Afternoon tea is a very British tradition. It is thought that it was introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. Dinner at this time was generally served late in the evening between 8 and 9pm, and she would become hungry about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, as there was such a long time between lunch and dinner. She took to having tea, bread and butter, and cakes mid-afternoon, to ward off her hunger. In the 1920’s afternoon tea became a huge social event among the English aristocracy. It later spread to the middle classes. Today afternoon tea is as popular as ever, with restaurants and hotels up and down the country, serving sandwiches, cakes, and scones with jam and cream.
London has many options for afternoon tea but which are suitable for children? Families with children may be wondering if it is possible to enjoy an afternoon tea with kids, but you would be surprised at the number of places that offer child friendly teas and menus. Here we, along with other family travel bloggers, share some of the best family friendly afternoon teas in London.
SCIENCE AFTERNOON TEA AT THE AMPERSAND by Emily Cole, Kids and Compass
For an afternoon tea with an irresistible twist, take the kids to The Ampersand’s Science Afternoon Tea. The Ampersand is a boutique hotel located close to London’s famous museums in South Kensington. A visit to the Ampersand ties in nicely if you’ve been visiting the museums in the morning!
The Ampersand is family friendly – kids of all ages are welcome and there is a dedicated kids menu. The afternoon tea is held in the Drawing Rooms which is a chic but comfortable space with elegant armchairs around the tables, and some more informal seating on sofas around low tables.
Everything about the afternoon tea is science-themed. The tea starts with a deconstructed drink that you have to mix yourself – it arrives presented in beakers, with flavoured syrup in pipettes. You also get jellies in petrie dishes and sauces in tubes to inject into your cakes to your taste.
The desserts are the real treat of the Science Afternoon Tea, especially a beautifully constructed chocolate planet, complete with ring. The planet sits in a bath of dry ice which “smokes” wonderfully when water is poured onto it.
The Ampersand’s food is quite rich so very fussy eaters or small kids might want to stick to plain sandwiches and taste the adults’ portions (this is what we did). However there is a special kids version of the afternoon tea which isn’t quite as rich, and is ideal for most children.
The Ampersand caters well to those with dietary requirements (I’m a vegetarian, so are my kids) and the afternoon tea is priced in line with other teas I’ve had in London.
Where? The Ampersand Hotel
Cost? £39.30 adult, £29.50 child
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY AFTERNOON TEA AT ONE ALDWYCH by Crystal Brown, Southern Snippets
We made reservations at One Aldwych for a special Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired tea. The kids were so excited, even my 6-year-old boy! Upon arrival we were greeted and seated at our table with a special menu. Each menu includes a unique sketch of one of the characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The menu includes 5 different teas to choose from and even hot chocolate for the kids. Of course, they have drinks for the adults, including a special cherry cocktail or champagne.
Be sure to come hungry because you can enjoy a bottomless supply of savoury sandwiches and to die for scones.
You must save room for dessert because that’s where the treats come in! It’s amazing how much thought the pastry chef puts into the details of these treats! From the golden egg to the candy floss, and of course lots of chocolate. Everything was delicious.
Our waitress was over the top friendly and even with all the fancy tables everyone was very welcoming to the kids. Prices range from £35 for children, to £59 with champagne. They also offer a gluten free and vegan menu.
If you are looking for a fun place for afternoon tea with the kids be sure to check out One Aldwych and enjoy!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Inspired Tea
Where? One Aldwych
Cost? £45 adult, £35 child
AFTERNOON TEA AT THE CELLARIUM CAFE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY by Carrick Bus, Along For The Trip
Afternoon tea in London is a of rite of passage. Live like the locals we say! Fortunately, there are no shortages of locales to enjoy it. They run the gamut from the every-day to the extravagant (looking at you Fortnum & Mason). During one of our visits to London, we enjoyed tea at the Cellarium Cafe at Westminster and it turned out to be a perfect family-friendly option.
Located right at Westminster Abbey, the Cellarium Cafe and Terrace is a lovely spot for tea with large windows to enjoy the views, attentive staff, and several affordable options for families. We shared two services (currently £19 per service) that included all the usual suspects – scones with jam and clotted cream, small bites, sandwiches, cakes, and of course, several teas to choose from. The kids had a great time, and we all felt very British. Since this was our first British tea and we weren’t sure what to get, the staff was happy to let us share with the kids.
There is nothing stuffy about the service – come as you are – and we love that it’s so close to one of London’s major attractions. Make a reservation online to coincide with a tour of the Abbey and you’ll have an afternoon in London to remember. While there are many options in London for tea, Cellarium Cafe is a great option for families, especially if it’s your first time. Its laid-back atmosphere and delicious options are perfect for visiting families.
Where? Cellarium Cafe at Westminster Abbey
Cost? £19 per person
B BAKERY AFTERNOON TEA BUS by Greta Omoboni, Greta’s Travels
If you’re looking for a really unique afternoon tea experience I can highly recommend the B Bakery Bus Tour. This traditional British meal composed of sandwiches, cakes and scones, is served in a red double decker bus while it drives around the many highlights of London.
The bus tour starts at Victoria Station, where as you board the bus, they take your order for what tea you would like to drink and seat you at your table. From Victoria the bus sets off and takes you to see Harrods, the Royal Albert Hall, then drives around Hyde Park and goes up to Marble Arch, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben, before then returning to Victoria Station. The bus tour lasts around 2 hours, depending on how much traffic there is (and in London, that can be quite bad)!
Prices for the afternoon tea bus tour start at £45 per person for adults and £35 per person for kids, but vary depending on what table on the bus you want eg. top deck vs bottom deck, seats at the front vs middle of the bus etc., and if you want the simple afternoon tea or the gin and prosecco additions. The price includes all food and drinks and you also get to keep the colourful B Bakery takeaway mug in which the tea is served.
The food served includes some British afternoon tea classics such as cucumber sandwiches and lemon meringue tarts, but also some more creative treats such as smoked salmon blinis, tiny chestnut mushroom quiches, and mini chocolate cupcakes.
One thing to note is that there is no toilet on board, so make sure to go to the toilet before setting off on your afternoon tea bus tour! Important to note with kids.
Where? Departs from Victoria Station
Cost? £45 adult, £35 kids
MARY POPPIN’S AFTERNOON TEA AT THE SHARD by Caroline Bolton, Tea with Lady B
Practically perfect in every way, or would we need a spoon full of sugar to help the tea go down?
Our family of four are avid tea fans, especially if a “posh hotel” is involved (in the words of our 5yr old twins). So imagine our excitement for an afternoon tea, not only on the 31st floor of the Shard but themed around our favourite film; Mary Poppins!
We weren’t disappointed. Whilst the tea certainly doesn’t compare with the deluxe hotel options, what it lacks in finesse it makes up for in quirkiness and personality.
For big people, do order the champagne version, just so you can use Mary’s Medicine bottles to flavour your bubbles. The sandwiches are pretty good and the warm scones delivered in Mary Poppins (MP) branded bags (quite handy if you don’t eat them all and want to sneak some in your bag to take home). The cakes are displayed on a MP boots & umbrella styled cake stand, which was fabulous. The cakes themselves were just OK. It seems it’s the instagrammable look they’re going for not a taste award.
For little people, they loved the kite shaped drinks stirrer, the MP themed china, the strawberry lemonade float and candyfloss. The kitchen will do plain sandwiches, if your child is like ours, is not that into truffle with their egg.
The best bits: Service was excellent and the eccentricity should be celebrated (scones dramatically pulled from a MP’esque tapestry bag actually made me gasp).
The worst bits: Window tables are mainly for 2 people, so families don’t get the best spot. Tea is served around the staircase, not the best part of Aqua which is a shame. £49 for a child’s tea is over the top.
Where? The Shard
Cost? £49 per person (whether adult or child)
AFTERNOON TEA AT ORMER RESTAURANT IN THE FLEMINGS HOTEL by Zoe Holland, Juggling on Roller Skates
Flemings is one of London’s oldest hotels; dating from 1851. The stunning venue comprises of thirteen Georgian Townhouses dating from 1731. Inside, the Art Deco-inspired interior of this historic hotel is awash with the glamour and artistry of the 1920s. Needless to say Flemings offers the perfect setting for Afternoon Tea.
The food is served with a selection of teas including exotic options such as Soothing Rose, Chai and China Milky Oolong. Accompaniments are served on a beautiful tiered platter where guests are presented with a rainbow of petit fours, perfect scones with cream and jam, neatly cut sandwiches and egg rolls. The selection of sandwiches included egg mayonnaise in a brioche bun; cheddar and pickle; salmon and cream cheese; ham and pesto and chicken and tarragon. Petit fours comprise a selection of exquisitely dark cherry and pistachio profiteroles; tangy passionfruit tart; zingy rose petal macaroons and zesty pavlova with strawberry and lemon.
Afternoon tea at the Ormer Restaurant is the ideal treat for a special occasion or catch up with friends…laid back luxury that will leave you feeling well and truly indulged!
Afternoon Tea at an historic hotel
Where? Ormer Restaurant, Flemings Hotel, Mayfair
Cost? £34.50 per person
AFTERNOON TEA AT ST ERMIN’S HOTEL by Nicky Williams, Go Live Young
The St. Ermin’s Hotel, a luxury hotel in the heart of London, is located in a beautiful historical building. Located in Westminster, it is perfectly situated for tea after a day of sightseeing in the capital city.
The St. Ermin’s Hotel is family friendly – kids are very welcome and there is a dedicated kids afternoon tea menu. Afternoon tea is served in the tea lounge and library of this wonderful hotel. Children are invited to have their very own afternoon tea, a Buzzy Bees tea when we visited, now a Mini Gardener tea. Adults are not forgotten with their own afternoon tea selection, including sandwiches, cakes and scones. There is even the option to complement your tea with unlimited Prosecco!
After enjoying tea, take the family to see the hotel’s famous beehives where over 350,000 bees make the honey enjoyed in elements of your afternoon tea.
To encourage children to become green fingered they will receive a special herb growing pack with the Mini Gardener tea.
At the St. Ermin’s Hotel, the afternoon tea is good value, accessible to most families. A perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or to spend a memorable afternoon in London.
The Buzzy Bees Afternoon Tea has now been replaced by a Mini Gardener Tea for children.
Buzzy Bees or Mini Gardener Afternoon Tea
Where? St Ermin’s Hotel
Cost? £29 adult , £15 child
AND LASTLY…
Out top tip for booking afternoon tea in London: book your tea for 4.30 or 5pm, you’ll be so full you can skip dinner!
All prices correct as of January 2019.
FOR MORE ON LONDON READ:
Top 10 Things To Do In London with Kids
Exploring the Tower of London with Kids
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74 Comments.
There are so many fantastic afternoon teas for kids in London! We will definitely have to try some more of them next time we go. Thanks for including us in this post!
Loved having you. Thank you for your great contribution. We really want to try the Science tea at Ampersand now. My boys would love it.
There’s so many great recommendations here! I can vouch for the great, laid back service at the Westminster Abbey restaurant. We went a few years ago and the Italian waiters were so friendly with the kids, it was like being in Italy! #CulturedKids
Just love an afternoon tea and some amazing inspiration here for London. We’d love to do the Science tea next at the Ampersand.
What a great post, Nicky. I want to try the tea at the St Ermin’s and visit the beehives. Always a fan of places where they keep the bees buzzing. Thanks for linking up with #CULTUREDKIDS
St Ermin’s is a great place for Afternoon Tea with kids. It was fantastic to see all the bees way up in a roof garden, high above street level.
I took my children to the Mad Hatters Tea at the Sanderson a couple of years ago which was fabulous. I really love the sound of ALL of these, especially the Charlie & the chocolate Factory and the lovely tea on the bus! Thanks so much for joining in with #CulturedKids
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired tea is fantastic, all that chocolate! Can definitely recommend.
I was reading about the B Bakery and its bus the other day. It sounds a great way to eat and sightsee at the same time. I think the other suggestions are super too – I’d be quite happy to try them all out – kids or no kids!
#mondayescapes
I’ve got to agree with you there Trish, afternoon tea everyday for a week!!
What a fab post! I LOVE afternoon tea and these look brill. My boys would absolutely love the science one. Jemma #MondayEscapes
Thank you. We are going to try the Science Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand next too.
Ahh I love a good afternoon tea. There are some great themed ideas here – I’d like to try them with or without children!
I’m with you, these are great for kids and adults alike…
This is absolutely brilliant Nicky. I think I’ll try the science one first but plan to work my way through all of them… #Mondayescapes
Afternoon Tea for everyday of the week! The Science one looks fab…that’s next on our list too.
I love this!! We went to mini afternoon tea at the Reform Social and Grill, which was brilliant. It’s the perfect treat of a meal for little ones, isn’t it? #CulturedKids
I’ll have to check that one out. Yes, afternoon tea works perfectly with kids, all the things they like!
What a fantastic list! I took my daughter to the Landmark, she got a teddy bear! I really like the sound of the science one! #mondayescapes
I’ll have to check out the one at the Landmark. The Science Afternoon Tea looks fantastic. My boys really want to do that one.
Some great teas here for kids of ALL ages lol! I did the B bus tour for my 40th last year, enjoyed it a lot… #MondayEscapes
Afternoon Tea is definitely far more accessible for families now. What could be better than Afternoon Tea on a double decker London bus? A lovely birthday treat.
I have to say I really enjoyed it! I heard they’re doing a St Patrick’s Day special! #fearlessfamtrav
And now there’s a Christmas one – considering another trip into town… 😉 #fearlessfamtrav
Yes, definitely. Afternoon tea at Christmas time would be lovely.
I love that afternoon tea is being made more and more accessible to families now, and there are so many to choose from. I love the look of the London bus afternoon tea…and also the tip about doing a later sitting is such a good idea!
Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes
Far more accessible to families now than it used to be! There’s plenty of child focussed teas now which are perfect for kids and adults alike. We usually have our tea later in the afternoon so we don’t need dinner as well!
What a brilliant post!!! I love the sound of the Mary Poppins afternoon tea at the Shard, and the afternoon tea bus looks equally lovely, love the idea of a bus tour whilst eating a cucumber sandwich 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes
Thank you. Some fantastic options for afternoon tea in the capital.
Good to read this again for #fearlessfamtrav, it’s reminded me I should visit one of these lovely places!
Some great places to visit for afternoon tea in London.
Great list! I’m definitely bookmarking this one for when we’re back home in the UK in the summer. I love cream teas!! #fearlessfamtrav
I hope you get to do one of them while you’re back in the UK this summer.
My kids would love this!! #fearlessfamtrav
Afternoon tea is always a hit with kids!
I still can’t decide which one I would go to first, so I think I will have to judge it by scone size which means I am going to have to go to Ormer first! 😀 #fearlessfamilytravel
I love this! I think it’s a great idea to choose which one to visit first by the scone size.
This looks spectacular! We are hoping to visit London soon and would really like to stop for afternoon tea. Thanks for the recommendations. #fearlessfamtrav
I very much hope you get to London and have the opportunity for one of these afternoon teas.
We don’t normally have afternoon tea but I’m seriously inspired by reading through these. Something I’d love to do if we made it to London! #fearlessfamtravel
Afternoon Tea is a very British thing to do!
This is an amazing selection of kiddie friendly afternoon teas. I love the science one the best! #fearlessfamtrav
There are some amazing afternoon teas for kids in the capital. We’d love to do the science one too.
I love that there are so many variations of a beloved tradition. The science themed and Mary Poppins themed teas are the most appealing to me. #fearlessfamtrav
I think more and more people are taking kids for afternoon tea, hence the options have increased.
Never mind 4pm hunger pangs, I’m feeling peckish just reading this! I’d love to have afternoon tea on a London bus – how very British! #FearlessFamTrav
It certainly made me hungry writing this post! A wonderful British tradition.
These all look like so much fun!! We’re headed to London next month and have 2 teas booked, but none of these! We’re headed to the Grosvenor hotel and the Potions room. I might need to add one or two more to our week!! #fearlessfamtrav
Would love to hear how you get on. Maybe i can add them to the post!
All great choices but I love aldwych one and would love to try their tea #fearlessfamtrav
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea at One ALdwych was fantastic.
Oh my goodness, this has made me IMMEDIATELY want to book a weekend to London just to try these out! I love the sound of the deconstructed science afternoon tea, my kids would love all that. #fearlessfamtrav
Do it! There are fantastic options for afternoon tea in London.
I don’t know whether it’s because I have boys, or because they’re little fidgets, but I’ve never taken my kids to afternoon tea. Pretty sure the china wouldn’t survive if we did! #fearlessfamtrav
When they’re older! I have three boys so know just what you mean.
I don’t know whether it’s because I have boys, or because they’re little fidgets, but I’ve never taken my kids to afternoon tea. Pretty sure the china wouldn’t survive if we did! #fearlessfamtrav
What a quintessentially English thing do to! I had no idea there were so many places that did it and I’ll be honest, never really crossed my mind!
#fearlessfamtrav
We Brits love an afternoon tea.
I love Afternoon Tea and always wondered if there were any child-friendly ones. I like the sound of them all (apart from the Mary Poppins one, are they having a laugh charging kids the same price as adults!). However, I now really really want to do the science-themed one. As a former scientist that’s definitely up my street! #fearlessfamtrav
That’s the one for you Cath. Afternoon tea seems to be big business in the UK at the moment!
These all sound amazing, I had no idea London had such diverse afternoon teas. My kids would love the science one
#fearlessfamtrav
So many great afternoon teas to be had in London, even for kids!
These all look so yummy! I think the science one looks the most unique though. I love a good cream tea – bookmarked the post for when we’re back in the UK next summer! #fearlessfamtrav
London does afternoon tea so well, and there are so many teas that are perfect for kids.
Just as foodie tours are appropriate in different countries, I think a afternoon tea – or multiple would be very appropriate for a visit to London! #fearlessfamtrav
Multiple teas…what an awesome thought! There are so many great teas in London.
Too many delicious afternoon teas to be able to choose just one! But the Science tea sounds wonderfully interactive (messy!) and I like the idea of a family tea on a bus too. Great round up.
Thank you. So many great afternoon teas to be had in London.
I love afternoon tea but I’ve not taken the children with me before. I love that there’s so many family friendly options in London. #fearlessfamtrav
Hopefully one of these will be your first with the family.
After all that, we did end up doing the Mary Poppins themed Afternoon Tea when we were last in London. It was a very photogenic experience but I was left slightly disappointed that we were only offered 1 tea. All other Afternoon Teas that I’ve done offer you several different types. It was still enjoyable though 🙂 #fearlessfamtrav
Yes, afternoon teas usually have a choice of tea. Will have to add that into my review!
The ampersand science one is top of my list along with Mary Poppins
Both are great. Afternoon Tea in London is a special experience, and love that there are so many that are child friendly.