Afternoon tea at The Connaught: Forever opulent and supremely charming

Like the Ritz, this is another popular choice that limits your visit, but you're able to squeeze a lot into your hour and forty-five sitting: Espelette, where the tea is served, is a conservatory, so it's a light and airy spot to enjoy yourself. They're serious about tea here, enough to have been awarded membership by the British Tea Council and to have won an 'Award of Excellence' from the Tea Guild, back in 2013. So if tea really is your thing, it's hard to better The Connaught. In a dream world, where pockets are bottomless, we'd use the lovely finger sandwiches – points for changing seasonally – and the fine, fine scones (fresh from the hotel's bakery), and not forgetting the cakes and pastries, as a hearty meal prior to a trip to their wonderful bar. Still, you're not us, so enjoy the afternoon tea exactly for what it is: a really rather splendid way to enjoy an afternoon.

Cheque out: from £60