Posh afternoon tea may be a quintessentially British experience, but the Bulgari Hotel offers an upmarket twist on a traditional classic. Served in the glamorous Bulgari Lounge inside the five-star hotel – the only British outpost from the luxury fashion giant – the Italian Afternoon Tea features scones, sandwiches and pastries with fresh seasonal ingredients. Executive pastry chef Salvatore Mungiovino’s sweet treats, including raspberry almond crunch and Amalfi lemon cream, are served on the most delicate of porcelain plates from historic tableware brand Ginori 1735 for the perfect marriage of Italian style and British tradition.

From £80 per person, served daily between 2-5pm. Book here

Knightsbridge’s newest contender for the afternoon tea crown is Cédric Grolet (aka the world’s best pastry chef), who opened his first patisserie outside of Paris at The Berkeley to widespread acclaim in early 2022. “Goûtea” is a fusion of the French gouter (sweet afternoon snack) and British afternoon tea – an edible Entente Cordiale, if you will. Guests can enjoy stunning sweet and savoury trompe l’oeil creations, including Grolet’s famous green apple and dill dessert, plus mini comté and bacon quiches and freshly baked madeleines whisked straight from the oven to the table.

From £85 per person, Monday to Sunday, at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Book online

Served under a glass-domed ceiling with chandeliers and ornate frescoes, and inspired by the Netflix smash hit, this special-edition Bridgerton menu makes for a quirky themed afternoon tea at a five-star establishment. Mini sandwiches and delightful pastries pay homage to the pomp and splendour of the Regency era. Standout dishes include the Social Butterfly sharing cake, a book-shaped vanilla cheesecake dessert and an elegant grapefruit and raspberry mousse encased in whipped Chantilly cream, devised by the hotel’s head pastry chef Pierre Morvan-Bénezet. What’s more, there’s a pianist on weekends so if you’re on the hunt for afternoon tea with live music, this may be the perfect spot for you. There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options as well as a child-friendly version of the menu for a pleasant afternoon tea in London with kids.

From £85 per person. Served Monday to Thursday, 12.30-4pm, Friday & Saturday 12-4pm and Sunday 3:30-4:30pm. Book here

Italian restaurant chain Caffè Concerto has not one, but two locations in the heart of Knightsbridge, both of which offer a dizzying amount of choice (seriously, the menu is gigantic). Choose between a traditional serving menu and a luxury cream tea version, both reasonably priced, making this one of the more affordable afternoon teas in London. There are also vegetarian options, so everyone is catered for. Make sure you don’t fill up on all the savoury sandwiches and mini brioche rolls, as Caffè Concerto is renowned for its patisserie and glorious assortment of freshly baked scones, cakes and macarons. Both menus also offer a wide selection of exotic world teas or, for a little extra, a “treat yourself” glass of prosecco.

From £32.95 per person, Monday to Sunday. Book online

If champagne isn’t your thing, The Rosebery – Mandarin Oriental’s modern and elegant tea room – offers guests the chance to pair cakes and sandwiches from The Grand Tour Afternoon Tea menu with sparkling tea, non-alcoholic wine, sake or even beer (plus 29 varieties of loose-leaf tea, of course). Home to some of the best Knightsbridge restaurants, the Mandarin Oriental knows how to cater to everyone’s needs. At the Roseberry, there are also dedicated children’s, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free afternoon tea options so everyone is satisfied. Tuck into spicy Greek marinated chicken sandwiches followed by pistachio and apricot compote delight before helping yourself to a scone from the ingenious hanging cake stand.

From £85 per person, Monday to Sunday, from 12-6:30pm. Book online

Forget breakfast, it’s all about afternoon tea at Tiffany’s. Tucked away on Harrods’ lower ground floor is the only Tiffany’s café outside of Fifth Avenue, New York, where you can embrace your inner Holly Golightly and sip your tea (or flat white) from Tiffany Blue china. In fact, almost everything is decked out in Tiffany’s signature shade, so it’s quite like having tea in an enormous jewellery box. The menu evolves seasonally, with nods to the brand’s US heritage, but never fear, there are always cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream present for a traditionally posh afternoon tea at this luxury London landmark.

From £69, Monday to Sunday, 1.45-5:30pm. Book online

On the fifth floor of this legendary designer emporium is a café serving afternoon tea that is equal in both style and substance. At the Harvey Nichols terrace café, a delicately refined menu offering goat’s curd and peach relish sandwiches followed by sweet treats like its lemon and blueberry meringue tart makes for a heavenly experience that lives up to the brand name. A spritz of botanical bliss has been infused into the menu with an exclusive collaboration with Silent Pool Gin, offering a choice of cocktails bursting with zesty and floral flavours, available until the end of August. Withstanding the whims of the British weather, the sheltered rooftop terrace is a sophisticated and elevated space for afternoon tea with a view. The sweeping sights of the London skyline may just be the cherry on top.

£40 per person; Monday to Sunday, 12-5.30pm. Book online

Hyde Park Afternoon Tea at The Park Tower hotel pays culinary homage to the neighbouring Royal Park, with dishes inspired by its flora and fauna. Alongside classic mini sandwiches and fluffy scones, standout sweet treats include pistachio cupcakes, an orange tart made from homemade marmalade and a chamomile cream Serpentine swan, a delicate choux pastry filled with whipped cream. Located just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, indulge like royalty with this afternoon tea served in the hotel’s beautiful Knightsbridge Lounge underneath a sparkling and eminently Instagrammable 18ft teardrop chandelier.

Available until 31 August 2024, from £49 per person, available 2-6pm daily. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance. Book here

Feya café may be buried in the bustling thoroughfare of Brompton Road, but its vibrant exterior makes it near impossible to miss.  At this stunning forest-themed eatery, greenery is draped from the ceiling, “rivers” of marbled blue flow along the floor and a fancy afternoon tea is served in an enchanted wonderland. Wild mushroom quiche, smoked salmon blinis alongside a selection of macarons, squidgy mini brownies and scones are just some of the many mouthwatering bites served on an elegant cake stand. Helmed by tour-de-force chef and businesswoman Zahra Khan, 10 per cent from every sale goes to the Young Women’s Trust, which encourages female empowerment through entrepreneurialism. Just a stone’s throw from Harrods, Feya is an alternative and colourful setting for quirky afternoon tea in London

£37.50 per person. Saturday and Sunday from 12-6pm. Book online