Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea with a View in London
Tiered stands and a skyline to match: where to take afternoon tea with a view in London.
In short: our top picks are TING at Shangri-La The Shard, Aqua Shard and Sky Garden. 3 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Afternoon tea is lovely; afternoon tea with London laid out beneath you is an occasion. From skyline rooms high in the towers to riverside terraces, these are the places where the view earns its place on the stand, and the tea is worth booking for in its own right.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| TING at Shangri-La The Shard | London Bridge | ££££ |
| Aqua Shard | London Bridge | ££££ |
| Sky Garden | The City | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
TING at Shangri-La The Shard
Why we pick itAfternoon tea on the 35th floor of The Shard; the city laid out beneath the stand.
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Aqua Shard
Why we pick itA British-themed tea in the three-storey atrium high in The Shard; the view does the talking.
Worth knowingThe cooking does not match the setting and portions read small for the price; without a window table booked well ahead, the point of coming is lost.
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Sky Garden
Why we pick itAfternoon tea in Londons highest public garden, three storeys of palms atop the Walkie-Talkie, with a 360-degree view across the City; high, leafy and grand.
No longer open
These appeared in earlier versions of this guide. We have left them here, marked, because readers still search for them.
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Searcys at the Gherkin Closed
Permanently closed in early January 2026. Searcys still operates its other London venues.
Afternoon tea under the dome at the top of the Gherkin; one of the best skyline rooms in town.
Before you book
Book a table by the window or on the view side when you reserve, and time it for late afternoon as the light softens. Check the forecast for the terrace spots. And go for the height as much as the tea; on a clear day, the view is the thing you will remember.
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