The best places for tea in London

Chai Guys serve some of most authentic chai London has to offer. These modern spots offer a range of chai blends and at Chai Guys Covent Garden you can also shop for ceramics and tins of chai to sample at home. Drinks include an iced chai and you can grab a pastry whilst you're here too.

Twinings Tea Shop was founded in 1706, making it London's oldest tea shop. Visit the flagship store from the popular brand to discover an extensive collection of blends, tea accessories, and gifts. You can stop at the loose leaf bar to try some tea, with options ranging from the familiar to the more unusual. Masterclasses in tea are held here too.

You can sample 100 diverse types of tea at Camden Tea Bar. This cosy spot also has a sister shop nearby where you can purchase eclectic teas to use at home. This relaxed tea house offers teas for every preference, whether you like a caffeine-free drink, strong fruit flavours, or a classic black tea. 

Vauxhall's Tea House Theatre is a unique and lively venue. By day it's a cosy and bohemian tea room serving food and a large and varied selection of tea blends. Books, newspapers, and board games are available as you unwind with a drink. The venue has an on-site theatre and is host to a varied range of events and performances.

Based in Kensington, Candella Tea Room is a sought-after destination for tea drinkers. This traditional tea room serves brunch and afternoon tea, but you can also visit for a drink with a slice of cake. More than 30 different blends are available. The surroundings are timeless, with a baby grand piano in the corner giving the space character.

Modern chai specialist Karak Chaii is a must-visit destination for any chai lover. Various expertly brewed chai blends are on offer here, in addition to other hot and cold drinks. Indian-inspired food is also available. If you really can't get enough of chai, you can even try ice cream packed with those signature spicy flavours here.

Mariage Frères brings tea with a French twist to London. This Covent Garden venue features the largest wall of teas in the world. You can shop for blends to take home or have a premium cup of tea here, along with sweet and savoury bites infused with the ingredient. This grand and traditional store also houses a tea museum.

Tea connoisseurs can't miss The Drawing Room at Brown's. This upscale tea room has a classic look and is popular for afternoon tea, but food is served all day. Accompanying the all-day dining menu is a considerable choice of teas, including seasonal blends. The venue is staffed by tea sommeliers who can help you choose.

Head to Soho and visit My Cup of Tea, where you can shop for fine teas or test them out at the tasting counter. This smart and upscale store specialises in premium teas and accessories. You can also learn more about your favourite drink by joining a tasting or blending experience in-store.

Located in Portobello Road, The Chinese Tea Company is one of London's leading Chinese tea stockists. This place channels the essence of a Chinese tea shop, selling loose leaf blends and handcrafted accessories like cups and teapots. There's also an intimate tea house where you can try the shop's teas or join a tasting.

Be-oom has the distinction of being the only Korean tea house in the capital. Visit the minimalist Exmouth Market site to sample natural and organic teas sourced from small sustainable farms in South Korea. The space is calming and there's a garden too. Alongside the broad choice of tea, you can try Korean-inspired desserts.

If you prefer a down-to-earth cup of tea then Kennington Lane Café is for you. This low-key local café is honest and humble, known for the friendly and chatty service, delicious fry-ups, and the proper cups of tea served here. In fact, this place was rated the top place for tea and coffee in London in 2022.

Japanese patisserie WA Café combines French techniques with distinctive Japanese ingredients to produce unique fresh bread, cakes, and other treats. Bakes are available for takeaway and delivery, or you can sample them in the calm and minimalist café. Tea drinkers will find a broad selection of hot and iced drinks to choose from.

The Muffin Man Tea Shop opened in Kensington in 1962, making it the oldest tea shop in the area. The interiors here are homey and simple. Breakfast and lunch are available here, plus there's afternoon tea. You can also visit just for a hot drink. In addition to coffee, this café stocks a broad collection of teas, including attractive flowering varieties.

Grab a warming cup of some of London's tastiest chai from an authentic chaiwala - Amala Chai. These colourful stands can be found in various locations, serving drinks made from tea and spices sourced from small-scale and sustainable Indian farmers. Each cup served here combines chai traditions with a modern attitude.

Mei Leaf Teahouse is a long-term fixture of Camden Town. This tea shop specialises in artisan single-batch tea. Check out the unique blends available and find something to drink at home, or have a refreshing cup of tea at the tea bar. There's an extensive menu of different blends, or you can opt for a tea flight if it's too hard to choose.

Try out premium matcha sourced exclusively from Japan at Matcha Venture in East London. Matcha is a passion at this place and there are lots of ways that you can try it out. This friendly spot serves matcha lattes and iced drinks, as well as creative options like matcha slushies. Sweet baked goods are available.

Based at the renowned bookshop Arthur Probsthain, Tea and Tattle is an elegant and tranquil tea room decorated with elaborate Chinese wallpaper. Lots of customers visit for afternoon tea, but the extensive range of loose leaf teas available here mean it's ideal for a cuppa at any time. Scones, cakes, and sandwiches are also served.

West London's Tab x Tab is popular for brunch, coffee, and cocktails, but tea drinkers aren't neglected here. There's a concise choice of black, green, and white teas on offer that's sure to inspire you, in addition to chai and matcha drinks. This is a modern venue with an industrial style and it welcomes remote workers.

Although Prufrock Coffee is run by a team of coffee experts, it still offers heaps of choice for those who prefer tea. As well as various black, green, and herbal blends, there are limited edition premium teas and stone-rolled teas. Breakfast, sandwiches, and pastries are also available at this cool minimalist café.

Claridge's ArtSpace Café is the luxury hotel's first on-site café. This elegant space is complete with its own art gallery and has a patisserie counter as well as a menu of sweet and savoury signature delights. Hot and cold drinks are available, including a carefully sourced selection of sustainable premium teas. This includes the Claridge's signature blend.

Whether you're after food or drinks, it's all about matcha at How Matcha. A huge range of hot and cold matcha drinks, including bubble teas, are available here, all prepared with ceremonial grade matcha sourced from Japan. Treats like cakes, cookies, and brownies are served too in a buzzy and contemporary environment.

Whetstone is home to Little Tea House, a cute and contemporary local tea room. Afternoon tea is popular at this venue but food and drinks with an Asian touch are served too. Tea drinkers will discover numerous options including herbal teas and chai. Plenty of sweet snacks are served to go with a hot drink.

Japanese tea room and boutique Katsute100 has a few locations around the city. Visit to shop for Japanese loose leaf tea and tableware, as well as sake and Japanese whiskies. Alternatively, unwind in the intimate tea room with a refreshing cup of tea. Various types are served, including matcha. Pair your drink with a Japanese dessert like strawberry shortcake.

Breakfast restaurant Eggbreak will satisfy down-to-earth tea drinkers as well as the bougie ones. A wide range of teas are served at this on-trend eatery, from builder's tea in a mug to iced tea and a choice of fine loose leaf blends in a pot. The tea goes with the modern and global breakfast-focused food menu.

Yauatcha captures attention with its charming European-inspired patisserie, boasting meticulously created confections that blend Chinese traditions and ingredients. In the rear, you'll find a serene teahouse where you can relax with an extensive array of dim sum, accompanied by premium Chinese teas ranging from delicately perfumed white teas to robust, smoky oolongs.

The Blackheath Tea Hut lives up to its straightforward name. Remarkably, this location has hosted a hut offering tea and hot meals for more than a hundred years, having survived wars and crashes in the meantime. A cherished fixture in the community, it provides a variety of hot food, including breakfast dishes and burgers, as well as strong cups of tea and other hot drinks. It counts celebrities like Jarvis Cocker and Jools Holland among its clientele.

Situated in Borough Market, Tea2You offers an exquisite selection of teas responsibly sourced from sustainable and ethically-run estates in India. While they're experts in premium Darjeeling tea, their shop boasts over seventy varieties of tea. Beyond selling loose-leaf teas, Tea2You is dedicated to enlightening customers about the nuances of tea, including its health benefits, correct brewing techniques, and much more.