Guide to themed afternoon tea in London

Enjoy an elegant Chinese-themed afternoon tea at the four-star Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge. In the hotel's elegant and classic interior, you can sample savoury dim sum, desserts like red bean and pandan mochi cake, and a selection of teas. Optionally, you can add champagne to make your experience extra special.

Head to Aqua Shard for afternoon tea with fabulous city views. This modern spot serves award-winning British cuisine and is well-known for its afternoon tea themed on Peter Pan. Each afternoon tea includes a donation to The Great Ormond Street charity. Sample inventive sweet and savoury treats served on a tea stand inspired by Captain Hook's ship.

Luxury hotel The Berkeley is known for its innovative Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea. Every season the tea offering changes, reinterpreting the latest fashion trends into delicious treats fit for any fashionista. Expect rich flavours, eye-catching bites, and an extensive range of loose-leaf teas. This afternoon tea is known for being bold, colourful, and original.

Japan-themed five-star hotel The Prince Akatoki fittingly serves an afternoon tea with a Japanese influence. You can try sweet and savoury Japanese bites in the sophisticated on-site lounge like sushi, a rolled omelette, and yuzu crème brulée. You get a choice of teas, but you can make your experience more special with champagne or sparkling sake.

Covent Garden Hotel One Aldwych is known for celebrating British design trends and for its inventive afternoon tea offering inspired by Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Popular with kids and adults, this tea brings the creative recipes from the story to life. It's an inclusive afternoon tea with alternative menus for children, vegetarians, and vegans.

If burgers are your thing, then afternoon tea at Bite Me Burger is for you. This vibrant and creative Camden eatery has indoor and outdoor seats and makes an unusual afternoon tea. Enjoy your pick of miniature beef, chicken, fish, and veggie burgers, sweet treats like burger-shaped cupcakes, and the option to add alcoholic drinks if you like.

Stylish hotel The Dilly sits in the heart of London in Piccadilly, so it makes sense that it has a London-themed afternoon tea, served at its Terrace at The Dilly restaurant. Great fun for tourists, you'll sit in a botanical oasis to enjoy traditional tea with treats based on black cabs, red phone boxes, and Big Ben.

Luxury hotel restaurant Kona serves an award-winning afternoon tea menu in elegant surroundings - expect classic style and crisp white tablecloths. Two themed afternoon teas are on offer here. One is based on classic book 'The Secret Garden' and the other is a celebration of Indian culture. Both feature refined bites to eat and inspiring presentation.

Visit smart hotel The Chesterfield Mayfair to indulge in a whimsical afternoon tea themed on sweets and sweet shops. This award-winning afternoon tea is vibrant and playful, and various dietary needs are catered for. Guests will enjoy sandwiches, scones, and exciting cakes and pastries inspired by traditional sweet shops.

Midtown at NYX in Holborn is a colourful and laid-back spot for drinking and dining, becoming a late-night party spot. A unique afternoon tea with a Mexican theme is served here. You'll sample savoury and sweet bites with a Mexican influence, including scones with tequila-infused jam paired with a margarita.

Luxury hotel Como The Halkin serves a Balinese take on afternoon tea. This sophisticated venue has a tasteful look and serves health-conscious dishes. The Bali-themed afternoon tea includes sweet and savoury treats that are nutritious as well as tasty. A selection of teas, fresh juices, and alcoholic drinks complete this experience.

Budding detectives should check out The Mind Palace, a Sherlock Holmes-themed bar in West London. A themed afternoon tea experience is available at this immersive speakeasy-style venue. Solve a tabletop puzzle as a team as you munch on savouries, scones, and treats. You can also include alcohol in the experience.

Visit Kai for a China-inspired afternoon tea. The venue is upmarket with striking artwork and fresh flowers. Afternoon tea is social and elegant, featuring a welcome cocktail, varied sweet and savoury treats like bao sliders and macarons, and a broad selection of teas. Extra cocktails and champagne can be added on.

Cinnamon Bazaar is a popular Indian restaurant in Covent Garden, serving vibrant dishes in a colourful space with heaps of character. Sample an Indian-themed afternoon tea with nibbles like chaat and coriander pistachio cake. You get a choice of teas, including masala chai, and can add a chai bellini too.

The ideal afternoon tea for art lovers can be found at Mirror Room at Rosewood London. This striking setting has a dazzling mirrored wall and a contemporary look. An award-winning afternoon tea is served here that's themed around a particular artist, with the likes of Frida Kahlo, David Hockney, and Banksy all honoured in this way.

French café Mariage Frères is a high-end place dedicated to tea, housing its own museum and the world's largest tea wall. Shop here for premium teas or stop for tea-infused pastries and cakes, or come for afternoon tea. This afternoon tea is literally themed on the ingredient, with all of the food infused with it.

Afternoon tea at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah was named as London's best contemporary afternoon tea in 2023. This distinctive experience is themed on flowers from English gardens, served in a luxury setting with plenty of botanicals. The sweet and savoury bites come from renowned pastry chef Jessica Prealpato, who was previously crowned Best Pastry Chef in the World.

Sleek restaurant Ginza St James is an award-winning luxury spot for Japanese dining. As well as serving lunch and dinner, Japanese afternoon tea is offered. Expect elegantly-presented nibbles like a wagyu slider and mochi ice cream with a selection of teas and champagne or prosecco available by the glass.

On-trend cocktail bar Lyaness is a riverside venture from legendary mixologist Mr Lyan. The interior is luxe and retro, and the afternoon tea offering is themed on Sri Lanka in celebration of Mr Lyan's heritage. Vibrant sweet and savoury snacks are paired with exclusive cocktails and fine teas – an alcohol-free version is available too.

The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington is a luxury establishment that celebrates British design throughout. Inspired by its proximity to Kensington's museums, two themed afternoon teas are available – one inspired by science and the other themed on dinosaurs. Both involve sweet and savoury nibbles and plenty of theatrical flourishes.

On Greek Street, you'll find The Wizard Exploratorium. Inspired by fantasy and sci-fi, this is a bar and shop for fans of magic. Various experiences are offered at this vibrant, immersive destination, including an interactive wizard afternoon tea. Guests can enjoy themed treats presented in an exciting way, plus interactive tea brewing.

Check out Swan at the Globe for British cuisine with river views. This elegant restaurant offers a choice of menus, including afternoon tea inspired by Shakespeare. Each season a new tea is served themed on a different iconic play. Enjoy sweet and savoury eats, including veggie and vegan versions, or go for a hearty savoury tea.

The ideal afternoon tea destination for chocoholics is The Chocolate Cocktail Club. This trendy bar packs chocolate in wherever it can, and afternoon tea is no exception. As well as sandwiches, you can sample scones with Nutella and chocolatey desserts, and you can swap tea for hot chocolate if you like. You can also add on a signature chocolate cocktail.

If you're a vintage lover, then afternoon tea at Betty Blythe is for you. This West London café does afternoon tea in an elegant vintage-inspired setting. A choice of teas is available for differing dietary needs, and kids or adults can have afternoon tea parties here with a vintage dressing-up box and various optional extra activities.

Sanderson Hotel is located in the heart of the city and has a luxurious minimalist style, complete with a Japanese zen garden. Try the Mad Hatter's afternoon tea here, inspired by Alice in Wonderland and brought to life with themed teapots and sweet and savoury nibbles inspired by the story. A magical children's version and a vegan selection are offered too.

At the revamped Battersea Power Station, Tozi Grand Café specialises in sociable Italian meals. It's a striking and light-filled setting modelled on European grand cafés. You can visit for an Italian afternoon tea with sandwiches on Italian bread, brioche buns stuffed with jam and whipped cream, and cannoli with pistachio cream.

If Baileys is your favourite drink then there's an afternoon tea for you at The Bailey's Hotel. This Grade II listed hotel first opened in the 19th century and is known for its grand Victorian style. You can choose a Bailey's experience with treats like Baileys and butterscotch cheesecake and a Baileys flat white martini to top it off.

Bridgerton fans will appreciate the Queen Charlotte Afternoon Tea served at The Lanesborough. This luxury hotel near Hyde Park serves tea in a classic and elegant space. You can expect a menu of innovative and Insta-worthy treats, with menus created in partnership with Netflix. Various dietary requirements can be accommodated here.

Stratford's Union Social is a relaxed space with a terrace. At weekends the East London Afternoon Tea is served, including classic treats plus reinventions of East End favourites like a salt beef beigel and a sweet take on a jellied eel made with gummies and champagne jelly. You can add a gin and tonic made with local spirits too.

Based at the gourmet department store, Field by Fortnum's is a contemporary space where the emphasis is on sustainable dining. You'll see tall plants and pops of colour at the venue. Various menus are available including the Woodland Tea, a unique afternoon tea prepared with seasonal ingredients gathered from a woodland ecosystem.

The stylish Rails restaurant takes inspiration for its afternoon tea from its proximity to the magical Platform 9¾ at King's Cross St Pancras. Rails' Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea menu is designed to appeal to Potterheads with a selection of sweet and savoury treats inspired by the bestselling books, for example Hagrid's butterbeer panna cotta or crunchy passionfruit snitches.

Dalchini's afternoon tea blends British tradition with Indo-Chinese flavours. The menu includes finger sandwiches like Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables with Garlic Mayo and shredded chicken with Black Pepper, as well as Indian and Chinese snacks such as aloo mutter samosa, sesame prawn toast, and chilli garlic paneer. For sweets, guests can feast on raisin & cheddar scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam, along with chocolate and vanilla muffins, brownies, and fruit tea cake. The tea selection features options like Sri Lankan-flavoured black tea, Taiwanese oolong, and Egyptian chamomile, with an option for Prosecco.