2 Best Places for a Cream Tea in London

A stereotypical view of the British involves them sitting inside munching cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches with their hundredth cup of tea on a rainy day. Far from being insulting, I personally find this to be a nice rainy day lunch plan. After visiting the UK a multitude of times and even living there for two years, I can understand why black tea is such a staple on their often-rainy island. 

But any images of huge afternoon tea affairs, complete with delicate China dishes, cakes, and finger sandwiches, do not agree with the normal reality of daily British living. Nor does it agree with most people’s bank accounts. While a proper afternoon tea is done as a celebration or on a rare occasion, most people will go with the much-cheaper tea-and-pastry or the tea-and-sandwich route on a daily basis. I personally like the cream tea option as the best of both worlds while I’m in the UK. 

What on Earth is a cream tea? Before you get too many images of frothy cappuccino-like cups, let me explain: a cream tea consists of a cup of tea (no froth) and a scone with clotted cream and jam. That’s it. Very simple and without fuss. 

Without fuss unless the scone is harder than a rock (it that possible?) and instead of clotted cream you receive the perhaps healthier option of butter. Don’t even get me started on the has-to-be-criminal whipping cream option. 

Definitely insist on clotted cream with a scone. And if it isn’t available, then order something else or leave. 

Obviously I’m a little picky. And so, I’m sharing my top two recommendations for cream tea for the next time you find yourself in London. 

1) Whittard of Chelsea

(44 The Market, London WC2E 8RB or 13 Regent Street Saint James’s, London SW1Y 4LR) 

If you follow this blog faithfully, you probably recognize the name of “Whittard.” I’ve mentioned their teas several times. 

Whittard of Chelsea is a UK tea shop, selling tea, coffee, biscuits (aka cookies), and tea accessories. Their tea collection is particularly extensive, selling a huge selection of black, green, white, herbal, and flavored teas. Unfortunately they do not export their merchandise, but you can order internationally from their website. I tend to order a huge amount once every year or two and therefore stock my pantry for a long time. 

While they do have quite a number of small shops throughout the UK, two of the London shops include a small tea room. Their Covent Garden shop at 44 The Market has their larger (but still cozy) tea room. The shop on Regent Street has a much smaller seating space—only a few tables—in what they call their “tea bar.” My husband and I visited this tea bar the last time we were in London (before COVID). We ordered two different types of tea to accompany our scones. It was a great chance to try some different teas before purchasing for our home. My favorite teas still remain the Covent Garden Blend (black tea with a delicate hint of peach) and the English Rose (black tea with rose petals.) 

The scones were normal-sized, so not tiny or large. They serve one scone per order with clotted cream and jam. The scones were moist and nearly melted in our mouths. We had scones without any fruit, although I do not recall if there was any choice in that. 

Paired with the fantastic choices of premium tea blends, I personally rate this my favorite spot to get a cream tea in London. 

2) Paul Rhodes in Greenwich

(37 King William Walk, London SE10 9HU) 

My other favorite spot is a bakery called Paul Rhodes. I first found it many years ago. When my family would visit London we would stay in the Notting Hill area…and of course ran right into this bakery on their previous home in Notting Hill. It was a perfect stop on the way to or from Portobello Road Market. 

Unfortunately their Notting Hill location no longer exists, but they do have a location in Greenwich, very close to the Old Royal Naval College and the Cutty Sark. It’s extremely convenient for visitors to the observatory and other sites, as it’s basically on the way from the train station. It’s also a great place for university students to grab a good coffee or pastry between classes. 

Started a couple decades ago, Paul Rhodes put an emphasis on quality bread making, while also serving cakes, morning pastries, tarts, and other treats. I can personally vouch for the sandwiches, sweet croissants, and tarts. However, my go-to item is their scone. The scones are fairly large so can be a bit filling, but the taste is simply perfect: moist, but not greasy, and clearly fresh. Served with clotted cream and jam, you can choose between plain and fruit. I’ve enjoyed both. 

I especially like sitting at the bakery’s large window and watching the pedestrians and traffic go about their daily routines. On a nice sunny day, I also imagine it would be perfect to grab a treat and your hot drink of choice for an impromptu picnic in the gardens close to the Old Royal Naval College. There is a small walkway, with benches as I recall, that overlooks the River Thames as well. Or simply pick one of the many trees to lounge under. 

Runner-Up: The Café at the V&A Museum

I would be amiss to not mention my runner-up spot for cream teas: the V&A Museum Café. Located in South Kensington, near the Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum, the V&A (Victoria & Albert) Museum houses collections relating to the history and art of different cultures. From European to Japanese to African, the museum contains both everyday items and more artistic features from each culture—whether that be paintings, clothing, furniture, or musical instruments. 

Within the museum, there is a café for peckish visitors. Located within a large elaborate Victorian room, the café serves many choices for a good meal. Of course, scones and tea are also on the menu. In my experience, the scones are usually fruit scones and are fairly large, much like Paul Rhodes. However, these scones tend to be a bit on the drier side, which is why they are not quite my top favorites. They are served with jam and a choice between clotted cream and butter. 

During the warmer months, I highly recommend sitting in the museum courtyard and ordering from their café kiosk. Courtyard tables surround a small pond, complete with lilies. It is a perfect break from viewing the museum collections or from a long walk around London. 

Be sure to check out these places when next you find yourself needing a break in London. Catch a treat, or better yet a cream tea, and enjoy your quality food without breaking the bank. I think most of us, whether in London for business or pleasure, will likely find ourselves near one of these places. And luckily then, we now know where to go! 

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