Picture the scene. It’s early December on Oxford Street. The pavements and stores are teeming with Christmas shoppers (despite the inevitable drizzle), faces lit by the festive lights overhead and complexions rosy thanks to scarves and hats that have been donned despite the fact it has yet to dip below 10 degrees. You’re tired. Your feet ache. You’re desperate for a break from all the retail ‘therapy’ but somehow it’s not yet 3pm.

And then, suddenly, there it is: a five-star hotel enticing you in with a twinkling Christmas tree and the irresistible smell of freshly-baked scones. In the distance, you can hear the sound of champagne bottles popping and the delicate tinkle of cups, saucers and piano keys. It is, of course, time for a festive afternoon tea.

While London is home to the world’s finest afternoon teas all year round, at Christmas the capital’s hotels and restaurants really pull out all the stops to ramp up the festive cheer. Expect pastries in the shape of baubles, delicate finger sandwiches with seasonal fillings and whole menus of cocktails blended with nutmeg and cinnamon. These are London’s best festive afternoon teas for Christmas 2025.

Pan Pacific London, Liverpool Street

Hosted at Ginger Lily Bar and Lounge, Pan Pacific London‘s new festive afternoon tea menu is the height of indulgence. Expect a selection of delicious savoury and sweet treats, such as finger sandwiches, sausage rolls and Christmas pudding macarons, alongside tea, scones and champagne. Plus, there’s no need to call in the babysitter for this outing, as there’s also a children’s afternoon tea, ensuring little ones are not only well fed, but thoroughly entertained. Let them unleash their creativity by decorating their own biscuits and cupcakes with icing, sprinkles and toppings, before tucking into hot chocolate and snowball cake pops.

From £68 per person, visit panpacificlondon.com

Royal Lancaster London, Hyde Park

Enjoy a truly enchanting afternoon at the Royal Lancaster London’s festive tea experience, available from 22 November. The Blooming British festive afternoon tea, created in partnership with the Natural History Museum, is a joyful celebration of British flora and festive flavours. Set against views of Hyde Park’s frosty treetops, the tea begins with delicate finger sandwiches and warm, fluffy scones before sweet treats of miniature spiced gingerbread with clementine and cranberry gel, a snow-dusted beehive mousse, and jewel-like pastries almost too pretty to eat. Perfect for a pre-theatre treat, or a luxurious escape from the Christmas rush, this is a great family day out thanks to the children’s afternoon tea menu too.

From £59 per person, visit royallancaster.com

The Langham, Marylebone

Where better to enjoy a festive afternoon tea than the place where the tradition began? Having served afternoon tea since the hotel first opened in 1865, The Langham has created a festive take on classic treats for its new Christmas menu in partnership with Regent Street toy shop Hamleys, available from 10 November. Savouries include roast Norfolk turkey with cranberry cream cheese, devilled prawn and mayonnaise, and nutmeg-spiked egg sandwiches, followed by patisseries shaped like legendary historic toys. Expect picture-perfect recreations of Mrs Lines Rocking Horse – gingerbread-infused dulcey cream and pear compote – and The Train William Built, a pistachio mousse with cranberry jam. This is all accompanied by classic scones, Cornish clotted cream and jams, alongside The Langham’s top-secret recipe for brandy-infused fruit cake.

From £95 per person, visit langhamlondon.christmas

Four Seasons Hotel at Tower Bridge, Tower Hill

Enjoy the magic of the holiday season at Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, a fine choice for a cosy winter escape, decadent dining experience or the ultimate festive afternoon tea. You’ll find the latter served in the Rotunda Bar and Lounge from 13 November, featuring classic holiday treats brought to life in pastry form thanks to a partnership with London-based baker, Lily Vanilli. Created exclusively for the hotel, Vanilli will unveil her Modern Christmas Cake: a show-stopping chocolate salted caramel cake adorned with edible gold baubles and a delicately piped wreath in rich icing. Other sweet treats include scones served warm with clotted cream and blackberry jam, a lemon tart with a meringue wreath, and an indulgent sticky toffee madeleine served with a quenelle of vanilla custard cream, crumble and a pot of warm toffee sauce.

Elsewhere, Vanilli's beloved version of the humble mince pie will be an exclusive festive addition to the afternoon tea. The savoury pies will be filled with roast potato, cheddar and Branston pickle topped with thyme and served alongside small bites of gilda with anchovy, green olive and pickled chilli, parmesan goujères with a Welsh rarebit filling, and confit potatoes with smoked salmon, crème fraîche and lime.

From £65 per person, visit fourseasons.com

Lanes of London, Mayfair

Celebrate the magic of the season at the flagship restaurant of the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, Lanes of London. The new festive afternoon tea, available from 15 November, is where delicate savouries meet playful patisserie inspired by Christmas – think edible Santa’s sleighs, sparkling presents and holiday candles. Begin with a tempting selection of savoury bites, including turkey and cranberry bonbons, smoked salmon and Cornish crab tartare mille-feuille and an indulgent truffle polenta canapé with whipped goat cheese, confit tomato and orange marmalade. 

These are followed by the sweetest of seasonal creations, such as Santa’s Sleigh – a fruit cake with ginger shortbread and vanilla frosting – as well as a Christmas Present red plum cheesecake with cherry compote, an Upside-Down Santa featuring mixed berry compote and chocolate parfait, and the Holiday Candle: an orange sponge cake with cinnamon crème chiboust. Freshly baked plain and seasonal spiced mixed fruit scones are served with Cornish clotted cream and cranberry jam, while the experience is complemented by a selection of Jing teas or a glass of fizz for some added seasonal sparkle.

From £50 per person, visit lanesoflondon.co.uk

Grosvenor House, Mayfair

The wonder of the Magic Faraway Tree, created by prolific children’s writer Enid Blyton, will come to life through a captivating festive afternoon tea at Grosvenor House from 18 November. Capturing a world of wonder and nostalgia, the menu invites guests to journey through Blyton’s enchanting tale as it unfolds through five exquisite pastries and an amuse-bouche, masterfully crafted by head pastry chef Anthony Hurst. Too-good-to-eat pastries include Silky’s Sparkling Granita infused with spiced clementine; the Magic Faraway Tree reimagined as a chocolate sponge layered with orange jam, encased in a milk chocolate shell and finished with candy floss and a forest-moss-inspired crumble; and Moonface’s Bauble, a sweet tribute to the character with zesty ginger and mandarin mousse on a gingersnap and caramelised chocolate biscuit. 

Savouries include finger sandwiches of Norfolk turkey, cucumber and mint, Foreman’s smoked salmon, and Burford Brown egg open brioche buns. Freshly baked scones are served with Cornish clotted cream and an assortment of homemade preserves, accompanied by an extensive selection of Newby teas or champagne. The enchantment continues with a bespoke illustrated menu, featuring exclusive artwork by Mark Beech, illustrator of the Magic Faraway Tree series, presented to guests as a charming keepsake. Meanwhile, the Park Room’s resident pianist will fill the air with beloved carols, as the central table transforms into an enchanting woodland, complete with its very own Magic Faraway Tree. Little guests can experience a children’s version of the festive high tea complete with selected pastries, miniature scones with ice cream, and a warming hot chocolate.

From £75 per person, visit parkroom.co.uk

Cafe Linea, Chelsea

This festive season, Cafe Linea will transform its Duke of York Square terrace into Silver Winter: a magical outdoor escape in the heart of Chelsea. Launching on 11 November, in time for the Chelsea Ever After Garden and Christmas lights switch-on, the terrace will be reimagined as a chic silver retreat adorned with fairy lights, winter greenery, soft blankets and a grand Christmas tree.  

At the heart of the experience is a newly launched Silver Winter afternoon tea, featuring refined savoury bites such as egg mayo sandwiches, caviar, stilton, grape and walnut profiteroles, and a mini choux with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Sweet highlights include a crème brûlée choux finished with edible silver leaf, a mince pie biscuit sandwich coated in salted white chocolate and a Linea Christmas tree cake with caramelised apple, olive oil sponge and cream cheese frosting. Toast with champagne or Cafe Linea’s new sweet cocktail pairings, which include an espresso martini with salted vanilla, an apple crumble spritz and a decadent crème brulée martini. 

From £45 per person, visit linealondon.com

Hyatt Regency London, Marylebone

In true Christmas spirit, Montagu Kitchen at Hyatt Regency London will shift the destination of its travel-inspired afternoon tea to Father Christmas’ enchanting home of Lapland. Available from 6 November, the first guests through the doors will be given a symbolic boarding pass, including luggage tags and a keepsake Polaroid photo, before being whisked away on a magical festive adventure.

Crafted by the in-house pastry team, the Lapland Afternoon Tea features savouries of sweet water shrimp tartlet, butter bread roll and potato rosti, alongside sweets such as Swedish havreflarn cookies, a pine nut chocolate tree, and almond and vanilla Santa’s Belly. For those craving a timeless classic, traditional scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream await – best enjoyed with a piping-hot tea or glass of champagne to toast the festive season.

From £59 per person, visit hyatt.com

Covent Garden Hotel, Covent Garden

The Theatreland outpost from Kit Kemp's Firmdale Hotels will launch its festive afternoon tea on 24 November. Served amid magical decorations and a roaring fireplace, the special high tea served in Brasserie Max includes cranberry and brie and turkey and stuffing finger sandwiches, a dark chocolate spiced yule log, red apple and caramel choux bun, and a cranberry orange madeleine. Classic scones with clotted cream and preserves are included, as well as speciality teas, coffee or hot chocolate. Elevate the afternoon further with a glass of Rathfinny Classic Cuvée or Bollinger Special Cuvée – the choice is yours...

From £45 per person, visit firmdalehotels.com

The Peninsula, Belgravia

The Peninsula’s sophisticated all-day dining restaurant, The Lobby, will offer a special festive afternoon tea from 19 November. Start with handcrafted sandwiches such as traditional Norfolk bronze turkey with apricot and cranberry relish and Maldon-cured smoked salmon with dill and confit buddha lemon, followed by exquisite desserts like the Santa Belt with cranberry crémeux, the Santa Honoré with maple and caramelised pecan, and the Black Forest Pinecone with chocolate mousse and cherry confit. A children’s afternoon tea is also available and, in the spirit of giving, £5 from each tea will be donated to The Marylebone Project, supporting women facing homelessness in London.

From £85 per person, visit peninsula.com

Read more: The best Christmas tasting menus in London