Young and the Savoy: the older, looser London of pastry.
The addresses
23 addresses in London
HotelIconLondon · Piccadilly
The Ritz London
The Palm Court
HotelIconLondon · Mayfair
Claridge’s
The Foyer at four
HotelIconLondon · The Strand
The Savoy
Tea under the gazebo
HotelIconLondon · Knightsbridge
The Berkeley
Fashion you can eat
HotelIconLondon · Park Lane
The Dorchester
The Promenade
HotelIconLondon · Holborn
Rosewood London
The Art Afternoon Tea
HotelIconLondon · Knightsbridge
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
The Rosebery
HotelIconLondon · Mayfair
The Connaught
The patisserie on Mount Street
Hotel patisserieLondon · Knightsbridge
Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley
The fruit lands in Knightsbridge
Hotel patisserieLondon · Mayfair
The Connaught Patisserie
Pastel on Mount Street
Hotel patisserieLondon · Park Lane
The Dorchester Cake & Flowers
Cakes by the entrance
Afternoon teaLondon · Piccadilly
The Palm Court, The Ritz London
The reference
Afternoon teaLondon · Mayfair
The Foyer & Reading Room, Claridge’s
The balanced one
Afternoon teaLondon · The Strand
Thames Foyer, The Savoy
Tea under the gazebo
Afternoon teaLondon · Knightsbridge
Prêt-à-Portea, The Berkeley
Fashion you can eat
Afternoon teaLondon · Park Lane
The Promenade, The Dorchester
The generous one
Afternoon teaLondon · Holborn
Mirror Room, Rosewood London
The Art Afternoon Tea
Afternoon teaLondon · Knightsbridge
The Rosebery, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
The pastry lover’s tea
Afternoon teaLondon · Mayfair
Jean-Georges at The Connaught
Tea in the conservatory
BoutiqueLondon · Greek Street, Soho
Maison Bertaux
Since 1871
BoutiqueLondon · Piccadilly
Fortnum & Mason Patisserie
Above the tea hall
ChocolatierLondon · Soho and the City
Paul A. Young
The London ganache
ChocolatierLondon · Belgravia, Motcomb Street
Rococo Chocolates
Artisan bars in blue and white
One dessert, one house
Signature Desserts: London
Good to know
Tips for London
- The Ritz insists on jacket and tie for gentlemen in the Palm Court; the other houses ask for smart casual, no sportswear.
- A discretionary service charge of 12.5 to 15 percent is added to most tea bills; no further tip is expected.
- Weekday sittings at 11:30 or 13:30 are the easiest to book and the calmest to enjoy.
- Ask for a second round of scones or sandwiches: at most of the great houses it is included and expected.
- The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea changes twice a year with the fashion collections; the winter edition is the richer one.
Frequently asked questions
Which afternoon tea in London is the best?
The Ritz for the ceremony, Claridge’s for the balance of food and room, the Berkeley for wit, the Rosebery for pastry quality. Our full comparison is in the Afternoon Tea Duel.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Four to eight weeks for weekends at the Ritz and Claridge’s, a few days for weekday afternoons elsewhere.
What does afternoon tea cost in London?
Around 75 to 95 pounds per person, roughly 85 to 110 euros, plus 15 to 25 pounds for a glass of champagne and a service charge.
