13 Beautiful Places in London to Have Tea With a Stunning View
Sometimes you don't want another busy café.
You don't want to grab a takeaway tea and rush to the next attraction either.
You just want to sit somewhere beautiful, have a cup of tea, order something sweet, look out at London and enjoy the moment.
Maybe that's a view across the Thames. Maybe it's the London skyline from high above the city. Or perhaps it's a garden, a historic building or a peaceful park where you can forget you're in one of the busiest cities in the world.
And London has plenty of places where the setting is just as important as the tea.
Some offer proper afternoon tea experiences, while others are simply beautiful places where you can enjoy a drink and take in the surroundings.
Here are 13 places worth knowing if you're looking for tea, a beautiful view and a slower afternoon in London.
1. The London Eye – Afternoon Tea Above the Thames
What if your afternoon tea came with a constantly changing view of London?
The London Eye offers an afternoon tea experience inside one of its glass pods, taking you high above the River Thames while you enjoy sandwiches, scones, sweet treats and tea.
The experience includes two rotations of the London Eye, giving you around an hour to take in landmarks including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace from above. (londoneye.com)
It's certainly not your everyday cup of tea—but that's exactly what makes it memorable.
📍 South Bank
Best for: A memorable first-time London experience.
2. VU from The Tower – Tea With a Tower Bridge View
If Tower Bridge is the view you're after, VU from The Tower is worth knowing.
Located at St Katharine Docks, the restaurant has panoramic views towards Tower Bridge, the Thames and the surrounding London skyline.
Its afternoon tea is currently served daily from 12pm to 5pm, with sandwiches, pastries, scones, cream and jam alongside the views. (vufromthetower.com)
It's a particularly good choice if you want your tea experience to feel modern rather than overly formal.
📍 St Katharine Docks
Best for: Tower Bridge views, dates and catching up with friends.
3. The Portrait Restaurant – Tea and Trafalgar Square Views
Some of London's best views aren't necessarily from skyscrapers.
The Portrait Restaurant at the National Portrait Gallery sits on the fourth floor, overlooking Trafalgar Square and the surrounding central London skyline.
The gallery also offers cream tea experiences at Larry's, giving you the option of combining art, tea and a central London view. (npg.org.uk)
You can spend a few hours exploring the gallery before sitting down for a leisurely break.
It's an especially good option when you want to combine your tea with something cultural.
📍 Trafalgar Square
Best for: Art, history and central London views.
4. Petersham Nurseries – Tea Surrounded by Greenery
Forget skyscrapers for a moment.
Petersham Nurseries in Richmond offers a completely different kind of London experience.
Set among plants, flowers and greenhouses, the surroundings feel much more like an English country garden than a city destination.
The nursery has a dedicated Teahouse and offers afternoon tea experiences, with menus and availability varying by season. (petershamnurseries.com)
Afterwards, you can explore Richmond, walk along the Thames or head towards Richmond Park.
The tea is lovely, but the surroundings are what make the visit special.
📍 Richmond
Best for: Nature lovers and peaceful afternoons.
5. Kew Gardens – Tea After a Walk Through the Gardens
Why sit inside a café when you can spend the day surrounded by thousands of plants first?
Kew Gardens is ideal if your idea of leisure involves walking, greenery and then sitting down for tea.
The Botanical Brasserie currently offers afternoon tea from 2pm to 4:45pm, with indoor and outdoor terrace seating. You need admission to Kew Gardens to access the restaurant. (kew.org)
Spend a few hours exploring the gardens, visit the glasshouses and then finish your afternoon with tea.
It becomes less about simply having a meal and more about making the entire afternoon an experience.
📍 Kew
Best for: Gardens, walking and a relaxing afternoon.
6. Sky Garden – Tea With London Below You
This one is slightly different.
Sky Garden isn't a traditional afternoon-tea venue, but it is one of London's most impressive places to enjoy a drink while looking across the city.
Located high above London, the landscaped indoor garden provides panoramic views across the skyline.
You can visit the public garden with a free timed ticket, while restaurants and bars inside the building offer food and drinks. Darwin Brasserie is located on Level 36, with window tables available for diners looking for the views. (skygarden.london)
So instead of booking this specifically for afternoon tea, think of it as:
tea + gardens + one of London's best skyline views.
📍 City of London
Best for: Skyline views without booking a formal afternoon tea.
7. Serpentine Lido Café – Tea Beside the Water
For something much more relaxed, head to Hyde Park.
The Serpentine Lido Café has outdoor seating overlooking the Serpentine, making it a lovely place to stop for tea while watching the water, boats and people passing through the park.
The café serves a selection of teas and speciality coffees, with longer opening hours during the warmer months. (royalparks.org.uk)
You don't need to dress up or book an elaborate experience.
Just find a table, order your drink and enjoy the surroundings.
📍 Hyde Park
Best for: A casual and affordable afternoon.
8. Serpentine Bar & Kitchen – A Tea Break Beside the Lake
Another option in Hyde Park is the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen.
The modern building overlooks the lake and offers both indoor and outdoor seating.
Grab a tea and something sweet, then continue walking around the Serpentine afterwards.
It's especially enjoyable on a warm afternoon when you can sit outside and watch the park go by.
This isn't formal afternoon tea and that's the point.
It's simply a beautiful place to slow down with a drink.
📍 Hyde Park
Best for: A simple tea break combined with a park walk.
9. The V&A Café – Tea Inside a Piece of History
Not every stunning setting has to come with a panoramic city view.
The V&A Café is housed in beautifully designed historic rooms, including spaces decorated by William Morris, James Gamble and Edward Poynter.
The café serves speciality teas, cakes and freshly baked scones, while the Garden Café provides outdoor seating. (vam.ac.uk)
Spend a few hours exploring the Victoria and Albert Museum and then take a proper break inside one of the most unusual museum cafés in London.
On a rainy London afternoon, it's particularly hard to beat.
📍 South Kensington
Best for: Art, architecture and rainy days.
10. Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise – Tea While London Moves Around You
What if your view could keep changing?
An afternoon tea cruise on the Thames lets you enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea while travelling past some of London's most recognisable landmarks.
Depending on the route, you can see places such as Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
City Cruises currently operates afternoon tea cruises lasting around 90 minutes, departing from Tower Millennium Pier. (cityexperiences.com)
Instead of simply sitting beside the Thames, you're actually travelling through London while having tea.
📍 Tower Millennium Pier
Best for: First-time visitors and sightseeing.
11. Richmond Hill – Bring Your Own Tea
Here's one of the simplest options on this list.
You don't need to book afternoon tea.
Richmond Hill is famous for its view across the River Thames and surrounding landscape.
Pick up a takeaway tea and something sweet from Richmond, find somewhere comfortable and enjoy the view.
You can combine it with a walk along the Thames or a visit to Richmond Park.
It's proof that a memorable tea experience doesn't always need an expensive reservation.
📍 Richmond
Best for: Couples, walkers and budget-friendly afternoons.
12. Greenwich Park – Tea With the London Skyline
Greenwich is another place where you can create your own tea-and-view experience.
Walk through Greenwich Park towards the Royal Observatory and you'll reach one of the most famous viewpoints in London.
From the hill, you can look across the city towards Canary Wharf and the surrounding skyline.
Grab a tea or coffee nearby, find somewhere to sit and enjoy the view before exploring the rest of Greenwich.
You don't need a reservation, a dress code or an expensive afternoon-tea package.
Just bring some time.
📍 Greenwich
Best for: Panoramic views and relaxed days out.
13. The Landmark London – Afternoon Tea Beneath a Glass Roof
If you want something more traditional and elegant, The Landmark London offers a very different atmosphere.
Its High Palms afternoon tea is served beneath the hotel's dramatic glass-roofed atrium, surrounded by tall palm trees and elegant interiors.
Rather than looking out over the skyline, you're surrounded by a beautiful indoor garden that makes you forget you're in central London.
It's the kind of place where afternoon tea becomes an occasion.
Come for a special celebration, a date or simply because you want to experience one of London's more elegant tea settings.
📍 Marylebone
Best for: Special occasions and beautiful interiors. (landmarklondon.co.uk)
You Don't Always Need Afternoon Tea
This is probably the most important thing to remember.
When people hear "tea in London", they often immediately think about a three-tiered stand filled with sandwiches, scones and cakes.
And there's nothing wrong with that.
But you don't have to spend £50, £70 or £100 to enjoy a beautiful tea break.
Sometimes the perfect afternoon is simply:
Find a beautiful place → buy your favourite tea → sit down → enjoy the view.
A cup of tea beside the Serpentine, overlooking the Thames or sitting in a garden can be just as memorable as a formal afternoon tea.
You're paying for the experience rather than just the food.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
If you're booking a formal afternoon tea, reserve in advance, particularly for weekends and popular venues.
Some experiences also have specific sittings, so don't assume you can simply arrive whenever you want.
For example, the London Eye's afternoon tea is a timed experience, while Kew Gardens requires admission to the gardens before you can access its restaurant. (londoneye.com; kew.org)
For outdoor options such as Richmond Hill, Greenwich or Hyde Park, check the weather before leaving.
And remember that the best view isn't always the most expensive one.
Final Thoughts
London is full of places where you can have tea.
But the memorable ones are the places where the tea is only half the experience.
It's sitting high above the Thames while London stretches beneath you.
It's watching boats move along the Serpentine.
It's sitting among plants in Richmond.
It's looking towards Tower Bridge with a pot of tea in front of you.
Or it's simply finding a quiet spot in Greenwich and watching the city from a distance.
So instead of asking:
"Where can I get afternoon tea in London?"
Try asking:
"Where can I have tea and a view?"
That's when you start discovering a completely different side of London.
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