Harden's survey result
Summary
“Amazing, incredible, unlimited everything and WOW!” – for a “quintessential afternoon tea experience”, the “elegant, calm and bright” third-floor dining room of The Queen’s favourite grocer offers a “fine” (and “extremely filling”) experience, encompassing “a tea selection to die for”, “wonderfully inventive cakes”, and “delicious and plentiful sandwiches and scones”. “Yes, it is a bit pricey, but it’s an experience to be savoured, and the posh doggie bag they give you means dinner is sorted too…”
Summary
“Amazing, incredible, unlimited everything and WOW!” – for a “quintessential afternoon tea experience”, the “elegant, calm and bright” third-floor dining room of The Queen’s favourite grocer offers a “fine” (and “extremely filling”) experience, encompassing “a tea selection to die for”, “wonderfully inventive cakes”, and “delicious and plentiful sandwiches and scones”. “Yes, it is a bit pricey, but it’s an experience to be savoured, and the posh doggie bag they give you means dinner is sorted too…”
Summary
“Nowhere compares to the exquisite setting and experience of Fortnum & Mason high tea”, according to fans of the “delicious sandwiches (made with interesting breads), excellent selection of teas and best-ever drinking chocolate” graciously served on the third floor of The Queen’s favourite grocer. “A lovely place for a special occasion – it’s become very expensive, but this doesn’t seem to dent the enthusiasm of the hordes of family groups, ladies-who-lunch and tourists!”. “It can be a bit too much food, but they offer you a doggy bag of the uneaten cakes, jam, scones…”
Summary
For “a quintessential afternoon tea” in the heart of the West End, the “delightfully traditional” third-floor chamber of Piccadilly’s world-famous grocer slugs it out with the nearby Ritz (and to a lesser extent The Wolseley) as London’s best-known destination. Naturally “it’s a tourist trap, but not overwhelmingly so”, and – although some reporters feel “there is better elsewhere for a fraction of the cost” – the majority view remains that the “non-stop sandwiches and delicious cakes-with-a-twist” are “still special” here (there are also “lots of savoury and dairy free options”). “The choice of teas is extensive too, and you can sample different ones throughout the afternoon”. “You will not need an evening meal…”. Top Tip – “the scones are a piece of heaven: fresh, fluffy and warm with a dusting of sugar alongside their own dream-come-true jams”.
For 30 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Fortnum & Mason, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon?
Owner's description
The Tea Salon
SERVING TEA SINCE 1926
Our Tea Salon has been a great many of things for over 307 years. Beginning as an apartment for the Fortnum family, an interior decorating department in the 1920s and 1930s, and an antiques department and a restaurant known as St. James’s, it now pays homage to the timeless tradition of Afternoon Tea.
Epitomising the sophistication of Afternoon and High Tea in all its splendour, our Diamond Jubilee was named in honour of Her Majesty’s visit in 2012, when she formally opened the room, in the company of their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £55.00 |  |
 |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | Always available |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £29.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.95 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Restaurant details
Fortnum & Mason, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Horrible smoked salmon certainly not the one they used to serve years ago. Service is Horrible and slow . Staff is Rude. Management is just the same"
181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER
Opening hours
| Monday | 11:30 am‑7 pm |
| Tuesday | 11:30 am‑7 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am‑7 pm |
| Thursday | 11:30 am‑7 pm |
| Friday | 11 am‑7 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am‑7 pm |
| Sunday | 11:30 am‑5:45 pm |
