Today I want to bring you my guide to the best afternoon teas in London. This delicious British tradition is a fun indulgence, and the city has a lot of options for people with and without dietary restrictions. I’ve tried a lot of tea options in the UK capital over the years, and now I want to tell you about the best of them.

Afternoon Tea in London

In this post I’m going to focus on gluten-free afternoon teas in London, but all the places I mention offer regular tea options as well.

Before I start my list, it’s worth mentioning my methodology. While I don’t have a strict set of criteria I use for judging, I do care about a few things.

For starters, the food has to be good. It always surprises me how many afternoon teas look beautiful but taste like cardboard (even the non-GF ones). For me, the pastries have to tickle the taste buds as much as they excite the eyes.

Additionally, the ambiance has to appeal. Whether it’s sleek and modern or classic and traditional, there has to be something aesthetically pleasing about it.

With that out of the way, here’s my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. I hope you enjoy them.

Just make sure to let the hotel or restaurant know you’re GF when booking, as some places need to be informed ahead of time.

Others may not be able to guarantee that their menus don’t have cross-contamination or traces of gluten, and many aren’t suitable for celiacs.

1. Fortnum & Mason

If you’ve read my Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea review, you’ll know why I’ve put it at the top of my list.

Not only does the famous department store in St James’s offer exquisite pastries with flavors that live up to their appearances, but the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is also one of the most elegant places in the city.

To top it all off, Fortnums offers a whole gluten-free afternoon tea menu that’s separate from the regular one, so you know you’re not getting shortchanged on the experience.

2. Brown’s Hotel

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair. This classic five-star landmark property is known for offering a quintessentially English experience. Queen Victoria is even said to have come here for it.

Afternoon tea in The Drawing Room at Brown’s is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. From the traditional wood-paneled room to the piano music and delicious scones and pastries, it’s impossible not to like this place.

The gluten-free option here allows GF guests to enjoy the hotel’s offerings without having to worry about wheat in the sandwich bread, scones, or cakes. You can read my review of Brown’s afternoon tea in London for more.

3. The Goring

The Goring is another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. This Belgravia hotel is not only famous for its royal connections (the Queen Mum was a regular, and Kate Middleton stayed here the night before the Royal Wedding), but also its teas.

This hotel is all about British tradition, so it’s only natural The Goring afternoon tea offering matches. Whether you want to enjoy it on The Veranda or The Dining Room, with a glass of champagne (oh, go on) or without, it’s sure to be a treat.

The Goring offers a gluten-free afternoon tea that can be requested in advance. Just let them know when you’re booking and they’ll make sure to cater for your dietary requirements.

4. The Ritz

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is The Ritz. Right on Piccadilly, this landmark hotel is one of the most famous places to have tea in the UK capital.

Afternoon tea at The Ritz is a decadent experience. From the ornate mirrors and gilding in The Palm Court to the exquisite pastries and fine teas, it’s worth a special trip.

Gluten-free afternoon tea menus are available at The Ritz upon request. Remember there’s a strict dress code, too.

5. The Dorchester

The Dorchester is another of my favorite gluten-free afternoon teas in London. This luxury hotel on Park Lane is one of the most famous places to stay in London, and it has one of the top afternoon teas in the UK capital, too.

Afternoon tea at The Dorchester is an extravaganza. The Promenade features Corinthian columns, traditional decor, and plush chairs. The food and service are excellent, and it’s an overall top-notch experience.

The Dorchester has a gluten-free tea offering. Make sure to request it from your server when you order. You can read my Dorchester afternoon tea review for more information.

6. Claridge’s

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is Claridge’s. Right in the heart of Mayfair, this five-star hotel is all about blending timeless elegance with modern touches.

Claridge’s afternoon tea is a treat. The menu offers a traditional mix of finger sandwiches, warm scones with jam and Cornish clotted cream, and pastries on a classic tray.

Claridge’s offers a gluten-free afternoon tea for guests with dietary restrictions. Just make sure to inform the hotel when you book.

7. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

The Rosebery at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. This elegant offering is set in a beautiful tearoom in the heart of Knightsbridge.

The afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental in London is one of the prettiest of its kind in the city. The tiered trays are suspended from unique hanging cake stands that look like golden trees.

The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park offers an entire gluten-free afternoon tea menu, so you won’t have to compromise on anything when you come here.

8. The Petersham

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is The Petersham hotel in Richmond.

The Petersham afternoon tea is a fun one to try if you like a traditional afternoon tea and you want something with a slightly lower price point than the luxury hotels in central London.

The Petersham offers a special Gluten-Friendly Afternoon Tea menu that requires 24 hours’ notice. It’s not suitable for ceilacs, but it’s made from gluten-free ingredients.

9. The Langham

The Palm Court at The Langham is another of the top gluten-free afternoon teas in London. This beautiful place is a haven of peace near the bustle of Oxford Circus.

The Langham offers a classic afternoon tea experience in a room that’s both elegant and contemporary. Add to that a delicious menu, and it’s hard to beat this one.

The best news of all is that there’s a dedicated menu for gluten-free afternoon tea at The Langham. Their No Gluten Afternoon Tea menu offers a selection of indulgent finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries.

10. The Ampersand Hotel

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington. This contemporary number near the tube station is a great place to have tea before or after visiting the area’s major museums.

While The Ampersand has a great tea offering year-round, it’s one of my favorite summer afternoon teas in London. The light, airy Drawing Rooms and their white-with-bright-accents decor make them the perfect places in the warmer months.

The Ampersand hotel offers a dedicated gluten-free afternoon tea menu, so you won’t have to give anything up to eat here. The teas are themed, too, so it’s fun to keep going back to see what they’ll come up with next.

11. The Stafford

The Game Bird Restaurant at The Stafford offers another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. This classic five-star St James’s hotel is a great place to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in London.

Afternoon tea at The Stafford is presented in a traditional way, but with a twist. Pastries are served table-side from a bespoke handcrafted trolley. Guests can choose from a selection of pastries and a server plates them on a classic tiered tray.

The Stafford offers a gluten-free afternoon tea upon request. Make sure to make them aware of your intolerance when booking. Also keep in mind that there’s a dress code here.

12. The Sanderson

Another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is the Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson hotel in Fitzrovia.

The Courtyard Garden setting feels like Alice’s Wonderland, menus are cleverly hidden in vintage books, teapots and plates are Mad Hatter-themed, and the experience is so well thought through you’ll believe you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole.

Gluten-free afternoon tea at the Sanderson is every bit as good as the original. That’s one reason this place makes my list of the best afternoon teas in London.

13. Harrods

Harrods serves another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. The Harrods Tea Rooms at this famous luxury department store in Knightsbridge are popular places to indulge in the pastime in the UK capital.

Afternoon tea at Harrods is a classic affair with all the traditional trimmings and live piano music under the Art Deco skylight.

The gluten-free afternoon tea at Harrods is every bit as high-quality as the regular offering. Just tell your server about your intolerance when you order.

14. One Aldwych

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych. This hotel in the heart of the West End is a popular place to go with children.

The themed afternoon tea delights kids of all ages with its whimsical menu featuring fizzy lifting drinks, “snozzberry” jam, chocolate “swudge” milkshakes, and other tantalizing treats.

If you love Roald Dahl and you want to indulge your inner Willy Wonka, there’s a gluten-free afternoon tea at One Aldwych you can enjoy upon request. Just let them know when booking.

15. Conrad London St. James

The Conrad London St. James is another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. This place offers a contemporary tea right near St James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, and the landmarks in Westminster.

The seasonally-changing afternoon tea here is served in The Orchard Room. This sophisticated space is topped with a glass roof and lined with floral arrangements, making it a great place to indulge in sweet and savory treats.

The Conrad London St. James has a gluten-free offering, and they’re launching a brand new one soon. Just make sure to let them know about your dietary restrictions when you book.

16. The Shard

Next on my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London is Ting Shangri-La in The Shard. This place has some of the best views in London, making it a unique venue for indulging.

Ting Shangri-La is a restaurant and lounge in The Shard that’s inspired by Asian cultures. It serves signature and modern dishes, and its afternoon tea menu changes seasonally.

If you want to have gluten-free afternoon tea in The Shard, this is a great place to do it. Just be sure to tell them you’re GF when you book. Keep in mind there’s also a dress code here.

17. Brigit’s Bakery

Brigit’s Bakery is another of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London. Whether you go to their brick-and-mortar location in Covent Garden or ride their afternoon tea bus, this place delights.

Brigit’s Bakery is known for its delicious pastries and fun tearoom in the heart of the city. There are lots of different offerings, so you’ll be sure to eat something you love.

Better yet, Brigit’s Bakery not only has a dedicated gluten-free menu, but also a gluten-free pescatarian menu, a gluten-free vegetarian menu, and a gluten-free halal menu.

Best Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea in London

I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the best gluten-free afternoon teas in London, and that it’s inspired you to try them. Whether you choose one or all, I’m sure you’ll like the special blend of deliciousness, escape, and delight these places offer.

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The purpose of a sealant, or caulk, on the exterior of a home is to seal gaps that allow air and moisture to infiltrate the structure of the home.

That seems simple enough, but the reality of building materials is that they are constantly moving.

Changes in temperature and humidity cause them to continually expand and contract which means the size of those gaps is constantly changing.

This means that the caulk filling those gaps is regularly being stretched and squeezed, so if it dries hard it will crack within a season or two due to the movement. To have any longevity in an exterior environment, a sealant needs to remain flexible even after it dries.

Because most homes are comprised of many different types of materials, the gaps that need to be filled are often between completely different building materials. So, a successful exterior caulk also needs to bond, or adhere, well to a wide variety of materials and surface textures.

Because an exterior sealant is very visible, it’s also important for it to blend aesthetically with your home. Some caulk options are very flexible but cannot be painted and only come in a few colors. While there are plenty of “paintable” caulk options, many of them dry relatively hard within a few months. 

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Solution: Elastomeric Caulk

Elastomeric caulk is a great solution because it has the ability to stretch.

Titebond has addressed all those issues with their new all-purpose exterior sealant called TiteShield.

It’s an elastomeric caulk which, as the name implies, can stretch even after it’s completely dry. In fact, TiteShield can expand and contract up to 50% of the joint size while covering gaps up to two inches in width.

TiteShield also bonds well to a variety of building materials from wood and metal to concrete and glass.

Plus, it’s available in a wide variety of colors but can also be painted with ordinary latex paint.

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Further Reading

KANSAS CITY — With “spooky season” on its way out, foodservice locations are already making room on their menus for Thanksgiving and holiday-inspired items.

Baskin-Robbins announced its November flavor of the month: Turkey Day Fixin’s. The Thanksgiving-inspired flavor features a mix of sweet potato and autumn spice ice creams, with honey cornbread pieces and swirls of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce.

“We continue to push the boundaries of flavor innovation at Baskin-Robbins and wanted to bring a unique scoop to the table that deliciously encapsulates all the sweet and savory flavors from your favorite Thanksgiving sides,” said Hannah Suits, director of brand marketing for Baskin-Robbins. “Along with the return of our iconic Turkey Cake, these offerings are a delicious and innovative take on holiday favorites.”

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is bringing back its limited-time holiday menu, which includes a French onion steakburger and an Oreo cookie peppermint shake.

The French onion steakburger features two ground beef steakburger patties topped with Swiss cheese, caramelized grilled onions, crispy onions, applewood smoked bacon and French onion sauce. The Oreo peppermint shake is a blend of chocolate and vanilla frozen custard, peppermint syrup, Oreo cookie pieces and peppermint candy pieces.

“Freddy’s French onion steakburger was our most well-loved and best-performing limited-time burger last year, and we received an abundance of comments from guests who implored us to bring it back,” said Laura Rueckel, chief marketing officer.  “We’re thrilled about its return this year for fans who enjoyed it, as well as for guests who haven’t yet tried it and might find their new Freddy’s favorite.”

Caribou Coffee is also bringing back its holiday menu, which features both new and returning offerings. New items to make their debut on Caribou Coffee’s menu include a mint mocha espresso shaker, a vanilla oat nog latte, an iced vanilla oat nog crafted press, and a cranberry orange muffin.

“We are embracing the spirit of innovation this year with the return of Caribou’s holiday beverage line-up,” said Matt Reiter, senior vice president of product and procurement at Caribou Coffee. “New festive beverages including the Ho Ho Mint Mocha Espresso Shaker and Vanilla Oat Nog Latte are great options for guests that crave new ways to enjoy holiday classics. We are always looking for exciting ways to elevate seasonal flavor profiles and craft them with a fresh approach, whether that is bringing a seasonal flavor to your favorite espresso beverage or elevating a classic eggnog beverage with a non-dairy alternative.”

Click to view new menu items.