Afternoon tea london

[Greenbird710]

Hello AIBU to think taking my daughter for an afternoon tea treat in London for her 16th is a good idea? Dioes anybody have any recommendations as I'm not sure where to start looking . Many thanks

Why would anyone think you are "being unreasonable" to want to take your daughter for tea in London?

You are being unreasonable however, but for different reasons.

Anyways because it's Christmas, I'll be the human Google for you:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5116403-where-for-afternoon-tea-in-london

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5070400-best-afternoon-tea-in-london

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5050294-where-is-lovely-for-an-afternoon-tea-in-london

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5283007-afternoon-tea

etc......

Well thank you for your delightfully sarcastic tone much needed today! I am aware of google thanks but I'm really after personal recommendations.

I don’t think it’s a good idea if it’s only an afternoon tea. I think show + afternoon tea would be more logical or shopping day + afternoon tea.
Also does she want to celebrate with someone else e.g friends and will she have this opportunity or afternoon tea with you will be the only celebration? What about the rest of the family?

Liberty of London (Regent Steet / Oxford Circus tube) serves an incredible afternoon tea. We went in January and were treated like royalty

Sketch is quite cool, the landmark is nice setting and traditional, ritz is well known (but I’m personally not a fan) and I had a lovely one at Rosewood.

Of which there are around 40 in the threads I signposted for you.

Ignore them, what people get out of being dickheads online for no reason to others is beyond me.
I've not got any recommendations as don't really know London that well but I love a good afternoon tea so enjoy!

If you're ready to be completely ripped off for a few defrosted sandwiches and cake from Iceland or Lidl, nicely presented, go for it 😉
Depends on the 16 year old really, if it's something you think she might enjoy.

Claridges - bit old and stuffy for a 16 year old

The Chesterfield- this is fun and what I’d recommend for that age

Browns Hotel - too mature for 16 yr old

Fortnums - good choice for that age

Dorchester - wouldn’t recommend for the price

The Ritz - v expensive but more of an experience if budget allows

Fortnums. Every single time. Worth every penny.

Depends where you go… I’ve never tasted defrosted sandwiches and cakes in any of the afternoon teas I’ve been to. It’s an experience - not just about the food.

Oh we had one at the Soho hotel once too, that was fabulous. Better for 16yr old maybe.

I took my Danish guides aged 13-18 to the ampersand hotel for dinosaur tea. Thoroughly recommend! You can get space tea too!

Where do you get this sort of thing? I've only ever had afternoon tea at the Soho hotel, Fortnums and Limewood in the new forest. All exceptionally prepared and wonderful experience.

Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it and will make a little shortlist now! I think you may be right that tea and a show would be good . Anyway thank you all and have a merry Christmas!!

The Savoy is very nice or the Rivoli Bar at the Ritz (much more excusive than the Ritz room or the main hotel). I was less impressed with Fortenhams .

If your DD loves drama/literature/Shakespeare then I can particularly recommend afternoon tea at The Swan at the Globe Theatre. Amazing views over the Thames and delightful food. I do not recommend Horseguards Hotel, afternoon tea there was awful.

If it was a special tea, I wouldn't be impressed with Fortnum's, it's just an upmarket version of a department store tea. Possibly worth it if you're doing a shopping trip and going to be spending quite a bit of time in the store itself first; it's certainly cheaper than the hotels.

I love Claridge's but it's not a dramatic as some of the other hotels.
You can't beat The Dorchester for decor and an amazing atmosphere...very modern looking building from the outside which belies the sumptuous interior where teas are held. Very pricey though....but I think worth it.

The Ritz is also good, it's much more of a 'touristy' tea (it's become a "thing" that all the tourists do) but quite fabulous and yes, the drama of going to The Ritz certainly appealed to my daughter when she was that age. Again, pricey and you may have to book up to 6 weeks in advance to get a place.

Do enjoy whatever you choose!

Many afternoon teas are a tourist-trap rip-off. The one in London that I enjoyed most was a Japanese-style re-imagining of the afternoon tea theme at Ginza St James's SW1Y 6QB - served on beautiful 3-level stands but with sushi and other Japanese savory bite-sized things instead of sandwiches, and a variety of cakes and sweet treats too. For more traditional English-Style ones I have usually been disappointed but I've only ever had ones that are less than £60 per head. I know the seriously posh hotels offer them for £100+ per head but I have yet to discover whether the extra £££ make it significantly enough better to be worth it.