Luxury afternoon tea in Central London - recommendations please

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

I'm looking for somewhere fancy to go in Central London for afternoon tea. It will be in mid March this year so definitely not interested in anywhere that would need to be booked months in advance, thanks.

Very flexible on cost as it's a big birthday and I want it to be a real treat. Would prefer a place without a strict dress code but will consider all recommendations. Must have good vegetarian options and nice cake!! Also, food should be plentiful as we will be going in early evening before the theatre and it will replace our evening meal. And surroundings need to be sumptuous please!

www.afternoontea.co.uk/uk/london/

Thanks @lieselotte, that's a very useful link.

Ritz or Fortnums are lovely

The Ritz.

I’ve always wanted to go to Cake and Bubbles.

cakesandbubbles.co.uk

The Wolseley is very nice, plenty of food and no strict dress code. Not sure re veggie options but sure they could cater.

You’re unlikely to get anything at such short notice. Especially around Mother’s Day.

The Lanesborough

Browns. No question.

Claridges is fabulous

Our tea at the Wolesley, so you can see the food and surroundings.

Anywhere that doesn't need to be booked in advance probably isn't very good or "luxury". Claridges is by far the best.

My friend had a lovely sounding one at The Corinthia last wekeend

One aldwych
Fortnum
Clarisge

So much this. We've done a lot of them and Brown's Hotel is streets ahead. It's not too big and impersonal and the atmosphere isn't starchy and the food is amazing. Kipling wrote The Jungle Book therre y'know.

www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/brown-s-hotel/dining/the-drawing-room/

Honorable mentions to Claridges and The Dorchester.

Mandarin Oriental was wonderful. Didn’t rate Corinthia at all. Mothers Day afternoon teas are on during March though!

Soooo good. The amazing scones, the fact you can just keep requesting more food…the tea-tox is decent too (discovered when I was trying to eat less sugar but ruined by the fact I ended up getting scones 😂).

I’m like you - I’ve done them all. Browns is always my first choice now.

(I do love Claridges but prefer the bar in the evening!)

Sketch is a little bit different, and so gorgeous

I can’t believe this wasn’t my first thought.

We used to stay at the Athenaeum when we were in London. It’s afternoon tea is award winning, and deserves to be. I’m too pregnant to book now but definitely going back soon.

www.athenaeumhotel.com/restaurant-bar/afternoon-tea/

We did afternoon tea at Ting at the Shard. Was awesome and the view was amazing.

I went to One Aldwych for my birthday and it was absolutely amazing. Fantastic service, and so much food that we had no chance of eating it all (and we are not in any way at all small eaters) and it was all incredible

Thank you so much for all of the lovely suggestions. Look forward to choosing.

And yes, I know it will be hard to book some at this stage, as acknowledged in my OP, but I'm sure we'll be able to find something lovely still.

Sketch is amazing ❤️

I like One Aldwych

Also the Landmark

The winter garden at the Landmark in Marylebone.

Mandarin Oriental is lovely, especially if you want something slightly different as there’s an Asian nod to it.

I really liked the Corinthia and the Langham.

The Ritz is lovely but it’s at its best in December when they have the Christmas choir.