Tea Rooms in the UK
A pot of proper tea and a scone still warm, afternoon tea for a birthday, a cream tea after the walk, a quiet table with a cake made that morning, or somewhere to take a parent on a Sunday: find a local tea room people love.
Tea Rooms by city
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Finding a good tea room in the UK
A tea room is a café with manners: tea in a pot, cakes and scones baked on the premises, a light lunch of soup and sandwiches, and a room — vintage, farmhouse, seaside or grand — where nobody minds you staying. Most are independent, many are in villages, on farms, in walled gardens and next to the things people visit, and the best are known for one thing above all, a scone, a Victoria sponge, a cheese toastie, a view. Afternoon tea, booked for the table and served on a stand, is the occasion version, and cream tea — scones, jam and clotted cream — the everyday one.
Finding a good one means reading for the baking and the tea, not the decor: cakes made in-house, loose-leaf or good bagged tea in a warmed pot, and reviews that mention a return visit. Practicalities matter too: afternoon tea usually needs booking a day or more ahead and often a deposit; dogs are welcome in some and gardens in most; many close by five and some for the winter; and a farm or garden tea room may have a season and a queue on a sunny Sunday.
The listings here show each tea room's reviews, menu and specialities, hours and contact details, so you can see what is nearby, who serves afternoon tea or welcomes dogs, and where people in your town go for the best scone.
What tea rooms serve
Tea and coffee: pots of loose-leaf or good bagged tea, herbal and fruit teas, coffee, hot chocolate, and cold drinks in summer.
Cakes and scones: home-baked sponges, traybakes, scones with jam and clotted cream, and the gluten-free and vegan options most now bake.
Afternoon tea: sandwiches, scones and cakes on a stand with a pot of tea, booked ahead, often with a sparkling wine or children's version.
Light lunches: soups, sandwiches, toasties, jacket potatoes, quiches and salads, served until mid-afternoon.
Extras: takeaway cakes and whole cakes to order, gift vouchers, private hire for parties and wakes, and gardens, dogs and a warm welcome for walkers.
Getting the most from a tea room
- Book afternoon tea a day or more ahead, say the occasion, and mention allergies and dietary needs when booking.
- Go early on a sunny weekend at garden and farm tea rooms; the queue forms by noon.
- Ask what was baked this morning; the answer tells you what to order.
- Check the hours; many close at four or five, some on Mondays, some for the winter.
- Ask about dogs, high chairs and step-free access if any of them matter.
- Take a whole cake home; most bake to order with a couple of days' notice.
What tea rooms cost
As a rough guide, a pot of tea costs £2.50 to £4, a slice of cake £3.50 to £6, a cream tea with two scones £6 to £10, a light lunch £7 to £12, and afternoon tea £18 to £35 a head, £30 to £50 with sparkling wine and more at grand hotels; children's afternoon tea £8 to £15. Whole cakes to order run £25 to £60, and private hire for a party or a wake is priced per head from around £12.
A tea room that bakes everything on the premises costs a pound or two more than one that does not, and it shows in every mouthful.
How do I find a good tea room near me?+
Look at the tea rooms listed for your town, read the reviews for the baking and the tea rather than the decor, and check the hours and whether they serve afternoon tea or welcome dogs. The ones people mention returning to for a particular scone or cake are the ones to try.
How much is afternoon tea?+
Typically £18 to £35 a head at an independent tea room, £30 to £50 with sparkling wine, and £50 to £90 at grand hotels; children's versions are £8 to £15. It usually includes sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, a selection of cakes and unlimited tea, and needs booking a day or more ahead.
What is the difference between cream tea and afternoon tea?+
A cream tea is scones, jam and clotted cream with a pot of tea, ordered on the day for £6 to £10; afternoon tea adds sandwiches and cakes on a stand, is booked ahead and costs £18 to £35. Whether the jam or the cream goes on first depends on whether you are in Devon or Cornwall.
Do I need to book a tea room?+
For afternoon tea, yes, usually a day ahead and often with a deposit; for a pot of tea and a cake, no, though popular garden and farm tea rooms have queues on sunny weekends. Ring for a table of six or more or for a party.
Are tea rooms dog-friendly?+
Many are, especially in walking country and at the seaside, inside or in the garden, and the listing usually says; some keep dogs to the garden or a dogs' room. Ask when booking if you are bringing one.
Can a tea room cater for gluten-free or vegan?+
Most now bake a gluten-free and a vegan cake or scone daily and can do a full afternoon tea with notice; tell them when booking, and mention allergies so the kitchen can avoid cross-contamination.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.49 a month to sit above the free listings.