How to throw an afternoon tea party

The basic kit

If you own a tiered cake stand, dust it off and make it your centrepiece. Otherwise, use your best crockery, lace-like doilies, folded napkins and place cards to make it special.

Charity shops are a good source for reasonably priced chintzy chinaware, to get that authentic ye olde tearoom look. Don't worry if the patterns are mismatched – it makes the event a little more hip. You'll need a teapot, teacups, cutlery and cake slicers for serving.

See our guide for tips on all the essential baking equipment you'll need and check out our review of the best cake stands for showcasing your bakes.

If you're looking to upgrade your kitchen kit, here are some of our tried, tested and top-rated favourites that would come in handy for throwing an afternoon tea party.

Setting the scene

Extend your table and dress it with a tablecloth. Fabric shops sell cheap spotted, floral and striped material by the metre, which can be very effective for this. String up some bunting or, if you're feeling ambitious, bake some edible bunting biscuits.

While you're at it, you could make some name-place cookies, icing them with your guests' names. Pop them in paper bags so your guests have a little present to take away, or just snaffle them as an entrée.

Coconut & cinnamon name-place cookies
Edible name-place biscuits

Arrival drinks

Make sure the sugar and milk is set on the table, ready to pour your guests a cuppa as they sit down. Offer a variety of teas, such as Earl Grey, chai, peppermint, camomile, fruit, herbal and, of course, English breakfast.

Iced tea makes for a more refreshing tipple in warmer weather, and adding a touch of Pimm's will really break the ice. You could also crack open the fizz and serve up a sloe gin royale or juice-based mimosa.

Warm up with more of our comforting tea recipes.

What to have for tea

There aren't any rules when it comes to the food, but a standard afternoon tea menu comprises a tier of sandwiches, a tier of cakes and one of scones or teacakes. But you could also throw in pastries, petits-fours or biscuits.

Don't wear yourself out by taking on too many ambitious bites. If you do feel like a challenge, make sure you get your timings right.

Sandwiches

While these require minimal effort, you can get ahead by prepping your sandwich fillings in advance, then assemble just before guests arrive to avoid the dreaded soggy sarnie.

Selection of summer sandwiches
Egg & cress club sandwich
Egg-less mayo sandwiches
Salmon club sandwich
Best ever crab sandwiches
Veggie BLT (bagel, lettuce & tomato)
Katsu sandos
Paneer & cheddar sandwich

Get inspiration for next-level sarnies from our sandwich recipes.

Scones

Scones are best eaten on the day and don't take long to make, but it may be helpful to spread the work of preparing your afternoon tea by freezing a batch, then defrosting them in a low oven. Serve warm with lashings of cream and jam – you could decant a pot of homemade preserve (see below) into a pretty bowl with a silver spoon for guests to help themselves.

Scones:

Classic scones with jam & clotted cream
Fruit scones
Rhubarb & custard scones
Walnut scones
Bakewell tart scones
Gluten-free scones

See our collection of scrumptious scone recipes.

Watch our video on how to make perfectly light and fluffy scones:

From classic strawberry to zingy blackcurrant, these fruity preserves are perfect for spreading liberally over scones and teacakes...

Jams:

Strawberry jam
Raspberry jam
Easy cherry jam
Rhubarb & ginger jam
Apple jam
Blackcurrant jam
Greengage jamDiscover even more jam recipes.

Teacakes & buns

Popular in the UK, these fruit-filled teatime treats are thought to be a refinement of the original ‘hand bread’: a shaped roll made on a flat tin. Enjoy slathered with butter, warm or cold (both equally delicious) alongside a warming cup of tea.

Simple recipes:

Teacakes
Tea loaf
Easy iced buns
Belgian buns
Vegan hot cross buns

Recipes requiring more effort:

Earl Grey teacakes
Stollen buns
St Lucia saffron buns
Cinnamon date, honey & pistachio babka buns
Ukrainian poppy seed buns

Rustle up teacakes for an afternoon tea or weekend treat using inspiration from our teacake recipes.

Biscuits

Shortbreads, cookies, gingernuts… take inspiration from memories of your childhood biscuit tin. These recipes all take less than an hour, so you can make them on the morning of your event. Alternatively, make the dough earlier in the week and freeze to simply bake and ice on the day.

Sugared flower shortbreads
Linzer cookies
Carrot cake cookies
Ginger cookie sandwiches with lemon mascarpone
Berry & chocolate loaded cookies
Strawberry & cream roly polys

Browse more biscuit recipes.

Pâtisserie

Just the mere mention of Parisian-standard pastry is enough to send shivers down the spine of your average home baker. If you're willing to take them on, prepare the pastry or biscuits the night before your afternoon tea.

Raspberry religieuse
Mini eclairs
Vanilla custard slices
Chinon apple tarts
Next level bakewell tart
Salted caramel & popcorn crumble choux buns
Creme brulée tartlets
Cannoli

Find more perfect pâtisserie recipes.

Cakes

Individual portions are key for the afternoon tea aesthetic, so bake a generous batch of dinky cakes that are prettily decorated. For a boozy twist, try our fabulous fondant fancies in three cocktail-themed flavours: strawberry daiquiri, piña colada and espresso martini.

More brilliant bakes:

Rose & pistachio cacen ffenest
Vegan simnel cake
Blood orange & poppy drizzle muffins
Easy caramel cake
Mini Victoria sponges
Coconut chai traybake
Strawberry & polenta cupcakes

Showstoppers

Every party needs some pizzazz. And what better way to pull out all the stops and elicit some much-wanted 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from your guests than to try one of our more challenging cake recipes. Some of these bakes will be so beautiful that no one will want to take the first bite. But once you've got the ball rolling, it'll be seconds and thirds for everyone.

Spiced hummingbird cake
Sea-salted chocolate & pecan tart
Blood orange & dark chocolate madeleines
Star anise meringues with mango coulis
Jubilee cake
Raspberry, lemon and frangipane tart
French apple tart

Try our most creative cake ideas for more interesting bakes.

More sweet treats

Oaty coconut cheesecake tart
Strawberry & elderflower semifreddo
Doughnut muffins
Easy chocolate tart
Lingonberry & ginger cheesecake pots
Seville meringue pie with pomegranate
Quick & easy tiramisu
Vegan date & chocolate bread & butter pudding

Savoury ideas

While sweet treats are a huge part of an afternoon tea party menu, savoury treats are equally as important. Try savoury sandwich fillers such as egg and cress, or delicious warm quiches.

Savoury muffins
Cheese & caramelised onion tart
Spinach, beetroot & goat’s cheese roulade
Roasted tomato, basil & parmesan quiche
Classic cheese scones

More afternoon tea ideas:

Afternoon tea recipe collection
Easiest ever afternoon tea
Budget afternoon tea ideas
Afternoon tea recipes with a twist
10 scone recipes you'll fall in love with
How to bake for a cake sale
Health benefits of rooibos tea

Or if you'd rather let someone else do the baking, see our review of the best afternoon teas in the UK.

Have you thrown your own afternoon tea party? Share your tips below...