Perfect for visiting relatives and great for all ages, London's Christmas afternoon teas are a great way to get together over the festive season. Here's our pick of whose seasonal selections are the best in town.
The Kensington
To tie in with the V&A's Marie Antoinette Style exhibition, The Kensington has put a festive twist on its celebrated afternoon tea, Let Us Eat Cake. Enjoy gorgeous patisserie, followed by Mince Pies and a White Chocolate & Coconut Christmas Bauble, while savouries include festive treats like Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Sauce sandwiches. There will also be a live harpist and illustrator providing entertainment on certain dates.
It's £65 per person, including a selection of Rare Teas, or £80 per person with The Queen’s Coupe or a glass of Champagne.
Book the festive Let Us Eat Cake tea.
The Cellarium at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA
Westminster Abbey’s Cellarium Café & Terrace is offering a festive tea with serious historic charm, served beneath its vaulted glass ceiling and views of ancient stonework. Savouries include chestnut, leek & feta quiche, turkey and cranberry sandwiches, hot-smoked trout vol-au-vents and truffled egg brioche. On the sweet side of things there are mini mince pies, carrot cake, macaroons, blackberry cheesecake and homemade scones with clotted cream.
How much? It’s £38 per person, with Chapel Down fizz on offer as an add-on.
Pan Pacific London
80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
Both adults and children are catered for with the Christmas afternoon tea offering at this City hotel. For adults finger sandwiches include turkey with a sage and onion butter, truffled egg and cress and scones come both in plain and gingerbread flavours. There's a very sweet bobble hat mousse in the dessert section and Christmas pudding macarons to enjoy. Kids have a much more interactive afternoon tea offering with cupcakes and biscuits to decorate alongside hot chocolates with toasted marshmallows.
How much? £68 for adults, £29 for children.
Fortnum & Mason
4th Floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER
Fortnum's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is teaming up with Hong Kong bar Tell Camellia for a festive afternoon tea complete with live Christmas piano and plenty of seasonal sparkle. Sandwiches run from Christmas-spiced Suffolk ham to smoked trout with dill cream cheese, while the sweet tier features a Dulce cranberry mousse, figgy pudding loaf, a classic mince pie and a shiny bauble mandarin mousse. Savoury bites include a lobster cocktail tart, Stilton and walnut cheesecake and a pheasant sausage roll, plus warm sweet and savoury scones.
How much? It's £84 per person with the option to include Grand Cru Champagne or a glass of organic sparkling tea.
The Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge
10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ
The Rotunda Bar and Lounge is going all-in on festive glamour with its Festive by Lily Vanilli Afternoon Tea, showcasing the cult baker’s modern take on Christmas classics. From a showstopping Modern Christmas Cake to a citrus tart crowned with a meringue wreath the tea is packed with sweet treats. Savouries include Lily’s savoury mince pies with roast potato and cheddar and there are also Parmesan gougères and confit potatoes with smoked salmon. Mini cocktails and a Martini flight keep things suitably festive.
How much? £65 to £75 per person.
Pavyllon
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, London W1J 7DR
At Chef Yannick Alléno’s Michelin-starred Pavyllon London, the Winter Afternoon Tea is a being served beneath a towering 25-foot Christmas tree. Savouries run elegant rather than traditional, with mini pâté en croûte, a lobster tartlet and warm scones. Pâtisserie lovers are in luck too as there’s a coffee and hazelnut Paris-Brest and a smoked vanilla crème brûlée before the grand finale: a beautiful Bûche de Noël. Guests also leave with a Dubai Chocolate gingerbread man as a seasonal treat.
How much? £95 per person.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel
3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN
Just off Trafalgar Square the Great Scotland Yard Hotel is gearing up for Christmas with a Festive Afternoon Tea served in The Parlour. This year's tea offering features savourites like wild mushroom and rocket quiche, turkey with celeriac and cranberry, smoked salmon with caviar and chestnut–cheddar Yorkshire pudding. Warm scones include both plain or cranberry, with clotted cream and blackberry jam and the pastries selection features a must-try Valrhona chocolate délice, a spiced apple “Christmas Bubble” and an orange-hazelnut Christmas Tree teacake. The whole thing is paired with festive teas for a cosy London afternoon.
How much? From £65
Also see...
The Hot Dinners guide to Christmas in London
Hamper guides, cookery book shopping, Christmas specials and more. Yes, we really do have everything you need for Christmas right here on Hot Dinners.
Subscribe to hear the latest from Hot Dinners
