An Afternoon Tea Etiquette Guide for Visiting London

Afternoon Tea Etiquette: Always Book in Advance

Booking ahead is essential, especially for the most popular afternoon tea venues in London. Many of the best experiences fill up weeks in advance, particularly around holidays like Christmas.

If you approach a venue as a walk-in for afternoon tea you may find they are fully booked or you may have to wait a while so they can prepare a table. Unless you go to a very casual place like a café or bakery.

Afternoon Tea Etiquette: Dietary Restrictions

Another ‘rule’ is not to skip the experience because you have dietary restrictions. Many people assume they can’t enjoy afternoon tea if they have food allergies or dietary preferences, but that’s not the case! London’s top afternoon tea venues cater to gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and even vegan diets.

However, it’s essential you book ahead if you do have any issues so the Chef and staff can plan and prepare accordingly.

Below, I’ve included sample menus. These are for the Original Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea and allow you to see the variety of dietary options available.

Dress Code

Many afternoon tea venues have a dress code, usually smart casual. But what does that actually mean?

For American readers, smart casual in London typically means avoiding overly casual attire like ripped jeans, shorts, sportswear, baseball caps or flip-flops. A nice dress, trousers with a smart top, or even a blazer over a T-shirt for men usually work well. Some upscale or ‘posh’ venues may have stricter dress codes, so always check in advance.

If you are at a more casual place to eat, you can wear jeans and no one will be bothered.

Jam or Cream First? The Great Scone Debate

This is a debate that has sparked regional rivalry in England! In Cornwall, people traditionally spread jam first, then add clotted cream. In Devon, it’s the opposite—cream first, then jam. 

Personally, I always add tons of cream first and then top it off with jam!

You can read the comments in my TikTok video about this afternoon tea ‘mistake’ so you can see how passionate people get about this debate. It’s also on Facebook and YouTube, if you want to give me a follow there.

@sunny_in_london

Afternoon Tea in London Mistakes | Afternoon Tea Etiquette | Things to Do in London | London Life #thingstodoinlondon #afternoontea #londonlife #etiquette

♬ Summer – Instrumental – Devinney

You Don’t Have to Order Tea

Despite the name, afternoon tea isn’t just about tea. Many menus offer coffee, hot chocolate and even sparkling wine like Champagne or Prosecco. So, don’t feel you’re breaking any etiquette guidelines if you don’t even have any tea from a teapot.

At the ‘Original Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair,’ I recently chose a chocolate-flavoured tea, which was an interesting alternative. It wasn’t for me, but it certainly was a great compliment to the tea’s theme. Others around me really enjoyed it! However, I liked my glass of champagne the best!

Watch Your Hands

One of my biggest pet peeves is when Americans raise their pinky finger when drinking tea. You see this a lot when they pretend to drink tea and impersonate what they think it looks like to be British. 

You will never see British people do this! If you want to blend in, keep your pinky down and hold the teacup by the handle.

Best Places to Eat Afternoon Tea in London

While I can’t choose any one tea over another, these are places to eat afternoon tea that I recommend for consistency and quality within their price range.

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Have you been to afternoon tea in London? If so, what was your experience like? Drop a comment below!

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