Are you a tea lover? Are you also maybe a little bit of an anglophile? Have you always fantasized about having afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, scones, and clotted cream. Yep. Me too.
This past November, I recently had the pleasure of visiting London for a few days after a business trip, and I decided to splurge on high tea at the Ritz London. I know, I know… self indulgent, and at £57 (~$75 USD) not a cheap choice for a graduate student. But you know what? It was awesome. Here’s why:
It can Double as your dinner
The Ritz London takes reservations for high tea until 7:30 PM and they give you enough food for two or three people, so you can absolutely treat it as a dinner opportunity. I had two plates of finger sandwiches, and they would have given me more! There were also two types of scones with clotted cream and a tray of desserts. Between the tea and all the food, I left completely stuffed.
Perfect for solo or group travelers
I was traveling alone, and no one batted an eye. I was able to get a table with my back to the wall to people watch, enjoy the live pianist, drink my tea, and read my book. It was obviously more common for people to go in groups, and some people were clearly celebrating special events like birthdays or anniversaries.
You can try so many teas!
The London Ritz’s afternoon tea menu is extensive (all loose leaf of course). They have several herbal options too, which I found helpful for my evening visit.
You Will get to try legitimate scones and clotted cream
You will be presented with no less than two types of scones and clotted cream. These came after finger sandwiches and dessert, so I was already stuffed, but it was still delicious.
The staff genuinely seemed to care about my tea getting cold
I can’t be the only one that gets frustrated by cold tea. You’re working at your computer. You get into the flow of things, but then the next time you lift your cup to your lips…cold or lukewarm tea. Yuck.
This was not a problem at the Ritz. In fact, the service was exemplary; I think a waiter actually clucked in dismay when he found my teapot to be lukewarm. It was summarily whisked away and replaced with a completely new pot.
If you decide to try afternoon tea…
- Research your preferred venue. I opted for the Ritz London because of proximity to where I was staying and because I wanted a more traditional and formal experience. However, afternoon teas are not only a long standing tradition, but thriving in London. The Telegraph and TimeOut offer really helpful reviews of different venues to try for different tastes and price points. For instance, you could even combine afternoon and a city tour in one of the famous double-decker buses through Brigit’s Bakery.
- Make your reservations in advance. When I went to make my reservation, it was clear that there weren’t very many slots available for the day of or even the next few days. So if you have rigid travel plans, make sure you plan ahead of time!
- Many places can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free diets, but if you have any dietary restrictions, communicate those restrictions when you make your reservation. Most venues that I researched requested at least 24 hour notice.
- Double check the dress code. More traditional places like the Ritz London and the Savoy have dress codes for their patrons. I’m looking at you, my fellow Americans.
- If you feel weird going alone (you shouldn’t), bring a good book, or find some good company to enjoy afternoon tea with you!
Have you ever tried afternoon tea? Always dreamed of doing so? Share in the comments below.