Tea in the Foyer
From 2.45pm to 5.30pm, among jade-striped china: from £95 a head, online only, up to 90 days ahead.
Claridge’s
Plenty of people walk into Claridge’s only for tea, among the Foyer’s jade-striped china. Those who stay the night find the rest: 203 rooms and suites, 3 bars and a pool beneath Brook Street.
A week here, month by monthClaridge’s suits a Mayfair stay spent on foot, with Bond Street 4 minutes away and the lowest seller on Google showing one night taken alone from £714 for 2 adults in March 2027. For a trip centred on Westminster, I would consider a hotel on Whitehall.
Claridge’s afternoon tea: its prices, hours, booking and children’s tea Book afternoon tea on the official site Check rooms and rates on the official site Claridges restaurants Claridge’s spa Claridge’s bar Claridge’s prices Claridges weddingDoes it suit you?
5 pairs of hotels, and the guide tells you whether this one suits you.Like a regular
The room to ask for
For 3 people, I would ask for the Claridge’s Room: the hotel lists an average of 50 m² and space for up to 3. The Superior Room averages 35 m² and sleeps up to 2.
The weeks that cost less
Read on 13 October 2026, the week of 21–27 March 2027 shows £714–£728 for one night taken alone; 12 and 25 December reach £3,040. Compare the whole stay before choosing dates.
Allow for afternoon tea
If you add Traditional Afternoon Tea, allow from £95 per person. Choosing Champagne takes the starting price to £110 per person, or £125 per person with rosé Champagne.
The pool with children
With children, plan the pool for 8am–10am, the spa’s family swimming window. If you book a treatment, the hotel asks you to arrive 15 minutes before it begins, allowing time to change.
What Claridge’s is
The story begins in 1812 with Mivart’s, a hotel in a terraced house; in 1854 William and Marianne Claridge bought it, and the red-brick building you see today opened in 1898. The art deco wing followed in the 1920s. During the war King Peter II of Yugoslavia lived here in exile, and the story goes that on 17 July 1945 suite 212 was ceded to Yugoslavia for a day, so the crown prince could be born on Yugoslav soil. A few days later Churchill, freshly defeated at the election, took a suite here.
The heart of it is still the Foyer & Reading Room: tea is served from 2.45pm to 5.30pm, from £95, and booked online only. In the evening you choose between Claridge’s Bar, the Fumoir and The Painter’s Room, with its pink onyx bar and works by Annie Morris. Below the hotel, the spa has a heated pool by André Fu under a vaulted ceiling, saunas, a steam room and the Pink Room, a hammam on a heated pink onyx bed.
Guests love it: 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor from 3,647 reviews, 9.2 on Booking.com, and 3 Keys from the MICHELIN Guide. On busy evenings there is a wait for a table at the bars, and tea, from £95, needs booking well ahead. Rooms vary a great deal, from the 35 m² Superior for 2 to the 1,100 m² Penthouse on the roof; and if you choose a balcony, one guest warned in April 2026, you may face a building site.
Plenty of people come to Claridge’s for tea alone. On Google we read the 120 most recent reviews with text, out of 4,204 on the listing, from 12 March to 23 September 2026; we also searched 36 YouTube videos (23 relevant), looked at 60 Instagram posts and 20 TikToks, read 30 articles from 26 publications and 45 official pages, and measured 6 walks on the map. Afternoon tea comes up in 21 of those reviews; 12 name a member of staff to thank them, and 3 times it is the same waiter at tea.
Two Lumi
Lumina Guide 2027
Exceptional: two of our three readings say so.
Plenty of people walk into Claridge’s only for tea, among the Foyer’s jade-striped china. Those who stay the night find the rest: 203 rooms and suites, 3 bars and a pool beneath Brook Street.
How Lumi are awardedGuests
500 reviews read: the location pleases 9 guests in 10 who mention it, the staff and service 8 in 10.
Critics (exceptional)
Ours (exceptional)
We found a red-brick building of 1898 with a 1920s art deco wing, 28 room categories starting at 35 m², a hammam on a bed of heated pink onyx and John Pawson’s Art Café above the Perrotin gallery.
Our reading, point by point
What we found reading the hotel’s own pages, one thing at a time.
Location
Brook Street, Mayfair: Bond Street station 4 minutes away with the Elizabeth line to Heathrow, Hyde Park 10.
Character
The 1898 building, the art deco wing, the Foyer and suite 212, ceded to Yugoslavia for a day.
Rooms
203 rooms and suites in 28 categories, from the 35 m² Superior to the 1,100 m² Penthouse.
Food and social life
Tea in the Foyer, Dante Mayfair’s all-day dining, 3 bars and John Pawson’s Art Café with the Perrotin gallery below.
Wellness
André Fu’s pool, saunas, a steam room, 7 treatment rooms and the Pink Room; family swimming 8–10am.
The stay as a whole
£1,033 to £1,658 a night on the autumn dates we read; tea at £95 is the cheapest way to get to know it.
What makes it rare
A badge is an experience travellers look for, that is really here and that few hotels in the guide have.
A story inside
Here: the 1898 building, the art deco wing, the Foyer and suite 212, ceded to Yugoslavia for a day.
A history that goes back to at least 1898. 31 hotels of 335 hold it.
Every hotel with this badge
The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them
What do Claridge’s’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.
Location
9 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Mayfair is the word that keeps coming back, New Bond Street minutes away; lately some mention the building site opposite.
Room
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Guests write of elegant, comfortable, immaculate rooms with big bathrooms and art deco furnishings, and of thoughtful details throughout.
Staff and service
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Many write about afternoon tea in the Foyer, with its sandwiches, scones and a piano in the background, and about staff they remember for their warmth.
Breakfast
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Breakfast is taken in the Foyer, beneath the chandelier: guests remember it for the quality of the cooking and the service, and some call it the best in London.
Price
The bill people write about is for afternoon tea and cocktails; those happy with it call it dear and fair.
The numbers, and how we count them
| What | Score out of 10 | Guests who mention it | Happy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 8.2 | 60 | 90% |
| Room | 7.3 | 65 | 78% |
| Staff and service | 8.0 | 368 | 82% |
| Breakfast | 7.7 | 35 | 80% |
| Price | – | 56 | 34% |
The scores come from 500 Google reviews with text, left from 29 April 2024 to 23 September 2026. The other hotels are the ones weighed for a stay in London: for each we read its latest 500 Google reviews with text, or all of them where there are fewer, as of 1 October 2026. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.
The hotels we weigh it against in London:
- The Connaught
- The Dorchester
- The Ritz London
- Brown's Hotel
- The Savoy
Price: for two on the night of 19 March 2027, from £714 (seen on Google Hotels on 13 October 2026).
What a night costs, season by season
For one night taken alone, Google’s lowest seller showed £714–£728 on 21–27 March 2027, against £3,040 on 12 and 25 December 2026. I would compare the whole booking: for 7 nights from 16 November 2026, the lowest seller listed £1,805 a night and the hotel’s own listing £1,980.
| Period | Pounds a night |
|---|---|
| 14 Oct 2026–1 Jan 2027 | 861–2,438 |
| 2 January to 13 June 2027 | 714–1,326 |
| 14 June to 11 July 2027 | 1,107–1,587 |
| 12 July to 30 September 2027 | 865–1,224 |
Lowest seller on Google Hotels for one night taken alone, 2 adults, read 13 October 2026; room and meal plan unspecified. The calendar ends on 30 September 2027; 12 and 25 December 2026 were £3,040, and 24 December had no price. Booked as 7 nights from 16 November 2026, the lowest seller Google listed that day asked £1,805 a night; the hotel’s own listing, £1,980.
Claridge’s, The Ritz or Raffles London
The Ritz puts you on Piccadilly overlooking Green Park, for a stay organised around the park and the nearby Royal Academy. Raffles London at The OWO suits a Whitehall itinerary, with Horse Guards opposite and Westminster Abbey 10 minutes away.
| Hotel | A night, from |
|---|---|
| Claridge’s | £939 |
| Ritz | £1,850 |
| Raffles London | £845 |
Lowest seller on Google for one night taken alone in the week of 16 November 2026, searched for 2 adults; all read 13 October 2026.
The chequered Foyer, the tea and the rooms on Brook Street
The Foyer and the tea room, tea served, Claridge’s Bar, a Superior Room’s bathroom, a room with a balcony, the Residence and the spa.
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What to expect
Tea among striped china, 2 bars worth the trip, a pool under the vaults and a pink onyx hammam.
The Painter’s Room
The art deco bar with its pink onyx counter, Tuesday to Saturday from 4.30pm to midnight; open to non-residents too.
The Fumoir
The old cigar bar, red velvet and low light: nobody has smoked here since 2007, but the mood stayed.
André Fu’s spa
A heated pool under the vaults, saunas, a steam room and 7 treatment rooms; family swimming 8–10am.
The Pink Room
A modern hammam on a heated pink onyx bed: steam, charcoal, a kese mitt and a mask to finish.
Good to know before you book
Between April and September 2026 guests wrote of a building site opposite the hotel: anyone booking a room with a balcony should ask which side it faces. Source: 500 Google reviews read, 29 April 2024 to 23 September 2026
Afternoon tea in the Foyer costs from £95 a person, £110 with Champagne (price list read on 28 September 2026). Source: maybourne.com
Tea in the Foyer is booked online only, up to 90 days ahead, from 7am, with no waiting list. No dress code: most people choose smart casual.
From 3 November to 3 January, 25 December apart, only the Festive Afternoon Tea is served: from £120 on weekdays, £130 at weekends.
Families swim from 8am to 10am; a treatment of 90 minutes or more includes up to 2 hours in the spa beforehand.
One dog per room; above 7 kg it is at the management’s discretion. A £160 plus VAT cleaning fee; no spa, pool or gym for the dog.
Breakfast and cancellation depend on the rate; offer prices include VAT, and a discretionary 5% service charge is added on top.
The 28 rooms and suites
Getting there
From Heathrow the Elizabeth line reaches Bond Street without a change; from there Brook Street is 4 minutes on foot.
| Address | Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR, on the corner of Davies Street. |
|---|---|
| Underground | Bond Street, on the Elizabeth line too: 4 minutes’ walk, 301 metres. |
| From Heathrow | About 50 minutes by car or 75 by public transport, the hotel estimates. |
| By car | The hotel points to the nearby ParkBee car park. |
Heathrow times and parking from the official site; the walk is measured on OpenStreetMap’s streets. Sources read on 28 September 2026.
Beyond the hotel
Brook Street has its own music, Bond Street is a few steps away, then the Royal Academy and Hyde Park: the best of Mayfair is on foot.
Handel Hendrix House
The homes of Handel and Jimi Hendrix, side by side: 2 minutes’ walk, 171 metres.
Old Bond Street
The Bond Street maisons, heading south: 9 minutes’ walk, 696 metres.
Royal Academy of Arts
The big exhibitions at Burlington House on Piccadilly: 9 to 13 minutes’ walk, depending on the route.
Hyde Park
The park from Grosvenor Gate on Park Lane: 10 minutes’ walk, 774 metres.
From Claridge’s to Bond Street and Hyde Park
The hotel on Brook Street, Handel and Hendrix’s houses, Bond Street, Grosvenor Square, the Royal Academy and Hyde Park. Tap a place to see the walking route.
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Recommended for you
A day at Claridge’s
The morning
Breakfast in the Foyer
The Foyer serves breakfast to hotel guests, before becoming the afternoon tea room.
Late morning
Walk to the museum
Walk to Handel & Hendrix, the museum at 23 and 25 Brook Street, 171 metres away.
On the way back
Stop by the florist
On Brook’s Mews, Claridge’s Flowers is a working florist supplied with seasonal blooms each morning.
2.45pm
Sit down for tea
The tea menu changes its pastries with the season, with blends ranging from Oolong to Claridge’s Blend.
The evening
Find the pink counter
From Tuesday to Saturday, The Painter’s Room welcomes walk-ins as well as reservations.
Claridge’s reviews
Platform scores, the MICHELIN Guide’s 3 Keys and what guests say, from tea to the night upstairs.
Scores read on 29 September 2026
Guest voices
From the hotel’s Google listing: tea with a grandmother, an unexpected magic, an upgrade, music in the room and the bar in the evening.
GoogleTea with grandmother
This guest first came for tea with their grandmother as a child; years later Claridge’s still delights, with a graciousness that feels rare today.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleAn unexpected magic
This guest usually stays somewhere cheap to save money. The room seemed almost underwhelming at first; then came the discovery that Claridge’s has a magic of its own.
Google · August 2026Read the review
Google2 nights and an upgrade
2 nights that began with a blip: the team made it right with an upgrade and a level of care this guest valued more than a flawless stay.
Google · May 2026Read the review
GoogleMusic and no dress code
Tea for a friend’s birthday: musicians in the room, a gluten-free version and no strict dress code, almost everyone in smart casual.
Google · April 2026Read the review
GoogleThe bar, in the evening
At the ground-floor bar a waiter kept pushing Dom Pérignon by the glass on guests who had asked for the house Champagne.
Google · September 2026Read the review
Questions before you go
Answers from official pages checked 28 September 2026; prices and availability need a fresh check.
Can you have tea at Claridge’s without staying?
Yes. Tea in the Foyer has its own online booking, daily from 2.45pm to 5.30pm, and no room is needed. Breakfast in the same room, on the other hand, is for hotel guests only.
How much is tea, and when do you book?
From £95 a head for the Traditional, £110 with Champagne and £125 with rosé Champagne (price list read on 28 September 2026). From 3 November to 3 January, 25 December apart, only the Festive tea is served, from £120 on weekdays and £130 at weekends. Booking opens 90 days ahead at 7am, with no waiting list.
Is there a dress code for tea?
No: almost everyone wears smart casual. The hotel asks you not to photograph other guests.
Which room works for 3 people?
The Superior Room, 35 m², sleeps 2; the Claridge’s Room, 50 m², sleeps 3. For a child or an extra bed the rate decides: you give the age when you book.
How big are the balcony rooms and the suites?
The Mayfair Balcony Room is 45 m²; for the Claridge’s Balcony Room the official pages give 55 m² on its own page and 50 m² in the index, and for the Two Bedroom Mayfair Suite 115 and 120 m² (read on 28 September 2026). Either way, the Claridge’s Balcony Room is the larger of the 2 balcony rooms.
The Residence or The Penthouse: what is the difference?
The Residence is a 280 m² duplex suite with a terrace and a hydrotherapy pool. The Penthouse takes the roof: 1,100 m², 4 bedrooms and a heated pool. For a small group the question is how many bedrooms and how much outdoor space you will really use.
Can you use the spa without staying?
Yes, with a treatment: Maybourne has said since 2024 that the spa welcomes outside guests, and treatments of 90 minutes or more include up to 2 hours in the spa beforehand (spa). There is no published price for the pool alone.
Can children use the pool?
Yes, during family swimming from 8am to 10am. The pool is indoors and heated; the hotel gives no minimum age.
Can you bring a dog?
Yes, one well-behaved dog per room; above 7 kg it is at the management’s discretion, and the final clean costs £160 plus VAT. Dogs may not be left alone or enter the spa, pool and gym, and they are not allowed in the Foyer.
How much is a night at Claridge’s?
For one night taken alone for 2 adults, Google’s lowest sellers showed £714 to £728 for 21–27 March 2027, read on 13 October 2026; room and meal plan unspecified. The calendar ends on 30 September 2027; 12 and 25 December 2026 were £3,040, and 24 December had no price. Booked as 7 nights from 16 November 2026, the lowest seller Google listed that day asked £1,805 a night; the hotel’s own listing, £1,980.
Is breakfast included?
It depends on the rate. The Art of Dining offer includes a daily English breakfast for 2 and a dining credit; on other rates, check the breakfast line before you pay.
Is there a family offer?
Yes. With A Family Story, booking a suite with one bedroom for the adults, a second room for children up to 16 is free, connecting or nearby subject to availability, for stays of 2 to 5 nights.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 3pm, check-out by noon.
How late can you cancel?
The deadline changes with room, rate and season: Maybourne shows it when you book, before you pay.
Is it better to book on the official site?
The official site has offers the portals do not, such as The Art of Dining and A Family Story; the lowest price seen on Google Hotels did not say what it included. The fair comparison is 2 totals for the same room, with breakfast and cancellation.
Can you hold a wedding or an event at Claridge’s?
Yes. The art deco Ballroom, English Heritage-listed, takes 60 to 500 guests over 243 m²; the Drawing Room, with its fireplaces and the Lady in Blue portrait, 40 to 120; the French Salon 38 to 120; the St James Room up to 20 at table. Food and drink are priced in the 2026 Private Events Menu, with a discretionary 15% service charge added; room hire comes with the events team’s quote.
Is it open all year?
Yes, with no seasonal closure; from November to January the Foyer serves the Festive tea in place of the usual one.
Is there a beach or a golf course?
No, it is a hotel in central London. For a swim there is the spa pool; for green, Hyde Park 10 minutes’ walk away.
What does Claridge’s do for New Year?
On 28 September 2026 the official site did not yet publish a New Year’s Eve programme: it published the Festive Afternoon Tea, served from 3 November to 3 January, from £120 on weekdays and £130 at weekends.
Where can you park?
The hotel points drivers to the nearby ParkBee car park.
More hotels in the guide
The Langham, London
Europe’s first grand hotel, of 1865: tea in Palm Court, Artesian and a pool in an old bank vault, 5 minutes from Oxford Circus.
The Connaught
The Carlos Place hotel with the Connaught Bar, 10th in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, Hélène Darroze’s 3 stars and an Aman pool below the street.
The Ritz London
The 1906 grand hotel on Green Park: tea from £95, since June 2026 in William Kent House, a 2-star restaurant and a refurbishment still under way.
Rosewood London
The former Pearl Assurance headquarters on High Holborn: in through a courtyard, dogs stay free and Scarfes Bar is one of London’s most decorated bars.
The Ned London
Lutyens’ Midland Bank at Bank: 8 restaurants in the hall, a spa with a 20-metre pool for direct bookers, and a rooftop kept for members.
Raffles London at The OWO
Churchill’s Old War Office on Whitehall: 9 restaurants, Paper Moon among them, and a Guerlain spa with a 20-metre pool included with the room.
The Savoy
Tea under Gallery’s dome, the American Bar of 1893 and 263 rooms between Covent Garden and the Thames.
The Dorchester
Tea under Liberace’s piano, Alain Ducasse’s 3 stars and 241 rooms and suites renewed opposite Hyde Park.
Shangri-La The Shard, London
Levels 34 to 52 of The Shard: 202 rooms to choose by the side they face, and an infinity pool at the top.
Cliveden House
The Astors’ house of 1666 and the Profumo scandal, above the Thames 40 minutes from London: 2 pools, tea over the Parterre and 376 acres of National Trust land.
Chewton Glen
The 18th-century house on the edge of the New Forest: 14 treehouses with hot tubs, a 17-metre pool and a woodland path to the sea.
Gleneagles
The 1924 railway hotel on 850 acres in Perthshire: 3 championship courses, hawks and horses, breakfast included and a station 6 minutes away.