How to choose the best vegetarian afternoon tea in London

Looking for the best vegetarian afternoon tea in London? You've probably searched high and low, scrolling through reviews and wondering what actually makes a vegetarian afternoon tea experience worth your time and money.

Here's the thing: "best" is subjective. But choosing the right vegetarian afternoon tea for you doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you care most about the menu, the setting, the experience, or the convenience, we've created this guide to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

What is included in a vegetarian afternoon tea?

A proper vegetarian afternoon tea experience follows the traditional structure of classic English afternoon tea, just with thoughtfully prepared vegetarian options instead.

Expect three components:

• Savoury sandwiches: The vegetarian afternoon tea sandwiches are the stars of the show. These delicate finger sandwiches are prepared fresh daily with fillings like cucumber and cream cheese, goat's cheese and herbs, egg and cress, and seasonal quiches. At Brigit's Bakery, we don't treat this as 'simple food' - we carefully prepare all our food with fresh ingredients and take pride in presenting it beautifully.
• Sweet treats: The second tier features an assortment of mini cakes and tarts - think mixed fruit tarts with crème pâtissière, carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and raspberry domes with white chocolate ganache. These showcase the skill of our experienced pastry chefs and are always freshly baked daily.
• Freshly baked scones: The finale is always warm, freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and jam. At Brigit's Bakery, this is a true non-negotiable for a proper afternoon tea experience.

All of this comes with your choice of loose leaf tea, freshly made coffee, or hot chocolate. Add Prosecco or Champagne to make it extra special (note: on bus tours, drinks must be pre-ordered at booking).

In case you're wondering, at Brigit's Bakery, our vegetarian afternoon tea menu includes all of this, prepared fresh daily by our French-trained pastry chefs using classic techniques and beautiful presentation. Every component is designed to create a memorable experience.

Where can you enjoy the best vegetarian afternoon tea in London?

The setting matters. Brigit's Bakery offers vegetarian afternoon tea in multiple ways, depending on what you're looking for.

At our Covent Garden Bakery

A welcoming tea room in the heart of London's theatre district. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon with friends, family gatherings, or special occasions. You're surrounded by the charm of a traditional bakery while being close to shops, theatres, and attractions.

Aboard our Routemaster Bus Tours

This is where the vegetarian afternoon tea experience becomes truly unique. Imagine enjoying your savoury sandwiches, sweet treats, and loose leaf tea while touring past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. It's traditional afternoon tea combined with iconic London sightseeing - something you won't find anywhere else.

Delivered to your door

For intimate celebrations or home entertaining, our vegetarian afternoon tea delivery service brings everything to you, complete with ceramic mugs and all the trimmings.

As an Afternoon Tea Picnic

Perfect for sunny days, our beautifully packaged vegetarian picnic includes all the essentials and is ready to pick up with just 24 hours' notice.

Is vegetarian afternoon tea different from vegan afternoon tea?

Yes, and it's important to understand the difference.

Vegetarian afternoon tea excludes meat and fish but includes dairy products (like cream, cheese, and butter in the scones). This is what most people mean when they ask for vegetarian options.

Vegan afternoon tea goes further - it excludes all animal products, including dairy, eggs, and honey. This means vegan cream instead of clotted cream, plant-based spreads instead of butter, and creative alternatives for traditionally dairy-heavy items like pastries and scones.

Both are delicious, but they're different experiences. If you're vegetarian for ethical reasons but eat dairy, vegetarian afternoon tea is for you. If you follow a fully plant-based diet, vegan afternoon tea means everything aligns with your values.

When booking, make sure you select the right dietary option. At Brigit's Bakery, we offer both vegetarian and vegan menus, so you can choose what works best for you.

Do I need to book vegetarian afternoon tea in advance?

Yes. When you book vegetarian afternoon tea with Brigit's Bakery, you're not just reserving a seat or table - you're ordering your specific experience. This means selecting your vegetarian menu upfront so our kitchen can prepare everything fresh, just for you.

Booking ahead is essential, and here's why: afternoon tea isn't something we prepare in bulk and serve from a display case. Our French-trained pastry chefs bake scones fresh, craft savoury sandwiches to order, and prepare delicate pastries specifically for your group. We need to know in advance how many guests are coming, and what dietary options you need, with a choice between Traditional, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, or Halal.

• For our bus tours especially, capacity is limited and they fill up quickly - particularly weekend departures and themed tours. Booking guarantees your preferred date and time.
• For our Covent Garden bakery, booking ensures you have a reserved table without waiting, and it gives our team time to prepare everything fresh.
• For delivery and picnic options, we need at least 24 hours' notice to prepare your afternoon tea to the same high standards as everything else we create.

Why choose Brigit's for vegetarian afternoon tea in London?

We've been creating memorable afternoon tea experiences since 2014. Our approach goes beyond just serving food - we're focused on creating joyful memories through unique experiences and handcrafted treats.

Want more reasons to choose us?

• Brigit's Bakery is SALSA approved, meaning we meet the highest standards in food safety, quality, and preparation. Our team brings 15 years of hospitality experience and a strong family background in hotels and restaurants.
• We bring exceptional expertise to the table (literally)! Our French-trained pastry chefs bake fresh daily, using classic techniques and refined presentation to create elegant patisserie and delicate flavours. Every vegetarian afternoon tea is thoughtfully prepared to deliver a memorable English experience.
• Plus, we believe afternoon tea should be about more than delicious food. It should create joyful memories and bring people together - that's why our motto is #MakingLondonSmile.

Vegetarian afternoon tea menu review

Here are some kind words from one of our lovely customers about our vegetarian afternoon tea menu:

"[...] Staff were fantastic, attentive and on the ball despite a bus full of excited people! The food was lovely, my vegetarian afternoon tea was yummy and my meat eating other half kept eyeballing my sandwiches. There were so many extra touches on the tables [...] it made the whole experience so special. Absolutely recommend!" - Emma B.

FAQs about vegetarian afternoon tea in London

Can I book vegetarian afternoon tea on the bus tours?

Yes, but only at the point of booking - unfortunately, we are unable to change your selected menu once on board. When booking any of our afternoon tea bus tours, simply select the vegetarian menu under dietary options. Our savoury sandwiches and sweet treats are freshly prepared to order.

What if I have other dietary requirements?

As well as Vegetarian, we offer Traditional, Vegan, Gluten-free, and Halal. Please specify your requirements when booking. For allergies, email bus@b-bakery.com to confirm with management.

How far in advance should I book?

We recommend booking 2-4 weeks ahead for weekend dates and popular times. For bus tours especially, spots fill up quickly. For delivery and picnic options, we need at least 24 hours' notice.

What makes your vegetarian afternoon tea special?

It's the combination of thoughtfully prepared vegetarian menus, French-trained pastry chefs who bake fresh daily, and multiple unique settings - from our Covent Garden bakery to vintage London buses. Plus, our commitment to hospitality and creating joyful memories sets us apart.

So, where will you be having your vegetarian afternoon tea menu?