Looking for the best afternoon tea in London for kids or teenagers?
While traditional afternoon tea is often associated with adults, London has plenty of family-friendly experiences designed with younger visitors in mind. From Peppa Pig and Paddington Bear bus tours to dinosaur-themed treats, science-inspired creations and afternoon tea high above the city in The Shard, these experiences offer much more than sandwiches and scones.
Whether you're planning a family day out, celebrating a birthday or looking for a unique London experience, there's something here for children of all ages, from preschoolers through to teenagers.
I've rounded up 10 of the best afternoon teas in London for kids and teenagers, including themed experiences, sightseeing bus tours and some of the most unique afternoon teas in the capital.
Please note: Prices, menus, themes and availability can change at any time. Afternoon teas featured in this guide were available at the time of writing, but we recommend checking directly with the venue before booking.
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Build a Break is not responsible for changes to pricing, menus, opening times or the availability of experiences featured in this guide.
If you're travelling with younger children, the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, Jurassic Afternoon Tea and The Dilly are excellent choices.
For older children and teenagers, I'd look at Peggy Porschen, the Taylor Swift Afternoon Tea Bus Tour or the Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel.
If you're looking for a unique family experience, the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea are both great options that appeal to a wide range of ages.
For the best views, Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at Aqua Shard combines themed food with spectacular panoramas across London.
If you're looking for one experience that appeals to both children and adults, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at One Aldwych is probably the best all-rounder.
Best for: Younger childrenÂ
Served: Daily from 12:30pm to 3pmÂ
Price: Children £39 | Adults £49Â
Address: The Dilly, 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BHÂ
Nearest Underground: Piccadilly CircusÂ
If you're looking for a traditional afternoon tea that's been designed specifically with children in mind, The Dilly is one of the best options in central London.Â
Served on The Terrace overlooking Piccadilly, this London-themed afternoon tea includes child-friendly sandwiches, themed pastries, a homemade chocolate scone and a special drinks menu. Â
The location is ideal if you're already planning a day of sightseeing around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square or Covent Garden.Â
Vegetarian options are available.Â
Images copyright The Dilly.Â
Best for: Families, older children and teenagersÂ
Served: Daily from 12pm to 3:15pmÂ
Price: Under 12's £55 | Adults £70Â
Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RYÂ
Nearest Underground: London BridgeÂ
Combining spectacular views with a touch of childhood nostalgia, Aqua Shard's Peter Pan Afternoon Tea is one of the most memorable themed afternoon teas in London.Â
Inspired by Neverland, the menu includes creative savoury items, themed desserts and warm scones hidden inside a treasure chest. One of the highlights is the famous Enormous Mushroom Chimney, inspired by the mushroom stools found in Neverland.Â
While younger children will enjoy the theme, teenagers are likely to appreciate the incredible views from The Shard just as much as the food.Â
Vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian menus are available.Â
Images copyright Aqua Shard.Â
Best for: All agesÂ
Served: Wednesday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm | Weekends from 12pm to 4:30pmÂ
Price: Under 12's £55 | Adults £75
Address: 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZÂ
Nearest Underground: Covent GardenÂ
Inspired by Roald Dahl's much-loved story, this is one of the most famous themed afternoon teas in London.Â
Expect fizzy lifting drinks, snozzberry jam and imaginative sweet treats inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The experience is designed to bring the story to life and is just as enjoyable for adults as it is for children.Â
Located close to Covent Garden, it's easy to combine with a wider day out in central London.Â
Images copyright One Aldwych.Â
Best for: Children under 8Â
Served: Thursday to Sunday, various timesÂ
Price: All ages £48
Address: Somerset House, Waterloo Bridge, London WC2R 2ABÂ
Nearest Underground: TempleÂ
If your child loves Peppa Pig, this is likely to be one of the most exciting afternoon tea experiences in London.Â
Climb aboard a classic Routemaster bus and enjoy a Peppa Pig-themed afternoon tea while passing some of London's most famous landmarks.Â
Save 5% on the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus with code BUILDABREAK5 (only via the GetYourGuide App)
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Click here for more informationÂ
The experience includes themed food, unlimited hot drinks and an interactive audio guide featuring songs, games and entertainment throughout the journey.Â
For younger children, it's hard to beat.Â
Images copyright GetYourGuide.Â
Best for: Dinosaur lovers and younger children
Served: Daily from 12pm to 5:30pm
Price: Check latest pricing when booking
Address: The Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ER
Nearest Underground: South Kensington
If your child is obsessed with dinosaurs, The Ampersand Hotel's Jurassic Afternoon Tea is one of the most unique afternoon tea experiences in London.
Served on a dinosaur-shaped stand complete with dramatic dry ice effects, this themed afternoon tea is inspired by the nearby Natural History Museum and is guaranteed to impress young dinosaur fans.
The children's menu has been designed with even the fussiest eaters in mind and includes fun dinosaur-themed treats such as dinosaur biscuits and a dinosaur cheese claw.
Located in South Kensington, it's easy to combine with a visit to the Natural History Museum, making it a great addition to a family day out in London.
The Ampersand also offers Jurassic-themed birthday party packages for children looking to celebrate a special occasion.
Images copyright The Ampersand Hotel.
Best for: Tweens and teenagersÂ
Served: Daily from 12pm to 5:15pmÂ
Price: Adults £54 | Children under 12 £28
Address: 116 Ebury Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 9QQÂ
Nearest Underground: Sloane SquareÂ
Probably the most Instagram-famous venue on this list, Peggy Porschen is a favourite with tweens and teenagers.Â
Known for its iconic pink exterior and beautifully presented cakes, the bakery has become one of London's most photographed cafés.Â
Menus change throughout the year, with seasonal themes influencing both the sweet and savoury treats on offer.Â
If you're looking for an afternoon tea that's as photogenic as it is delicious, this is a great choice.Â
Images copyright Peggy Porschen.Â
Best for: Swifties and teenagersÂ
Served: Friday to Sunday, various timesÂ
Price: Adults £49 | Children £44Â
Address: Victoria Coach Station, London SW1W 9SZÂ
Nearest Underground: VictoriaÂ
If you're travelling to London with a Taylor Swift fan, this could be the perfect afternoon tea.Â
Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea while travelling through London aboard a classic bus, accompanied by a playlist celebrating Taylor Swift's biggest hits.Â
Save 5% on the Taylor Swift Bus with code BUILDABREAK5 (only via the GetYourGuide App)
Click here for more informationÂ
Images copyright GetYourGuide.Â
Best for: Curious kids, tweens and science lovers
Served: Monday to Friday 12pm-7pm | Saturday & Sunday 11am-7:30pm
Price: Check latest pricing when booking
Address: The Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ER
Nearest Underground: South Kensington
Inspired by the nearby Science Museum, The Ampersand's award-winning Science Afternoon Tea is one of the most unique afternoon teas in London for children and teenagers.
This interactive experience combines science, food and a little bit of theatre, with creative treats including jams served in petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and dinosaur-themed biscuits.
Designed to spark curiosity as well as satisfy hungry appetites, every item is presented in a fun and imaginative way, making it far more than a traditional afternoon tea.
Its location in South Kensington makes it easy to combine with a visit to the Science Museum, Natural History Museum or Victoria and Albert Museum, making it a great addition to a family day out in London.
The Ampersand's Science Afternoon Tea was named Best Themed Afternoon Tea at the Afternoon Tea Awards and remains one of the hotel's most popular experiences.
Images copyright The Ampersand Hotel.
Best for: Families, younger children and anyone with a sweet tooth
Served: Daily from 12:30pm to 5pm
Price: Children's Afternoon Tea £39 | Adult Afternoon Tea from £65
Address: 35 Charles Street, Mayfair, London W1J 5EB
Nearest Underground: Green Park
Step back into childhood with The Chesterfield Mayfair's award-winning Original Sweetshop Afternoon Tea.
Inspired by traditional British sweet shops, this unique afternoon tea features nostalgic treats, sweetshop-themed cakes and pastries, chocolate chip scones and classic finger sandwiches. One of the highlights is the theatrical smoking pink lemonade, which adds a little extra fun to the experience.
Children can enjoy their own dedicated Sweetshop Afternoon Tea menu, designed to capture the excitement of childhood trips to the sweet shop, making this one of the most family-friendly afternoon teas in London.
Located in the heart of Mayfair, it's also perfectly placed for a day of shopping or sightseeing in central London.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and children's menus are available.
Images copyright The Chesterfield Mayfair.
Best for: Families and Paddington Bear fans
Served: Wednesday to Sunday
Price: £48 all ages 5+
Departure Point: Victoria Coach Station or Northumberland Avenue, depending on departure time
Nearest Underground: Victoria or Charing Cross
All aboard for one of the most family-friendly afternoon teas in London.
The official Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour combines sightseeing with a Paddington Bear-themed afternoon tea aboard a classic Routemaster bus. As you travel through central London, you'll pass famous landmarks including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Piccadilly Circus while enjoying a menu inspired by everyone's favourite marmalade-loving bear.
Children will love the themed treats, which include Paddington's famous marmalade sandwich, pawprint biscuits and other bear-inspired sweet treats. Interactive entertainment, animations and commentary from Paddington and Mrs Bird help bring the experience to life throughout the journey.
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The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes depending on traffic and is suitable for children aged 5 and above.
If you're looking for a unique London experience that combines sightseeing, afternoon tea and a much-loved children's character, this is hard to beat.
Save 5% on the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus with code BUILDABREAK5 (only via the GetYourGuide App)
Click here for more information
Images copyright GetYourGuide
For younger children, themed experiences tend to work best.
The Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is ideal for preschool and primary-aged children, while Jurassic Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel is perfect for little dinosaur fans. The Dilly offers a more traditional afternoon tea designed specifically with younger visitors in mind.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is another excellent option thanks to its imaginative treats and playful theme, while the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour combines sightseeing with one of Britain's best-loved children's characters.
Teenagers can be harder to impress than younger children, but London has several afternoon tea experiences that feel modern, unique and Instagram-worthy.
Peggy Porschen is a favourite with tweens and teens thanks to its famous pink exterior and beautifully presented cakes, while the Taylor Swift Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is perfect for Swifties looking for a fun day out in London.
For something a little different, the Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel combines interactive treats with creative presentation, while Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at Aqua Shard pairs themed food with incredible views across the city.
If you're celebrating a special occasion, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea is another great option that appeals to both teenagers and adults.
Definitely. Many of London's themed afternoon teas are attractions in their own right rather than simply places to eat.
Whether you're riding around the city on a Paddington or Peppa Pig bus tour, enjoying views from The Shard, discovering dinosaur-themed treats or tucking into sweetshop-inspired cakes, these experiences often become one of the highlights of a family trip to London.
If you're looking for a memorable treat during your visit, a themed afternoon tea is a fun way to add something a little different to your London itinerary.
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