I often get asked for my London gluten free afternoon tea recommendations and have put this guide together to share some of my favourites with you.

I have been lucky enough to try some wonderful offerings, with there being at least a couple of outstanding gluten free afternoon teas in the capital now. I will be adding more places to this guide as and when I try them, so do pop back every now and them for updates.

All afternoon teas recommended here were suitable for coeliacs at the time of writing. This guide has been updated for 2022.

[* = Complimentary Visits. I was under no obligation to share details on this blog, all opinions are my own.]

London’s Best Gluten Free Afternoon Teas

1. One Aldwych – Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea*

WHAT: An incredible themed afternoon tea focused on all things chocolate, One Aldwych do an exceedingly good gluten free version of their tea. From soft sponge cake pops and candy floss to AMAZING bacon jam on cheese scones, this is definitely one to add to your must-try list. The sweets items and scones were excellent, the savouries were generally good but fell short of the gluteny savoury offering described on the menu.

WHERE: One Aldwych Hotel, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ

PRICE: From £65 with champagne/cocktail or £52 without/£35 children under 12.

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: Yes and the team at One Aldwych state they can cater for all allergies and dietary requirements, including nut allergies. Please give them 48 hours notice.

DETAILS: We ate a savoury selection including coronation chicken sandwiches, avocado sandwiches, Cheddar scone and bacon toffee jam, Whipple-scrumptious red velvet cake pops, Luscious lemon floss, Minty chocolate milk mixed by waterfall, Chocolate cacao bean financier, Violet and lemon cake, Whipped apple and blackberry mess, Creamy chocolate and orange mousse and Scones with snozzberry jam and all the creams.

2. The Sanderson – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party* [temporarily closed as of May 2022]

WHAT: A spectacular gluten free afternoon tea at the uber-cool hotel, which looks exactly like the regular afternoon teas. Champagne and cocktails available. One of the best afternoon teas in London, in my opinion, the creativity and attention to detail impressed me so much. Plus the food tasted absolutely delicious, especially when washed down with cool glasses of champagne and Cheshire Cat tea. Highly recommended. We sat outside in their lovely courtyard and honestly had a wonderful afternoon.

WHERE: Sanderson Hotel Tea Room, W1T 3NG

PRICE: £58 with champagne/£48 without

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: Yes

DETAILS: We ate cornish crab and avocado roll, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, croque monsieur, smoked salmon scotch quails egg, warm scones with cream and jam, rose and strawberry jammy dodger, mocha gateau, lemon curd financir, vanilla macaron, marshmallow mushrooms, chocolate truffle catepilar, drink me potion and fennel carrot meringue.

3. Fortnum & Masons – Gluten Free Afternoon High Tea

WHAT: A very classic English afternoon tea in revered teahouse Fortnums & Masons. Their elegant tea room makes for quite a formal experience, ideal if you want to feel especially fancy for your afternoon outing. I loved the sandwiches and scones at Fortnums, but the cakes weren’t great when I visited. Perhaps they were having an off day though and I would still recommend this high tea for a very British experience.

WHERE: Fortnum & Masons, 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER

PRICE: £86.25 with champagne/ £70 without.

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: Yes, also vegan menu available.

DETAILS: We ate finger sandwiches (Norfolk Cured Ham with English Mustard, Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese, Rare Breed Hen’s Egg Mayonnaise with Cress, Fortnum’s Smoked Salmon with Tartare Dressing and Coronation Chicken); scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd; and a selection of afternoon tea cakes.

4. The Lanesborough – Gluten Free Luxury Afternoon Tea*

WHAT: Possibly London’s most beautiful afternoon tea salon, nestled at the heart of the Lanesborough hotel. The Lanesborough kindly invited me to try their luxury gluten free afternoon tea recently and we had a great experience. Rather than classic finger sandwiches this high tea features a selection of savoury canapes and their gluten free scones are some of the best I have tried – incredibly soft and still warm from the oven. The cake selection was good but I would have preferred a third cake option rather than ice cream and jelly, yet ones we had were top notch. Add in perfectly chilled champagne and the setting and you get one rather lovely afternoon tea experience. 

As of 2022 they are running a collab afternoon tea with Peggy Porshen, so expect lots of prettyness!

WHERE: The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA

PRICE: With champagne £72/without £53 per person.

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: Please enquire.

DETAILS: We ate arancini balls, chicken balls, mushroom pate tartlets, smoked salmon-topped bread disks, vegetable and cheese-topped bread disks, scones with clotted cream and jam, chocolate fudge cake, raspberry financier cakes, vanilla ice cream and raspberry jelly.

5. Harrods – The Tea Rooms

WHAT: Not one I have tried, but a follower recommended this afternoon tea to me, saying the gluten free scones were wonderful. A gluten free afternoon tea is available, however they state they cannot guarantee no traces of cross contamination.

This is quite a widely used disclaimer now in London, due to a change in food allergy legislation, but please decide for yourself as to whether you are comfortable.

WHERE: Knightsbridge

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: Yes and vegan.

PRICE: £79 with champagne/£62 without.

6. The Ampersand Hotel – the Drawing Rooms

WHAT: Science and space-themed afternoon teas (at present), with a gluten free option. Seriously creative and a fun take on the classic afternoon tea. From honey chocolate spacemen and dinosaur biscuits to white chocolate planets and delicious scones and sandwiches.

They also have a second themed option, a sort of tea flight with an afternoon tea linked to stories about famous scientists. Have a read of their website for more details.

WHERE: South Kensington.

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: Please enquire.

PRICE: £59.50 with a glass of champagne/£49.50 without.

7. The Rosebery – Tea Rooms

WHAT: A glorious-sounding range of sandwiches, cakes and freshly baked gluten free scones, with some mouthwatering flavour combinations. You can view the full gluten free afternoon tea menu on their website.

WHERE: Knightsbridge.

DAIRY FREE AVAILABLE: A vegan menu is available, however please enquire to check with items are gluten and dairy free.

PRICE: £79 with a glass of champagne/£63 without (sake and wine pairings also available)

Other Gluten Free Afternoon Tea Options

Additional choices I have seen recommended:

If you have any other London gluten free afternoon tea recommendations you think should be included in this guide please do get in touch at mygfguide@gmail.com.

Otherwise please do have a read of my other London guides while you are here, including:

Enjoy! x