London’s Best Christmas Afternoon Teas For 2023
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2 years ago
'Tis the season... to eat cake
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to celebrate than with some tea and cake? Many of London’s finest restaurants and hotels have given their afternoon teas a festive shake-up, with seasonal sandwiches, mince pies and mulled wine being thrown into the mix. So toast your teacups and enjoy some festive feasting at one of the city’s best Christmas afternoon teas.
Best Christmas Afternoon Teas in London
The Dorchester
The Dorchester really comes alive come Christmas time, with its majestic trees lining The Promenade – and it’s set to look better than ever this year thanks to a recent revamp. The hotel’s afternoon tea is world-famous: expect an impressive spread of perfectly crafted sweet and savoury fare. Begin with finger sandwiches on artisan bread: fillings include classics like smoked salmon and lemon, and turkey and cranberry, alongside interesting combinations such as a mulled pear and spiced beetroot brie tart. Scones, meanwhile, are served with lemon curd, strawberry jam and clotted cream. And finally: the exquisite festive pastries – creations this year include a pistachio choux with red fruit confit, and a spiced fruit tart with lemon curd. Pair with one of the specially selected grand and rare teas, plus a glass of fizz.
Address: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA
BOOK: dorchestercollection.com
Strand Palace
Looking for a child-friendly afternoon tea to take the kids to this Christmas? Head to Strand Palace, which has launched an Ice Palace Afternoon Tea, complete with a dedicated offering for children. Little diners can enjoy turkey sandwiches and cheddar brioche buns ahead of fun sweet treats, like mini gingerbread people and a coconut and citrus snowball. Fear not: adults are not forgotten about, with a menu that includes goat’s cheese and sage tartlets, prawn cocktail crostinis and traditional scones, ahead of chocolate and orange macarons, chocolate and cherry yule log, and a white chocolate and vanilla Christmas tree ‘cakesicle’.
Price: £25pp (weekdays) or £30pp (weekends) for children, £49pp for adults (weekdays) or £59pp (weekends)
Dates: 17 November 2023 – 7 January 2024
Address: 372 Strand, London WC2R 0JJ
BOOK: strandpalacehotel.co.uk
Corinthia London
With its Baccarat crystal chandelier, piano melodies and Richard Brendon hand-painted china, you’ll struggle to find a prettier afternoon tea setting than Corinthia London. Cakes are appetisingly presented on a trolley which is wheeled from table to table – and these are even better come Christmas time. First up is the savoury side though: enjoy sandwiches like roast turkey and cranberry relish, smoked salmon rillette, and cucumber and goats curd, plus sage and onion sausage rolls. Follow these with seasonal desserts like ginger and orange cookies, dark chocolate tart, and fruit cake – washed down with a glass of Laurent Perrier. Feeling extra luxurious? Add the caviar course for a casual £150.
Price: £95pp or £110 with a glass of champagne
Date: 14 November 2023 – 4 January 2024
Address: Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2BD
BOOK: corinthia.com
Zodee Media
Grosvenor House
Raymond Briggs’ Christmas classic The Snowman is the inspiration for the new festive afternoon tea at Grosvenor House, served in the hotel’s Park Room. As music from the film adaptation plays softly in the background from the resident pianist, diners can feast on finger sandwiches and themed pastries. Begin with sandwiches of Norfolk turkey and cucumber, and smoked salmon and Burford Brown egg, alongside freshly baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream and homemade jam. Save the best for last: five limited-edition pastries, such as The Snowman, a spiced ginger ganache encase in a chocolate shell, and The Enchanted Forest, a pastry tartlet with salted caramel and milk chocolate in Christmas tree form. The menu will also feature bespoke illustrations by Robin Shaw, who was part of the directing team on the sequel, The Snowman and The Snowdog – and you can take this home as a keepsake. A children’s version is also available, complete with miniature scones and hot chocolate.
Price: From £65pp or £83pp with a glass of champagne
Dates: 17 November 2023 – 7 January 2024
Address: 86-90 Park Ln, London W1K 7TN
BOOK: marriott.com
The Ritz
It doesn’t get much fancier than The Ritz, and of course its afternoon tea is extra special. This Christmas, book yourself a table in the ultra-decadent Palm Court, which is being transformed into a winter wonderland decked out with red and gold trimmings and a twinkling tree. The festive afternoon tea begins with sandwiches of Scottish smoked salmon on sourdough, chicken tarragon on malt bread, and cucumber with cream cheese on granary bread, ahead of freshly baked plain and fruit scones, and an array of beautifully crafted festive pastries. Pair with a glass of champagne and one of the special teas, such as The Ritz Christmas, infused with orange, apple and cinnamon. All this, to the sound of a choir singing carols… a real Christmas treat.
Price: From £105pp
Dates: 18 November 2023 – 1 January 2024
Address: 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9BR
BOOK: theritzlondon.com
