Scones in the sky – it’s nothing short of perfection. That said, for afternoon tea with a view, London can be a surprisingly tricky mistress. But have no fear, your afternoon tea connoisseurs are here. We’ve compiled a list of the seven best places for afternoon tea in London with a view – let’s get started!
- London afternoon tea with a view at a glance
- Afternoon tea in London with a view – Our top 5 picks!
- More London afternoon tea guides
- FAQs
London afternoon tea with a view at a glance
| ⭐ Afternoon tea at Shangri-La, The Shard | from £75 per person |
| ⭐ Afternoon tea at Aqua Shard, The Shard | from £70 per person |
| ⭐ Afternoon tea at Oxo Tower | from £40 per person |
| ⭐ Afternoon tea at Vicinity, Tower Hotel | from £35 per person |
| ⭐ Afternoon tea at The Library, County Hall | from £21.95 per person |
| ⭐ Afternoon tea the Chelsea Harbour Hotel | from £26.99 per person |
If you’re in a rush, above is our list of the best afternoon teas in London with a view. They’re ranked in order of how much we gasped when we saw each view (a fair and justified metric). Be warned – for tea with a view, London can be pricey. Most on our list are fairly expensive, but we’ll go into more detail around the cost of each below.
Note: All prices above were correct at the time of writing, but please double-check before you make your booking just in case anything has changed!
Afternoon tea in London with a view – Our top 5 picks!
1. Afternoon tea at TĪNG, Shangri-La Hotel, The Shard
For afternoon tea with a view, London’s The Shard really is the best of the best. TĪNG is the restaurant within Shangri-La Hotel and located on the dizzying heights of The Shard’s 35th floor. Honestly, I can say the view is gasp-worthy for sure. You get panoramic views of the city (and especially if you get a table by the window). The afternoon tea menu changes quite frequently, they tend to offer an Asian-inspired menu along with a more British-inspired menu.
💬 User review: “...the most perfect scones and a gorgeous range of little cakes. It was both filling and fabulous. We also opted for the champagne version which worked out to be very reasonable.” Janet B, TripAdvisor
- Price: £75 per person
- Location: TĪNG Restaurant, Level 35, The Shard, London 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU
2. Afternoon tea at Aqua Shard, The Shard
I know what you’re thinking ‘another overpriced afternoon tea at The Shard’? Yes, but this is the last one, I promise. Aqua Shard is a restaurant on the 31st floor of the shard. This luxurious restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and genuinely gives you 360 degree views of the city – it’s magical. I’ve only placed it second on the list because it’s on the 31st floor, and TĪNG is on the 35th. That’s four floors of sweet views you’re missing out on.
The afternoon tea itself is delightful – and Peter Pan themed! The menu features sweet treats like ‘Hook’s Perish Cake’ and ‘Tinkerbell’ biscuits, plus all the scones and savoury bites you might expect. Many consider this to be one of the best afternoon teas in London with a view, and I’d have to agree.
💬 User review: “Great location, great food. Manager was excellent and moved us to the best table in the house. Would definitely recommend!” Wes P, TripAdvisor
- Price: £70 per person
- Location: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
3. Afternoon tea at Oxo Tower
You don’t have to go to The Shared for an afternoon tea in London with a view. The Oxo Tower Restaurant serves up a classic afternoon tea with quaint views of the river and St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s a relaxing spot with a lovely terrace where you can sit outside in the summer. The afternoon tea is also delicious – a truly traditional afternoon tea with baked buttermilk scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam.
💬 User review: “I often visit the Oxo Tower but this was the first time for afternoon tea – the food was amazing and fantastic service. It is served in the restaurant but you also have a choice of sitting on the terrace to enjoy the river view.” Surreygirl123, TripAdvisor
- Price: £40 per person
- Location: Barge House St, London SE1 9PH
4. Afternoon tea at Vicinity, Tower Hotel
Vicinity is a modern restaurant within Tower Hotel that offers gorgeous panoramic views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The views are honestly really great. You’re on the ground floor but if you’re sat near the window, you get a clear view of some of London’s most iconic landmarks. The afternoon tea menu is quintessentially British and includes Eton mess and mini Victoria sponge cakes. Delightful!
💬 User review: “Absolutely beautiful. It was exactly as it was described when I booked it. Great views over tower bridge, food was delicious, champagne gorgeous and service excellent.” Christine B, TripAdvisor
- Price: £35 per person
- Location: St Katharine’s Way, London, E1W 1LD
More London afternoon tea guides:
- Best London afternoon tea
- Rooftop afternoon tea in London
- Quirky afternoon tea in London
- Afternoon teas in Covent Garden
- London bus afternoon tea
FAQs
Can you get afternoon tea at the Sky Garden?
No, you can’t get afternoon tea at the Sky Garden. The Sky Garden has two restaurants: Fenchurch Restaurant and Darwin Brasserie. Neither of these currently offer afternoon tea.