Here are some of Surrey's finest spots for afternoon tea, as suggested by you, our lovely readers!
We asked, you answered - now, here are our readers' reviews for the best places for a spot of lovely afternoon tea. Plus a few extra notes from Essential Surrey & SW London's resident tea and cake lover, Hattie Curl.
Now go forth, have your cake and eat it too!
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The Petersham Hotel
In celebration of London’s most popular sporting event, the Petersham Hotel is offering a limited edition Wimbledon Afternoon Tea.
With tennis-themed cakes and pastries served alongside beautifully cut finger sandwiches, warm traditional scones, West Country clotted cream and strawberry preserve, this is truly the perfect treat.
Trish: "Wonderful afternoon tea with a good selection of sandwiches and cakes. Great service with attentive, friendly, polite staff. It was a special experience"
Enjoy with friends or family whilst making the most of the spectacular panoramic view of the River Thames that this Richmond Hotel has to offer.
You can read The Petersham Hotel's full blog post on the history of afternoon tea by clicking here.
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The Original Maids of Honour
Established in 1868, these guys have been doing tea and cakes for a very long time.
There is a legend – quite possibly started by the Maids of Honour – that King Henry VIII loved the 'melt-in-the-mouth sensation' so much, he took the recipe and kept it under lock and key in Richmond Palace.
Winnie: “The Original Maids of Honour in Kew has always been my favourite. It’s steeped in history, comfy and has a really welcoming atmosphere. From afternoon and high tea to delicious pastries and baked goods, there are baked delicacies to suit every taste."
Whether that's true or not, you'd certainly be hard-pressed to find a more traditional afternoon tea than at a venue with over 120 years experience in the industry.
In more modern development, you can order everything on the menu online – including traditional English picnics – and have it delivered straight to your door. Go internet!
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The Tea Terrace
With guests describing it like stepping into the world of Alice in Wonderland, this coffee house offers a very glamorous afternoon tea experience.
The Tea Terrace boasts the largest variety of scones in the entire country serving anything from plain and fruit scones to cranberry and white chocolate scones.
Jeni: “I love The Tea Terrace at the top of House of Fraser in Guildford; it’s so airy and bright. The highlight has to be the stunning views across Guildford and the Surrey Hills. If you can, try to get a window seat, it can get very bright but the views are worth it. If the weather is warm you can sit outside on the roof terrace where there are a small pond and garden. The décor inside the tea room is elegant with plenty of pastels."
Their Cobham and Guildford tea houses are renowned for reinventing the concept of English tea rooms. With grand throne chairs and ornate sofas inspired by the opulence of Victorian Royal Palaces, nowhere quite does afternoon tea quite like the Tea Terrace.
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Cellar Magneval Wine Merchants – Woking
This is a great place for a bit of an alternative take on afternoon tea.
The shady chic Parisian decor, combined with an array of unusual but delicious finger foods, make this an ideal spot to hang out and watch the world go by.
Tom: "By now everyone knows how good The Cellar Magneval Wine Bar in Woking is for a night out. They do incredible wine, amazing cheese and have absolutely nailed the concept of informal but friendly service. What most people don't know is that during the day they are a wonderful little coffee bar with an amazing selection of good food for afternoon tea. They have an array of cakes, open sandwiches and tapas on offer as well as plenty of artisan teas and coffees. My favourite was the strawberry venison!"
They also have an array of unbelievably good wine. I'm not suggesting it would be a good idea to get drunk at afternoon tea but I do like knowing the option is there.
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Orange Pekoe
In 2008 Orange Pekoe gained national recognition as London’s Best Tearoom by Time Out London and in May 2016 Tatler listed them as one of “the best afternoon tea’s in London”.
June: “Orange Pekoe is one of my favourite places for afternoon tea. With teas sourced from all over the world, a wonderful selection of cakes and food plus a great location, it makes for a relaxing afternoon. It’s a beautiful tea room, spacious and airy, it’s also quite casual which is wonderful for families. Outside the front, there are a few tables which are nice to sit at in the summer and the location is relatively peaceful.”
Bookings for full afternoon tea are advisable as this is such a trendy and delectable spot. And to save you from making a terrible faux-pas, it's pronounced pee-ko.
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The Dabbling Duck
If you are lucky enough to get a window seat at this little café then you can often see the ducks dabbling (OED: to immerse one's hands or feet partially in water and move them around gently) about by the river, hence the name.
Lauren: "The Dabbling Duck is friendly, warm and welcoming. Set in the quaint and picturesque village of Shere in the Surrey Hills, you couldn’t wish for a friendlier welcome. It is a little pricey, but you get what you pay for and the members of staff really go out of their way to make sure your visit is perfect. It’s shabby chic at its finest, spacious inside, with lovely views of the village from the windows.”
They also do a fantastic array of giftware, perfect for birthday pressies or a self-indulgent treat.
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The French Tarte
Afternoon Tea is available from 1 pm till 3 pm by reservation only and there's both a Teddington and Wimbledon location as well.
Expect plenty of miniature patisseries, finger sandwiches, homemade scones served warm with jam, cream and plenty of tea by Chateau Rouge as well as the patisserie's specially blended coffee, roasted locally by Coffee Bay.
Leigh: “The French Tarte in Surbiton is a lovely patisserie that almost makes you feel as if you were on holiday in France. Afternoon tea comes with miniature pastries which sets this apart from other cafes. They also have plenty of seating outside for those warmer days. Friendly staff and great for smaller groups.”
There's also a weekly first-come-first-served supper club on Friday that is well worth checking out.
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Ann Ayerst
Watts Gallery
The Tea Room at Watts Gallery is a great place to mull over some incredible artwork in the gallery or as a perfect pitstop on your country walk.
Petra: "This is a great place to eat. The fresh food is cooked on the premises, and the scones are cooked daily. The lunch menus vary and are original and the cakes and scones are beautifully traditional. The staff are very friendly and efficient and the environment in which to eat is comfortable and in keeping with the gallery."
The tea and cakes are both delicious and if you're feeling particularly peckish then there are some heavier lunching options in the cafe – I'd highly recommend the Watts Works Welsh Rarebit.
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Warren House
Warren House is a magnificent Victorian private House, set within beautifully landscaped gardens within Kingston-upon-Thames.
Michele: "Excellent afternoon tea with champagne. Delicious sandwiches. A good choice of teas to choose from. Lovely little cakes in a variety of flavours. The freshly baked scones with cream and jam were particularly wonderful."
A tranquil, relaxing setting for a delightful afternoon tea.
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Senzo
All Senzo's coffee is organic and Fair Trade bought directly from farmers in Brazil and Columbia and roasted to perfection for a breathtakingly tasty and guilt-free cup of joe.
The shop also has its own speciality range of teas that includes a variety of interesting fusions for tantalising tastes that linger on the tongue.
Will: "I love Senzo, it's a great little independent artisan coffee shop with an extensive soft play area for young children. As a parent, I can't emphasise enough how useful it is to be able to enjoy a tasty afternoon tea whilst my toddler plays around in the ball pit. The staff here are also incredible, they always remember my name, know everything about making a brew, will rush to hold open the door when I'm carrying shopping, and just generally exude an honest interest in the happiness of myself as a customer and my little boy."
The café’s afternoon tea features a selection of sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam, as well as assorted cakes and naughty sweet treats, plus you can even choose to include a bottle of organic (non-alcoholic) Luscombe bubbly.
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Grayshott Pottery
This is particularly ideal for families or larger groups as seating in the café – cheekily titled The Kiln – has a capacity of 70 and you can book for lunchtime.
Caroline: “I love Grayshott Pottery which has a very nice tea room attached to it. It is a really unique place to enjoy afternoon tea as you can watch people making pottery while you have your tea, plus the food is lovely. It’s such an interesting setting that makes for a more interesting day out than any normal café.”
There’s a covered patio area outside and lots for kids to see and do.
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Pembroke Lodge
There is also a self-serve tea room brilliantly titled The Butler's Pantry which is excellent for families and those with buggies.
Cameron: “Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park is my choice. The view is beautiful and the lodge decor makes for a perfectly tranquil place for afternoon tea. There's a wide array of cakes and tea blends. You can drive to the lodge or enjoy a leisurely stroll there while trying to spot the local stags and parakeets.”
The car park can get very full on weekends, however, Richmond station is within easy walking distance so consider burning off some of that cake with a nice leisurely stroll.
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Strawberry Hill House
Strawberry Hill House was built by Horace Walpole, son of Britain's first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. Afternoon tea is served here between 3-5.30pm.
Laura: “The Cloister Coffee House at Strawberry Hill is a wonderful little find and does an excellent selection for afternoon tea. It’s laid back and not over-complicated like some cafes, they have a lovely selection of cakes, scones and crumpets for a traditional afternoon tea. It’s perfect for families too and there’s plenty to see in the park including tours of the mansion."
Strawberry Hill House is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian Gothic revival architecture and was the inspiration behind one of the first gothic novels The Castle of Ortanto. If that doesn't impress you, then perhaps their rather nice finger buns will.
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RHS Garden Wisley
Following a wander around one of the best gardens in Surrey, polish off your day with some finger sandwiches, scones, and Wisley bakery cakes from the Glasshouse Café (normal entry price to the gardens applies).
Julie: "Went to Wisley and finished it off with a lovely afternoon tea in the restaurant. Staff were attentive and nothing was too much trouble. As much tea or coffee as you wanted and the sandwiches and cakes were all lovely and fresh."
Many of the tasty treats on offer use ingredients are grown fresh and organic within the grounds of the garden.
There's also a soft play area attached to keep the kids occupied while you polish off a scone or twelve.
Those after more meaty fare can visit the brilliantly named Honest Sausage next door, where they serve up free-range, locally sourced pork and bacon baps in home-baked bread.
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Woodlands Park Hotel
Woodlands Park Hotel Woodlands Lane, Cobham, KT11 3QBSettle back for speciality teas, dainty sandwiches, handmade cakes, pastries and scones.
Pam: "From the warm welcome to the final farewells our afternoon tea at the Woodlands Park Hotel was an absolute delight. They readily agreed to provide tea made with teabags for those who could not manage the strainers with arthritic hands! The sandwiches were beautifully fresh, the vegetarian option was far from boring and the savoury option was rated as excellent. The scones were warm, and there was a generous supply of delicious jam & cream. The small cakes, meringues, trifles, macaroons and mini lemon meringue pies were a real treat."
You will have a really lovely experience in a beautiful wood panelled dining room set in the hotel's glorious grounds.
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fabiovh.co.uk
Guildford Harbour Hotel
The Guildford Harbour Hotel offers a delightful traditional afternoon tea. For a slightly quirkier take on the usual, try its Gentleman's Tea featuring cured meats, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, fried pickles and crusty bread accompanied by a crisp, refreshing craft beer. Tempted? I know I am.
Christine: "I went for afternoon tea here with 3 others, it was excellent. Lots to eat, we left food! Plenty of tea to choose from and my daughter had her own cake stand with lots of gluten free goodies. All in all we had a lovely time and we all said we'd do it again."
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Great Fosters
The historic Grade 1 listed building and its perfectly manicured gardens provide the ultimate British afternoon tea experience.
Serving bespoke tea and coffee alongside classic finger sandwiches and traditional scones with clotted cream and jam, afternoon tea doesn’t get much more authentic than this.
Anais: “Great Fosters is my favourite place to have afternoon tea! The idyllic gardens are perfect for afternoon tea in summer whilst the antique fireplaces provide the perfect atmosphere for colder months. The unlimited finger sandwiches, fresh scones and delicious mini Victoria sponge cakes at Great Fosters are a must!”
However, Great Fosters puts a modern twist on everyone’s favourite sweet treats with piña colada macaroons and raspberry choux buns guaranteed to leave you with an unforgettable afternoon tea experience.
In the warmer months, the terrace becomes a popular venue, overlooking the magnificent gardens and parkland of Egham.
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Sara Reeve
The Olive Tree
Ashtead Park Garden Centre Pleasure Pit Road,, Surrey, KT21 1HUThis little restaurant is a hidden gem, tucked away within Ashtead Park Garden Centre.
The Olive Tree has received high praise for its award-winning, freshly baked scones, a perfect treat to enjoy with friends and family.
Joy: “Just a perfect place to chill, chat, enjoy good food, good service and feel cherished, comfortable, well furnished, excellent bathrooms.... something special.”
This afternoon tea, which includes delicious sandwiches, a selection of mini cakes and scones served with clotted cream and jam is amazing value for money at only £14.95 per person so be sure not to miss out!
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Izzy more than 7 years ago