Vegan afternoon tea in London has improved sharply in the last two years. Oat-based “clotted” creams are now genuinely good. Aquafaba meringues are indistinguishable from the egg-white version. The challenge that remains is the scone — a vegan scone with no butter and no buttermilk is harder to get right than any other element of the stand — and a handful of rooms in London now do it reliably. This is our honest 2026 guide to vegan afternoon tea in London: who nails the scone, who still gets it wrong, what it costs, and what to ask when you book.
For the full 2026 picture — the famous classic rooms, prices, etiquette — see the complete guide to afternoon tea in London.
Vegan at the Scone Workshop
We bake a vegan version of our scone on request — plant-based butter, oat milk, vegan jam. Tell us at least 48 hours before your booking and we’ll have everything ready. 60 minutes in Camden. £34.
The best vegan afternoon teas in London
The Lanesborough — Vegan Afternoon Tea
Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA · around £85 per person
One of the first five-star hotels in London to take vegan afternoon tea seriously. Full three-tier service, oat-based clotted cream substitute, genuinely good vegan scones. Pastries are inventive — they don’t just replace one ingredient and call it done. Worth the price.
Sketch — Vegan Afternoon Tea
9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG · around £75 per person
Currently closed for relaunch as The Glade. Their vegan service was one of the best in central London — theatrical, art-directed, properly thought through. Watch for the reopening; it’s expected to continue the vegan offering.
Hilton Park Lane — Vegan Tea
22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE · around £55 per person
One of the best mid-price vegan afternoon teas in London. The kitchen takes the menu seriously — sandwich fillings are properly built (smoky aubergine, beetroot tartare, chickpea “tuna”) rather than just cucumber-and-bread. Strong vegan pastry selection.
The Egerton House — Vegan Afternoon Tea
17–19 Egerton Terrace, SW3 2BX · around £65 per person
A small, family-style hotel in Knightsbridge. The vegan service is run as a full alternative menu, not an afterthought; the room itself is one of the most charming in London.
Farmacy — Plant-based afternoon tea
74–76 Westbourne Grove, W2 5SH · around £45 per person
A fully plant-based restaurant in Notting Hill. The afternoon tea is closer to a plant-based small-plates set than a traditional three-tier service, but everything is genuinely good, and you don’t have to ask for the vegan menu — the whole menu is vegan.
Tibits — Vegan Afternoon Tea
12–14 Heddon Street, W1B 4DA · around £30 per person
A Swiss-Indian vegetarian/vegan buffet chain with a sit-down afternoon-tea offer at the Heddon Street branch. The cheapest dedicated vegan afternoon tea in central London by a clear margin. Genuinely good scones.
The London Scone Workshop — Vegan on request
Camden, NW1 · £34 per person
We bake a vegan version of our scone with plant-based butter, oat milk, and vegan jam. The cream is oat-based “clotted.” Notice required: 48 hours, so we can prep the right ingredients. £34 — the same price as the standard workshop.
What to ask when booking a vegan afternoon tea in London
- Is this a fully vegan menu, or vegan-on-request from the standard menu? The honest rooms have a separate menu; the lazy rooms just swap a few items.
- What is the clotted cream substitute? Oat-based (“Cornish Cream Co” or similar) is the current standard. Cashew-based is also good. Whipped soy is the weakest version.
- Is the scone vegan, or just dairy-free? Some kitchens still use egg in their “vegan” scone. Ask.
- Does the tea service include plant milk? Most rooms now offer oat or soy. Some still charge extra.
- Lead time? Most kitchens want 48 hours’ notice. The good ones don’t need it.
FAQ — vegan afternoon tea in London
Where is the best vegan afternoon tea in London?
The Lanesborough at the high end (£85). The Hilton Park Lane at mid-tier (£55). Tibits at the affordable end (£30). The Scone Workshop in Camden for the hands-on version (£34, vegan on request).
How much does vegan afternoon tea in London cost?
The same as the standard equivalent, typically — £30–£90 depending on the room. Vegan menus are no longer priced at a premium at any serious London room.
Can I get a fully vegan afternoon tea at the famous hotels?
Most of the famous classics now offer a vegan service if you book 48 hours ahead. Quality varies: the Lanesborough takes it seriously; The Ritz and Claridge’s will produce something competent but the menus are smaller. Always ask for the vegan menu before booking, not on arrival.
Is vegan clotted cream any good?
The current generation of oat-based “clotted” creams (Cornish Cream Co, Glebe Farm, and others) are genuinely close to the dairy version in mouthfeel and richness. Cashew-based versions are also strong. Whipped soy is still the weakest version — avoid rooms still using that.
What’s the cheapest vegan afternoon tea in London?
Tibits at around £30, or the Scone Workshop in Camden at £34 (vegan on request, 48 hours’ notice).