The 22 best afternoon teas for kids

All aboard for a brilliant Paddington-themed afternoon tea, on board a special Routemaster bus. Enjoy sweet and savoury treats including a shortbread cookie, vanilla rice pudding, chocolate cupcake, finger sandwiches, a mini margarita pizza, smoked salmon and cucumber pretzel, plus, of course, the best marmalade sandwich ever! Each table comes with a special built-in screen providing you with a Paddington-guided tour of London. Paddington and Mrs Bird will tell you all about the city’s most famous landmarks and share Paddington's view of the world.
Where: Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour departs from 8 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5BY (near Trafalgar Square)

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This bright and buzzy afternoon tea for children at the Ermin Hotel in London is full of deliciously cute treats. Inspired by the hotel's passion for bee keeping, this eye-catching array of sweet and savoury bites includes scones, a white chocolate and orange mousse and a chocolate bee hive with chocolate bee and biscuit, plus apple juice 'tea'.
When: weekends and school holidays 12 noon til 5pm
Where: St. Ermin's Hotel, 2 Caxton Street, London SW1H 0QW

Spoil your little ones to a kid-friendly Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel in London's museum district. The inventive menu features dinosaur biscuits and a rocket cheese straw. The Kids Sci-Fi Afternoon Tea is served in the Drawing Room; look out for jellies served in petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and not-so-ancient edible fossils. Food is served on a rocket-shaped stand, with dry ice shooting out the bottom.
When: Mon-Fri, 12-6.30pm; Sat & Sun, 12-7.30pm in the Drawing Room
Where: The Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, South Kensington, London SW7 3ER

The Ampersand Hotel has a second family-friendly afternoon tea on offer downstairs in the hotel's Apero restaurant. The Jurassic-themed afternoon tea takes its cue from the nearby Natural History Museum's fantastic dinosaur collection. Alongside mini hot dogs, T-Rex cheese straws, dinosaur jam sandwiches and homemade scones, you can also enjoy a raspberry and lemon crémeux volcano eruption, a chocolate and caramel dinosaur egg nest, and a T-Rex footprint macaron. 
When: daily between 12 and 5:30pm in the hotel's Apero restaurant
Where: The Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, South Kensington, London SW7 3ER

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Fizzy drinks, snozzberry jam, chocolate swudge milkshake, with fabulously fluffy floss and a box stacked high with wondrous cakes, sweets, mallows and creams, all washed down with chocolate tea... It's the delumptious Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired afternoon tea at One Aldwych, London. Charlie Bucket would love it!
When: Weds to Fri 12-3pm; Sat & Sun (plus school and bank holidays) 12-4pm
Where: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired afternoon tea, One Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ

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Nancy's signature dish is a classic afternoon tea served on a vintage, three-tier cake stand. All of the elements of the afternoon tea are homemade on the premises at Nancy's Teashop in Newmarket, and are served with a choice of unique blended teas.
Where: Nancy's Teashop, 18 Old Station Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8DN

A decadent, homemade Yorkshire afternoon tea for two (or more!) is served on a tiered cake stand with a glamorous sense of tradition and occasion at this wonderful Scarborough hotel and restaurant.
Where: Ox Pasture Hall Country House Hotel, Lady Edith's Drive, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO12 5TD

The perfect treat for Peppa Pig fans, Brigit Bakery's Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour takes place on board a gorgeous repurposed Routemaster bus. Enjoy finger sandwiches, mini pizzas, scones, cupcakes, macarons and more while driving around some of London's most famous landmarks, all with a Peppa Pig twist! You'll see Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral; sing along to some top Peppa tunes; and get a Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Activity Book full of fun things to enjoy at home. Highly recommended.
When: Thursdays to Sundays
Where: Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour departs from outside Somerset House

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When only the finest afternoon tea will do, head to The Dorchester Hotel in London for an amazing afternoon tea experience. The Promenade is one of Mayfair's most beautiful rooms. Visit and your little one can feast on beetroot hummus and garden vegetable sticks, enjoy a sandwich jigsaw (cream cheese and cucumber and egg and cress) and gorge on sweet treats like a caramelised popcorn cupcake, sugar cookies and a strawberries and cream milkshake.
Where: The Promenade, The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA

'Be our guest' in the unique and inviting surroundings of Hey Little Cupcake in Manchester and enjoy a delicious Beauty and the Beast-inspired afternoon tea. There's mini sandwiches, macaroons, mini cupcakes, strawberries, scones with cream and jam, and a special cakepop gift.
When: Weds-Sat 10-4pm
Where: Hey Little Cupcake, The Cupcakery & Kitchen, 2 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF

Enjoy a world famous afternoon tea at the Palm Court at the Ritz with 16 loose leaf teas, cut finger sandwiches with traditional fillings, a daily selection of tea cakes and pastries, warm baked scones with strawberry preserve and rich, delectable Devonshire clotted cream. Booking is essential and, as this is a formal afternoon tea venue, there is a dress code!
When: Daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm, and 7.30pm
Where: The Ritz, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

The kid-friendly afternoon tea at the two Hogaths Hotels include yummy favourites like cheese toasties, jam sandwiches, scones, chocolate brownies, white chocolate lollipops and rocky road.
Where: Hogarths Hotel Solihull, Four Ashes Road, Dorridge, Solihull B93 8QE; and Hogarths Stone Manor, Bromsgrove Road, Kidderminster DY10 4PJ

Enjoy a London-themed afternoon tea at The Dilly in London, with cucumber and coconut cream cheese sandwiches, a fluffy chocolate and raspberry scone served with clotted cream and strawberry jam; a red telephone box shaped lemon and poppy seed cake; a chocolate Big Ben, and a Black Cab-shaped biscuit. There's hot chocolate, fruit juices or lemonade to go with it. Delicious.
Where: The Dilly, 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at in the glorious surroundings of the luxury country house hotel, Stapleford Park in Leicestershire. Even the fussiest eater is sure to love choosing between strawberry jam or Nutella and banana sandwiches, a vanilla cupcake, chocolate brownie, strawberry macaroon and more. There's a choice of hot chocolate, vanilla milkshake or a Bertie Bear mocktail to drink. Yum.
When: Mon-Sun, 1.30-4pm
Where: Stapleford Park, Stapleford Road, Stapleford, Melton Mowbray LE14 2EF

Leave the busy streets of London behind as you descend the stairs into the potion class at Cutter and Squidge in London's Soho. Get cloaked up, and then take your seat at the school-style desks and await your Potions Master. They will have you whisking up potions and all manner of delicious afternoon tea concoctions in no time.
Where: The Potion Room, 20 Brewer Street, Soho, London W1F 0SJ
Age: The Potion Room is suitable for ages 8+ 

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This enchanting children's tea features tiny sweet and savoury sandwiches followed by fresh fruit skewers, a Victoria cupcake with raspberry filling and a miniature Knickerbocker Glory. A toy 'Grover' dog to take home completes the afternoon treat.
Where: The Park Room, JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, 86-90 Park Lane, London W1K 7TN

Tuck in to a tasty selection of afternoon tea treats at La Mon Hotel and Country Club near Belfast. Kids can choose from of triangle sandwiches with ham, strawberry jam, or cheese and tomato, served on soft white bread; freshly baked plain scones with butter, jam and cream, plus treats handcrafted in La Mon's Pâtisserie. To drink, your little ones can choose hot chocolate with cream and mini mallows or a delicious milkshake.
Where: La Mon Hotel & Country Club, 41 Gransha Road, Comber, Belfast, Newtownards BT23 5RF

The Titanic Hotel Belfast's sumptuous children's afternoon tea is served in the elegant surroundings of the Harland Bar or the upper Presentation Room. Kids will love the simple sandwiches, served on fluffy white bread, sweet treats (including a chocolate orange cupcake, homemade chocolate chip cookies and a fruit kebab), plus some very yummy chocolate milk to drink.
When: 12.30-4.30pm
Where: Titanic Hotel Belfast, Queen's Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast BT3 9DT

Sit back and relax at Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh, where the kids are sure to be treated to a wonderful afternoon tea. Peacock Alley's Afternoon Tea changes theme every few months – in the past there have been zoo-themed treats; floral afternoon teas; fruit afternoon teas; and even a Science-themed afternoon tea. Whatever the inspiration, you're sure to enjoy decadent sweets, savoury freshly cut finger sandwiches, and a selection of homemade scones. There might even be a harpist to accompany your food.
When: daily 12.30-5pm
Where: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AB

Sample a mini selection of filled sandwiches, sweet treats and your choice of decaf tea, hot chocolate or fruit juice with the Mini Afternoon Tea at the Grand Café in Edinburgh.
Where: Grand Café, 20 North Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1TR

At the gorgeous Cliff Hotel and Spa in Cardigan, your kids can enjoy some finger sandwiches, a chocolate chip muffin, a white chocolate chunk brownie, a fruit and marshmallow skewer, plus a strawberry milkshake and an unforgettable mini doughnut.
Where: The Cliff Hotel & Spa, Gwbert, Cardigan SA43 1PP

The Future Inn Cardiff Bay regularly offers fantastic, themed afternoon tea parties. Previous themes have included Frozen, Encanto, wicked witches with Maleficent and Cruella, and princesses with Ariel and Belle. Your afternoon of treats will start with a meet-and-greet with the characters as they throw a themed afternoon tea, including sandwiches, homemade scones, and cakes. The party finishes with entertainment from the stars. Pure fun and tasty food for all the family.
When: dates vary; check www. futureinns.co.uk/afternoon-tea-party to find out more
Where: Future Inn Cardiff Bay, Hemingway Road, Cardiff CF10 4AU