Fortnum & Mason’s elegant The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon has been serving tea since way back in 1926 – before that, this spacious dining room on the fourth floor of the Mayfair department store was the Fortnum family apartment. While the decor is classic – and a little old-fashioned in parts – the aqua-patterned carpet, bright lights and mystical music will have you feeling like you’re in a fairytale, which only adds to its unique charm.
As for the afternoon tea itself, you can't really get better than a Fortnum and Mason's tea. Aside from the usual suspects (bubbles, scones and a selection of tea), the finger sandwiches are a variety of the classics – think smoked trout and chive cream cheese, cured ham and English mustard and cucumber with lemon and mint – and the scones are served up fresh with clotted cream fresh out of Somerset & Fortnum's very own strawberry preserve and orange curd. But the real draw here? The freshly baked patisseries that include a heavenly lemon meringue tart and a super-indulgent dark chocolate hazelnut praline. Enjoy.