Best Afternoon Teas in London

While I am in London in October my wife and I want to stretch our budget by using traditional afternoon teas to enjoy some of the top hotels in the city. Which are the "in" spots these days? Could you make some recommendations? - Roger Dreyer

Practically all the top London hotels offer a traditional afternoon tea, as there has been a resurgence in this delightful custom. Among those that excel are the Connaught, the Ritz, the Royal Horseguards, the Dorchester, and Brown's. One that has an added cachet these days is the Goring, the hotel that Kate Middleton's family booked out for last year's royal wedding. And you can always check out the Tea Guild's list of award winners for ideas of where to go. This year's top spot went to the Anthenaeum's honey tea, which uses the best honey gathered from the bees of London parks. Expect sandwiches, scones, crumpets cakes and a glass of honey fizz. And you'll get your choice of tea, of course (£39. www.athenaeumhotel.com). If you want to see and be seen, head to the Savoy Hotel on the Strand to enjoy tea in the Thames-side foyer. Everyone's been flocking to this renovated gem, so why not enjoy prime googgle time as you enjoy the finest in traditional afternoon fare, with the added option of a glass of champagne (£40, www.fairmont.com). If you are really serious about tea, your choice should be the Lanesborough. Besides it's prime location a pearl's throw from Buckingham Palace, this five-star hotel has a tea sommelier on hand to advise guests on which blend will suit them. Nibble the pastries in elegant Apsleys Restaurant and pretend you've been coming here for years (£35; www.lanesborough.com). Of course, there's no reason why you should stick to the very traditional teas. There are some wonderfully quirky otpions that are drawing the cream of society. For one, there's the Mad Hatter's Tea at the wonderful Sanderson Hotel in Fitzrovia. You start off with a potion in a bottle which reads "Drink Me" and enjoy your choice of items like brightly-coloured sandwiches and blueberry lollipops (£35; www.sandersonlondon.com) Then there's the fashionista's favourite, the Pret-A-Portea at the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge. The pastry chefs copy items from the each season's London Fashion Week to create some divine treats (£39; www.the-berkeley.co.uk) Another fun offering is the Chocolate Tea at the Halkin Hotel (£37.50; www.halkin.como.bz). (1 July 2012)