Ditch the doilies and the cucumber sandwiches for a quirky afternoon tea in London! There are so many unique and themed afternoon teas in the city – and over the past few years, we think we’ve tried and tested the very best ones. Check out our top recommendations below and find your perfect high tea!
- Top 10 quirky afternoon teas in London
- More unique and themed afternoon teas
- Newest quirky afternoon tea in London
Top 10 quirky afternoon teas in London reviewed
1. Magic afternoon tea at Vintry and Mercer Hotel
For an afternoon tea with a twist, Vintry and Mercer Hotel offers a great magic-themed experience! This isn’t your average scones-and-sandwiches affair – it’s much more theatrical. For starters, the whole afternoon tea arrives in a haze of dry ice. Once you’ve lifted your jaw from the floor, you then tuck into enchanting creations like white chocolate and blueberry macaron owls, and a mischievous ‘Box of Bones’ filled with chewy skeleton sweets and chocolate soil.
There are separate menus for adults and children, and they cater to vegetarians too. Grown-ups can sip on magic-inspired cocktails – I went for the Witches Brew (bourbon, mango syrup, and something with a serious kick), and it quite literally blew my mind. This is a themed afternoon tea with a lot of personality!
User review: “We took my daughter here for the magic of afternoon tea experience. It was a last minute find due to our first choice cancelling our booking only 5 days prior. It turned out to be the best for us because this was an excellent afternoon tea. The room is atmospheric and you are given exquisite menus which glow in the dark. My daughter got to mix up the first potion which was drinkable and so she was already having a blast.” Francessca, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £49.50 per person
- 📍Location: 19-20 Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AU
- ✅ 5-star hotel with a 4.8/5 rating on TripAdvisor and just a 10 minute walk from London Bridge station
Get up to 43% off your magic-themed afternoon tea!
We’ve partnered with Wowcher to bring you an exclusive offer – you can get up to 43% off afternoon tea at Vintry and Mercer. And for total transparency, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link below.
Claim Wowcher Deal2. Sherlock Holmes afternoon tea at Sherlock’s Mind Palace
Put your powers of deduction to the test at Sherlock’s Mind Palace Afternoon Tea. Nestled within the immersive Sherlock Holmes-themed experience, this afternoon tea isn’t just about pastries – it’s about puzzles!
Alongside your afternoon tea, you get to play a mini ‘tabletop mystery’ that requires teamwork and your exquisite powers of deduction. We found the mystery to solve isn’t quite as fabulous as the full escape room. Instead, you get a handheld code-cracking device, a sheet of paper with instructions, and a few more surprises in store.
Though this is a hugely unique afternoon tea, we actually were more impressed by the cosy, and immersive lounge that you take it in. The room has decadent Victorian furnishings, a baby grand piano, plus Sherlock paintings and memorabilia galore.
💬 User review: “Went for the Sherlock afternoon tea as a surprise for my aunts birthday. The whole experience was amazing and worth every penny. From the turning up at the opticians to the solving the crime- it was all so well thought out and every little detail made the experience.” Eveanne D, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £39 per person
- 📍Location: Behind Doyle’s Opticians, West 12 Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush Green, Units 4-9, W12 8PP
- 💬 Menus are pre-set and must be pre-ordered – and they can’t cater for nuts or any other allergies!
Book through Red Letter Days
Right now, you can book Sherlock Holmes afternoon tea through Red Letter Days. And for total transparency, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link below. It makes a great gift for a loved one – happy code cracking!
Go to Red LetterDays3. Afternoon tea on a super yacht at the Sunborn London Hotel
There’s afternoon tea and then there’s afternoon tea on a super yacht! Moored in Royal Victoria Dock, the Sunborn London Hotel is the UK’s only ‘Super Yacht Hotel’ – making it a totally unique spot for afternoon tea. You board the boat before settling into their Lands End Restaurant which has quaint views of Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena and the surrounding Docklands (I recommend going at sunset if possible!)
The afternoon itself is very classic (though sadly not yacht-themed). Think classic finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with jam and cream, plus sweet treats like red velvet cake slices and passionfruit slices. Come for the yacht, stay for the delightful food!
💬 User review: “Afternoon tea, very pleasant, calm atmosphere. Attentive staff. Excellent location, love the dining area. Would definately recommend.” MM, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £116 for two
- 📍Location: Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1AA
- 💬 The views are great but just bear in mind the superyacht doesn’t actually set sail (a mistake we made)
Get up to 45% off your super yacht afternoon tea!
We’ve partnered with Groupon to bring you an exclusive offer – you can get up to 45% off afternoon tea at the Sunborn Hotel. With that saving, the price goes down from £116 to just £64 for two people. And for total transparency, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link below.
Claim Groupon Deal4. Afternoon tea and Taylor Swift bus tour
Well, this is a combination we didn’t think we’d experience. Afternoon tea in a moving vehicle with the best of Taylor’s hits blaring throughout! For 90-minutes, you can cruise around London taking in the sights and tucking into a classic afternoon tea. The menu is about as gourmet as it can be on a double-decker bus. Think sandwiches like honey roast ham and cheese or smoked salmon. And for sweet treats, it’s cupcakes, mini doughnuts, mini chocolate eclairs. It does the job! And in our experience, there’s nothing better than singing You Belong With Me mid-scone…
💬 User review: “This was a treat for my granddaughter’s birthday and she loved it from start to finish. The staff were kind and friendly. The bus colour was special, the food too and the London sightseeing was a great experience. 5***** Not to mention the music” FSCook, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £98 for lower deck, £118 for upper deck for two
- 📍Menu: Gluten-free, vegan, halal and kids’ options are available
- 💬 Genuinely, you’ll see all sights from St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben to the Tower of London!
Get 29% off your Taylor Swift afternoon tea bus tour
We’ve partnered with Groupon to bring you an exclusive offer – you can get up to 29% off this Swiftie-themed afternoon tea for two. With that saving, the price goes down from £98 to just £70 – which is pretty great! And for total transparency, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link below.
Claim Groupon Deal5. Science themed afternoon tea at The Ampersand Hotel
Calling all science buffs! The Ampersand Hotel’s Science Afternoon Tea takes a delightful detour from the traditional. Inspired by the nearby Science Museum, this quirky afternoon tea boasts a whimsical selection of sweet and savoury treats that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the stomach.
The Ampersand Hotel call this a combination of ‘physics, chemistry and gastronomy’. You can expect a mix of curious dishes, like jams served in Petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and dinky dinosaur biscuits. It’s a fun and educational experience perfect for curious minds (and curious appetites!).
💬 User review: “Science Afternoon Tea was definitely the best Afternoon Tea experience I have had so far this year.” paulinanewman, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £139 for two
- 📍Location: 10 Harrington Road, The Ampersand Hotel, SW7 3ER
- ✅ Winner of the Best Themed Afternoon Tea 2018 award with gluten-free, vegan, and kids’ options are available
Learn more in my full review of the Ampersand Hotel science afternoon tea.
6. Brigit’s Bakery sightseeing afternoon tea bus tour
Who needs a fancy hotel when you can have London as your backdrop? Brigit’s Bakery Bus Tour elevates the afternoon tea experience to a whole new level. Climb aboard a vintage Routemaster bus, adorned with floral decorations, and embark on a delightful journey through the heart of London.
The last time I went, the bus route went past iconic landmarks like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James’s Park, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, and many more. It’s as much a tour of London’s heritage as it is a quirky afternoon tea.
The afternoon tea itself is fairly standard. You can expect finger sandwiches, homemade scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of cupcakes and pastries – all baked fresh daily at Brigit’s Bakery.
💬 User review: “The afternoon tea was excellent, made even better by the uniqueness of being on a bus viewing the landmarks of London. The staff are very attentive and are quite amazing that they can serve prosecco without spilling a single drop! Would thoroughly recommend.” Bramblecat26, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £45 for adults, £35 for children
- 📍Location: Departs regularly from Victoria Coach Station and Trafalgar Square
- 💬 The experience lasts around 90 minutes or so in total and the bus contains 10 tables, so it never feels crammed or full!
Book through Buyagift
Keen to get on board the bus? You can get tickets for this afternoon tea bus tour on Buyagift. And for total transparency, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link below.
Go to Buyagift.com7. Gentlemen’s afternoon tea with beer at Limehouse Library Hotel
Nothing says afternoon tea like beer and onion rings, right? The afternoon tea at Limehouse Library Hotel is uniquely themed for geezers. The best part for us was that you can enjoy your afternoon tea with a cold pint of beer or a single shot of Red Label whiskey. Not quite the cup of Earl Grey we were used to, but we made it work! The menu is fun and not too serious – think mini hamburgers, onion rings as well as more classic sweet treats like Victoria Sponge. It won’t be for everyone, but it makes a great gift for a guy in your life who has everything!
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: £36 for one, £55 for two
- 📍Location: Limehouse Library, 638 Commercial Rd, London E14 7HS
- 💬 4-star hotel with a strong 4.5/5 TripAdvisor rating, though uite off the beaten track (but still very close to Limehouse station)
Get up to 19% off your gents afternoon tea!
We’ve partnered with Wowcher to bring you an exclusive offer – you can get up to 21% off afternoon tea at Limehouse Library Hotel. With that saving, the price goes down from £36 to just £29 per person. And for total transparency, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link below.
Claim Wowcher Deal8. Art-themed afternoon tea at Rosewood London
The high tea at Rosewood London is for the fine art lovers out there. Their afternoon tea is one of a kind and curated by Pastry Chef, Mark Perkins and London-based artist, John Booth. And the result of this killer collaboration is an afternoon tea that looks too good to eat!
The sweet treats are like mini sculptures with popping, vibrant colours. My personal favourite was the ‘Tropical Tulip’ – a purple and pink mousse with pistachio sponge (divine). The only drawback is the price, which in comparison is way above the average afternoon tea price in London. However, if you can get over that, the food is masterful, artistic and truly unique!
💬 User review: “We met friends for an absolutely divine afternoon tea. Service was wonderful, food was both beautiful and delicious. It was expensive, but a very worthy treat. Would recommend to anyone willing to splurge.” ksit2016, TripAdvisor
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: From £75
- 📍Location: 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
More unique and themed afternoon teas in London to try
We’ve covered some of the more unconventional afternoon teas in London – now here are our top themed afternoon teas. From literary legends to West End-inspired high teas, each one is a lot of fun and still pretty offbeat!
1. Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard
For fans of a Disney afternoon tea in London, Aqua Shard has you covered. Their afternoon tea menu takes inspiration from Neverland and the adventures of Peter Pan and even comes in a Jolly Roger, custom-made afternoon tea stand. The scones come in a treasure chest and I found the food in general was top quality. The experience is on par with the likes of The Ampersand Hotel, though the price is pretty steep – at least you’re paying for the best view in the city!
Did you know: For every Peter Pan afternoon tea bought at Aqua Shard, £2 is donated to GOSH’s children’s charity!
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: From £70pp
- 📍Location: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, SE1 9RY
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych
Snozzberry jam, chocolate (waterfall) milkshakes and your very own fizzy lifting drinks – for a unique afternoon tea, look no further than One Aldwych. Their afternoon tea is completely inspired by Roald Dahl’s iconic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and is as unconventional as it is scrumptious.
This is one of the most well-known and reputable themed high teas in London, with an average rating of 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor. The price is a little steep in comparison to Brigit’s Bakery or The Ampersand, but you’re paying for quality. You’ll be spoilt for choice with unique sweet treats that take you on a journey into Wonka’s factory!
Fun fact: This high tea is rated #32 of 1,819 ‘Coffee & Tea’ experiences in London on TripAdvisor!
Learn more about it in our guide to the best childrens afternoon teas in London. (Though rest assured, this is for chocolate fans of all ages.)
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: From £70
- 📍Location: 1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ
3. Wicked-themed afternoon tea at The Clermont, London
In partnership with the West End show, The Clermont hosts the one and only official Wicked afternoon tea in London! The menu is, of course, very emerald green-themed. You can channel your inner Elphaba and tuck into chocolate and pistachio treats, lemon meringue pie and a tangy lime cheesecake. Our afternoon actually came to the table swirling in dry ice, and I was particularly impressed that one of the sandwiches actually had green bread. It’s a lot of fun, very reasonably priced, and it’s great if you’re planning to see the show after.
Things to know:
- 💰 Price: From £40
- 📍Location: 101 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0SJ
Newest quirky afternoon tea in London
‘Bridgerton’ afternoon tea at The Lanesborough
Step back in time with the Bridgerton-themed afternoon tea at The Lanesborough. Here you’ll sit down in the beautifully decorated Regency dining room adorned with sparkly chandeliers and gorgeous flowers that we just know Lady Whistledown would approve of.
The high tea menu is crafted by Head Pastry Chef, Pierre Morvan-Benezet and pays tribute to the key families in Bridgerton Season 3. Some of my personal highlights include ‘Social Butterfly’ sharing cake inspired by Miss Penelope Featherington and ‘The Book of Eloise’ a sweet treat inspired by Eloise Bridgerton’s passion for literature.
This experience is definitely on the pricier side. At £85pp, it’s hard to justify the price. However, if you’re a true Bridgerton fan, it’ll be worth every penny.
💬 User review: “Not only was the experience absolutely lovely but the staff at this hotel were so welcoming and really went the extra mile to ensure that my family and I were looked after. I would recommend the afternoon tea here to celebrate a special occasion. We are looking to return soon!” LizzyLowe, TripAdvisor
Recap: Our best unique & themed afternoon teas in London
To recap, our top 20 quirky afternoon teas for 2025 include:
| ⭐ Sherlock’s Mind Palace afternoon tea and mini mystery | £79 |
| ⭐ Science-themed afternoon tea at Ampersand Hotel | £59.50pp |
| ⭐ Brigit’s Bakery sightseeing bus tour & afternoon tea | £45pp |
| ⭐ Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard | £61pp |
| ⭐ Drag brunchette at Zebrano Soho | £45pp |
| ⭐ Art afternoon tea at Rosewood London | £75 |
| ⭐ Sketch Gallery afternoon tea | £89pp |
| ⭐ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych | £70pp |
| ⭐ Shakespeare ‘Much Ado About Tea’ afternoon tea at Swan Bar | £39.50pp |
| ⭐ Cutty Sark afternoon tea | £43.50pp |
| ⭐ Cream tea with cats at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium | £8pp |
| ⭐ Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson Hotel | £55 |
| ⭐ Secret Garden afternoon tea at Kona, Taj 51 | £75pp |
| ⭐ Indian Jasmine afternoon tea at Kona, Taj 51 | £75pp |
| ⭐ Wizard afternoon tea at The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium | £47pp |
| ⭐ ‘Bridgerton’ afternoon tea at The Lanesborough | £85pp |
| ⭐ Gatsby Room afternoon tea at The Beaumont | £80pp |
| ⭐ Royal afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace | £70pp |
| ⭐ River Thames afternoon tea cruise from CityExpereince | £55 |
| ⭐ Afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament | £29pp |
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