I will admit up front that I had little knowledge of Fortnum & Mason before my most recent trip to…read moreLondon. I had done high tea before on a previous trip, and mentioned to one of my friends I would like to do it again. She is borderline obsessed with Fortnum & Mason so we decided to do high tea there. The tea room is fittingly at the very top of the building. Below are different floors that vary from a butcher's shop, to being filled with cookies and tea, and then having dinnerware. The Jubilee Tea Salon is exactly what you would think given its location. White tablecloths, well dressed servers, steaming pots of tea, and overflowing towers of miniature sandwiches and baked goods. The room is bright and well lit, and just had an airiness to it that I liked. We went all out and it was worth it for us. The context is that both myself and my friend Karin are big tea drinkers. I'm sure we could have found a similar high team for a cheaper price, but I really enjoyed it overall. If you aren't really into the high tea experience but just are doing it to check it off your bucket list, consider another spot. If you want to see what all of the fuss is though this is an excellent spot.

Overpriced and not a special experience. Staff seemed pissed off (management how are treating your…read moreemployees?) and rushed. One assistant manager was complaining how another staff member "couldn't even send a f@@g email." Not a relaxed atmosphere at all. No one explained the bottomless tea or food. When the tray was presented, the server rushed off and then seeing my puzzled face, asked if I wanted hom to explain the food. Yes, I said and he proceeded to in a very rushed manner. The server poured/dumped my tea in a bolus and splashed it (what's your hurry?!) onto the tablecloth. It would be proper to lay down a cloth napkin, but she just put the teapot over the stain, thinking/hoping I would not notice. Not even an apology. Other tables got better hospitality. As a solo traveler, I felt ignored and had to wait a prolonged time for the check. The savory menu I ordered was largely tasteless and many items which should have been served at room temp were too cold. I left most of the items half eaten. If there is so much remaining food, shouldn't the server or manager ask if anything was wrong, or did I dislike the food, and how could we make it better? Food was like mediocre catered type items from a church event. For over $100 USD, it was an expensive TOURIST TRAP. BTW, I have worked in hospitality management. FM need to be aware that some families/individuals save for years to have this once in a lifetime experience. FM needs to respect and honor this. I am indignant about this disappppinting FM experience and will be requesting a refund directly to management...more about the principle rather than the $.

Wow! Marriage Freres close to the seven dials has literally any tea that you could imagine! The…read moreselection is a little overwhelming, but the staff is very helpful in ensuring you get the perfect tea for you! I can't remember exactly what team my brother ended up getting, but he went there for a specialty tea that he wouldn't be able to find at a regular store. They also have a nice upstairs area where you can enjoy a cup of tea and some pastries if you would like! We had a really good experience here!

We came by on impulse, on a mid afternoon without reservation and luckily were seated, upstairs in…read morea cozy but formal tea room . All the savory and sweet bites were beautifully presented and with creative fusion touches. It could be daunting to choose from the quite extensive tea selections but the young lady who served us was quite knowledgeable of the teas to offer a suggestion; service was attentive and formal. Do come here for an elegant high tea experience and inventive treats, a little pricey but worth it.

I was looking for an afternoon tea that wouldn't break the bank and would allow us service before…read moreour Wicked Matinee. I saw the reviews were good and decided to make a reservation. We chose to do the prosecco add-on as neither of us were driving and it just elevated the experience a bit further. From the moment we walked in the door until we left, it was delightful. The decor is very feminine and cozy, with lots of bright colors, especially pinks. It's also very well run and organized. The concept is brilliant, really; 2-hour prix fixe menu offering an array of treats that meet everyone's needs as requested: GF, halal, vegetarian and vegan. They also offer private party options for different occasions and specialty menus for Mother's Day, St Patrick's Day, etc. Service was wonderful; they didn't hover, but checked on us frequently to ensure we had enough tea. The place was packed, but I was able to take some photos with the turnover of new tables. Each sandwich and tea cake was delicious. The offering naturally consisted of two of each to ensure each person gets to try everything. Our menu was: Strawberry & coconut choux Mango tart Pistachio cupcake Salted orange macaron Mini seasonal quiche Cucumber, cream cheese & spring onion on basil bread Turkey ham & cheese, mayo mustard on tomato bread Creamy avocado choux Salmon & cucumber pretzel with cream cheese Freshly squeezed orange juice Selection of teas or coffees After filling ourselves on each of the delectable treats, they serve a freshly baked scone with clotted cream & strawberry preserve. Clotted cream has to be one of the most heavenly ingredients on the planet and the preserves were bursting with strawberry flavor. We saw their afternoon tea bus that tours London and that would be a really fun adventure. I would gladly come here again or do the bus in the future.

Incredible. I am gluten free and was uncertain I would be able to find a high tea that was worth…read morethe cost, but this one proved me wrong! Originally, I wanted to go on the tea bus, but the upper deck was sold out and that seemed like half the fun, so I chose to go into the shop instead. Made a reservation for 2 about a week in advance, and I did find that the reserved tables were all near windows and in cuter areas. You get SO much tea and food included in the price. I had like 6 sandwiches, tons of baked goods, and a load of desserts. Just one scone, but it is large, and it comes out last for some reason, which I thought was strange. They have plenty of decaf options as well. I tried a spiced orange tea, then went with mint since I was getting really full. The tea pots are stunning! Overall, this is a MUST in London, especially if you need to be accommodated for any allergies.

The whole experience of the Phantom of the Opera tea was amazing. The setting was exactly what you…read morewould want for a traditional English tea. The service was amazing and attentive. The food was delicious. The tea and cocktail were perfect. I would gladly do this again. If you are a fan of Phantom of the Opera the place was perfectly enhanced with props from the play. If you are not a fan the experience is still amazing!

Boy oh boy, this place was hard to find. Apple maps shows it's in some Chinese restaurant while…read moregoogle maps shows this place three blocks south. Thankfully said Chinese restaurant employee pointed us to the nearby Sofitel hotel. So look for the hotel, and you'll find the Rose Lounge in the lobby. Ah, our first British afternoon tea experience! Nothing to compare it to, but I say the experience is good. The Rose Lounge is decorated well, with Smeg applicances throughout. I never heard of the brand, but I'm not fancy like that. We ordered the cream tea which came with scones, tea of choice. £25 for a teapot. I left there pretty full and happy. Our server explained everything to us and was nice and accommodating. I really enjoyed the experience. BATHROOM REVIEW: located in the hotel lobby, the bathroom was super elegant and clean. There were two stalls and couple of urinals. The stalls had a solid door, from ceiling to floor and was clean. Lotion, soap, and thick paper towels awaits you after your do your thang. Sit or squat? Sit!

I love a great English tea and St. Ermin's delivers above and beyond. Wonderfully blended…read moretraditional teas, decadently rich sandwiches and dessert bites, and the perfect scones. This is the place to get a well needed shot of refinement. Everything was delicious!!

On our London Christmas vacation, my wife main request was to have tea at a proper English tea room…read moreand St. Ermin's Tea Lounge fit the need. Located in a beautiful hotel with a calm and quiet lounge, the beautiful room was filled with patrons sipping tea. The sandwiches were fresh and tasty. The desserts were inhaled by our boys and enjoyed by all. The scones arrived with clotted cream and jam were equally consumed by our boys. The variety of teas were enjoyable and packed with flavor. If you are in London and looking for a relaxing / quiet tea experience, St Ermin's Tea Lounge is beautifully decorated, tasty and a memorable event.

Not a tea person but this place is stunning, got the special edition Jade Dragon. Store is…read morebeautiful, staff is lovely. Tons of teas to test out, only time I've ever been impressed with packaging like this are those special edition Marvis toothpastes. 10/10 recommend, especially for tea lovers.

I've been to a lot of tea stores, mostly focusing on specific bulk varieties in the usual range of…read moreprices. TWG is exceptionally unique in that not only are all of the Service staff fully trained on every single variety available in the store, but they are also focused on helping you understand your drinking preferences and guiding you towards their particular blends that will most suit your taste. For example, while I am very familiar with standard Matcha, Sencha green tea varieties, TWG makes their own hybrid versions that are outstandingly unique, flavorful, and aroma-wise, unequaled by anyone else. My friend was more focused on Jasmine varieties, and our staff member directed her to four or five specialty variance that TWG created to enhance various elements of the jasmine base properties. The store is focused on elegance, but also accessibility, knowing that it can be overwhelming to see so many varieties in one place. There is also a Tea Service section that serves both iced and hot individual portions of all of their varieties, but also hosts specific events, such as a Chinese tea ceremony to acquaint you with the various honorific ways tea has been celebrated in different cultures. It's located very close to the M&M world, but so different in style that you'll be amazed at how much you might not know about such a readily available beverage.

Tea at the Savoy is a must do when visiting London. We made reservations several months before our…read moretrip; in conversations with the Savoy staff, it's extremely difficult to get seating without a reservation during the busy season which runs from March through January. The Gallery is where we had tea and it was amazing! High ceilings with bright coloring, chandeliers and artwork had us looking around admiring every part of the restaurant. We had three attendants and they were all very nice and attentive. We selected High Tea which came with option of a heated dish , lamb. The tea selection is wide, varied and well explained in the provided menu. We had Black Vanilla, Chai, and Morning Tea. They were all wonderful. Our first course of tea were the finger sandwiches, egg and chicken, salmon, cucumber and one that eludes me at the time of this review.;) Something to keep in mind is that as tasty as the sandwiches were and the staff will bring you as mush as you want, there is more to come so consider pacing yourself. After the sandwiches came the lamb and it was very good. The portion was very small but that actually works in its favor when taken with all of the food that is served. The last course consisted of the pastries- all of them were scrumptious. The staff were very good at explaining each item and suggesting the order of consumption. For the three of us, it was about 360 BP (around $500 US) which is expensive but worth it!! All in all, we had a memorable time that helped make our visit to London extremely pleasant. PS If you like fine automobiles, you'll find a bevy of them out front. ;)

Savoy Tea is the ULTIMATE luxury afternoon tea experience. During my trip to London I knew I had to…read morego all out for an afternoon tea experience. I actually told my boyfriend he can go do something else if he wasn't into it, but he said he would come along and be my loyal photographer. Goals! I made our reservation on Open Table for the Savoy Tea experience for the Gallery at the Savoy as soon as we began planning our trip. Even on a weekday they were pretty booked. I know cause I overslept and when I called when to move my reservation I was only able to push it back 15 minutes. Thankfully everything worked out and I got to my appointment on time. Upon arrival the hostess took our coats so that we can be comfortable for our experience. She welcomed us to our seats in a nice private corner. We were so lucky to sit in Wini's section. Since we said it was our first time there and my boyfriend's first afternoon tea experience, she explained everything thoroughly to guide us for the optimal experience. Wini is amazing. During our time there, Ione also came around and helped refill out teas, Archie cleared our plates, and there was another female staff member from Portugal who came by to give well wishes and even provided some travel tips. This whole team is incredible! We decided to get the Afternoon Tea (£90/person) experience that comes with a selection of traditional sandwiches and savoury bites, signature Savoy scnes, and seasonal handmade afternoon tea pastries. The experience comes with a pot of tea per person. We got to get our own pots of teas. They have a great selection of black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, fruity and floral tea, flowering tea, and herbal infusions. My boyfriend went with the Savoy Afternoon Tea blend to get the true experience. I started with the Flowering Jasmine & Lily and then when I finished that pot went onto the Earl Grey. For the traditional sandwiches and savoury bites, they served a traditional coronation chicken on a malbran bread, spiced st ewe egg on white bread, cucumber on spinach bread, British salt beef on granary bread, Scottish smoked salmon on a brioche, and organic baked butternut squash in a savory tart. Yummmm. They were all delicious and creative. These are bottomless and you can request as many as you'd like. My boyfriend's favorite was the British salt beef and my favorite was definitely the coronation chicken. Yummm! As for the housemade Savoy scones, these were accompanied by cornish clotted cream, strawberry jam, and lemon curd. I love the accompaniments but I don't love the cones. I am lucky to have a local farm to table afternoon tea concept near home who executes better scones. The tea pastries were a work of art. There was a jasmine and red currant, apple and custard, chocolate and hazelnut, and a blue lady earl grey and blackberry. When you cut into the cross sections they were perfectly even. A true craft executed by a highly skills pastry chef. Absolutely incredible. The Savoy Tea afternoon tea experience was no doubt a splurge but it was worth it to me because it was something I enjoy and it was an unforgettable experience. The food was amazing and the service was incredible. Wini truly did everything to ensure that we enjoyed our time at the Savoy. I am very grateful for the experience.

Decent drink selection involving many different types of tea and lattes. I liked how there were…read moremany samples of baked goods at the counter to try. I tried a scone with clotting cream and jam and it was hard and crumbly. The turmeric and ginger latte flavors didn't blend well together and I was not a fan. There's quite a bit of seating and it's cozy. Service is good. Overall however, Yumchaa was disappointing.

lAny tea latte is worth trying. I kid you not!!! Also worth buying some teas, which are reasonably…read morepriced. Large selection & helpful staff. Yumchaa is a great place to grab tea/coffee or even just to do some work!

Scoff and Banter is an awesome place, whether you're just grabbing tea in the afternoon, a bit of…read moredinner before the theater or for coffee and dessert after. We were staying at the adjacent hotel, so it was just a hop, skip and a jump for us. We pretty much only sampled the latter, and some apps along the way. You really can't go wrong here. Service is lovely.

It was the only high tea place I've been to in the U.K. The…read morereason why we came here is bc there really wasnt any wait where as other places were either fully booked or with insane wait times of 1hr+. Our set was 35pounds per person. It was ok but not really worth it considering its not a meal. Inside was a bit awkward...setup and ambiance wise. Was there music? i dont remember but I can hear a whole table next to us chit chatting so it was a bit annoying. But I guess thats what this is all about... So a question I have is...how do you have high tea between your 2 largest meals when they give you so much to eat?? Plus a whole pot of tea? I mean....its almost like a meal of snacks! Haha its great but I keep thinking about it....

The Wolseley is one of those London institutions that seems to have figured out exactly what it…read morewants to be and has little reason to change. The soaring arches, geometric marble floors, dark wood, and beautifully judged lighting make it handsome and timeless. At the same time, the constant flow of people gives the place a wonderful energy from morning through late evening. What I admire most is how naturally it combines grandeur with warmth: the service is polished and attentive without pretension, and the atmosphere suits a business breakfast, afternoon tea, or celebratory dinner. Set on Piccadilly beside The Ritz and a short walk from Green Park, it feels quintessentially London and remains one of my favorite places to experience the city at its most elegant and alive.

This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I really didn't love my experience at The Wolseley…read more It's overpriced for Afternoon Tea, and not even that special. While the overall look of the restaurant is beautiful with all the black and white flooring and gold-trimmed accents along the doors and walls, it is just a loud spot filled with tourists. The Afternoon Tea did include ample food, but scones and fingers sandwiches and cakes are not my favorites. Also, the tea selection is fine, but not very robust. I was hoping for a good mint tea, and asked for Earl Grey, but they brought me Afternoon Break instead. I didn't complain because honestly service was so slow and it took forever to get the attention of a waiter. I will say they let us linger with a glass of champagne beyond the 90 minute rule, so we were able to kill some extra time at our table before a theater show nearby. But overall, I'd skip this and get high tea somewhere else.