It was a lovely experience to share afternoon tea with my girlfriend Mamas and our daughters...10…read moreof us from California! Wanted to share my love for afternoon tea and Fortnum and Mason's Diamond Jubilee Room was the perfect place. Made a reservation months in advance and the ease of communication made for a wonderful experience! They were accommodating for our guests that had allergies and everything tasted delicious! We shared both sweet and savoury menus and enjoyed it all. What I most love about afternoon tea in London is that you can ask for more of everything... scones, sandwiches, desserts and try different teas. The service was not as exceptional as I had hoped but we were a big group! Overall, we had a wonderful time!

Sorry. I wanted to be blown away, but I can only (generously) give 2 stars…read more The room is very clean and bright and pretty. The table settings are adorable. The food was lovely - particularly the pastries (the sandwiches were fine but nothing superior). But the service was execrable. All the wait staff were very nice. A couple of our servers in particular were sweet and tentative and touchingly young. After we initially ordered, however, were never approached by any member of staff again - except for the junior server, who gave us plenty of refills of tap water. Despite ordering two glasses of champagne and a glass of sparkling tea, we were not asked if we would like to purchase any additional up-charge beverages. We were not asked if we wanted more sandwiches or pastries, although the party at the table right next to us was asked. We were not offered any additional pastries or scones. PLEASE NOTE: The afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason is VERY expensive. We paid £84 per person ($112.85 at today's exchange rate) not including the champagne and sparkling tea. It is also supposed to be "bottomless." It was not bottomless for us. We got one each, after which we were roundly - perhaps even deliberately? - ignored. At the end of the meal someone came by and asked if we would like a box for the two scones that were left. Given that we were not offered any additional food, the offer of a box for the scones was particularly insulting. In addition, I mentioned in the online reservation form that the occasion was our niece's 20th birthday. There was absolutely no acknowledgment made of that, prompting me to wonder why in the heck Fortnum's would ask unless it was to sell marketing information to someone. I also specified in that reservation screen that one of the party was a vegetarian. The wait staff had clearly never been told that that was the case because they made absolutely no mention of it. We were recently at Hawksmoor for my husband's milestone birthday, and I mentioned in their online reservation system that it was a special occasion. Hawksmoor went out of their way to make it special. The wait staff there were very attentive, and made us feel as though we were being attended to. The wait staff at Fortnum's were perfectly sweet, but as above, we were ignored after being served. Not to belabor this, but again, one of the selling points of the afternoon tea is that it is bottomless. I have been told by many people that servers cheerfully come to the table and offer additional sandwiches and pastries. This did not happen to us and it was, frankly, embarrassing since this tea was supposed to be a special occasion for our niece. My husband is not the kind of guy to strike out the server tip line on the bill, and he didn't do that on this occasion. The staff, when they bothered to appear, seemed to be trying. Regardless, we felt thoroughly ripped off. We paid an exorbitant amount of money for an absolutely minimal amount of food and a very non-special experience. It was not far off from a Tesco's meal deal and a couple of Bakewell tarts from Gail's, and I say that reluctantly. I really wanted to love the experience. The store itself is gorgeous and Fortnum's goods are understandably legenday, but the afternoon tea fell extremely short of the mark.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

My husband loves tea and being in England, we had to have a nice tea. Based on watching "Baking…read moreShow: Professionals" we saw some folks who worked at the Sofitel and we enjoyed the things they made on the show, so we used that as the basis to choose The Rose Lounge for tea. The rose theme is pervasive here, so if you don't like pink, this isn't your place. But it was truly lovely. Service was impeccable and the various savory and sweet treats were not only beautiful, but delicious. We had their "house" tea which had rose leaves in it and I loved it. We left feeling calm, happy and full. We added the champagne option as well and it ended up being about $125 per person, which isn't cheap but for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's worth it.

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....

While in London, I booked a pre-show dinner at the Wolseley in Piccadilly. I had heard about it on…read moresome foodie shows and got good referrals from people who had eaten there. When we arrived we were greeted immediately and checked in. We were early and needed to come back, however when we did, the hostess recognized me and greeted me by name - super attentive. We were seated right on schedule. We were not disappointed by the architecture, atmosphere, vibe, and excellent service (Deyana). The food selection was excellent, and we sampled many! The pictures attached are good, but the real thing, even better. I felt the prices were good value for money and the location easy to get to. Overall we had a great evening and would definitely recommend it. Please make a reservation ahead so you don't miss the chance to dine here.

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.