Best Hotels for Afternoon Tea
There are some great British traditions that never die, and the comforting ritual of Afternoon Tea is one example – indeed the classic British Afternoon Tea has undergone a bit of revival in recent years, with hotels all over the country outdoing each other with the variety, inventiveness and sheer deliciousness of their teatime offerings, some of which are served all afternoon from lunchtime onwards. Some of our favourites are listed below, but first of all, what is Afternoon Tea, and will it be enough to keep you going till dinner?
Start with the basics – a good selection of finger sandwiches, maybe a scone or two, hopefully with cream and jam on the side, and a colourful and calorific selection of cakes and dainties to finish the whole thing off, along with lashings of good, strong tea by the unlimited pot to wash it down.This is the minimum you can expect and yes, it will be enough to last until dinner, even if you skipped lunch. But there are plenty of variations on the theme. If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, you could try 'Afternoon Cheese' instead at Norwich's Assembly House. Chocolate-lovers and parents might want to sample the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea at One Aldwych in London, while for those who want an Afternoon Tea that's a cut above the rest you can't do better than the superb spread they lay on at Michelin-starred Morston Hall in Norfolk. But all of the places below will deliver a real treat – browse our selections and then collect the full set!
Best Places to Stay in The Best UK hotels serving Afternoon Tea, Britain's finest hotel afternoon tea experiences I As chosen by Cool Places
Best Hotels for Afternoon Tea in Britain
This Farnborough gem is a different kind of airport hotel – sleek and stylish, with great facilities and even better views
Aviator, 55 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6EL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Farnborough
An elegant country house hotel in Northumberland with a golf course and spa
Matfen Hall, Matfen Hall, Matfen, Northumberland NE20 0RH
Holidays in North East England
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Holidays in Corbridge
Very comfortable family-run hotel on the North Norfolk Coast in a great seaside location.
The Grove Cromer, 95 Overstrand Road Cromer Norfolk NR27 0DJ
Holidays in East Anglia
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Holidays in Sheringham & Cromer
A lovely New Forest country retreat with several eating areas serving first-rate British plates
The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu New Forest Hampshire SO42 7ZL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Beaulieu
A boutique hotel on the outskirts of Bristol with individually-styled rooms, a 2-Rosette restaurant, and 18 acres of gardens and woodland.
Berwick Lodge, Berwick Drive, Bristol BS10 7TD
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bristol
Sumptuous rooms with dramatic flair in the capital of The Cotswolds
Ingleside House, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1BN
Holidays in South West England
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Holidays in Cirencester
A stylish and very comfortable Northumberland boutique hotel in Alnwick’s Castle Quarter
The Cookie Jar, 12 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1LX
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Alnwick
A cosy and comfortable place to stay in the heart of the fascinating historic city of Norwich
Maids Head Hotel, 20 Tombland, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1LB
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An elegant hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere
The Belsfield Hotel, Kendal Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3EL
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Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Bowness on Windermere
Jaded city dwellers will think they have died and gone to Country Heaven at this unique Suffolk hotel
Retreat East, Brick Kiln Farm, Sandy Lane, Hemingstone, Near Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 9QE
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A super stylish London hotel with a pool, spa, cinema and a terrific Theatreland location
One Aldwych, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
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A very cool and contemporary boutique hotel at the heart of Ipswich's resurgent Waterfront district
Salthouse Harbour Hotel, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1AX
Holidays in East Anglia
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Chic and contemporary rooms in an intimate hotel high above Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales
The Devonshire Fell Hotel at Burnsall, Burnsall, Grassington, North Yorkshire BD23 6BT
Holidays in North East England
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Holidays in Grassington
An extraordinarily welcoming North Yorkshire country house hotel
The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6AJ
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A lavish country house hotel on the Peak District’s Chatsworth Estate
The Cavendish Hotel, Church Lane, Baslow, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1SP
Holidays in East Midlands
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A very comfortable family-friendly hotel – with one of the best coastal views in the UK.
Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton, Near Braunton, Devon EX33 1LQ
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Holidays in Braunton
A beachside resort hotel with lots of facilities, including a spa, fitness centre, tennis and more – plus it's dog-friendly!
St Michaels Resort, Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4NB
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
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The Falmouth Hotel, Castle Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4 NZ
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A modern Isle of Islay hotel with breathtaking ocean views and a world-class links course
Another Place, The Machrie, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll PA42 7AN
Holidays in Scottish Isles
Holidays in Isle of Islay
Holidays in Port Ellen
Truro's best hotel – a grand old building with some very cool, contemporary rooms.
The Alverton, Tregolls Road Truro Cornwall TR1 1ZQ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Truro
Charming historic hotel perched right on the edge of Falmouth Harbour with an award-winning restaurant
The Greenbank Hotel, Harbourside, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 2SR
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Falmouth
Hotel-style rooms and suites in the green surroundings of the Yorkshire Wolds
Kilnwick Percy , Pocklington, Kilnwick Percy, York YO42 1UF
Holidays in North East England
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Holidays in York
A beautifully situated, very well-equipped South Cornwall hotel, spa and resort
Budock Vean Hotel, Mawnan Smith Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5LG
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Holidays in Falmouth
A colourful and very comfortable boutique hotel on County Antrim’s Portrush Peninsula
Elephant Rock Hotel, 17 Lansdowne Crescent, Portrush, Antrim BT56 8AY
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
Holidays in Portrush
A beautiful Grade II-listed country house hotel right on the shores of Lake Windermere
Storrs Hall Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3LG
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Bowness on Windermere
A beautiful West Sussex hotel and spa by the sea
Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa, Climping Street, Climping, Near Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5RW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Littlehampton
Not only the oldest coaching inn in England, this West Sussex hotel is very comfortable and dog friendly too!
The Spread Eagle, South Street, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9NH
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Holidays in Midhurst
A luxury boutique hotel that's a perfect place to relax, play golf or explore the glories of Perthshire
Murrayshall Country Estate, Scone, Perth, Perthshire PH2 7PH
Holidays in Central Scotland
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Holidays in Perth
A Cotswolds country house hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant
Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0RB
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Holidays in Malmesbury
A stylish seaside boutique hotel that evokes the maritime spirit of Harwich and serves great, locally-sourced food and drink.
The Pier at Harwich, The Pier The Quay Harwich, Essex CO12 3HH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Stylish boutique hotel with 17 bedrooms in a Cotswolds manor house
The Painswick, Kemps Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6YB
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One of Yorkshire's finest country house hotels, garnering award after award for its accommodation, food and highly personal service
Tickton Grange, Tickton, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 9SH
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Holidays in East Riding of Yorkshire
Holidays in Beverley
A beautiful Sussex manor house hotel with swanky spa and an award-winning restaurant
Ockenden Manor Hotel and Spa, Ockenden Lane, Cuckfield, Near Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 5LD
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Haywards Heath
This cool and thoroughly up-to-date coaching inn is the perfect spot for a short break in Bury St Edmunds
The Angel Hotel, 3 Angel Hill Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 1LT
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Bury St. Edmunds
A very homely, yet stylish hotel, restaurant and wedding venue in the heart of the countryside of North Hertfordshire
The Farmhouse at Redcoats, Redcoats Green, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 7JR
Holidays in South East England
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Holidays in Hitchin
A luxurious Devon country house hotel in vast grounds with a spa and golf course
Bovey Castle, Bovey Castle North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park, Devon TQ13 8RE
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Moretonhampstead
Lovely dog-friendly restaurant with rooms in a prime position on the main square in Orford.
The Crown & Castle, Market Hill, Orford, Suffolk IP12 2LJ
Holidays in East Anglia
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Holidays in Orford
A beautiful Shopshire hotel in a great location with lovely rooms and award-winning food
Old Downton Lodge, Downton on the Rock Ludlow Shropshire SY8 2HU
Holidays in West Midlands
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Holidays in Ludlow
This Lavenham institution is a very comfortable and surprisingly up-to-date place to stay
The Swan at Lavenham, High Street, Lavenham, Suffolk CO10 9QA
Holidays in East Anglia
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A dog-friendly hotel on the Furness Peninsula, just south of the Lake District
The Dunes Hotel, Roanhead Beach, Hawthwaite Lane, Cumbria LA14 4QW
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Barrow-in-Furness
A dog-friendly riverside hotel and restaurant in the heart of Dartmoor National Park
Mill End Hotel, Chagford, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 8JN
Holidays in South West England
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Holidays in Newton Abbot
A high-end country house hotel with loads of facilities that's great for both kids and grown-ups
Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8YJ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
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This country house hotel is an oasis of comfort – with terrific food – in the heart of Worcestershire
Brockencote Hall, Brockencote Hall Hotel, Brockencote, Kidderminster DY10 4PY
Holidays in West Midlands
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This boutique country house hotel has all the makings of a perfect Norfolk weekend
Congham Hall, Lynn Rd, Congham, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE32 1AH
Holidays in East Anglia
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A beautifully located boutique hotel overlooking the lovely Tamar Valley.
The Horn of Plenty, Gulworthy Tavistock Devon PL19 8JD
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A lavish yet homely country residence, courtesy of hotelier Olga Polizzi.
Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot Devon PL19 0PQ
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Holidays in Tavistock
A fabulous hotel in a gorgeous part of the South Hams with stunning views across the rolling hills or down to the cove.
Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Near Salcombe Devon TQ7 3DS
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Holidays in Salcombe
Contemporary country house hotel in the charming Ribble Valley
Mitton Hall, Mitton Road, Mitton, Whalley, Lancashire BB7 9PQ
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Clitheroe
