The English Tea Room

Reviews

• Jo W.

  star star star star star 22 May 2026

  After seeing the display of Victorian desserts in the dining hall in Queen Victoria's Palace exhibit at the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace, I was really fancying having afternoon tea for the second time during my stay here in London. So, I walked over to brown's Hotel, which had been recommended to me as an excellent high tea spot, even if it is on the pricier side. I figured since I was traveling, it'd be good to at least experience this place for myself.
  
  I have to say, this is the best afternoon tea experience I've ever had. Service is impeccable, and the staff were all so kind and patient with me. There was a pianist playing the piano, and the ambiance was so lovely. After seeing negative reviews from fellow Yelp reviewers that the teatox menu was not worth it (thank you reviewers!) I went with the regular Afternoon Tea menu, which consisted of:
  
  Aberdeenshire smoked salmon and lemon butter on Onion bread
  Burford brown egg, mayonnaise and mustard watercress on Malt bread
  Sliced cucumber and cream cheese on White bread
  Coronation chicken, yogurt, onion seeds and dried apricots on Potato bun
  Prawn cocktail with paprika on Potato bun
  Sliced parma ham and cream cheese with fresh herbs on Mini bagel
  Freshly baked plain and sultana scones served with homemade strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream
  Lemon, thyme, yuzu and white chocolate cream
  Yoghurt, raspberry and peach slice
  Strawberry, lime and mint petit gateau
  Pecan and milk chocolate choux
  
  Everything was delicious. I loved that you could also ask for as many sandwiches as you wanted at no additional cost, which is a rarity among tea shops!
  
  I had such a lovely experience. The only thing that would have truly made me swoon and faint with joy is if Sebastian Michaelis would come by my table with a platter of desserts and a bouquet of roses, proclaiming, "I'm one Hell of a Butler!"
  
  (...that's a Black Butler joke for all you anime nerds LOL).
  
  I sent my mother photos of my tea experience, and she requested me to bring her whenever we visit London together. So, I plan to return!

• Yoori S.

  star star star star star_border 16 May 2026

  It was one of the most fanciest afternoon tea experience I've had. The price tag is pretty hefty, but you don't have to lift a finger. Well, you only have to lift your hand to drink and eat. The wait staff pours and refill nearly every cup of your tea and refills whatever you want more of. And when your tea cools, they bring you a fresh pot of tea. The silver tea set is quite heavy, not to mention piping hot, so best leave it to the staff to handle it. Personally, I enjoyed the savory sandwiches over the assortment of sweets. This is also a timed experience because you only have two hours to enjoy your tea, so indulge and enjoy.

• Dennis W.

  star star star star star 13 May 2026

  How often do you get to have an absolutely exquisite experience?  An experience you want to share with others and relive again. Perhaps I'm just too "into" an English tea afternoon. Perhaps not.  If you like afternoon tea or not, you need to have the traditional experience here at Brown's at least once if not every time.
  
  I have roots in England, but grew up across the pond so I wasn't experienced when it came to sipping tea (except when devouring Chinese cuisine - that etiquette I have down and there are some similarities).  At Brown's, the service is excellent, cheerful, and pleasant. I was made to feel completely at home and offered a few suggested teas to try.  Go with their recommendations if you don't know what to get. Even to this day, I still prefer a nice Earl Grey (it's so easy on my palate and I can prepare it how my grandmother and great-grandmother taught me with a lump of sugar and some milk - absolutely fabulous)!  Thanks Nanny Betty and Nanny Jan!  They called it "little girls and boys tea."
  
  Once the food selections started coming out, I knew I was in for a treat.  Sit back, relax, and let them bring you perfect, bite-sized, traditional English tea selections. Don't be attracted to some of those other places with flashy pictures and ambiance that might sway you to try them over Brown's. The taste, texture, and freshness of the food at Brown's is significantly superior to other gin-joints in town.  The bread was moist and soft as freshly-washed sheets. They will refill your finger-foods as long as you can devour them, but be patient... there are still scones to come with strawberry jam and creme (note, do not pronounce the "e" in scone... say "cone" not "bone")!
  
  The live piano music was an absolute treat.
  
  Here are a few other tips:
  
  The silver coffee pots are hot... even that little spot on the top you want to put your finger on to hold the lid closed when you pour. Be warned, it's bloody hot!  If this were McDonalds they would have a warning sign across the tea pot!  It's as hot as what I imagine hell might be like. I'll let you know when I get there and update my review.
  
  Only fill your cup 2/3 full at the most so you don't spill tea into the saucer. Spilled tea is a sin. True story. That will also get you a one way ticket to hell, but I'll save you a seat in the front, up by the band.
  
  Try not to make any noise stirring your tea as possible (no "clanks" against the tea cup). Also a ticket to hell, but only upon reservation.  
  
  Don't leave your spoon in the tea cup. If you do, this is also a ticket to hell. Do not pass go do not collect £200.  Enjoy your fast-track ticket to hell.
  
  Have a great time and bring a friend!  Next time you stop by, send me a message so I can live vicariously through your experience. Don't be shy Yelp buddies!

• Joanna C.

  star star star star_border star_border 9 May 2026

  Afternoon tea at the Brown's Hotel is pretty bougey. Courteous service, guy playing piano in the corner, beautiful presentation, and super pricey. I wouldn't come here all the time, but if you're looking for an amazing afternoon tea and want to treat yourself, Brown's Hotel is a solid choice.
  
  We were a group of six and all ordered the Traditional Afternoon Tea. I had the Jing Huiming Spring Tea, an Asian green tea. It was good, but I couldn't taste any of promised floral flavors. The tea came with a ton of food.
  
  First up was the savory. The bottom layer consisted of Honey-Roasted Free-Range Ham and Piccalilli on Tomato Bread; Burford Brown Egg, Salad Cream and Cos Lettuce on White Bread; and Cucumber, Cream Cheese and Celery Salt on Malt Bread. They were all the standard crust-less finger sandwiches, nothing special. The next layer was way more impressive. I loved the Aberdeenshire Smoked Salmon, Pickled Fennel and Capers on Caraway Roll; Coronation Chicken, Coriander Cress, Yoghurt and Golden Raisin on Bagel; and Neal's Yard Dairy Goat's Curd, Chilli Jam and Walnuts on Tomato Foccacia. I'm a sucker for smoked salmon and goat cheese so I obviously enjoyed those. And although I'm usually not a curry person, I loved the chicken sandwich. It was super flavorful and I think the group consensus was that this was the best part of the tea.
  
  Between the first and second course, they brought us a lime Palate Cleanser. It was a nice, light, slighty tangy lime jello. For some reason, it worked quite well.
  
  And then there was round two. First, I tried the Freshly Baked Plain and Sultana Scones served with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Cornish Clotted Cream. The scones were lovely. Not too sweet, just nice and soft with beautiful flavor. I wish I had been hungrier because these are some of the best scones I've ever had. The desserts were a mixed bag. The Pistachio and Cherry Financier was my favorite. Quite dense, but not too sweet. The Peach and Lemon Verbena Macaron was tasty and very zesty. The Fromage Blanc, Lime and Ginger Tart,
  Violet and Berry Cheesecake, and Tanzanian 70% Chocolate and Banana Gateau were a little too sweet, but if you have a sweet tooth, you'll probably enjoy them. The crust on the cheesecake was a bit soggy and disappointing though.
  
  We went during Wimbledon so they gave us these cute white chocolate marshmallow tennis balls as a parting gift, what a lovely touch! After all the food and sugar, I definitely needed a nap. Had a great experience, but don't know if I would spend that much on afternoon tea in the future.

• Midori H.

  star star star star star_border 6 May 2026

  This is exactly what you picture when you think of afternoon English tea. Finger sandwiches, tea, and some pastries. The waitstaff is excellent. The ambiance is perfect. I am only knocking off one star because it is definitely pricey for what you get. I spent $200 on tea for two that included two glasses of rose. BUT you go for the experience! They also will ask you if you want any additional sandwiches so it's essentially all you can eat/drink.