Best Affordable Afternoon Teas in London (2026): 12 Best Budget Spots

Looking for an affordable afternoon tea in London? With many afternoon teas costing £60 to £80 per person or more, it can feel like an expensive activity that is out of most people’s budgets.

If this is you, do not fear! In this article we show you 12 amazing and affordable afternoon teas in London to suit the budgets of everyone.

All of the afternoon teas featured are under £49 per person with our cheapest offering being just £22.40. There are also some afternoon teas which offer extremely good value and include entry to a museum or London attraction as part of the deal!

In addition, we have detailed lots of tips to keep the cost of afternoon teas down and help you find the best afternoon tea offers.

Read on for everything you need to know about affordable, high-value afternoon teas in London.

Side note: Prices are correct at the time of writing but it’s worth checking in advance to make sure they haven’t changed.

The reviews for their afternoon tea are great. It’s reasonably priced and very popular so it’s best to book in advance.

Tuck into a classic selection of finely cut finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and sweet treats like cakes and pastries. The tea menu is extensive, offering a wide variety of loose-leaf teas, from classic English breakfast to more exotic blends.

Take the time to visit nearby attractions like Kensington Gardens or the Victoria and Albert Museum before or after your tea.

Price Tag – £28.95

Head to The Swan at the Globe Theatre for a Shakespeare inspired afternoon tea. It’s located along the River Thames in the Bankside area. The cafe offers views of the river and nearby landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Indulge in a selection of both savory and sweet treats beautifully presented on custom-designed crockery.

To explore the full menu and discover the current theme, head over to the website.

Price from £42.50

Located in the Bloomsbury district of London, not far from Euston Station or Russell Square, the Memoir Club offers a classic afternoon tea from just £27.50.

Enjoy a selection of savoury and sweet treats, a choice of speciality and herbal teas or a glass of bubbles. Freshly baked scones with homemade raspberry and strawberry jams and velvety clotted cream are a real treat.

They also offer a vegan afternoon tea and gluten-free option.

Price: £27.50

With multiple locations throughout London, Café Concerto provides a sophisticated afternoon tea without the high-end price tag. Their traditional tea includes all the classics—scones, sandwiches, and cakes—served with a pot of tea for just around £36.95 per person.

Price: £68.95 for two

Browns in Covent Garden

Brown’s is a popular chain of British brasseries that offers a relaxed yet stylish dining experience. Browns has locations across the UK including in Covent Garden in London.

Brown’s in Covent Garden serves a classic afternoon tea. Enjoy a selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and an selection of cakes and pastries.

The great thing about Browns is that they cater well to people with certain diet requirements. You can request a gluten free afternoon tea or vegetarian tea at the time of booking.

Whether you’re taking a break from shopping, catching a show at a nearby theatre, or simply enjoying the buzz of Covent Garden, afternoon tea at Brown’s provides delicious food and attentive service at a reasonable price.

Price from £34.95 per person

The British Museum

Afternoon tea at the British Museum takes place in the Great Court Restaurant, located beneath the stunning glass-roofed atrium.

Tuck into a selection of freshly made finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and an assortment of sweet treats like cakes and pastries. Choose from a variety of organic loose leaf and flowering teas.

Vegetarian, pescatarian and nut free teas can be provided on request.

Price: £43 per person

Café Rouge is a popular French-inspired restaurant chain in the UK.

Their restaurant at St Katharine’s Docks offers a traditional afternoon tea with a French twist. Instead of the usual finger sandwiches, you’ll find mini croque monsieur sandwiches and other French delicacies like petit quiches. This is complemented by freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, alongside indulgent French pastries such as éclairs and macarons. 

Price: £22.49 per person

Head to the Hammersmith Road and enter the beautiful building that is St Paul’s Hotel. Once inside, indulge in an afternoon tea at the Melody Restaurant with scones, finger sandwiches and pastries for just £30.

The Melody restaurant has lovely reviews and it’s also recommended for Sunday lunch.

It’s not far from Hammersmith Station and the nearest tube is Baron’s Court (around 5 minutes walk)

Price: £30 per person

The Cutty Sark (includes entry)

The Cutty Sark is a historic British clipper ship, best known for its role in the tea trade during the 19th century.

Today, it’s preserved as a museum ship in Greenwich, London. Visitors can explore the decks, learn about its history, and experience life aboard a 19th-century sailing vessel.

As part of this afternoon experience, you get free entry to explore the Cutty Sark which normally costs £22 for an adult ticket. This means the afternoon tea will cost just £23 extra. Find out what life was like on board a true survivor of the seas, see the sailors’ quarters and take the helm at the ship’s wheel.

Afternoon tea is served underneath the hull of the ship.

There are lots of other places to explore in Greenwich including the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House. You can also take a stroll around Greenwich Park.

Price: £47 per person

Located near Buckingham Palace, this family-run, independent cafe serves afternoon tea between 12.30pm and 4.30pm. You can make reservations which is sensible to do as they can get busy. However, they do accept walk-ins if there is space as well. 

Enjoy a selection of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes and a hot drink. Reviewers rave about the scones at the English Rose Cafe, some saying they’re the best they’ve ever tasted.

The English Rose Cafe is very much a traditional tearoom with floral wallpaper and the tea is served in vintage cups.

Price: £38 per person

Why not kill two birds with one stone? Extract the most value for your afternoon tea cost with a bus tour at the same time

Bridget’s Bakery provide a range of bus tours along with a gorgeous afternoon tea. 

One of the most popular is the classic London bus tour. See the iconic sights of London on a vintage bus and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea as part of the price. 

They provide teas for a variety of dietary requirements including gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and halal. 

If you have children with you, there is also the option of a Paddington Bear or  Peppa Pig themed bus tour

The teas cost from £45 per adult or £35 per child. It’s more expensive than other teas featured but you get a bus tour thrown in at the same time making it excellent value. 

Price: £45 per person 

Afternoon Tea on The River Thames Cruise

Another cool way to get the maximum value out of an afternoon tea is to combine it with a river cruise on the Thames. The 90 minute experience is available from £40 per person and includes a boat trip and the tea.

Cruise from the Tower of London to the Houses of Parliament and back while tucking into sandwiches, cakes and traditional scones with cream and jam.

There’s live commentary aboard and it’s a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

Price: From £40

Afternoon Teas – Tips to Save Money

Afternoon teas can be costly but there are lots of ways to save money. Here are some ideas:

An afternoon tea is a meal. It will fill you up. You won’t want lunch or a full dinner (maybe a snack during the evening to keep you going) on the same day. Therefore go early and replace an afternoon tea with lunch or go late to replace it with dinner.

Groupon UK is your friend when it comes to finding affordable afternoon teas. They often have excellent offers. If you find a great offer, it’s worth checking out online reviews before you book to make sure it’s a good one. Wowcher is also worth checking out.

Cream teas are an alternative option to an afternoon tea. A cream tea is tea and a scone with clotted cream and jam. There are no cakes or sandwiches included. It’s cheaper than an afternoon tea. Lots of cafes and hotels including The Wolesely in Piccadilly offer this.

Another option is to grab a takeaway afternoon tea or afternoon tea for delivery. Bridget’s Bakery provide an afternoon tea picnic for £28 per person. If the weather is good, you can order this 24 hours in advance and enjoy at a London park.

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