Indulge in the charming tradition of afternoon tea in Cambridge, where elegant surroundings, historic streets, and irresistible treats create the perfect recipe for a relaxing day out!
Whether you’re punting on the River Cam, exploring the university colleges, or simply soaking in the city’s timeless beauty, there’s always time to pause for tea and cake.
Tuck into a tiered selection of finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and a tempting array of cakes and sweet delights, all served with a pot of premium tea—or a glass of bubbly if you’re feeling fancy!
Top spots like The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie, Fitzbillies, and The Garden Room at Tamburlaine Hotel offer stylish and welcoming settings to enjoy this beloved British tradition.
Perfect for catch-ups, celebrations, or a special treat, afternoon tea in Cambridge is a deliciously relaxing way to soak up the city’s charm.
Best Afternoon Teas Cambridge Has To Offer
SIX Brasserie at The Varsity Hotel & Spa
Thompsons Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8AQ
Located on the 6th floor of The Varsity Hotel with spectacular views, you’ll get to enjoy home made finger sandwiches.
Scones served deliciously warm accompanied by clotted cream, jam and of course a selection cakes and speciality teas created by master blenders.
They also cater for vegetarian and gluten-free.
Fitzbillies Chelsea Buns
51-52 Trumpington Street and 36 Bridge Street, Cambridge
Fitzbillies is the ultimate place to go for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea includes a selection of four finger sandwiches on brown and white bread.
A sultana scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream and a selection of three mini cakes from the bakery – usually a macaron, a fresh fruit tart and a mini chocolate eclair (cake selection may vary depending on season and availability), and your choice of tea or coffee.
Both branches currently offer a takeaway service.
See website for further details.
Clayton Hotel Cambridge
27-29 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2FB
Situated right alongside the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, you’ll find the four-star Clayton Hotel. Relax in the Tamburlaine Restaurant and take in the beautiful surroundings as you enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.
With a carefully designed afternoon tea, you should expect the perfect scone, complete with jam and fresh cream.
Choose from an array of prosecco, champagne and cocktails to accompany the traditional fare.
See website for prices
Parker’s Tavern
52-42 Regent Street, Cambridge , CB2 1AD
The Parker’s tavern inside the University Arms has a delightful take on afternoon tea. Every little dish on the menu has an interesting story behind it, or pays homage to an exciting moment in the history of Cambridge.
There’s a trio of sandwiches inspired by the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who studied at Trinity College and a delicious glazed apple mousse with a compote centre named Sir Isaac Newton’s Apple. St Christmas they offer a festive style afternoon tea.
See website for opening times.
Quy Mill Hotel
Church Road, Stow-Cum-Quy, Cambridge, CB25 9AF
The afternoon tea menu at Quy Mill changes seasonally and is served with your choice of loose leaf tea or coffee on traditional platters in either the Mill House Restaurant, or in the lounge, both of which have beautiful views over landscaped gardens.
You can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea and there is also a children’s afternoon tea.
Visit the website for prices and opening times
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Browns Brasserie & Bar
23 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QA
At the stylish Browns Brasserie there’s a delectable assortment of savouries, warm scones with seasonal jams, and irresistible mini cakes and puddings.
Wash these down with hand-blended, Fairtrade teas, a perfectly chilled glass of Moët or a delightful boutique British G&T.
The Orchard Tea Garden
47 Mill Way, Grantchester, Cambridge CB3 9ND
Situated in picturesque Grantchester just a stones throw away from the river, the Orchard Tea Rooms has a variety of themed afternoon teas to choose from.
There’s the Rupert Brooke tea; the Maynard Keynes tea and the Orchard Cream tea.
The Rupert Brooke, Grantchester
2-4 Broadway, Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NQ
This Grantchester-based brasserie have firmly put themselves on the afternoon tea map.
It’s a nice classic take on afternoon tea and you can add a glass of G&T from the neighbouring Cambridge Gin Distillery.
Visit the website for prices and opening times.
Flock Cafe
Flock Cafe, Burwash Manor, Cambridge, CB23 7EY
This café is set up in the artisan quarter of Burwash Manor. The serve fresh local coffee along with light lunches, scones and cakes.
Everything is freshly made every morning.
Open daily see website for more details.
Houghton Tea Room
Mill Street, Houghton, Huntingdon PE29 2AZ
If you’re after lavish afternoon tea you’ll need to book ahead but this little gem is full of delicious homemade cakes.
Peacocks Tearoom, Ely
65 Waterside, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4AU
This quirky little tea room is super homely. As well as a lunch menu they have a huge selection of home made cakes and they offer tea from every continent.
The scones and cakes are all homemade every day so they’re all super fresh.
See website for prices and opening times.
Carriages Tea Rooms
Capability Barns, Huntingdon Rd, Fen Drayton, Cambridge CB24 4SD
Travel back to the golden age of luxury rail travel and indulge in a delicious range of handmade afternoon teas.
From the moment you step into the 1920’s station, you will be transported back to this romantic era in original Pullman style Carriages, separate armchairs, locally grown ingredients in the Victorian Garden and a delicious menu of traditional English Afternoon Tea with a contemporary twist.
Please visit the website for further details
Tilly the Travelling Tea Room
2 Back Hill, Hadstock, Cambridge CB21 4PB
This genuine Thomson Mini Glen caravan has been lovingly restored to her former glory, with the help of a little Cath Kidston decor.
Tilly can come along to your street or your garden and provide a vintage afternoon tea party.
Please visit the website for further details.
Teacake of Shepreth
8 Meldreth Road, Shepreth, Royston SG8 6PS
Enjoy homemade cake and an amazing coffee and tea selection. There’s everything from huge fluffy scones with the trimmings, traditional Victoria Sponge through to Tiffin, Chocolate Beetroot Cake and specials that change every day.
Vintage China, a chocolate box thatched cottage in the country, the perfect setting.
See website for more details.
Hotel Du Vin
15-19 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QA
The tea collection at Hotel Du Vin is superb, it’s perfectly located for a hop over to the Fitzwilliam Museum for some culture afterwards.
Finger sandwiches, scones and the chefs patisserie will be served to delight your taste buds.
See website for opening times.
Pinnies of Godmanchester
18d Causeway, Godmanchester, Huntingdon PE29 2HA
This is a very small tea shop,where everything is homemade on the premises including the wonderful layer cakes.
The scones are large with lashings of jam and cream and the view of the river from here is fabulous.
What makes Pinnies unique is that both the customers and staff are an inclusive mix of those with and without learning disabilities offering a friendly place to go for a hot drink and a tasty snack where they can meet people with learning disabilities and gain an insight into their lives.
See website for further details.
Check out all the different Afternoon Tea places available