Festive afternoon teas at London's hotels, with dates and prices
From The Ritz to Hotel Café Royal, here is where London hotels are serving festive afternoon tea this season, with dates and starting prices.
Most London hotels put on some version of a Christmas afternoon tea. According to Condé Nast Traveller's festive guide, the ones worth booking range from some of the glitziest in town to more affordable options. Here are the hotel teas it highlights, with the dates and prices it gives.
The Ritz
Condé Nast Traveller calls The Ritz's festive afternoon tea one of the capital's most indulgent, and a good excuse to smarten up and peek inside one of the world's most iconic hotels. The Palm Court has been transformed into an Edwardian winter wonderland, with opulent red and gold trimmings.
Guests can expect finger sandwiches, Christmas cakes, mince pies and freshly baked scones, with Christmas carols sung by The Ritz choir. It runs from 14 November 2026 to 5 January 2027, with prices starting at £120 per adult.
The Rubens at the Palace
The Rubens is serving a Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea inspired by traditional British Christmas celebrations. It includes seasonal treats and a glass of mulled wine, and runs from 16 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Prices start at £82 per person.
Rosewood London and Chancery Rosewood
Two Rosewood properties are in the running. Rosewood London's Festive Art Afternoon Tea, served in the Mirror Room, offers what Condé Nast Traveller describes as a creative take on the British tradition.
The Chancery Rosewood is serving its festive afternoon tea at Jacqueline, with seasonal savouries and intricate pâtisserie by executive pastry chef Marius Dufay.
Hotel Café Royal
For something the magazine considers slightly more affordable, Hotel Café Royal is offering a festive afternoon tea from 5 November 2026 to 4 January 2027. It starts at £85 per person.
Beyond the teacups
Condé Nast Traveller also notes that the best luxury hotels in London bring out their most elegant decorations at this time of year, so a hotel visit can double as a look at the season's trimmings.
If you would rather stay out of hotels altogether, the same guide points to free festive window displays at Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, and to quieter makers' markets beyond central London, including the North London Makers' Market at Abney Hall in Stoke Newington on 12 and 13 December.
Know before you go
- The Ritz: 14 November 2026 to 5 January 2027, from £120 per adult, with carols from The Ritz choir.
- The Rubens at the Palace: 16 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, from £82 per person, includes a glass of mulled wine.
- Hotel Café Royal: 5 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, from £85 per person.
- Rosewood London (Mirror Room) and Chancery Rosewood (Jacqueline): dates and prices were not given in the guide, so check with the hotels directly.
Sources: Condé Nast Traveller
