Art x Afternoon Tea: where to enjoy London’s finest teas near 2025’s top exhibitions

Afternoon Tea Week is back for 2025, running from 11th to 17th August, bringing with it a delightful celebration of one of Britain’s most cherished traditions. After a brief pause, this beloved event returns with renewed enthusiasm, inviting tea lovers across the UK to indulge in the timeless ritual of afternoon tea. From elegant hotels to cosy tearooms, venues nationwide will offer special menus featuring tea, finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and an array of exquisite pastries. Afternoon Tea Week is the perfect opportunity to rediscover the pleasure of this classic experience. In this guide, we highlight some of London’s best afternoon teas to enjoy during the week, alongside nearby art exhibitions to complement your visit.

Sketch

Sketch London, Mayfair. Image courtesy Sketch London

#FLODown: Sketch in Mayfair, set within a converted 18th century townhouse, is as much about atmosphere as it is about what’s on the plate. Afternoon tea is served in the Gallery, an eye-catching room designed by India Mahdavi in rich yellow and copper tones, with artworks by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA displayed throughout. The menu includes a seasonal selection of sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and a range of imaginative pastries. The theme changes regularly, most recently with Sketch in Bloom, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, and a Wimbledon edition featuring tennis-inspired desserts, so expect some playful, creative touches. Alongside the food, it’s the distinctive setting and polished service that make Sketch a standout choice for Afternoon Tea Week.

Sketch typically hosts a rotating art showcase throughout the year. At present, they have works on display by David Aiu Servan-Schreiber, which explores environmental themes using natural elements.

Location: 9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG. Price: from £85 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at Sketch

Art to see after: Visit The Photographers’ Gallery nearby to see Dennis Morris’s iconic music photography and Felicity Hammond’s exploration of AI’s impact on photography, both on show until 28 September 2025. Explore The Photographers’ Gallery Exhibitions

Rosewood London

Rosewood London Afternoon Tea. Image courtesy of Rosewood London

#FLODown: The Hokusai-Inspired Art Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London’s Mirror Room is a creative and playful take on traditional tea, themed around the famous Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. The menu features Japanese flavours alongside classic favourites, such as BBQ beef brisket with wasabi coleslaw, sake-marinated salmon with yuzu mayo, and a Japanese-style egg sandwich. There are freshly baked scones and a light citrus cheesecake, but the real showstopper is the selection of Art Cakes, each tucked inside a wooden “Washitsu” box and designed to resemble Hokusai’s most iconic works, like The Great Wave off Kanagawa and Cherry Blossom and Warbler. You’ll also get to try Japanese teas, enjoy a matcha brewing ceremony at your table, and sample cocktails inspired by the artwork.

Location: 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN. Price: from £80 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London

Art to see after: Walk to Somerset House to explore the current Virtual Beauty exhibition, which examines technology and identity. From 7 August, see a new installation by Tai Shani, known for her feminist-themed art.Discover Somerset House exhibitions

Petersham Nurseries Restaurant

Petersham Nurseries Afternoon Tea. Image courtesy of Petersham Nurseries.

#FLODown: Petersham Nurseries offers a relaxed take on afternoon tea, served in its greenhouse-style café surrounded by plants and natural light. The setting is informal but carefully arranged, with vintage furniture and seasonal flowers creating a calm, garden-like atmosphere. Their Garden Afternoon Tea menu changes with the seasons, with recent options including gammon with gherkin and Dijon, egg mayonnaise with watercress, and smoked trout with dill. There are also vegetable tarts, light cakes, and scones with jam and cream. Just a short walk from Richmond Park, it’s a truly idyllic spot for a calm, relaxing afternoon tea away from the city.

Location: Off Church Lane, Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 7AB. Price: from £60 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at Petersham Nurseries

Art to see after: Visit Kew Gardens nearby to explore The Power of Trees exhibition, featuring photography, sculpture and sound celebrating trees. You can also see the Of Oak installation by Marshmallow Laser Feast, as well as the new Carbon Garden, highlighting climate change and plant life. Explore Kew Gardens exhibitions

Jumeirah Carlton Tower

Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s Tribute to Nature Afternoon Tea

#FLODown: Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s Tribute to Nature Afternoon Tea is inspired by the botanical beauty of historic Cadogan Gardens. Drawing on Executive Pastry Chef Martin Haidar’s Mediterranean heritage and the garden’s natural bounty, ingredients like sage, rosemary, loquat, and elderberry, the menu reflects the changing seasons. This afternoon tea combines British tradition with Mediterranean flavours, creating an experience deeply connected to nature, all served in their elegant Chinoiserie Tea Room.

Location: One Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 9PY. Price: from £85 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at Jumeirah Carlton Tower

Art to see after: A 13-minute walk from Jumeirah Carlton Tower is the Saatchi Gallery, currently hosting HIP HOP – Living a Dream, a photography exhibition exploring hip hop culture and its impact, alongside FLOWERS – Flora in Contemporary Art & Culture, which features a variety of artworks reflecting the symbolism and beauty of flowers in contemporary art.View Saatchi Gallery Exhibitions

Anya Café

Anya Cafe Afternoon Tea

#FLODown: Created by designer Anya Hindmarch, this whimsical afternoon tea is set in a colourful 1960s-inspired space that feels both fun and stylish. The menu features classic sandwiches alongside Anya Café’s signature playful desserts, including the Lemon Smile Cake, Frosted Berry Caterpillar Tarts, and the light, airy Lemon Curd Meringue Cloud. Be sure to check out the Ice Cream Project shop next door to the café, which has returned for the summer with a signature selection of unusual flavours, including Irn-Bru, Twiglets, and Bird’s Custard.

Location: 9 Pont Street, London SW1X 9EJ. Price: from £40 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at Anya Cafe

Art to See After: Just a 17-minute walk away, the V&A Museum features exhibitions like Cartier, about the famous jewellery house known for its luxury designs, and Design and Disability, which looks at how design can be more inclusive for everyone. Explore V&A exhibitions

Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley

Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley Afternoon Tea

#FLODown: Afternoon Tea at The Berkeley by famed chef Cédric Grolet is where British afternoon tea meets the French tradition of Goûter, showcasing pâtisserie elegance at its finest. Known for his exquisite Fruits and Flowers creations, Grolet’s seasonal menu is a celebration of heady summer flavours, from savoury navettes to delicate cookies and donuts. Enjoy miniature masterpieces such as the orchard fresh Apricot, bold Fig, crisp Strawberry Biscuit, floral Peach Flower, and the zingy Lemon Meringue Tart. If you’re lucky enough to secure a seat at the Chef’s Counter, you can watch these edible works of art being crafted right before your eyes.

Location: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL. Price: from £85 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at The Berkeley

Art to See After: Take a scenic 20-minute walk through Hyde Park to the Serpentine Galleries, currently hosting Giuseppe Penone’s Thoughts in the Roots and the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion by Marina Tabassum. Discover Serpentine Galleries Exhibitions

The Ritz London

The Ritz London Afternoon Tea

#FLODown: The Ritz offers one of the most distinguished afternoon tea experiences in London. Its iconic service includes all the hallmarks of the tradition, with expertly prepared sandwiches, warm scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, and an assortment of carefully presented pastries and teacakes. A defining feature of The Ritz’s famed afternoon tea is the seasonal cakes, served at the table from the guéridon trolley, alongside a huge selection of exclusive teas, chosen by the in-house Tea Master, a thoughtful and elegant celebration of British afternoon tea.

Location: 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR. Price: from £81 per person. Book Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

Art to see after: Head across the road to the Royal Academy of Arts for your final chance to see the Summer Exhibition 2025. Visit Royal Academy Exhibitions

For more afternoon tea deals and venues during Afternoon Tea Week, visit afternoontea.co.uk.