Afternoon tea is a quintessentially English tradition and always feels luxurious (it was, after all, started by royalty!). Whether you prefer to keep it simple in a cosy café, fancy indulging in an afternoon of opulence or like trying something unique, there’s an afternoon tea experience for you in Norwich!
Here are our recommendations for the best places to enjoy a timeless treat in this historic city.
The Assembly House’s afternoon teas always have wonderful themes!
The Assembly House knows what a great afternoon tea takes. You probably know them best for their themed afternoon teas, and for good reason!
Here, you’ll be greeted by an impressive tower of sandwiches, savouries, scones, and quirky cakes and pastries, with every aspect of this afternoon tea carefully thought through to fit the theme! Whether it’s your favourite fairytale or a special seasonal theme, it’s certainly the go-to place for a unique feast. Afternoon Tea is available from £32 per person and children’s Afternoon Tea is also available at £18.95. Be sure to check their website and see if there are any amazing themes awaiting your visit!
You can also try their Beforenoon Tea (£27.95 per person), served from 9am – 11am daily, which comes with a smaller version of their hot breakfasts plus three tiers of breakfast treats served like afternoon tea. With treats like a cruffin cinnamon roll, smoked salmon and cream cheese croissant, and an espresso chcoolate mousse, it’s a fantastic alternative for those looking for something earlier in the day!
And there are even more options for those of us who prefer savoury flavours to sweet. Every cheese-lover will want to try Afternoon Cheese (£28.95 per person), which boasts a Binham Blue, pear and granola trifle, cheese, mustard and chive scone, and a selection of three Norfolk cheeses! While, the Afternoon Sea (£35 per person) offers three tiers of seafood delights. This menu includes mini fish and chips, a fresh fishcake with smoked paprika aioli, smoked prawns, and Cromer crab rarebit toast!
The Maids Head afternoon tea can be enjoyed in their delightful lounge or out in their courtyard
Afternoon tea at the Maids Head is the picture of elegant English tradition. Settle down in the country’s oldest hotel with one of the country’s longest-running traditions, there’s surely not much better than that?
At the Maids Head, you can enjoy their tea in a luxurious lounge, or in the gorgeous hotel courtyard on those warmer days. Expect all the classics of an afternoon tea, like finger sandwiches, alongside delicious cakes and pastries, all for just £26 per person. Yum!
The Britons Arms on Elm Hill
Where better to enjoy this culmination of British tradition than the historic Elm Hill? Standing since the 1300s, this incredible coffee house & restaurant serves up a seriously good afternoon tea, decked with mini sandwiches and desserts, including cake choices from their daily counter. Plus, they can even offer a vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free afternoon tea, so everyone can dine here in comfort. Available from just £18, you’ll struggle to find better value than Britons Arms!
The Last Afternoon Tea is an intimate, high-end experience bringing a touch of the West End to Norwich
The Last Afternoon Tea is an intimate, high-end experience bringing a touch of the West End to Norwich. Their offering includes the best loose leaf tea, with 14 varieties and unlimited refills to choose from, to freshly baked scones, delicious sandwiches, and even ‘the best madeleines outside of Paris’. Plus, everything is made in-house, meaning you’re guaranteed a delicious experience. And no afternoon tea is complete without something sparkling, so why not check out The Last’s range of champagne and sparkling tea? It’s sure to tempt you!
The Last’s Afternoon Tea is available from just £35pp, with the additional champagne and sparkling tea available at a surcharge.
Where better to imagine you’re enjoying the sweet selection of a Parisian patisserie than in Cafe Benji’s at Jarrolds? This afternoon tea blends traditional treats (think freshly baked fruit scones) with irresistible quiche, macarons and cakes. To whet your appetite, choose from 10 enticing tea blends or even a glass of prosecco or local wine from £7.
Cafe Benji’s afternoon tea costs £26pp and is served daily between 2pm – 4pm. While you’re there, let yourself be tempted to take a look at Jarrolds’ five floors- from their food hall to the latest womenswear and even toys for the little ones, there’s so much to explore!
Enjoy an afternoon tea picnic style on board The Norfolk Mead’s open-topped English harbour yacht
Relaxing with an elegant afternoon tea must be one of the best ways to enjoy the spectacular interior and grounds of The Norfolk Mead, a historic Georgian country house only a 25-minute drive from the city centre. They use fresh, locally sourced produce to craft their traditional cakes and treats, and why not make the afternoon sparkle with a glass of Laurent Perrier?
If you’ve been looking for a luxurious boating experience on the idyllic Norfolk Broads, consider hiring the hotel’s six-seater open-top English Harbour yacht, with prices starting at £100 for a half day. Guests can request to have their afternoon tea picnic-style on the water – so you can take treating yourself to a whole new level!
The beautiful Drawing Room of Park Farm Hotel
Served in Park Farm Hotel’s beautiful recently refurbished Drawing Room in the original Georgian House, you can enjoy three tiers of freshly prepared sweet and savoury delights. All served with loose leaf tea or freshly ground Park Farm blend coffee.
Available daily from 2pm – 4.30pm, prices start from £27 for a traditional afternoon tea, with a children’s option available for £13.50.
Celebrating a special occasion? Upgrade to a Prosecco, Champagne or cocktail afternoon tea for an extra treat. Find out more about this delightful afternoon tea here!
Barnham Broom is perfect for an afternoon tea and picturesque walk!
What’s better than one choice of afternoon tea? How about four different variations to choose from? At Barnham Broom (just a 25-minute drive from Norwich), you can get just that! Settle into a cosy armchair by the warmth of their log fire and enjoy your choice of a traditional (£26.95pp), chocolate lovers’ (£29.95pp), cocktail (£35.95pp), or champagne afternoon tea (£35.95pp)! Each one is a genuine delight to tuck into, especially the chocolate lovers’ tea, if you’re feeling particularly indulgent!
Available between 1pm – 4pm, it’s absolutely perfect if you’re visiting Norwich and fancy a delightful meal during your stay, or even if you’re local and want to explore somewhere new!
