London is home to a vast range of afternoon teas, including many that are extravagant and expensive. If that's not your style or you want the experience without breaking the bank, you can find a cheap afternoon tea in the capital that gives you the grandeur you want without sending you into your overdraft. From classic English experiences to contemporary takes on a tradition, we'll help you find the ideal budget-friendly option. This is our guide to affordable afternoon tea in London.
Guide to affordable afternoon tea in London
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Budget afternoon tea in London
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1Park Grand London Lancaster Gate Budget-friendly treats
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2The Wallace Restaurant Afternoon tea with elegance
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3Ping Pong Dim sum delights
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4Cutter & Squidge Modern Soho tea room
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5Tea House Theatre Bohemian and creative
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6The Zetter Eccentric townhouse hotel
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7The English Rose English traditions
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8Bluebird Chelsea hotspot
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9Browns Popular British brasseries
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10Tea and Tattle Charming tea room
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11Map Maison Afternoon tea meets tapas
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12Candella Tea Room Taste of tradition
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13May Fair Kitchen Luxury ingredients
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14Oscar Bar & Restaurant Vibrant place for tea
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15Whiskers & Cream Cosy cat café
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16Rails A magical afternoon tea
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17The Anchor Bar & Terrace Full of exciting flavours
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18The Chocolate Cocktail Club Afternoon tea starring chocolate
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19The Doll's House on the Hill Local vintage café
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20Boulevard Brasserie Afternoon tea in a French brasserie
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21Betty Blythe Memorable tea parties
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22Little Tea House Big and bold flavours
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Budget afternoon tea in London
Budget-friendly treats
Park Grand London Lancaster Gate is a four-star hotel close to Hyde Park. As well as offering luxury boutique accommodation, the hotel has a bar and restaurant and serves a choice of afternoon teas in its open garden. This is one of the most affordable afternoon teas out there and includes a glass of prosecco to make things extra special.
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14-16 Craven Hill
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Website
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Park Grand London Lancaster Gate
020-726 201 11 - Read more on Thatsup
Afternoon tea with elegance
Part of museum The Wallace Collection, The Wallace Restaurant is an airy and elegant space serving lunch and afternoon tea. The venue is full of natural light and is enhanced by sculptures and plants. The cuisine here is European with a clear French influence. The afternoon tea menu is traditional, featuring delicate finger sandwiches, scones, and mini pastries and cakes.
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Hertford House, Manchester Square, Marylebone
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Website
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The Wallace Restaurant
020-756 395 05 - Read more on Thatsup
Dim sum delights
One of Ping Pong's lively locations serves a unique and affordable take on afternoon tea. Like all the group's venues, this place is a vibrant dim sum destination. Afternoon tea comes in at a low price and includes a lavish selection of dim sum and sweet items – there are original and vegetarian selections. You can add alcohol to the experience if you wish.
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3 Saint Katharine's Way, Tower Hamlets
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Website
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Ping Pong St Katharine Docks
020-768 078 50 - Read more on Thatsup
Modern Soho tea room
Family-run bakery and café Cutter & Squidge is located in Soho. It's well-known for its afternoon tea offering, which also comes in at a budget-friendly price. Afternoon tea here includes sandwiches, scones, and sweet bakes, and there are vegan and wheat-free selections. The tea room is a vibrant and contemporary space.
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20 Brewer Street, Soho
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Website
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Cutter & Squidge
020-773 425 40 - Read more on Thatsup
Bohemian and creative
Tea House Theatre is a vibrant and eclectic venue in Vauxhall that has won multiple awards. There's lots going on at this sunny and cosy spot. Premium teas are a speciality here and the place serves food all day, including an affordable and traditional afternoon tea. This bohemian spot also hosts a diverse array of events in the evenings.
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139 Vauxhall Walk, Vauxhall/Lambeth
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Website
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Tea House Theatre
020-720 745 85 - Read more on Thatsup
Eccentric townhouse hotel
Clerkenwell is home to eclectic and eccentric hotel The Zetter Townhouse. It's based in a Georgian townhouse and is full of imagination. Book a stay in one of the 13 guest rooms or visit the cocktail bar, where an affordable afternoon tea featuring sweet and savoury nibbles and a selection of teas is available.
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49-50 St John's Square
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The Zetter Clerkenwell
020-732 445 67 - Read more on Thatsup
English traditions
Just a short distance from Buckingham Palace, The English Rose Café and Tea Shop is a quaint tea room offering a traditional English experience. Afternoon tea is the main attraction at this place. It's served on a tea stand with mismatched china and includes finger sandwiches, scones, and cakes. Vegetarian and pescatarian selections are available.
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4 Lower Grosvenor Pl
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Chelsea hotspot
Bluebird Chelsea might be a celebrity hotspot but that doesn't mean the afternoon tea comes at a sky-high price. This sunny venue is a local landmark in Chelsea, encompassing a restaurant, a bar, and a café with a courtyard. Afternoon tea is served in the stylish plant-laden restaurant, featuring sandwiches, scones, and desserts with distinctive flavours.
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350 King's Rd, Chelsea
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Website
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Bluebird Chelsea
020-755 910 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Popular British brasseries
Browns is a brasserie that serves food all day, including a traditional afternoon tea. These venues are sleek, with each one having its own distinctive look. Whichever location you visit, you can savour a budget-friendly afternoon tea with savouries, warm scones, and miniature cakes and puddings. You can also add a glass of champagne or a cocktail to the experience.
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82-84 St Martin's Ln, Covent Garden 8 Old Jewry, The City/City of London 26 Shad Thames, Southwark/Bermondsey Hertsmere Rd, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets 3 Charter Quay Bury Street, HillingdonBrowns Covent Garden
82-84 St Martin's Ln, Covent GardenBrowns Old Jewry
8 Old Jewry, The City/City of LondonBrowns Butlers Wharf
26 Shad Thames, Southwark/BermondseyBrowns West India Quay
Hertsmere Rd, Canary Wharf/Tower HamletsBrowns Kingston
3 Charter QuayBrowns Ruislip
Bury Street, Hillingdon -
Browns Covent Garden
browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/london/covent-garden#Browns Old Jewry
browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/london/old-jewry#Browns Butlers Wharf
browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/london/butlers-wharf#Browns West India Quay
browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/london/west-india-quay#Browns Kingston
browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/southeast/kingston#Browns Ruislip
browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/london/ruislip#Browns Covent Garden
020-749 750 50Browns Old Jewry
020-760 666 77Browns Butlers Wharf
020-737 817 00Browns West India Quay
020-798 797 77Browns Kingston
020-897 456 98Browns Ruislip
018-956 221 09 -
Browns Covent Garden Browns Old Jewry Browns Butlers Wharf Browns West India Quay Browns Kingston Browns Ruislip
Charming tea room
Located near the British Museum, Tea and Tattle is a tea room at booksellers Arthur Probsthain. This charming eatery has intricate Chinese wallpaper and a calm feel. You can visit for a sandwich or cake but many come for the affordable afternoon tea. This includes sandwiches, scones, cake, and tea, as well as refreshing homemade lemonade.
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41 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury
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Website
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Tea and Tattle
077-221 927 03 - Read more on Thatsup
Afternoon tea meets tapas
Visit Map Maison by day for tapas and afternoon tea or go in the evening when the venue turns into a buzzing cocktail bar. Afternoon tea here is original as well as wallet-friendly, offering a tapas-style selection of miniature bites like filled baguettes and Iberico burgers. The venue is elegant and stylish with jewel tones, flowers, and wood panelling.
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321 Kingsland Road, Dalston
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Website
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Map Maison
020-742 114 41 - Read more on Thatsup
Taste of tradition
Candella Tea Room in Kensington is a traditional tea room. This sought-after spot has a timeless style and is in-demand for a budget-friendly afternoon tea. Take your pick from the wide range of loose leaf blends available, served with finger sandwiches, scones, and patisserie. Cream teas and delicious cakes to go with a cup of tea are available too.
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34 Kensington Church St, Kensington
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Website
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Candella Tea Room
020-793 741 61 - Read more on Thatsup
Luxury ingredients
May Fair Kitchen offers diners a unique combo of Japanese and Italian cuisines, but you can still get a quintessentially English afternoon tea here. Tea is a collaboration with Charbonnel et Walker, including sandwiches, scones, and chocolatey sweet treats. The restaurant is contemporary and intimate with moody lighting and style-conscious furnishings.
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Stratton Street, Mayfair
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Website
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May Fair Kitchen
020-791 538 92 - Read more on Thatsup
Vibrant place for tea
Furnished by acclaimed designer Kit Kemp, Oscar Bar & Restaurant is full of rich colours and patterns, plus a vibrant mural on the walls. Cocktails and sophisticated European cuisine are the specialities here, with food served all day, including afternoon tea. You get a traditional tea menu paired with cocktails or mocktails for a unique experience.
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15-17 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia
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Website
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Oscar Bar & Restaurant
020-798 010 07 - Read more on Thatsup
Cosy cat café
Located in Holloway Road, Whiskers & Cream is an award-winning cat café. Visit to hang out with the friendly felines and enjoy a light snack or go all out with afternoon tea. This fun and friendly spot has a wealth of afternoon tea options, including a classic experience, various options to suit dietary needs, and a tea for kids.
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593 Holloway Rd
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Whiskers & Cream
020-726 328 88 - Read more on Thatsup
A magical afternoon tea
Inspired by its location next to King's Cross St Pancras and its fantastical Platform 9¾, Rails serves a Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea in a homey and intimate setting that'll entice any weary traveller. The Back to Hogwarts afternoon tea menu features treats inspired by the bestselling books, including Hagrid's butterbeer panna cotta or a Hogsmeade chocolate mousse frog.
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Great Northern Hotel, Pancras Road, King's Cross
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Website
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Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
020-338 808 18 - Read more on Thatsup
Full of exciting flavours
At The Anchor Bar & Terrace, located in Chelsea Harbour, you'll feel like you're on a yacht without even leaving dry land. This elegant and discreet venue serves food and drinks all day long, including afternoon tea. The budget-friendly option here is served every day, featuring sweet and savoury nibbles as well as a broad selection of teas.
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The Chelsea Harbour Hotel & Spa, Chelsea Harbour Drive, Fulham/Hammersmith and Fulham
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Website
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The Anchor Bar & Terrace
020-730 084 43 - Read more on Thatsup
Afternoon tea starring chocolate
Chocoholics can enjoy an affordable afternoon tea at The Chocolate Cocktail Club. This unique cocktail bar includes chocolate everywhere it can, including in the afternoon tea menu. You can also add a chocolate cocktail or glass of prosecco to your experience. The setting here is comfortable and quirky with cosy furnishings.
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72 St John Street
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Local vintage café
If you want an affordable afternoon tea in Harrow, The Doll's House on the Hill is a must-visit. This cute local café has a vintage theme and serves afternoon tea all week, as well as breakfast and lunch. Several low-cost afternoon tea options are available, including selections for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets.
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44 High Street, Harrow, Harrow
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Website
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The Doll's House on the Hill
020-886 491 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Afternoon tea in a French brasserie
Although Boulevard Brasserie specialises in sophisticated French cuisine, it still serves a delicious afternoon tea at an affordable price. You can also add bottomless prosecco if you like. Set across three floors, the venue has a classic brasserie look and has been open since the 1990s. The chic setting attracts a diverse clientele.
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40 Wellington Street, Covent Garden
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Website
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Boulevard Brasserie
020-724 029 92 - Read more on Thatsup
Memorable tea parties
Combining afternoon tea with a love of all things vintage, Betty Blythe serves food and snacks and also hosts afternoon tea parties with a vintage theme. Whatever the occasion, this is the ideal destination for a memorable afternoon tea, filled with cute details. Teas to suit a variety of dietary needs are available here.
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73 Blythe Road, Hammersmith and Fulham
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Website
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Betty Blythe
020-760 211 77 - Read more on Thatsup
Big and bold flavours
Visit Little Tea House when you're in North London and you want an afternoon tea that's affordable. This charming and contemporary tea room in Whetstone has a distinctive Asian touch. Afternoon tea here is halal-friendly and packed with bold flavours. There are also vegetarian and vegan afternoon tea selections.
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1152 High Rd, Barnet
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Website
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Little Tea House
075-654 873 55 - Read more on Thatsup
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