Enjoying an Afternoon Tea in London is a quintessentially British experience and the perfect way to treat yourself on a trip to the UK. Traditional afternoon teas have savory nibbles made with meat ingredients, so finding an vegetarian or vegan afternoon tea in London might be a concern. Don’t fret! I’ve researched this list of vegan and vegetarian-friendly afternoon teas in London for my own upcoming trip, and selected some of the best.
Luckily, London’s restaurant scene has plenty of plant-based options, and many restaurants and pubs cater to different dietary restrictions. At these vegan and vegetarian afternoon tea spots in London, try the classic clotted creme and scones, innovative vegan cakes, and other unique bite-sized goodies with flavor inspirations from around the world.
1. Brigit's Bakery
Brigit’s Bakery in Covent Garden is a must-visit location for all vegan travelers in London. This pretty-in-pink bakery is a perfect girly place to enjoy an afternoon tea in London just two blocks away from Trafalgar Square. And it gets better: Brigit’s is known for its afternoon tea bus, where guests can enjoy afternoon tea while riding a double-decker bus through London! The themed bus tour options include Paddington Bear and Peppa Pig, which are kid-friendly tours. They also have Bombay Sapphire Gin or Prosecco afternoon tea busses. It’s the perfect London afternoon tea activity for girl groups and families.
Brigit’s Bakery offers vegan afternoon tea and vegetarian afternoon tea. They also cater to a wide array of dietary restrictions, including pescatarian, halal, gluten free, and combinations of like gluten free vegetarian afternoon tea. For omnivores, they serve a classic London afternoon tea too. Brigit’s full menu can be found on their website here.
Afternoon tea price per person: £40+
2. Swan at the Globe
The Swan is a modern British restaurant located at the famous Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and along the River Thames. The Swan serves up a rotating menu of themed afternoon teas throughout the year, named after Shakepeare and other famous plays showing at the Globe (“Much Ado About Tea”, “The Duchess of Malfi” tea, etc).
Although the afternoon tea menu items are always changing, one thing that stays the same is the Swan’s commitment to providing plant-based and allergen-free afternoon tea in London. Their afternoon tea menu can be found here and includes vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free options.
Afternoon tea price per person: £39.50+
3. The Ivy Asia at St. Paul's
The Ivy Asia is a chain of elegant Asian cuisine restaurants around London, which serves a wide array of tasty veg-friendly meals alongside flavorful Asian dishes. Some of the Ivy Asia restaurant locations serve an Asian-inspired afternoon tea.
The Ivy Asia at St. Paul’s is one of those, which also offers vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and pescatarian afternoon tea options. Although their afternoon tea menu online just shows the classic selection (which also includes some mouth-watering veg options), you can make it fully plant-based by requesting a special afternoon tea at least two days in advance of your booking. Find their full range of menus here. At less than £30 per person (minimum of two people) the Ivy Asia also has one of the more budget-friendly vegan afternoon tea options in London.
Be sure to also bring your camera because the flashy green floors and flowery decorations make this place super Instagrammable.
Afternoon tea price per person: £29.95+
4. The Library at County Hall
The Library is a beautiful and unique location to try vegan afternoon tea in London. It’s located in an actual library at the County Hall building in London’s South Bank neighborhood, which puts it steps away from the London Eye and Westminster Hall.
Enjoy a high tea in London while surrounded by heritage oak bookshelves, and the best part, while overlooking Big Ben too!
The Library offers both a classic British afternoon tea as well as a fully vegan afternoon tea on their menus. Both options are crowned with an edible miniature Big Ben / Elizabeth Tower brownie.
Afternoon tea price per person: £65+
5. Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea
Sanderson London Hotel serves up an alternative afternoon tea in London that’s Alice in Wonderland-themed, called the “Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea”. You might have heard of this place from when Jason Kelce, brother of Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce, visited the hotel during his trip to England. He even recorded a podcast episode of his Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea experience!
Both a curious Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea and a curiouser and curiouser vegan and gluten-free afternoon tea are available at the Sanderson. Check out the full menu here to see what’s included in these two Alice and Wonderland-themed afternoon teas in London.
Afternoon tea price per person: £55+
6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea
Another quirky and alternative afternoon tea in London is the One Aldwych Hotel’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea, based on the book by Roald Dahl. The book has been adapted into a number of movies since its publication, including the most recent version with Timothy Chalamet playing the main character, Willy Wonka (a role previously played by Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder). This whimsical afternoon tea offers classic omnivore options, as well as vegan afternoon tea, vegetarian afternoon tea, and even a children’s afternoon tea!
The Old Aldwych is located near London’s West End theatre district, making it a perfect spot to enjoy a Willy Wonka afternoon tea before going to see something just as magical on stage.
Afternoon tea price per person: £70+ for adults, £50+ for children 12 and under.
7. Savoy
The Savoy is a historic 5-star hotel in London located on the Strand near Waterloo bridge. And they’ve been serving Afternoon Tea since 1889! Afternoon teas here are served in the posh Thames Foyer, in a glass-domed atrium that overlooks the River Thames.
Savoy has a number of different afternoon tea and high tea options available at different tiers, some savory only, some sweet and savory, including the classic afternoon tea, a children’s afternoon tea, as well as vegetarian and vegan afternoon tea. Over 30 tea options are available here to pair with your classic British fare as well. Find all of Savoy’s menus here.
Afternoon tea price per person: £80+
8. High Chai (Indian Afternoon Tea) at Baluchi
London is known for having some of the best Indian food in the world and the Lalit Hotel’s Baluchi, a Pan Indian restaurant, is an authentic example of an British-Indian restaurant. Baluchi has a number of unique characteristics, including its location inside the assembly hall of an old Grammar School, and the Naanery, or naan bread bar, on-site. The hotel Lalit is also a 5-star hotel chain in India, and this Lalit London location across from the Tower Bridge being the only one in England.
The Baluchi serves a “High Chai”, an Indian afternoon tea with bite-sized delicacies from all around India, all infused with Indian-inspired flavors. Guests can choose between Amritsari Machhli (fish) or Bharwan Mirch Ke Pakode (veg) and Tandoori Chicken Mini Burgers or Paneer Tikki Mini Burgers (veg) for a classic or vegetarian afternoon tea option. Both come with free-flowing masala chai! See their full menu here. Unfortunately no vegan options are available here, only vegetarian.
Afternoon tea price per person: £49+
9. The Drawing Room
The Drawing Room at Brown’s Hotel says it is believed that Queen Victoria took her afternoon teas in their historic establishment. Does it get more British than to walk (and dine) in her footsteps?! The Brown Hotel opened in 1832 in London as the city’s first hotel, and has served a number of famous guests including Agatha Christie and Queen Elizabeth (when she was still a Princess). Agatha Christie’s novel, “At Bertram’s Hotel” is said to be inspired by the Drawing Room itself!
Afternoon teas served here are traditional British with a modern twist, in a wood-paneled dining room cozy cushions and colorful furniture. The Drawing Room offers both a traditional afternoon tea as well as a plant-based afternoon tea. Find the full menu and a list of their teas here.
Afternoon tea price per person: £80+
10. The Montague on the Gardens
If you’re looking for a vegetarian or vegan afternoon tea in London in a greenery-filled setting, The Montague on the Gardens is a perfect place for you. Afternoon tea here is served in a glass atrium that blends the indoors with the surrounding outdoor garden.
In addition to the classic afternoon tea combos of scones and finger sandwiches, the Montague offers a vegetarian afternoon tea, vegan afternoon tea, and gluten-free as well – just reserve them in advance. A kids afternoon tea set for £24.95 is also available.
The Montague also caters for Afternoon Tea parties, for special occasions like birthdays and baby showers.
Afternoon tea price per person: £60+
Bonus: Rixy's Cotswold Tearoom (Cotswolds)
Here’s a bonus vegan and vegetarian afternoon tea option! If you plan on visiting the Cotswolds villages during your trip to London and the U.K., Rixy’s Cotswold Tearoom is a great place to grab a vegan afternoon tea near London.
Rixy’s is located in the village Moreton-in-Marsh, and is about a 2-hour drive from London. They serve up a budget-friendly classic British afternoon tea, and cater to vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free afternoon tea as well, if booked at least 48 hours in advance. Their afternoon teas are enjoyed in their cozy dining area, or outdoors in their garden courtyard.
That’s all for my list of vegan and vegetarian afternoon teas in London. I’ll keep adding more as I discover them!
If I’ve missed a place that serves up an incredible plant-based afternoon tea, let me know in the comments 🙂
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