Historically, afternoon tea is an expensive activity associated with the upper classes in 5-star hotel venues between the hours of 3.30pm and 5pm although this has become more flexible in contemporary Britain and you still get options lasting till 6.30pm. Being the birthplace of the concept, of course it should be something that you should experience at least once during your time as a student at LSE whether it be to treat yourself or out of curiosity. Not to mention, there comes a time where we will all get sick of our daily sandwich or salad lunch routine! However, as our current lifestyle demands us to be frugal, here are some of the best places to get the full experience all below £20 to ensure that you don’t end up leaving broke.
Café Rouge
Located in Covent Garden which is a convenient 7-minute walk from LSE, Café Rouge’s french twist offers onion sausage rolls and mini meringue torte. Not your average afternoon tea. If you’re up for a fancy upgrade for £5 you can get yourself a glass of Prosecco.
When: Every day, 12 noon to 5pm
How much: £15 per person
The Delaunay
Another fairly accessible spot for LSE students, The Delaunay in Covent Garden offers a Viennese-themed afternoon tea of an assortment of sandwiches and poppy seed Gugelhupfs with apricot jam and whipped cream. For those who prefer a more classic experience, fruit scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream are also available. There’s also a selection of Viennese cakes.
If you don’t want to go for the full afternoon tea experience, the Cream Tea is only £9.50.
When: Monday to Sunday, 3pm to 6.30pm
How much: £19.75 per person
Bond Street Kitchen
Inside the second floor of Bond Street’s Fenwick, one of London’s department stores, is Bond Street Kitchen. It comes with a selection of cakes and scones, but you can also add a glass of champagne for an additional charge.
When: Every day, 12 noon to 5pm
How much: £16 per person
The Wallace
Enjoy fine arts, including paintings, porcelain and furnishings by Rembrandt and Diego Velázquez at the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square, then take a well-deserved afternoon tea in The Wallace Restaurant. Make sure you book in advance or you may find yourself looking around the gallery without that long-awaited scone and cream.
When: Every day, 2.3pm to 4:30pm
How much: £19.50 per person
The Wolseley
With a magnificent European grandeur inspired interior, The Wolseley on Piccadilly never fails to disappoint. As the full afternoon tea set is a bit more on the pricier side at £33, I would recommend going for the cream tea option (refillable tea and 3 scones) at only £14.75 per person. If you’re still hungry, you can choose from a wide selection of sweet treats ranging between £4.75 and £10.50.
When: Monday to Friday, 3pm to 6.30pm, Saturday and Sunday, 3.30 pm to 6.30pm
How much: £33 per person (afternoon tea), £14.75 per person (cream tea)
