It's no secret that we Brits love an afternoon tea so is there any better way to celebrate the crowning of King Charles than with a Coronation afternoon tea? There's something so quintessentially British about dainty finger sandwiches, golden-baked scones with a dollop of clotted cream and jam, and deliciously delicate miniature cakes and pastries, all washed down with your favourite blend of tea, or coffee! Whether you're hosting a Coronation party to mark this momentous occasion or heading to London to be a part of history, afternoon tea just has to be part of your plans.
If you're hosting at home to mark the occasion, you may be looking for a hamper that has everything you need delivered straight to your door. You can then enjoy these goodies with a loved one around your dining table or take them out to share at a street party with your neighbours. As well as cream tea essentials, such as English breakfast tea, scones and cakes, you may find other Coronation-themed food and drink inside. Think crisps, chocolates or biscuits that could be presented in themed packaging and tins for you to keep as a Royal memento. Not to mention, some may even come with a bottle of bubbles to toast to a new king.
Coronation afternoon tea shortlist:
• Best M&S Coronation afternoon tea: Royal Afternoon Tea Hamper
• Best Fortnum & Mason Coronation afternoon tea: The Coronation Tea Hamper
• Best to enjoy on Coronation weekend: Coronation Afternoon Tea at the Montague Hotel
• Best tea and London tour: King Charles III Coronation Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Tour for Two
If you'd prefer to be in the heart of all the action over Coronation weekend, but don't want to miss out on the sweet and savoury delights, there are plenty of Coronation afternoon teas in London for you to try. You can opt for a venue overlooking Royal grounds or one that's just a stone's throw away from the capital's Palaces. With a menu full of sweet and savoury delights, you won't want to miss out.
With Coronation weekend just around the corner, all the hot spots are being snapped up quickly and the last postal dates are approaching. Whether you decide to have cream tea in the capital or high tea at home, here are our Coronation afternoon tea top picks.
Coronation afternoon tea at home
There's no place like home, so why not watch the proceedings from the comfort of your house? All these afternoon tea hampers offer something different, whether you're looking for the traditional tea and cake or after some special Coronation snacks to see you through the weekend's events. Of course, you can also get yourself a commemorative Coronation mug to sip your afternoon beverage of choice from, too.
Best M+S Coronation afternoon tea
www.marksandspencer.com
With this Royal Afternoon Tea Hamper from M&S, you'll not only get a vast selection of sweet treats to devour, from light Victoria sandwiches to chocolate mini Colin The Caterpillar cakes that have had a royal makeover, but you'll also get decorative napkins and paper plates to serve them on, all presented in a grey wicker basket. Once the goodies are eaten the tea and shortbread tins make for great lasting mementoes of the occasion.
Hamper includes:
Coronation Blend Tea Tin
All Butter Shortbread Sentry Tin
King Colin The Caterpillar
4 x Victoria Sandwich Mini Cakes
4 x Devon Plain Scones
Strawberry Conserve
Coronation Paper Plates
Coronation Napkins
Best Fortnum and Mason Coronation afternoon tea hamper
www.fortnumandmason.com
Plenty of treats, nibbles and gifts await you inside Fortnum & Mason's Coronation Tea Hamper. You can indulge in limited-edition Coronation tea and coffee blends, as well as cakes, biscuits and chocolates. There are also plenty of keepsakes for you to treasure inside this showstopping hamper, too, including a tea towel, mug and a delightfully musical biscuit tin to name but a few.
Hamper includes:
Fortnum's Coronation Organic Darjeeling Tea
Fortnum's Coronation Pineapple and Coconut Infusion
Fortnum's Coronation Blend Ground Coffee
Fortnum's Coronation Caledonia Fruit Cake
Fortnum's Rose & Violet Queen Consort Truffles
Fortnum's Musical Coronation Biscuit Tin
Fortnum's Coronation English Berries Preserve
Fortnum's Coronation Scottish Ling Heather Honey Biscuits
Fortnum's Coronation Brut Selection Champagne N.V.
Fortnum's Coronation Organic Chocolate Crowns
Fortnum's Coronation Tea Towel
Fortnum's Coronation Mug
Best Cartwright and Butler Coronation afternoon tea
www.cartwrightandbutler.co.uk
The Coronation Celebration Hamper from Cartwright & Butler features a divine selection of food and drink to satisfy your tastebuds on Coronation Day, with some packaged in keepsake tins. From tea and coffee to chutney and marmalade, as well as the sweetest cake, fudge and biscuits to enjoy, you'll have all the snacks you need while watching the proceedings unfold at home plus a bottle of Moët you can use to cheers King Charles in true regal style.
Hamper includes:
Café York Fine Blend Coffee
Whisky Fudge
Chocolate Wafer Rounds
The Coronation Milk Chocolate Chunk Biscuits
The Coronation English Breakfast Tea
The Coronation Tomato & Chilli Chutney
The Coronation Fine Cut Breakfast Marmalade
The Coronation Jewel Fruit Loaf Cake
Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial
Coronation afternoon tea with the most savoury selection
www.prestigehampers.co.uk
The Prestige Hamper's Coronation Afternoon Tea hamper is brimming with luxurious savouries, divine cakes and a crisp, miniature bottle of Chardonnay. All the pastries and cakes are hand-made by the Valley Bakery using high quality, locally sourced ingredients from their Yorkshire location. After you've finished all the sausage rolls, pies, quiches, scones and cakes, you can wash it all down with a mug of Yorkshire tea.
Hamper includes:
Brie Quiche
Quiche Lorraine
Sausage Rolls
Mini Pork Pie
Mini Hog Roast Pie
Sultana Scones
Jar of Tiptree strawberry jam
Roddea clotted cream
Half bottle of white wine
Yorkshire Teabags
Chocolate Loaf Cake
Best Coronation afternoon tea for flavour
www.hampers.co.uk
Kick off your Coronation weekend plans with all the goodies inside this Lovely British Twist Hamper Gift. All the items inside offer staple British flavours but with a modern twist. Apple pie cookies, cherry bakewell popcorn and Caramel peanut Brittle are just some of the delights you'll find inside, along with crisps, strawberry jam and of course, English breakfast tea teabags.
Hamper includes:
Fava Beans, Just Crisps
Strawberry Extra Jam, Mrs Darlingtons
Apple Pie Cookies Handmade, Teoni
Sweet Chilli Crisps, Fairfields,
Traditional Caramel Peanut Brittle, John Bull
English Breakfast Tea, Basilur 10 teabags
White Chocolate Jazzies
Cherry Bakewell Popcorn
Sea Salt & Black Pepper British Crisps
Union Jack Flag
Elderflower, Belvoir Fruit Farms
Best Selfridges Coronation afternoon tea
www.selfridges.com
There are five items inside Selfridges Selection, with the majority of them in Coronation-themed packaging and specially-designed tins to mark this historic occasion. You can enjoy a cuppa alongside a selection of pure butter shortbread, early grey chocolate thins and a bar of finest milk chocolate, and if you've got any scones in the house, there are three miniature preserves for you to spread on.
Hamper includes:
Prestat London Collection Earl Grey Milk Chocolate Thins
Walkers King Charles III Westminster Coronation Tin of Pure Butter Shortbread
Newby Teas UK Coronation Tea Caddy
Selfridges Selection Miniature Preserves Set Of Three
House of Dorchester Fly the Flag Milk Chocolate Bar
16-inch wicker basket
Best 100 per cent vegetarian Coronation afternoon tea
cutterandsquidge.com
From veggie sausage rolls and herb and cheese swirls to indulgent chocolate brownies, buttery scones and gorgeous lemon loaf cakes, there's plenty enough for two in the Cutter & Squidge Coronation Afternoon Tea Picnic Hamper With Prosecco. If you've got a houseful, you can also do a bulk order for a minimum of 10 people and there are also vegan afternoon tea options available, too.
Hamper includes:
Indulgent Brownies
Mini Lemon Drizzle Cakes
Veggie Sausage Rolls
Herb and Cheese Swirl
Buttery Scones
Pots of Rodda's Clotted Cream
Pot of Fruity Jam
Pot of Chutney
Pack of Crackers
Cutter & Squidge English Breakfast Tea Sachets
Mini Prosecco
Coronation afternoon tea in London
London will be a hive for Coronation activity throughout the Bank Holiday weekend. If you want to feel the buzz for yourself and be part of the Royal bustle, head to the capital.
You can try and find a spot along the route of the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey to try and get a glimpse of the King and Queen Consort ahead of the Coronation ceremony. It starts at 11am, but you'll have to get there fairly early to secure yourself a prime viewing spot. If that doesn't appeal to you, there are plenty of viewing screens across the city so you can watch it among a crowd. Or you can get up close and personal with the Royals (well, as good as the real thing) at Madame Tussauds.
When it comes to afternoon tea, many venues across the capital have got special Coronation afternoon teas available. If you can't get yourself to London for the Coronation weekend, not to worry, as many of our top picks have got availability throughout May so you can enjoy them at any point in the month. Just don't forget to pre-book!
Best Coronation afternoon tea to enjoy on Coronation weekend
montaguehotel.com
An array of treats, including a sherry trifle and Victoria sandwich, as well as sandwiches, such as Coronation chicken and cucumber and cream cheese, await at the Montague Hotel over Coronation weekend. As well as sweet and savoury delights, the afternoon tea menu at the Montague also includes a Coronation Cocktail with Tanqueray gin, elderflower reduction and lemon oil to create a truly refreshing toast to the new King. If you don't want to miss out on this afternoon tea experience, you'll need to be quick as it's only on for 6 and 7 May.
Best Coronation afternoon tea and London tour
www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk
Afternoon tea onboard a classic Routemaster bus - could you think of anything more quintessentially British? The bus has been decked out with all the bunting, crowns and other Coronation decorations to give it that royal feel. Not only will you get to enjoy a choice of savoury treats, sandwiches and French pastries, and of course unlimited beverages from a large selection of teas and coffees, but you'll also get to enjoy a 90-minute London tour, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral and some of the favourite Royal sights in the capital. You can book up until 31 May.
Best Kensington Coronation afternoon tea
milestonehotel.com
Available from 1-14 May, you can enjoy a Royal Coronation Afternoon Tea overlooking Kensington Palace and Gardens at The Milestone Hotel. Discover a delicious array of delicate finger sandwiches, warm, freshly baked scones and a selection of pastries including éclairs, tartlets, cupcakes and macarons. You can also take your pick from a vast collection of loose-leaf teas to sip or maybe you'll opt for Lanson Champagne for a spot of royal indulgence.
Best Mayfair Coronation afternoon tea
www.marriott.com
Celebrate the momentous occasion of the Coronation just a short walk from Buckingham Palace, with an afternoon tea at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane. It includes a delicious variety of cakes, including red velvet and cherry macaroons, chocolate biscuit cake, lemon meringue pie and a carrot and mascarpone cake, sandwiches and freshly baked scones to make an afternoon tea fit for a King and Queen! It's available to book until 22 May so there's plenty of time to enjoy.
Best Coronation afternoon tea with takeaway commemorative keepsake
rubenshotel.com
What better way to celebrate the crowning of His Majesty King Charles II than with a special Coronation Day afternoon tea? The Rubens at the Palace is just a short walk from Buckingham Palace and St James Park so it's a great setting to enjoy this historic moment from. You'll enjoy a sweet and decadent six-course afternoon tea over a two-hour sitting and it includes a Coronation commemorative tea tin gift to take home, too.
It’s not just this Coronation afternoon tea that offers a commemorative item that you can treasure, many retailers have pulled out all the spots to create souvenirs for this historic occasion. Check out our Coronation memorabilia article for all the best keepsakes.
FAQs
What is happening over Coronation weekend?
At the start of the year, Buckingham Palace announced the Coronation Weekend plans.
It starts with the official Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May. Then on Sunday 7, a special Coronation Concert is to be broadcast live at Windsor Castle.
Throughout the weekend, neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together as part of the Coronation Big Lunch. While Monday 8 May is The Big Help Out, which encourages people to volunteer in their local area.
Is there a bank holiday for the Coronation?
Yes, there is a bank holiday for the Coronation. As we've mentioned above, the official Coronation date is Saturday 6 May, but Monday 8 May has been declared a bank holiday. This is to give everyone an opportunity to celebrate and join in with the Coronation weekend plans.
