More Unusual Afternoon Tea in London
Traditional afternoon tea is delightful. And we really enjoyed sampling a wide range of the classics for our post on the best places for Afternoon Tea in London. But sometimes you want something less rarefied, and more Welsh Rarebit. (That’s a posh way of saying cheese on toast, which is a British way of saying grilled cheese.) And there are lots of places in town to have a great, more unusual afternoon tea.
So if Cucumber sandwiches make you sigh rather than salivate, here’s a list of London’s more unusual afternoon tea offerings:
The Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Rabot 1745
Rabot 1745
Where: 2-4 Bedale Street, Borough Market, London SE1 9AL
When: Tuesday – Saturday from 3pm – 5pm
Price: £25 per person (booking required: 02073 788 226)
Rabotcall it ‘afternoon tea with edge’, and they’re absolutely right. They’re specialists in chocolate, and their expertise infuses everything on the table.
The classics are all here, but with a twist: cocoa gin-cured smoked salmon, scones flavoured with chocolate and orange, and tasting chocolates. All the chocolate is made on-site by the master chocolatiers, in front of your very eyes downstairs in the shop. So this is a winner not only as an unusual afternoon tea, but as a fantasy world where everything is enriched by chocolate.
Tour Guide Tip: Plump for the hot Chocolate laced with salted caramel, it’s heaven in a cup. (It’s a Totally Tailored Team Favourite. Seriously, it would win a hot chocolate Oscar, if such a thing existed. Hang on, that gives me an idea…)
Vegan Afternoon Tea: Farmacy
Farmacy
Where: 74 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday between 3.30 – 5pm
Price: £35 per person
Now we may love it, but there’s no denying it’s indulgent: scones, tea, cake – even the sandwiches can be too rich.
Fancy afternoon tea, but without all the sugar and caffeine weighing you down? Head to Farmacy, which Harper’s Bazaar calls ‘an oasis of happiness’. Here they serve an exquisite plant-based tea, designed to please the eye and nourish the body.
You can still have your cream tea, but the ‘cream’ will be made with coconut, and be served on a gluten-free scone topped by pineapple jam. Nothing arrives at the table (including the flower-adorned tea stand you can see in our main picture) that won’t delight you, and enhance your glow. So, it’s an unusual afternoon tea that’s delicious, and nutritious.
Tour Guide Tip: Farmacy has become a favourite haunt for Hollywood A-listers and clean-eating celebrities alike. Who knows who might be sitting at the next table?
Sightseeing Afternoon Tea: B Bakery Bus Tour
B Bakery Bus Tour
Where: 8 Northumberland Avenue or Victoria Coach Station
When: Daily from 8 Northumberland Avenue 12.30 & 3pm, Daily from Victoria Coach Station 12, 2.30pm, 5pm
Price: £45 per person
This unique experience pairs the relaxing aspect of an afternoon tea with an eventful day of sightseeing. As your taste buds journey through a variety of French-inspired sandwiches, cakes, and pastries, your eyes will be wandering through the streets of Central London. This innovative tour allows you to enjoy the charming aesthetics of the city, whilst sipping on a lovely cup of tea. It is truly an exemplary decision for anyone looking to get the most out of an afternoon in London.
Tour guide tip: If you are intrigued by B Bakery’s French twist on an afternoon tea, but care for a more traditional approach, head to their marvellous bakery in Covent Garden to savour delicious sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries.
Scientific Afternoon Tea: The Ampersand Hotel
The Ampersand Hotel
Where: The Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, South Kensington, London SW7 3ER
When: Monday – Saturday: 12.30pm – 9.00pm, Sunday: 12.30pm – 7pm
Price: £39.50 per adult, £29.50 per child
The Ampersand Hotel science-themed afternoon tea allows one to take the meaning of ‘out-of-this-world’ food literally. Inspired by London’s home of human ingenuity, The Science Museum, the imaginative chefs have prepared a menu full of exciting and curious dishes.
Put an exhilarating twist on your typical afternoon tea by spreading jam served from a petri dish over freshly baked scones, and satisfying your sweet tooth with chocolate spacemen. Does this sound like fun for the whole family? Book a kids sci-fi afternoon tea for your little ones and watch their curiosity flourish as chemistry and physics combine with the science and art of food.
Enjoy the best of what London has to offer on your own private sightseeing tour with Totally Tailored.
Let us know how we can give you the quintessentially British experience in London, unusual afternoon tea and all, with Totally Tailored.