LONDON \u2014 If you find pure bliss in choosing between English breakfast or chamomile, try a true pinkies-up high tea experience in London.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I still dream about the moist cucumber finger sandwiches, floral china cups and marmalade jam at the Dorchester Hotel, where I once sipped on my parents\u2019 dime. But now, as a graduate student, an elaborate spread is not in the tea leaves, and I\u2019m not the only one craving authentic British tea and buttery-soft scones without the hefty price tag.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI went to afternoon tea with my daughter recently at the Ritz as a special treat for her birthday. It came to over 200 pounds (about $250),\u201d said Carri Hecks, the client account manager for Camellia\u2019s Tea House, a wholesale tea company that partners with hotels and spas across the United Kingdom. Most often, services at five-star hotels are 85-100 pounds (approximately $106-$125) per person, not including the U.K.\u2019s automatic 12.5% service fee.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, coupons for bargain afternoon tea are nonexistent. \u201cYou do have to set aside the money and treat yourself,\u201d Hecks said. \u201cIt\u2019s a massive indulgence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Could I find budget-friendly places for high tea \u2013 more accurately referred to as afternoon tea? Mission: Possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Traditional afternoon tea experiences, minus the credit card debt<\/b><\/p>\n Afternoon tea began in the 19th century, when the Duchess of Bedford reportedly experienced a \u201csinking feeling\u201d between lunch and dinner, and ordered tea and light snacks \u2014 as legend has it, she nibbled bread, butter and cake. Shortly thereafter, the place for this activity became a gossipy watering hole, where the upper class would sip tea and chomp on finger food that did not require a fork and knife.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alas, a Queen Victoria-like experience comes at a steep price. Fortunately, instead of coughing up hundreds of pounds at the Savoy or Four Seasons Park Lane, you can try other hotels that offer signature afternoon teas for about half the cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With breathtaking views of the Strand and old-school china plates, The Clermont, Charing Cross serves pistachio macarons, salmon finger sandwiches and English breakfast tea for 65 pounds per person (around $82). Similarly, for 45.50 pounds per person (around $57), the Vintry & Mercer hotel features a lemongrass and ginger tea, scepter-shaped chocolates and savory roast beef fit for a queen (who is counting her pence).<\/span><\/p>\n But if posh and luxury still call your name, afternoon tea expert Eileen Donaghey suggests getting\u00a0 \u201ccream tea,\u201d which is simply tea and scones, at lavish hotels and restaurants for a fraction of the price. The Wolseley, in Mayfair, for example, offers a cream tea for just 17 pounds (around $21). <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you were on a budget, that would be a good way to have a similar experience, but at a lower cost,\u201d Donaghey said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Bakeries, restaurants and pubs put their own spin on afternoon tea\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Want something fast, cheap yet still very British? Many restaurants, pubs and bakeries throughout central London provide modern twists on afternoon tea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the last seven years, more and more venues look at it as a way of bringing in more revenue in the afternoon, when it\u2019s a bit quieter,\u201d Donaghey said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Anyone obsessed with tea, pink and a good deal should drool over Peggy Porschen Belgravia, a short walk from Buckingham Palace. \u201cEveryone wants to go and get their picture taken there,\u201d Donaghey said. For 39 pounds (around $49) per person, the morning tea includes avocado toast, eggs Florentine, smoked salmon and an artisan tea selection (anything from matcha to rose-flavored tea).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cutter & Squidge, a bakery in Soho known for its Instagram-worthy birthday cakes, also hosts a wizarding-themed afternoon tea that includes scones, brownie bites, a trio of savory rolls and unlimited \u201cpotions\u201d of tea and coffee, starting at 45 pounds (around $56) per person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, a bakery that is kicking afternoon tea into fourth gear is Brigit\u2019s Bakery, in Covent Garden. At 45 pounds (around $56) per person, it takes place aboard a converted 1960s London red bus. Instead of fragile glass mugs, the unlimited tea is served in pink souvenir mugs and placed in convenient cup holders (lest one spills the remnants of their chai while taking in the sights of Notting Hill).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kira Worysz, a 41-year-old American tea enthusiast, attended the \u201cClassic Afternoon Tea Bus London Sightseeing Tour,\u201d which combines quiches and tea with views of Kensington Palace and Big Ben. \u201cThis is a great alternative option,\u201d she said. \u201cYou are able to do a couple of touristy things all at once.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Put on the kettle at home<\/b><\/p>\n Maybe the closest you can get to London is watching \u201cThe Great British Bake Off\u201d on the couch while leafing through the latest issue of HELLO! magazine. Do not fret. Donaghey, author of \u201cA Beginner\u2019s Guide to Afternoon Tea at Home,\u201d suggests tips and tricks for this experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Charing](\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/wp-media-folder-medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/charing-cross-photo.png\")
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