The British tradition of afternoon tea was born in 1840, when the Duchess of Bedford admitted her guilty pleasure of enjoying tea and a few nibbles in the interim between lunch and dinner. It’s now a national tradition and one of the most charming things to do in Chelsea.

Your choice of teas and adorable little patisseries are guaranteed, as are scones with jam and cream, and dainty little sandwiches. Add a flute of Champagne or a cocktail and it becomes a proper way to celebrate a special occasion (or just replenish after an afternoon’s shopping).

From the opulence of the Belmond Cadogan Hotel to contemporary interpretations at Harvey Nichols and Bluebird Chelsea, here’s our edit of the best afternoon teas in Chelsea.

Cadogan’s By Adam Handling

Nine months in the making, Cadogan’s exquisite Afternoon Tea offering has been developed by the hotel’s Chef Patron and award-winning restaurateur, Adam Handling, in collaboration with renowned pastry chef, Chris Underwood.

The meticulously designed Afternoon Tea menu honours the Belmond Cadogan Hotel’s historic location on Sloane Street, with the sweet treats inspired by Sir Hans Sloane, the notable scientist and collector, whose intrepid global adventures inspired the combination of international flavours and British ingredients. Highlights include Granny Smith and Lemongrass Cremeux, and Passion Fruit Curd Tart with Coconut Mousse. The fillings of the traditional sandwiches are precisely matched to five different bread types, which are selected for their complementary balance of flavours and freshly baked in house each day.

Price: Traditional Afternoon Tea, £55pp. Free flowing champagne supplement from, £40pp.
When: Served daily from 1.30pm to 5.30pm in a two-hour long experience.
Address: 75 Sloane St, SW1X 9SG
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11 Cadogan Gardens

Indulge in this quintessentially British pastime in the comfort of the Drawing Room at 11 Cadogan Gardens – one of Chelsea’s best-kept secrets – or in the relaxed setting of Hans’ Bar & Grill. Our favourites on the menu include the Coronation chicken roll, the crayfish roll with tarragon emulsion, and – on the sweet side – the chilled Valrhona passionfruit fondant and the chocolate Battenberg cake.

Price: Classic Afternoon Tea £35 per person. Including a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, £45 per person.
When: Served between 2.30pm and 5.30pm daily
Address: 11 Cadogan Gardens, SW3 2RJ
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Fifty Cheyne

Afternoon tea is served set against the sumptuous interiors of the Drawing Room upstairs at Fifty Cheyne, with picturesque views overlooking Cheyne Gardens and the Thames. In this cosy sanctuary, enjoy high tea on one of the snuggly sofas, with notable nibbles including open sandwiches of cured salmon with lemon crème fraiche and avocado, heritage tomato with basil, or pickled cucumber and chive cream cheese. For sweet tooths, there are chocolate brownie squares with fresh berries, mulled wine pear Eton mess, or lemon meringue tartlets, as well as the obligatory scones and a dedicated tea menu.

Price: £25 per person. £35 per person, with an ‘Earl of Champagne’ cocktail.
When: Served from Wednesday to Saturday, between 2pm and 5pm.
Address: 50 Cheyne Walk, SW3 5LR
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Bluebird

The team at Bluebird creates brilliant seasonal afternoon tea menus (offering a handy excuse for return visits), but the classic menu features wonderful spins on the classics such as Coronation chicken sandwiches on toasted caraway loaf, rare breed hen egg, mustard cress and truffle sandwiches on onion seed loaf. Sweet treats include white chocolate and coconut macaron, or lemon, thyme and raspberry opera – all washed down with a wide array of teas or a glass of British sparkling wine Nyetimber.

Price: 26.50 per person. Add a glass of Nyetimber Cuvee Classic for £10, or a glass of Nyetimber Cuvee Rosé for £13.50.
When: Served Monday to Friday 12pm -5pm and weekends 3pm – 4.30pm.
Address: 350 King’s Road, SW3 5UU
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Harvey Nichols

After shopping your way up Sloane Street, and through the levels of Harvey Nichols, settle in at the Fifth Floor Café for an afternoon tea from chefs who love nothing more than spicing up the classics with a seasonal twist.

Price: £35 per person, or £45 person including Bottomless Prosecco.
When: Served daily 1pm – 5.30pm.
Address: Knightsbridge, Fifth Floor Café, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ
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