Just a cup of tea please

[MissJeanBrodiesprime]

I’m meeting a friend in central London at the weekend. Can anyone recommend a nice tea shop, as in somewhere to sit drink tea and have a good old natter? There are loads of coffee shops I can think of but friend likes tea so would like somewhere a bit different, but we don’t want tea with lots of those cakes and sandwiches with no crusts, they don’t agree with me. We just want tea. Anyone know anywhere nice and pleasant?

I have never had a decent cup of tea from a coffee shop, all those nancy tea bags that couldn't make a cup of builder's tea if you put six in. 😆

The cafe in the V&A is lovely.

How long do you want to chat? If long I would go to John Lewis.. They’ve got nice tea and cakes and you don’t feel pressured to leave or order something else as it self serve. I remember we’ve spent ages in there once, it’s big and easier to find a quiet corner.

Caffe concerto cakes are vile. Another vote for F&M - it’s not ridiculously priced for the atmosphere and genuinely nice. Otherwise the V&A café is lovely.

Garden centres do that! Anywhere old people are.
i stalk them out,

if I’m in a shop and see an old person buying a cake / pack of biscuits. I always pick the same up

they know the good shit.

sorry op. I hope you find your nice tea shop!!!

this is why you don’t go to a coffee shop for tea.
coffee has ruined tea.

Liberty!

@EvilPea Blooming love Dave Gorman 🙂

V and a museum cafe

A lot of truth in that video 🤣

Try one of the museums , Royal Academy or National Gallery.

@BanningTheWordNaice I think caffe concerto cakes are very naice indeed!

LOL at Wetherspoons being the first suggestion!

Good call on the garden centres but there's probably not many of them in central London

But posh department stores, museums or hotels will probably work. Or old fashioned cafes.

You don't have to have the full afternoon tea spread if that's not for you.

Cafe - yes.
Coffee shop - no; in my experience coffee shops do not make a decent pot of tea. The water often isn't hot enough, it's not done in a pot and left to mash, and even worse some have the tea bag (I do prefer leaves personally anyway) on the side when it arrives and not even in the water yet!

Love Dave Gorman, and so true re tea!

Not from London, but in my experience book shops often have lovely little cafes where you can get a pot of tea. My local Waterstones has a brilliant cafe on top floor, surrounded by books and with a lovely view. All the tea is tea leaves served in a pot as well. I imagine it would be similar on other Waterstones

How about The Crypt in St Martins in the Fields?

I had the worst coffee I have ever attempted to drink in Wetherspoons.
I am really not fussy but it was undrinkable.

Maison Bertaux

Fair point I probably should have clarified I meant just in general for decent tea!!
and your right central london is sparse on the garden centres it’s like people don’t have gardens or something.

Wallace Collection cafe is lovely, nice scones too. And usually very glamorous staff to observe.

Best tea in London will be served in a white possibly stained/chipped large mug, in a greasy spoon with Formica topped tables with bench seats that don't move, or failing that in a proper pie and mash shop. Gavel.

Where are you going to be in London? It's a big place!

The Wallace Collection has a lovely cafe, Ham Yard Hotel, Waterstones Piccadilly, Japan Centre if you like green tea, Selfridges

Absolutely no Caffe Concerto or Wetherspoons

My friend always used to go to FnM for a cuppa!

I second the Liberty tea room