There is a dress code (we would be disappointed if there wasn't): men must wear a jacket and tie, women have to appear at least smart-casual.

Flutes of Champagne and pretty pastries are a given, while exotic nibbles and potent cocktails mean that what now constitutes this most genteel of refreshments might well shock the Duchess of Bedford.

While the afternoon tea was undeniably pleasant, its the historic surroundings that truly make the new Fortnums a worthwhile pit-stop. Come hungry everythings swiftly replenished the moment theres space on the plate but staff are more than happy to pack you off with a doggy bag if youve overdone it. All our events are recommended by editors. An obligatory cucumber sandwich is livened up with dill and zingy whipped goats curd, but the real savoury highlights are a buttery croissant stuffed with smoked salmon and creamy horseradish and a wafer-thin crostini piled high with beef tartare and pickled beetroot.

Four types of bladed sandwiches arrived (our favourites were samphire and smoked salmon, and cucumber, chamomile and buttermilk); once we'd polished those off, more appeared.

But we cant deny that the original full-fat spread was our preference. So good that youll definitely agree to the offer of a second helping.

Mainly from the many smart diners still enjoying long lunches all around you.

This is the stage'.

When the brains behind a restaurant are hotelier Ian Schrager (the man behind Studio 54) and chef Jason Atherton (the Michelin-starred chef behind Pollen Street Social and Social Eating House), its obvious the Berners Tavern was never going to be a wallflower.

Head to the hotels Thames Foyer for a traditional afternoon tea consisting of fine finger sandwiches and handmade pastries and cakes, or opt for the fancy high tea with an extra main dish on the menu. If you miraculously have room left, summon the trolley for a scoop of absinthe mint choc chip ice cream to finish off. Price: The tea costs 42 per person or 54.50 with a glass of champagne. Olivia Holborow, Address: Oblix West, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RYWebsite: the-shard.comPrice: 42 per person, The best afternoon tea in London: Our favourites to book now, Looking for the best afternoon tea in London?

Elementary, my dear Watson! Dive head-first into your own mini-mystery as you enjoy freshly made savoury delights and sweet treats in this Sherlock Holmes-inspired hideaway in West London! London is the home of the Royals, so what better place than to wine or dine like a king or queen?

Address: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1Website: fortnumandmason.comPrice: Fortnum's Afternoon Tea 52.50 (56.50 with Rare Tea). Then soft, warm plain and fruit scones are accompanied by clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd Fortnums own, naturally.

Reservations: Book here. The fourth-floor space is huge its no surprise to learn that it was formerly the biggest restaurant in town, with capacity for 1,200 and beautifully Art Deco: it has an intricate, light-splashing skylight with wrought ironwork, a mixture of lush booths and round tables, adjoining Perrier-Jouet Champagne terrace and a long-haired pianist tinkling out classics perfectly on a grand. Follow in the footsteps of JLO herself with this afternoon tea, which includes a selection of unlimited teas, an array of sweet treats including lime drizzle cakes and rich, chocolate brownies and smoked salmon or egg and cress sarnies for veggies. As one of the best hotels in London, this could become a tourist sideshow, something to 'tick off' the list.

Price:Starts at 35. Shoemakers Foster and Son get a white-chocolate shoe horn and polish tin filled with a seasonal fruit trifle topped with Chantilly cream, while cigar aficionados James J Fox have a chocolate-and-hazelnut cigar tribute that comes in a smoky case.

When:Wednesdays Sundays. For the sweet offering, the scones are anything but simple. By Tabitha Joyce and Cond Nast Traveller. Indulgent, simply delicious and reminiscent of the supremos previous designs.

Where: 181 Piccadilly, St. Jamess, W1A 1ER. Creative vegetarian understudies include an indulgent truffle tofu with vegan mayonnaise, but the salt-crusted golden-beetroot sandwich was the surprising scene-stealer, and the volume of food matched the oversized decor.

Terrifically knowledgeable 'Tearistas' are on hand to help narrow down the choice.

Tea is served in the many-mirrored Palm Court salon, deliciously grand and swimming in gold.

As soon as youve sat down, over trundles a suave waiter pushing a trolley laden with chilled Ruinart.

There are always scones: here, theyre served with strawberry and prosecco jam and clotted cream.

But theres also a cheddar version that comes with airy, whipped soft cheese and chives for spreading.

office google sofas cool coolest standard futuristic victoria london From the 35th floor of The Shard, St Paul's Cathedral - once the tallest building in London - appears reduced to the size of a Tunnock's Tea Cake. Kick things off with a glass of Ambriel Cuve before the cake stand appears laden with a selection that doesnt stray from the traditional but is perfectly executed roast beef, smoked salmon, Coronation chicken, cucumber and cream-cheese, and tomato sandwiches and very generously portioned: the top-tier cakes alone are the size of any regular coffee-shop slice. Reservations: Book here.

Traditionalists will be happy to find perfectly fluffy scones with jam and clotted cream, which are finished up with bright blue fish-shaped Champagne ice creams we dare you to eat them without making a mess.

Scones served with clotted cream and homemade jams are delivered straight from the oven, soft and warm. elliot nan We particularly enjoyed the gin paired with cardamom and rose, which was smooth with just the right hint of tartness. Its difficult to focus on anything but the skyline at Oblix West, perched 32 levels up in the glassy Shard a fact that happily hasnt escaped them.

Price: 60 per person, or 70-110 with champagne.

The Ritz London sets the standard for afternoon tea. When: Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Sarah James, Address: The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9EBWebsite: thewolseley.comPrice: Afternoon tea, 29.75; Champagne afternoon tea, 40, Best for: a classic afternoon tea and still one of the best. ), the scones are extra sweet, swimming in buttermilk and vanilla cream. Bang in the centre of busy Soho is the colourful Ham Yard Hotel from Tim and Kit Kemp, whose portfolio includes the splashy Whitby in New York. The selection of open and closed sandwiches include Aberdeenshire smoked salmon with pickled fennel served on caper-buttered onion bread and a fancy ham number piled high with air-dried black Coombe ham. The bar is bookended by two small seating areas and it almost feels like you're outside, with light pooling through the glass ceiling. Traditionalists will be delighted to know that scones warm and golden feature heavily, which you can enjoy alongside your choice of Rare Tea Company teas or Taittinger Champagne, depending on how flamboyant youre feeling.

Becky Lucas, Address: Balthazar London, 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HZPrice: From 29.95 per person, or 39.95 for the NY-Fizz Afternoon Tea, served with the Yankie cocktail or a glass of Delamotte Champagne.Website: balthazarlondon.com, Best for: a slice of culture with your cake.

It seems as if it hasn't changed in decades, in a wonderfully old-world way, but in fact was refurbished and subsequently reopened by the Queen in 2012. And now, theyve just shaken up the weekend routine: its out with brunch, in with afternoon tea. So what makes this tea particularly New York?

Start with The Gorings own afternoon blend, a refreshing and subtle mix of Assam and Darjeeling, before navigating your way through some of the more ambitious-sounding options (such as dragon well or organic maojian) or herbal infusions.

And what makes the place extra special is its private garden out back almost unheard of in central London where you can enjoy your tea in good weather before working it off with a game of croquet. This is a great spot if youre trying to impress visiting out-of-town relatives. Tickets purchased through Fever may earn Secret London commission.

Olivia Holborow.

The staff are dressed to impress in their suited uniform, which makes it feel as if youve stepped into a Fifties, diner-style coffee bar.

When: Mondays Sundays. When: Mondays Sundays. Our favourite, however, is the Liberty: a rich peanut butter and jelly (in this case, apricot jam) clair. London today is as blessed with as many fine hotels, restaurants and tea houses in which to take afternoon tea as at any point in its history.

Almond shortbread, dressed in a Henry Poole and Co tuxedo, and a top hat made with white chocolate and lime jelly, inspired by Lock and Co Hatters the worlds oldest hat shop, are both fun and quirky eats. Cranberry-stuffed scones are served with clotted cream and bay-leaf-seasoned jam, as well as a sticky cube of fresh honeycomb from Harrow bees. With a tea tail or glass of prosecco, 55.

If the weather is kind, ask to sit in the courtyard surrounded by fluffy clouds of hydrangeas. The restaurant Jean-Georges at The Connaught was refurbished last year, and the new afternoon tea summer menu was launched in June this year. Be sure to share so you can try them all theres not a dud among them. The menu, featuring sweet illustrations by Alice Nyong, has no less than eight pages of teas to choose from classic, black, green, oolong, white, herbal, plus coffees and hot chocolates accompanied by a unique little key showing how sweet, floral, woody or astringent each is.

Pastries are surprisingly up-to-the-minute for a restaurant that trades so heavily (and so well) on old-school charm, and include a pistachio friand, baked cheesecake and a salted-caramel clair. Where: The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB.

The atmosphere is lively and diners err strongly on the smart side of the smart-casual dress code although, truth be told, everyone will be too busy staring out the windows to take much notice that youve made an effort. Where: 24 Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge, SW3 2DB.

And who knew there were so many different types of tea?

Reservations: Book here.

Afternoon tea doesnt get prettier than this the hand-picked wild bouquet takes centre stage at the top of the hand-blown-glass tiered stand, its seasonal blooms paired with the sweet and savoury bites (which are also sprinkled with petals).

Tea-takers select from a list of 18 types, and can learn as much or as little about the teas as they wish from the friendly but reassuringly formal staff, who not only know the correct way to make tea (milk first, obviously), but have spent many months in Sri Lanka, tasting and experimenting to bring back the perfect blend.

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