Guide to affordable afternoon tea in London

Guide to affordable afternoon tea in London

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.

Daniel Sheppard, Content Writer UK, Thatsup Daniel Sheppard, Content Writer UK, Thatsup
Daniel Sheppard
  1. Budget afternoon tea in London
    1. 1
      Park Grand London Lancaster Gate Budget-friendly treats
    2. 2
      The Wallace Restaurant Afternoon tea with elegance
    3. 3
      Ping Pong Dim sum delights
    4. 4
      Cutter & Squidge Modern Soho tea room
    5. 5
      Tea House Theatre Bohemian and creative
    6. 6
      The Zetter Eccentric townhouse hotel
    7. 7
      The English Rose English traditions
    8. 8
      Bluebird Chelsea hotspot
    9. 9
      Browns Popular British brasseries
    10. 10
      Tea and Tattle Charming tea room
    11. 11
      Map Maison Afternoon tea meets tapas
    12. 12
      Candella Tea Room Taste of tradition
    13. 13
      May Fair Kitchen Luxury ingredients
    14. 14
      Oscar Bar & Restaurant Vibrant place for tea
    15. 15
      Whiskers & Cream Cosy cat café
    16. 16
      Rails A magical afternoon tea
    17. 17
      The Anchor Bar & Terrace Full of exciting flavours
    18. 18
      The Chocolate Cocktail Club Afternoon tea starring chocolate
    19. 19
      The Doll's House on the Hill Local vintage café
    20. 20
      Boulevard Brasserie Afternoon tea in a French brasserie
    21. 21
      Betty Blythe Memorable tea parties
    22. 22
      Little Tea House Big and bold flavours

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Budget afternoon tea in London

Park Grand London Lancaster Gate

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.

The Wallace Restaurant

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.

Ping Pong

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.

Cutter & Squidge

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.

Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre
Tea House Theatre – Affordable afternoon tea
Tea House Theatre

Tea House Theatre

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.

The Zetter

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.

The English Rose

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.

Bluebird

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.

Browns Covent Garden Browns Old Jewry Browns Butlers Wharf Browns West India Quay Browns Kingston Browns Ruislip
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 Browns Old Jewry Browns Butlers Wharf Browns West India Quay Browns Kingston Browns Ruislip

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.

  • 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, Hillingdon
    Browns Covent Garden
    82-84 St Martin's Ln, Covent Garden
    Browns Old Jewry
    8 Old Jewry, The City/City of London
    Browns Butlers Wharf
    26 Shad Thames, Southwark/Bermondsey
    Browns West India Quay
    Hertsmere Rd, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets
    Browns Kingston
    3 Charter Quay
    Browns 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 50
    Browns Old Jewry
    020-760 666 77
    Browns Butlers Wharf
    020-737 817 00
    Browns West India Quay
    020-798 797 77
    Browns Kingston
    020-897 456 98
    Browns Ruislip
    018-956 221 09
  • Browns Covent Garden Browns Old Jewry Browns Butlers Wharf Browns West India Quay Browns Kingston Browns Ruislip

Tea and Tattle

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.

Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison
Map Maison – Affordable afternoon tea
Map Maison

Map Maison

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.

Candella Tea Room

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.

May Fair Kitchen

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.

Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant
Oscar Bar & Restaurant – Affordable afternoon tea
Oscar Bar & Restaurant

Oscar Bar & Restaurant

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.

Whiskers & Cream

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.

Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar – Affordable afternoon tea
Rails Restaurant & Little Bar

Rails

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.

The Anchor Bar & Terrace

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.

The Chocolate Cocktail Club

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.

The Doll's House on the Hill

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.

Boulevard Brasserie

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.

Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe – Affordable afternoon tea
Betty Blythe

Betty Blythe

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.

Little Tea House

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. 

Affordable afternoon tea – About the guide

Affordable afternoon tea in London - Our guide to affordable afternoon tea in London is updated regularly. If you know of a great budget-friendly afternoon tea in London that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to low-cost afternoon tea in London. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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