Event

A taste of Christmas: The best high tea in Central London 2026

hightea christmas theme
christmas theme

Afternoon tea has been a beloved British tradition since the 19th century, when it began as an elegant pause between lunch and dinner. At Christmas, the ritual becomes even more magical, with Christmas pastries, seasonal treats and beautiful festive settings.

Whether you prefer traditional afternoon tea, themed afternoon tea or afternoon tea in an iconic London setting, here are some of the best places to enjoy the best Christmas high tea London in 2026.

A taste of timeless British Christmas

For elegant surroundings, impeccable service and tiered stands filled with festive favourites, these grand hotels offer a classic introduction to Christmas afternoon tea in Central London.

Afternoon tea at The Ritz

  • Location: 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR
    Dates: 14 November 2026 – 5 January 2027
    Opening time: 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm
    Price: £120 per adult and £79 per child; Christmas Day £135 per adult and £90 per child
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.9 mile (a 25-min walk)

Christmas at The Ritz brings festive elegance to afternoon tea, with beautiful seasonal décor and Christmas carols performed by the Ritz choir. The menu features finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, festive pastries, Christmas cakes and mince pies, paired with a selection of 20 loose-leaf teas.

Explore more: Discover Piccadilly Circus at night and see one of Central London’s most iconic spots after dark.

The Drawing Room at Brown’s Hotel

  • Location: 33 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP
    Dates: 16 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
    Opening time: 8am – 8pm
    Price: around £80 to £103
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.7 mile (a 19-min walk)

Brown’s Hotel captures the charm of a timeless British Christmas with its festive afternoon tea in the historic Drawing Room. Classic sandwiches, warm scones and delicate pastries are served in an elegant wood-panelled setting, bringing together British tradition and the warmth of the festive season.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brown’s Hotel (@browns_hotel)

A touch of Christmas magic

Not every Christmas tea needs to follow tradition. These experiences put storytelling, art and playful presentation at the centre of the table.

Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea at Sanderson London

Inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Sanderson’s Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea turns a British tradition into something much more theatrical. Kings and queens decorate the teapots, menus are hidden inside books and whimsical details create the feeling of falling down the rabbit hole in the heart of Fitzrovia. The playful setting makes it a natural choice for anyone looking for themed afternoon tea rather than a conventional hotel experience.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sanderson (@sandersonsocial)

Lucy Wong

  • Location: 33-34 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JN
  • Dates: Bottomless Festive Afternoon Tea, late November – 27 December 2026, Saturdays
  • Opening time: 3pm – 5:30pm
  • Price: From £55

Lucy Wong gives festive afternoon tea an Asian-inspired twist in the heart of Fitzrovia. Its glamorous 1950s Hong Kong-inspired setting pairs Christmas patisseries with steaming dim sum and free-flowing Chinese tea, bringing together festive flavours and playful presentation for a distinctive alternative to traditional afternoon tea.

The Chesterfield Mayfair – Winter Wonderland afternoon tea

  • Location: 35 Charles Street, Mayfair, London W1J 5EB
    Dates: 13 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
    Opening time: 12:30pm – 5pm
    Price: £75 per person; £85 with Champagne; £45 per child under 12
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.9 mile (a 25-min walk)

Step into a magical Christmas world at The Chesterfield Mayfair, where the Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea is filled with festive sparkle. Seasonal savouries, freshly baked scones and handcrafted Christmas pastries come together in a warm, enchanting setting, making this a playful and memorable way to celebrate the season.

Christmas tea in iconic London settings

Some afternoon teas are as much about the setting as the treats. From Piccadilly views to gilded interiors on Regent Street, these iconic London spots bring a distinctive sense of place to the festive tea experience.

Afternoon tea at The Dilly

  • Location: 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH
  • Dates: Throughout December
    Opening time: 12:30pm – 3pm
    Price: £49 per adult; £39 per child
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.46 mile (a 15-min walk)

The Dilly brings a taste of London to afternoon tea in the heart of Piccadilly. The menu pairs British-inspired sandwiches and classic scones with playful cakes shaped like London icons, including Big Ben, the London Eye, a royal crown, a red bus and The Dilly itself. Throughout December, the experience comes with the hotel’s vibrant Christmas atmosphere, surrounded by the dazzling lights, theatres and festive energy of the West End.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Dilly London (@thedillylondon)

Café Royal Grill at Hotel Café Royal

  • Location: 68 Regent Street, London W1B 4DY
    Dates: 5 November 2026 – 4 January 2027, excluding 25 December
    Opening time: 12pm – 5:30pm
    Price: £85 per person; £95 with Laurent-Perrier Champagne; £55 per child
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: around 0.7 mile (a 19-min walk)

Step into the golden glow of Café Royal Grill for a festive afternoon tea surrounded by gilded mirrors, ornate details and the history of one of London’s iconic addresses. Seasonal sandwiches and scones are joined by playful Christmas pastries, including a festive teddy bear, elf’s hat, red-nosed reindeer and Christmas gift, accompanied by live piano.