UK Travel Blog

In a world where everything seems to be needed yesterday, wouldn’t it be nice to have some chillout time with a nice cup-a-tea and just forget about everything you need to do?

Whether we are quite as obsessed by a cuppa as some would have us believe I’m not sure, but luckily the days of the tearoom aren’t just a distant memory and some of them are taking the tradition into the new century with great enthusiasm. Here are a run down of some of the best tearooms in Britain for you to relax.

1) Bettys in Harrogate dates far back to 1919 during the hay-day of the tearooom. Opened by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont now offers a brew from 50 teas and a whole array of cakes, tarts, pastries and sandwiches on the side. At this rate you might need to come back and back.

2) Tchai-Ovna in Glasgow is a slightly surprising choice as we don’t always associate the city with tea drinking. Situated in the leafy West End of Glasgow the tearoom offers over 80 teas and a vegetarian menu to compliment within a relaxed Bohemian atmosphere. A modern take on the traditional tearoom.

3) Time for Tea in Shoreditch High Street, London, is a 1940s themed tea shop complete with with bone china cups, vintage furniture and subtle jazz playing quietly in the background. Strangely however the tea shop is only open on Saturday and Sundays between 12pm and 7pm.

4) Attic in Bristol brings the minimalist idea to the tearoom, but what it lacks in traditional decor, it makes up for in expert tea knowledge and designer china cups. Another modern take on the tearoom, but one that is worth a visit non-the-less.

5) The Tea Cosy in Brighton seems to think it’s the Royal Coronation or some such big event as the entire place is covered in Royal memorabilia. This even extends to the teas which have names such as “Queen Mother 100th Birthday Memorial Cream Tea”. The tearoom rules do not allow the dunking of biscuits in the tea (something no doubt frowned upon in Royal circles), but anything else goes.

6) Llangoed Hall in Wales has just the right atmosphere for a tearoom, situated in a 17th Century manor hall. There are a range of traditional Welsh teacakes along homemade scones, sandwiches, biscuits, fruitcake and pastries. Uniquely amongst this list they even serve champagne, although whether champagne and fruitcake really goes together you’ll have to decide.

7) Leaf Tea Bar in Liverpool is a very, very modern take on the tearoom, blending (ahem) tea drinking with late night DJ’s, wireless Internet and funky design. They do however have 24 loose teas on offer so can be allowed onto the list, especially for taking tea very much into the 21st Century.

8. The Wolseley in Piccadilly, London, was originally designed to be an art deco style car showroom in the 1920s. The styling seems to work well for a traditional tearoom, taking the customers back a little in time, with some of the best teas in London. There are also of course a selection of scones, homemade jam and pastries.

9) The Rose in Oxford prides itself on the superior quality of the tea it serves, both locally blended teas and those from further around the world. Afternoon tea includes superb organic smoked salmon and cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, followed by homemade scones and cake. This could just be the Harrods of the tearoom world.

10) The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh serves tea in the traditional way with excellent service and attention to detail. This very classy hotel knows how to treat its guests, both those staying and those simply taking afternoon tea.