The best afternoon teas for children in London

1 Little Hatters Afternoon Tea at Sanderson, Fitzrovia

This tea brings a little bit of the Alice in Wonderland magic to the table, with ornate teapots filled with juice or flavoured milk and patisserie that is almost too cute to eat. The Red Knight Arm shortbread cookies come filled with honey and mascarpone while the White Queen Minion’s Macaroon is a vanilla macaroon with a blood orange filling. Adults and vegans can also get stuck into the feast.

Availability: Monday to Sunday 12pm – 7pm

Price: £35; from £48 for the adults

Address: 50 Berners Street, Fitzrovia W1T 3NG

Website: book.ennismore.com

2 The Savoy’s Children’s Afternoon Tea

One of London’s classic afternoon teas, The Savoy has been hosting teas since the 1889 in the grand Thames Foyer, overlooking the mighty river. The Savoy’s children’s version is filled with easy to love flavours. Start with cheddar cheese and egg mayonnaise sandwiches before moving on to the likes of banana s’mores with toasted marshmallow and chocolate chip cookies. 

Availability: Monday-Tuesday 12pm-4pm; Wednesday-Sunday 12pm-6pm

Cost: £37.50

Address: The Savoy Hotel, Strand WC2R 0EZ

Website: thesavoylondon.com

3 The Chesterfield’s Mr Simms Sweetshop Afternoon Tea

Inspired by the nostalgia of ye olde sweet shop, chocolate chip scones and fantastical pastries such as a Reece’s peanut butter cup or a Coca-Cola slice follow on from traditional finger sandwiches. Can cater to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal diets. This afternoon tea earned an Award of Excellence at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2023.

Availability: Monday to Sunday 12.30pm-5.30pm

Cost: £35

Address: 35 Charles Street, Mayfair W1J 5EB

Website: chesterfieldmayfair.com

4 The Milestones Hotel’s Children’s Afternoon Tea

In a regal and very, very British-looking conservatory opposite Kensington Palace, let the kids tuck into peanut butter and jam, and ham sandwiches before getting stuck into mini cupcakes, white chocolate and raspberry blondies and baked vanilla cheesecake. They can also chooses from a milkshake, hot chocolate or soft drink to go with it. 

Availability: Monday-Sunday, 1pm-7pm

Cost: £33

Address: 1-3 Kensington Circuit, W8 5PG

Website: milestonehotel.com

5 Claridge’s Children’s Afternoon Tea

For an absolute treat, the children’s afternoon tea at Claridges is exquisite. A traditional tea, it is elegantly simple and comes with finger sandwiches of the likes of duck egg mayonnaise, gammon ham and cheddar cheese, as well as freshly baked scones and fanciful treats to end on like a happy face, raspberry tart and a strawberry ice cream cone.

Availability: Daily; 2.45pm-5.30pm

Price: £45

Address: Brook Street W1K 4HR

Website: claridges.co.uk

6 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych

If you were ever wondering how to make your snozzcumber or swudge more tasty, One Aldwych in the heart of theatreland might be able to give you some tips. It brings to life Roald Dahl’s fantastical creations – which is no small task as everlasting gobstoppers, chewing gum meals and fizzy lifting drinks are the stuff of childhood daydreams. So discover the likes of the not-quite-as-it seems salmon and beetroot macaron, wonderous cakes and lemon sherbet tea, and enjoy.

Availability: Wednesday to Friday 12pm-3pm; Saturday, Sunday & school holidays

Cost: From £50

Address: 1 Aldwych WC2B 4BZ

Website: onealdwych.com

7 Children’s Afternoon Tea, Sofitel London St James’s

Not far from Buckingham Palace, Sofitel London St James’s has put an imaginative spin on a traditional afternoon tea which you can enjoy in the sumptuous Rose Lounge. Crowd-pleasing sandwiches of cheese and Nutella will satiate even the pickiest of eaters, while building your own macaroon burger will appeal to those who like to play with their food. A popping vanilla chocolate milkshake rounds off this playful tea.  

Availability: Friday to Sunday; 12pm-5pm

Cost: £35

Address: 6 Waterloo Pl, St. James’s SW1Y 4AN

Website: sofitelstjames.com

8 Peter Pan Afternoon Tea, Aqua Shard

How fitting; an afternoon tea based on the ultimate man child, Peter Pan the boy who never wanted to grow up. Every dish, from the sausage roll and the egg mayo sandwich to the sweet treats and cocktails (for you, caregiver), have been given a name so delightfully whimsical you’d be forgiven for thinking you were about to bite into a child’s imagination. So get stuck into that Fairy Dust and savour the Tinker Bell, Little Bird and one of Peter’s Secret Never Tree Entrances. For the adults, make yours one with champagne. And don’t forget to enjoy the view.

Availability: Monday to Sunday 12pm-2.30pm

Cost: From £49 per head

Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street SE1 9RY

Website: aquashard.co.uk

9 Jurassic and Science Afternoon Tea, Ampersand Hotel

Choose from two magical afternoon teas here – the Jurassic version that comes with a volcanic eruption and a basket of dinosaur eggs. Meanwhile, the award-winning science afternoon tea is a mix of physics, chemistry, flour and water, and comes with jams in petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and dinosaur biscuits. 

Availability: Monday to Sunday 12pm-5.30pm

Cost: From £35

Address: 10 Harrington Road, SW7 3ER

Website: ampersandhotel.com