The Clockspire, Milborne Port

The former schoolhouse turned contemporary Michelin-listed restaurant with a swish bar and award-winning interiors has been called the most beautiful restaurant in England. Their afternoon teas don’t look half bad either. Saturday and Sunday from 2–4pm, £30 per person + Champagne £15. Read our review.

The Nici, Bournemouth

afternoon tea the nici bournemouth dorset

Head over to South Beach (that’s Bournemouth, not Miami) for afternoon tea in the cool white restaurant in the stylish cliff top hotel. Silver birds cradle your afternoon tea delights as you sip tea, infusions or fizz and wonder whether to take a dip in their open air pool. From 3–5pm every day. Traditional £29; with prosecco £35; with Moët & Chandon £40.

The Pump Room, Bath

Eat your heart out Jane Austen. You may have been a regular when the Pump Room, overlooking the Roman Baths, was the heart of the Georgian social scene. But we get to enjoy crab and lemon mayonnaise brioche finger rolls, truffled egg mayonnaise and homemade buttermilk scones and fizz, accompanied by classical tunes from the resident pianist or Pump House Trio. Every day, from 12.30-5-30pm. £42.50.

The Seaside Boarding House, Burton Bradstock

afternoon tea seaside boarding house dorset

Edwardian England meets New England at the renowned hotel and restaurant perched above golden cliffs overlooking Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast. You’ll enjoy your fabulous afternoon tea as much as the views. Friday, Saturday & Sunday afternoons, 3.30-5pm. £32. Add a glass of fizz for £12.

Sweet Little Things, Bath

afternoon tea sweet little things bath somerset

Pretty in pink, Bath’s famously Instagrammable cafe on Old Bond Street in the centre of the city has afternoon teas to match. Don’t forget to snap before tucking into savoury whipped feta choux bun, fruit and plain scones and a selection of petit four. Treat yourself to a glass of Prosecco or even bottomless bubbles – well, why not? From £29.95. You must book.

The Priory, Wareham

Take afternoon tea inside or out on the terrace overlooking gorgeous gardens, the river Frome and the Purbeck Hills beyond, at the former 16th century monastery turned gorgeous English country house hotel and restaurant. Choose from a simple pot of tea with homemade shortbread biscuits to a full ‘Ritzy’ and a savoury tea including lobster brioche rolls, chicken liver parfait macaroons and a Bloody Mary shot. Served from 3.30–5pm. £8.95 – £51 (which includes a glass of prosecco). Read our review

The King’s Arms, Dorchester

afternoon tea king's arms dorchester dorset

Scrumpalicious three-tiered treats at the 300-year old coaching inn turned foodie pub, where author and poet Thomas Hardy, who was born and lived for most of his life close to Dorchester, often dined, met his friends and wrote some of his works at The King’s Arms, including one of his most famous, The Mayor of Casterbridge (aka Dorchester). Sat 12pm-5pm, £25 per person.You must book. Read our review.

Bailbrook House Hotel, Bath

afternoon tea bailbrook house bath somerset

Make like Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte – who really visited the Mansion House, now a hotel – and enjoy afternoon tea in their royal lounges or out on the terrace overlooking the leafy grounds with the city of Bath beyond. The orange and thyme pannacotta, banoffee macaroon and the lemon and blueberry Battenberg look delicious. Every afternoon. From £32. Read our review.

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath

afternoon tea royal crescent hotel bath somerset

Hmmm … flute or flight of Champagne with your afternoon tea, of which there are three: classic, veggie one and a kids’ version. Eat fancy finger sandwiches, scoff-in-one savouries, pastries, sweet delights, scones and Bath Buns (natch). Lap it all up amidst the Georgian grandeur and gardens of this 5-star hotel on Bath’s famous crescent. Served daily 1–4pm. Afternoon tea £45; children’s afternoon tea £23.50.

Summer Lodge Country Hotel, Evershot

Sweet and savoury afternoon teas here are as elegant as the hotel itself, a Grade II-listed Georgian country house hotel with a drawing room designed by famous author Thomas Hardy, in the quintessentially Dorset village of Evershot. £40, £55 with a glass of local Bride Valley Crémant Dorset Champagne, £60 with a glass of Lanson Black Label. Read our interview with their head chef.

Let’s eat cake! 10 of the best afternoon teas in Somerset & Dorset to book today

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