Festive Afternoon Teas

Meeting friends or family in London, or just fancy a break from Christmas shopping and a chance to recharge? Try one of these fabulously festive afternoon teas for an indulgent break.

The Winter Garden Restaurant, The Landmark London | Marylebone

Enjoy a yuletide twist on the classic at The Landmark London served beneath the dramatic eight-storey glass atrium of the Winter Garden Restaurant. Expect seasonal savouries and spiced mandarin scones with homemade Valrhona chocolate orange spread. Picture-perfect patisserie completes the experience: white chocolate and cranberry yule logs and a Mont Blanc with candied chestnuts and Chantilly cream. 

Availability: 27th November - 4th January | Monday – Friday 2:30-4:30pm & Saturday –Sunday 1pm - 4:30pm

Venue: The Landmark London, 222 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 6JQ

Price: £99pp with a glass of Taittinger Champagne.

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Let Us Eat Cake: The Festive Edition at The Kensington

In celebration of the V&A South Kensington’s acclaimed Marie Antoinette Style exhibition, five-star London hotel The Kensington continues its ode to 18th-century decadence with a festive twist on its celebrated afternoon tea, Let Us Eat Cake.

 Served in the hotel’s beautiful drawing room, this exquisitely-presented afternoon tea captures the spirit of the season with handcrafted patisserie including strawberry genoise sponge with vanilla Chantilly and fresh strawberries, blackberry and lemon curd tartlet with blackberry mousse, almond macaron with raspberries and white chocolate ganache montée, and a delicate lemon shortbread. This is followed by The Kensington’s indulgent mince pies and a white chocolate & coconut Christmas bauble, adding a seasonal sparkle to the tea stand.

Savouries include egg salad on a brioche roll; roasted turkey with cranberry sauce on traditional white bread; avocado purée, sundried tomatoes & crumbled feta on a savoury pink brioche roll; and house-cured salmon with pickled cucumber on brown seeded bread. Traditional plain and fruit scones, served warm with clotted cream and homemade jam, complete the experience. Guests may accompany their tea with The Queen’s Coupe - a decadent cocktail of Belvedere vodka, Pimms, Earl Grey cordial, clarified clotted cream and Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV, with a rose petal and raspberry rim, or enjoy a glass of Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV.

On the 6th, 7th, 14th, 20th, 21st and 27th December, the gentle sounds of a live harpist will fill the drawing room, and on 12th and 13th December, a live illustrator will capture the moment with a personalised hand drawn illustration - a complimentary keepsake for every afternoon tea guest.

Availability: Now until January 4th, daily from noon to 4pm

Venue: The Kensington, 109-113 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London, SW7 5LP

Price: £65 per person, including a selection of rare teas, or £80 per person with The Queen’s Coupe or a glass of Champagne.

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Pavyllon London | Mayfair

At Chef Yannick Alléno’s Michelin-starred Pavyllon London, it’s a tres chic affair in the Pavyllon Lounge, complete with fabulously festive decorations and a soaring 25-foot Christmas tree. The new Winter Afternoon tea features elegant savouries of mini pâté en croute and lobster tartlet and warm scones.  Indulgent patisserie such as a coffee and hazelnutParis-Brest and a smoked vanilla crème brûlée follows with  the grand festive finale: a beautiful Bûche de Noël (yule log). In the spirit of the season of giving, each guest will be gifted with a surprise Dubai Chocolate gingerbread man. 

Availability: 21^st November | Friday - Sunday, 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, London W1J 7DR

Price: £95pp. 

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Lanes of London at London Marriott Hotel Park Lane | Mayfair

Moments from Oxford Street’s Christmas lights, Lanes of London’s Festive Afternoon Tea is the perfect post-shopping treat. Enjoy turkey and cranberry bonbons and smoked salmon and Cornish crab tartare mille-feuille followed by warm scones.  Wonderfully whimsical sweet treats include Santa’s Sleigh - a fruit cake with ginger shortbread and vanilla frosting - and an Upside-Down Santa featuring mixed berry compote and chocolate parfait.

Availability: From now | Served daily from 12pm – 4pm

St Ermin’s Afternoon Tea

 

Locations don’t get much prettier than the St Ermin’s Hotel. Hidden away in a private court yard, this iconic Westminster hotel has all the star quality the Christmas season requires. Shimmering trees, floral garlands, a sweeping staircase. It says: “Christmas” in the way that only the best hotels can. It makes the perfect spot to celebrate the season with its Christmas Afternoon Tea. Available throughout December – venture into this Christmas wonderland. What’s on the afternoon tea menu?Finger sandwiches filled with turkey and chestnut with cranberry and tarragon mayonnaise; Goldstein smoked Salmon with lemon and dill; St Ewes’ golden egg with watercress and truffle mayonnaise and a prawn cocktail brioche roll. There are lots of sweet treats, and of course freshly baked scones served warm, with clotted cream and home-made jam. Choose between tea, coffee, hot chocolate and fruit juice.  

Avaliabilty: Afternoon Tea is served daily in the newly renovated Tea Lounge, featuring ornate original Rococo plasterwork, Monday-Wednesday 12 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. and Thursday-Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Venue: 2 Caxton St, London SW1H 0QW

Price: Festive Afternoon Tea is £52 per person or £65 per person, including a glass of champagne. Vegetarian and gluten free options are available.

Book here

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Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David

Amanda David is a freelance food and drinks writer specialising in London’s restaurants, bars and events. She is the author of EAT THIS NOW! on Substack, the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo, a regular contributor to Palate Magazine and a Member of the Guild of Food Writers.

Follow Amanda on Substack and on Instagram: @LondonGAT