There are many fancy and more affordable places in London to have a tradition (or unconventional) afternoon tea. But Fortnum & Mason, founded in 1707, is a top level address to do so. Cheap? No. But what an experience.

I previously had afternoon tea at Harrod’s (not a great experience) and The Savoy (a great experience).

Afternoon tea is served in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon upstairs. But downstairs you can buy all sorts of tea and infusion products. There’s also a hot chocolate section. Although F&M is a fully fledged department store, tea is its most visible and most popular product.

Afternoon tea

In The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon you have four options:

• Afternoon tea, which we ordered;
• Savoury afternoon tea;
• Vegetarian afternoon tea;
• High tea.

There’s also an elaborate tea (beverage) list.

Afternoon Tea sample menu

Fortnum’s Afternoon Tea
Finger sandwiches
Rare Breed Hen’s Egg Mayonnaise with English Cress
Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese
Suffolk Ham with English Mustard
Fortnum’s Smoked Salmon with Tartare Dressing
Coronation Chicken

Plain & Fruit Scones
Presented with Somerset Clotted Cream, Fortnum & Mason Strawberry Preserve and Lemon Curd

Individual Pâtisserie
Selection from the Cake Carriage

Served with your choice of Fortnum’s Classic Blend Tea

£55 per person with a choice of Fortnum’s Famous Blends
£58 per person with a choice of rare teas

After you had your exquisite meal, you get to choose a piece of cake to eat there or take home.

I would absolutely recommend afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. Next I will try somewhere else. Our hotel, Kimpton Fitzroy, also has afternoon tea.

You imperatively have to book in advance. Do it.

Do you have any afternoon tea recommendations?