Afternoon tea at one of London's top hotels or restaurants is a luxurious and extravagant affair. It is not just tea and cake, but a lavish setting with exquisite service and the finest china, often accompanied by live music. Traditional afternoon tea in a swanky venue is a real delight, but booking is essential and smart dress codes may apply.

The poshest of the posh...

	The Ritz Tea at The Ritz is nothing less than an institution. It has become so popular that there are now five sittings every day at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Booking at least four weeks in advance is essential. Afternoon tea is served in the elegant Palm Court with music by a pianist or a harpist.
	The Connaught One of the loveliest afternoon teas in London can be enjoyed at the Connaught hotel’s Espelette restaurant. The dining room is light, tranquil, very luxurious and overlooks the comings and goings of Mayfair. The tea menu is extensive; the sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries are sublime and the service exactly is what you would expect at one of London’s premier hotels – discreet and knowledgeable. Afternoon tea at the Connaught is a very special experience. Fortnum & Mason In Fortnum & Mason's St James's restaurant you can enjoy a range of teas from around the world, all specially selected by Fortnum's tea taster. The afternoon tea menu includes sandwiches, scones and pastries. There's also a Champagne Afternoon Tea; a Birthday Afternoon Tea; and a range of afternoon teas for special dietary requirements, including vegetarian, gluten free and diabetic.
	The Berkeley If you're a fan of fashion, head to the Berkeley's Caramel Room for the Prêt-à-Portea tea. The éclairs, cakes and fancies are all inspired by the latest fashion collections, and are served in miniature mouthfuls for the figure-conscious. Madonna, Gwynneth Paltrow and the Beckhams have all been spotted here.
	The Metropolitan The Metropolitan has reinvented afternoon tea with a touch of waist-friendly chic. Their guilt-free Afternoon Delight tea is served in the exclusive Met Bar. The menu has a hearts and flowers theme and includes heart-shaped cakes, pretty cupcakes with low fat toppings, decadent macaroons and healthy breadless sandwiches. To accompany the cakes, you can choose from a selection of fruit teas and Eco-tini cocktails.
	The Dorchester Afternoon tea is served at 2.30pm and 4.45pm in The Dorchester's famous marble and gilt Promenade. Treat yourself to the Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne Tea, or enjoy the classic Dorchester Afternoon Tea. For something more substantial, opt for the Dorchester High Tea, which is served until 8pm and is the perfect pre-theatre meal.
	The Waldorf Hilton Traditional afternoon tea at the Waldorf Hilton is served daily in Homage Patisserie between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Expect a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, homemade tartlets and other Homage specialties. There's also a champagne option.

Much more informal...

You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in London. There are plenty of memorable and reasonably priced places where you can enjoy tea and cakes in a more relaxed setting.

	Louis Patisserie Louis Patisserie in Hampstead is a real institution. Set up in 1963, the patisserie and tea room has retained a traditional feel, with dark wood furniture and comfy leather seats. Tea comes in a teapot with small, floral cups and saucers. There's no afternoon tea menu – you simply choose your cake from an enormous tray packed with éclairs, glazed fruit tarts and sumptuous cakes in all shapes and sizes. Address: 32 Heath Street in Hampstead.
	Candy Cakes Ready for cupcake heaven? The windows of Candy Cakes shops are loaded with amazing colourful cupcakes. Venture inside the cafés in Monmouth Street, Goodge Street or Kingly Court and you can choose from flamboyant cakes like Spider Lovin', Strawberry Sundae, Techno Mouse, Alphabet City and the Chocolate Flyer. Once you've decided on your cake, you can pick from a selection of teas, coffees, smoothies and milkshakes.
	Mudchute Kitchen Mudchute Kitchen is located in the middle of the 32-acre Mudchute City Farm, a green oasis overlooking Canary Wharf. Wander past the cows and horses and visit the cute animals in Pets' Corner, then head to the café for tea with freshly made cakes, scones and biscuits. Almost everything is homemade, including the bread, jam and even the ice lollies! Address: Pier Street in London.
	Tea Tea is an ultra-modern tea shop near St Paul's Cathedral, where you can choose from a huge variety of specially sourced and blended teas. Try one of the black teas, oolong teas, green teas, white teas or herbal teas, or opt for one of the super teas, which promise to perk you up or chill you out, depending on your mood. The afternoon tea menu includes sandwiches, freshly-baked fruit scones with jam and cream, and a selection of cakes. Address: 1 Paternoster Square, St. Paul's Churchyard in London
	The Original Maids of Honour The Maid of Honour cake has been part of Richmond's history for nearly 300 years. Henry VIII is said to have given the cakes their name, when he saw Anne Boleyn and other Maids of Honour eating them from a silver plate. The first Maids of Honour tea shop was set up in Richmond in the early 18th century. Today you can enjoy a Maids of Honour cake as part of the Original Maids of Honour's afternoon tea menu, which also includes a pot of tea, and scones with cream and jam. 288 Kew Road,Kew, Richmond on Thames.

A tea room at Sothebys...

Take a break from shopping in Bond Street and relax in the cultured surroundings of Sotheby's, the world-famous auction house. Afternoon tea at this chic and popular café includes house-blended teas and a delectable selection of traditional cakes, sandwiches and scones at very reasonable prices. Want to see their tea menu? Click here. Address: 34-35 Bond Street Dress code: informal.

Tea at the British Museum...

When visiting a museum there is only so much information a traveler can take in at a time. We love the fact that at the British Museum there is an oasis where one can go, enjoy a cup of tea and just relax. The British Museum's Court Restaurant overlooks the magnificent 19th-century Reading Room. Their afternoon tea menu features sandwiches, scones and cream, and a selection of pastries. There's also a Champagne Tea, and a Viennese Tea with coffee and traditional Demel chocolate cake. Website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/

A page from Journeywoman's 2006 diary...

As of December 15, 2007 The Savoy closed to undergo a £100 million restoration. The hotel will reopen in 2010.

It rained our last day in London. Though the light drizzle did not deter us from our morning sightseeing, by the afternoon our toes were cold and we were running out of steam. Suddenly, like a mirage in the distance appeared the Savoy on The Strand.

Opened in 1889 this venerable, grand hotel is still one of 'the' addresses in London. It's posh, posh, posh and every afternoon formal high tea is served in their lush art deco Thames Foyer. At £28 per person ($US49.30/$CAD57.30) it's definitely a great big splurge and that's exactly why we chose it. Afternoon tea is a ritual in Britain so why not participate in one of the classiest? After all, history tells us that this is where Noel Coward performed, Caruso sang and Pavlova danced in Cabaret.

The Savoy has an extensive tea menu, including a fine selection of natural and decaffeinated teas. We were free to test as many types as we liked. A three-tier plate laden with goodies was placed on our table. The lowest level contained a selection of tiny, tasty sandwiches (smoked salmon, stilton and apple, hummus); layer two was filled with tantalizing, miniature cakes and pastries. On the top layer sat a variety of fresh, warm scones accompanied by strawberry jam and thick, heavenly, clotted cream. Formally dressed waiters circled the room ready to refill your goodie supply as requested. Need more smoked salmon? Want more éclairs? Just ask and it was presented with a gracious smile.

Oh my goodness it was wonderful! We never felt rushed and were free to remain and unwind for as long as we wished. With the tinkling of a piano in the background, Marilyn and I surveyed the scene and reminisced about all the fun we'd packed into the last five full days in London. We also calculated how we would spend the extra holiday money we'd saved by skillfully balancing penny pinching with a few calculated splurges. P.S. Dress code at the Savoy is smart casual attire. We wore pants and a turtleneck and that was adequate.