Five O'Clock Tea: Origins and Rituals of the English Tradition

Five O'Clock Tea, or Afternoon Tea, is one of England's best-known traditions: tea with light refreshments between lunch and dinner. Here is where the custom came from, what is served with the tea and where to try it in London.

Enjoy delicious treats over afternoon tea at the British Museum's Great Court restaurant. Enjoy a selection of organic teas, sandwiches, pastries and buns in this stylish restaurant.

Enquire about tour availability

Or take the opportunity to enjoy this outstanding English tradition during a tour of London on a classic double-decker bus.

Enquire about tour availability

The origins of Five O'Clock Tea

The tradition is associated with Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford and a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria. In the 1840s lunch was early and dinner late in the evening, so the duchess began asking for tea with bread and butter and cakes around five o'clock. She soon invited friends to join her, and the custom spread quickly among the aristocracy.

Today Afternoon Tea is served from midday to early evening, most often between 15:00 and 17:00. It should not be confused with High Tea, which historically was the hearty evening meal of working families after their shift, eaten at the high dining table.

The main thing on the table is, of course, the tea. Black tea is the most common choice: Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon or the Earl Grey blend flavoured with bergamot oil. The tea is brewed in a teapot, and milk and sugar are added to taste.

Traditions and etiquette

The food is served on a three-tier stand: small sandwiches with cucumber, egg or salmon at the bottom, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam in the middle, and cakes and biscuits on top. You eat from the bottom up.

Afternoon tea also has its etiquette. Stir the tea quietly with a back-and-forth motion rather than in circles, and do not leave the spoon in the cup: put it on the saucer. Scones are broken apart by hand rather than cut with a knife.

It is also important to consider etiquette regarding milk or sugar in tea: this is always a matter of personal choice.

Five O'Clock Tea today

Today, Five O'Clock Tea remains an important part of English culture and can be enjoyed in many restaurants, hotels and tea houses. It also serves as an opportunity to socialise and relax with family and friends.

Five O'Clock Tea is not just a cup of tea, but a great tradition preserved from past centuries that continues to bring pleasure and comfort in the modern world. This ritual is an integral part of British heritage and always welcomes guests in British homes and tea houses.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Afternoon Tea and High Tea?

Afternoon Tea is a light afternoon meal of sandwiches, scones and cakes. High Tea was historically the hearty evening meal of working families.

What goes on a scone first, cream or jam?

It is an old debate: in Devon the cream goes on first, in Cornwall the jam.