What is the dress code for afternoon tea in London
I remember many years ago feeling very stressed because I didn’t know what to wear to a particularly well known hotel’s afternoon tea offering. It can be unclear what the dress code is for each as they vary from hotel to hotel so I have put together a short guide which should help if you are visiting London for the first time and want to know what to wear. It can also be tricky to navigate if you are wearing casual clothes while sightseeing around the rest of London so let me offer some advice.
If you’re going to get angry and resent a dress code then chances are you won’t enjoy that hotel. London has a whole range of venues on offer to suit every occasion.
Hotel website
Generally the large hotels in London do stipulate a dress code which will be clearly stated on their website. If it isn’t clear then by all means telephone the restaurant or tea room that the afternoon tea is hosted in. They will be able to tell you quickly what to wear, or what not to wear. You might think it won’t matter how you turn up but there are hotels which will not allow you across the threshold if you’re wearing trainers/running shoes for example.
Smart casual
If there isn’t a dress code stipulated, then the best and safest best is to opt for smart casual. This means that you’ll feel comfortable without being under or over dressed. Generally whenever I go to afternoon tea I will wear a tea dress with smart shoes. You don’t have to wear a tea dress, I just normally wear a lot of those style of dresses anyway. For men, smart jeans or chinos, a collared shirt and shoes is normally acceptable.
What about jeans?
A smart pair of jeans for men or women can be included under smart casual. I would avoid wearing anything ripped or that has large logos. You are not a brand. Ideally a more tailored pair would work best and a dark wash or black. Some hotels do not permit jeans but if the dress code is smart casual you should be fine.
Footwear
It’s hard to walk around London in a pair of heels and most of us Londonders wear flats and then change into heels whenever we arrive/or in a taxi. If you’re a tourist wearing comfortable trainers then you might want to bring a smarter pair of shoes with you if you’re heading out for the day and going for afternoon tea later in the day.
Clothes to avoid wearing
As a good rule of thumb, if you avoid wearing any of the following you should be okay. Avoid sportswear, shorts, trainers. Some places always won’t permit visible tattoos either so make sure these are covered up if that is the case.
In short - always check in advance!! No matter where you go for afternoon tea or what you wear, please do tag me on social media and let me know what you think. You can find me on Instagram or Facebook under ‘afternoontealondon’