There’s nothing more British than a traditional afternoon tea. Even the Queen enjoys an afternoon tea at least once a day. On a visit to the historic English city of Bath, you simply must experience a high tea with all of the accompaniments: jam scones, an assortment of sandwiches, cakes, pastries and of course a refreshing variety of teas to wash it all down.
After all, where better to enjoy an afternoon tea than in the quaint countryside city of Bath, surrounded by rolling hills and a 18th century Georgian architecture. We’ve rounded up the best affordable afternoon teas in Bath that will make you feel like a true Englishman (or lady) for the day…
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1. THE REGENCY TEA ROOM, £18
Enjoy a quintessentially British afternoon ‘Tea with Mr Darcy’ at Bath’s famous Regency Tea Room. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into a Jane Austen novel as your high tea is set down in front of you by staff dressed up in authentic olden-day England attire. For a price of just £18, a Tea with Mr Darcy includes a selection of delicate finger sandwiches, bitesize cakes, warm scones with cream and jam and, of course, tea - in fact you’ll have 16 different real leaf teas to choose from. For a truly British afternoon tea experience in Bath, the Regency Tea Room is a fantastic and affordable option.
2. THE PUMP ROOM, £27
On a trip to the famous Roman Baths, stop at the stylish dining area and former Georgian Pump Room attached to it where you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea for £27 - a great value for money option located in an elegant space where you dine beneath giant chandeliers. The Pump Room will serve you an inviting tiered platter full of delicious treats including finger sandwiches with fillings such as coronation chicken, egg mayonnaise and cream cheese & cucumber. The fruit scones are all homemade served with Dorset clotted cream and a range of pastries to enjoy. You can enjoy complimentary refills of your tea throughout the experience.
3. SALLY LUNN’S, £12.98
Head to Sally Lunn’s, one of Bath’s oldest tea houses for a truly local afternoon tea you won’t forget. The offering is a little bit different to the normal afternoon tea you see around England because it has its very own Bath twist. This is the spot where legendary baker Sally Lunn invented the famous ‘Bath Bun’, a delicious sweet bun - and that’s what the afternoon tea here revolves around. For £12.98 enjoy the Sally Lunn High Tea where you can gobble down a proper Bath Bun topped with smoked salmon, and afterwards enjoy the delights of a British cream tea.
4. THE MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY, £18
For a seriously indulgent afternoon tea with a hint of madness, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party does the best in Bath. Enjoy your tea and cakes amongst Alice in Wonderland themed memorabilia, from the high-backed chairs from the tea party scene to playing cards scattered all over the cafe. It really is unlike anywhere else to enjoy an afternoon tea in Bath! Choose your sandwich filling and indulge in dreamy cakes and scones with lashings of jam and clotted cream, all washed down with a large pot of quality tea.
5. THE BATH BUN, £18
Get a taste of a traditionally British afternoon tea in an old-school setting at The Bath Bun Tea Shoppe, one of the quaintest places to indulge in a pot of English tea and a sweet treat or two. For £18, here you have a choice of delicious, gourmet sandwich fillings like brie and cranberry or stilton and walnuts, followed by homemade cakes and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam - you can’t have a classic English high tea any other way!
6. THE BATH PRIORY, £34
For those willing to spend a little more money on an afternoon tea experience, the Bath Priory Hotel offers one of the best you can get in the city. The tearoom is set in a Grade Two Listed Georgian Building so it’s a beautiful and very apt setting with a cosy fireplace and intricately embroidered sofas. For £34 you can enjoy your British afternoon tea in either the gorgeous pantry, outdoor terrace or lounge. Your afternoon tea will comes with an assortment of delicious cakes including lemon drizzle, chocolate cake, fresh raspberry tarts and tasty scones to indulge in. That all comes after you’ve scoffed down the posh sandwiches. Here you’ll get delightful presentation of each and every sweet treat and a vast selection of teas to sample.