Afternoon/High Tea in London - Worth it?

moneysavvy35

Hello

Has anyone done a High/Afternoon Tea at a hotel? I'm thinking of treating me and my friend to one through one of the wowcher/groupon deals.

Any paticular recomendations?

Many Thanks

nickj_2

i don't expect it would be involved with woucher , but claridges would be near or at the top of the places to visit , it is a pricey £45 per person , but you will be experiencing the best in the world

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

I've been to both Harrods and Fortnum and mason and have to say I thought Harrods was better and very good value - its was approx. £50 for two on buyagift when I went and was very easy to book.
A very nice treat

moneysavvy35

Thank you for your replies. I have been doing research and it seems these sites are quite informative so just posting just in case anyone else was interested

http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/

&

http://www.afternoonteaonline.com/

Dimey

Yes I love it. Claridges & the Ritz.

It is a ridiculous lot of money but great fun to dress up a bit and offers such special fond memories for Mother & Daughter.

Fascinating to watch the other guests and be treated politely by the waiting staff.

You have to book way in advance.

I remember attending a Ritz champagne tea dance with my Mother, years ago. Peter Langan who founded Langan's brasserie was there and he'd had a few too many (champagne's not tea's). He wore a white suit and decided to do some creative dancing all by himself then he relieved the pianist and entertained us with his own tipsy rendition of My Old Man's a Dustman. He actually got some of the guests to sing along. It's not like that nowadays.

newgirly

The ritz tends to be full of tourists, I worked in clariidges years ago and have to say if your budget allows that really is the best afternoon tea experience and the surroundings are stunning.

raindropsy

Go for it. I only use vouchers for my afternoon teas and have always been happy. Make sure you read the terms and what is involved as sometimes it is only the buns and that would be disappointing.
We had some lovely ones with groupon, kgb deals or livingsocial, the cakes were fabulous this was in a spa hotel around Gloucester.
We had lunch in Harrods and saw lots of people having afternoon tea ( you have to book before hand as it is always full). I personally would not like the tea there as the scones looked dense and the cakes are mainly macaroons like , very sugary things. If you like that sort of thing then you might like it there though.
Enjoy

lika_86

Claridges - yes!

sarahkmv

I'd avoid the Ritz, nice experience but a bit 'touristy' nowadays (although the food is incredibley good). Claridges is nice, but personally Browns Hotel does it for me everytime, not just because they will bring sarnies out till you pop (or more scones etc), but because the service is great. Also it's upmarket but not snobby and certainly the 'posh' folk drop in for tea so it's fab for people watching! I think it's just under £40 for afternoon tea - last time we went we couldn't eat a thing till the next day.

moneysavvy35

Thanks all. I've booked for 'The Cumberland Hotel' they have just re-introduced thier afternoon tea so not really any reviews or comments (they are part of the guoman hotels which have had good reviews for their afternoon tea) Thier picture looks a little sparse so I emailed them and they stated what thier selection is. so will wait & see.

From my research on Afternoon Tea's they are sooo subjective, if your used to having them you come to expect a certain quality so I find the reviews for various establishements range from awful to fantastic with Claridges seeming to come out on top, but I really can't afford that this time round.

Marriot also seem good, and reasonalbe prices.

But thanks again, this is going to be my new hobby. ;-)

heart_free

Been to the Harrodsburg one (a present for our anniversary) and really wasnt impressed. But saying that it's not really our sort of thing. My brother loved the one at the ritz. Personally I think £30 for tea, tiny scariness and cake is a rip off, but the rest of my family love the pomp.