Best afternoon tea delivery 2024

From classic Devon cream teas and luxury biscuit hampers, to quirky selection boxes and alternative dietary options, our review of the best cream teas at home encompasses a wide range of brands across the country, incorporating well known outlets and more local offerings. So as well as indulging your sweet tooth, you'll be helping to support local businesses, which should certainly add to the feel-good factor. Feast your eyes on this sumptuous spread of afternoon teas by post and prepare to strike up that classic scone debate from home: jam or cream first?

We've also got plenty more foodie inspiration to enjoy at home, including the best online cake delivery services and the best best tea Advent calendars for a festive treat for tea-lovers. as well as vegan hampers, chocolate gifts and best gift delivery for foodies. From letterbox brownies to beer boxes and gin subscriptions, these tempting treats are sure to brighten up your post.

Still dreaming of going out for afternoon tea? We've got you covered with these reviews of the best afternoon teas in London and best afternoon teas in the UK. Make your own teatime spread with our inspiring afternoon tea recipes. Looking for a birthday gift? We've rounded up the best foodie birthday gifts.

Jump to:

• Best afternoon tea deliveries at a glance
• Best afternoon tea deliveries in the UK to try in 2024
• Is cream tea the same as afternoon tea?

Best afternoon tea deliveries at a glance

• Best Yorkshire afternoon tea hamper: Made in Oldstead The Afternoon Tea Hamper, £35
• Best classic afternoon tea delivery for gifting: Cutter & Squidge afternoon tea at home, £31.99
• Best afternoon tea delivery if you don’t like scones: Dukeshill Afternoon Tea hamper, £66
• Best bakery afternoon tea delivery: Fitzbillies afternoon tea, from £35
• Best afternoon tea delivery for families: Devon Hampers family cream tea gift hamper, £34.50
• Best letterbox afternoon tea delivery: M&S afternoon tea letterbox, £20
• Best afternoon tea delivery if you don’t like sandwiches: Piglets Pantry classic afternoon tea, £41.50
• Best Cotswolds afternoon tea: Huffkins afternoon tea treats hamper box, £37
• Best traditional Devon afternoon tea: Devon Heaven afternoon tea hamper, £30
• Best modern afternoon tea delivery: Sketch afternoon tea, £55
• Best Welsh afternoon tea delivery: Daffodil Foods Deluxe Welsh Afternoon Tea Gift Box, £25
• Best blowout afternoon tea delivery: The English Cream Tea Company Banoffee Edition Afternoon Cream Tea, £83.75
• Best vegan afternoon tea delivery: Piglets Pantry vegan afternoon tea, £32.50

Best afternoon tea deliveries in the UK to try in 2024

Made in Oldstead The Afternoon Tea Hamper

• Available from Made in Oldstead (£35)

Best Yorkshire afternoon tea hamper

Made in Oldstead comes from a five-generation farm in the heart of Yorkshire, led by Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks. As you’d expect from this combination of high-quality British produce and the best cooking techniques, their hampers are delicious and pretty unique. In place of scones you’ll find mini Yorkshire Tea fruit cakes to go alongside Speedy Breakfast tea from the Rare Tea Company. A standout favourite for us was the lemon verbena shortbread made with lemon verbena-infused sugar for an uplifting and highly dunkable treat.

Available from:
Made in Oldstead (£35)

Cutter & Squidge Afternoon Tea At Home

• Available from Cutter & Squidge (from £31.99 for two people)

Best classic afternoon tea delivery for gifting

Renowned for its beautiful array of cakes and bakes, London institution Cutter & Squidge's afternoon tea at home does not disappoint. This high quality, yet affordable offering for two is available throughout the UK. For just under £30, you can enjoy a classic combination of buttery scones with Rodda's clotted cream, Cutter & Squidge's strawberry jam and the brand's own fine loose leaf English Breakfast tea. An added luxury are the two melt-in-the-mouth lemon drizzle loaf cakes and rich, chocolatey brownies, which provide a satisfyingly sweet ending to the tea. All comes packaged in a cheerful orange box and the food is kept chilled with ice packs, so make sure to warm your scones in the oven for 5-7 minutes before serving.

Available from:
Cutter & Squidge (from £31.99 for two people)

DukesHill Afternoon Tea Hamper

• Available from DukesHill (£66)

Best afternoon tea hamper if you don’t like scones

Scones aren’t for everybody, so this decadent hamper is packed with different treats to create an afternoon tea feast. Start with the light fruit cake studded with squidgy sultanas and mixed fruit. Our standout item was the rich slab of chocolate tiffin topped with fudgy chocolate icing – you won’t be able to resist sneaking back to slice yourself second helpings! A tray of sticky golden flapjacks is equally hard to resist, whilst a chic box of chocolate mendiants and buttery Scottish shortbread have longer shelf lives so you can make the treats last longer. A box of Darjeeling teabags is included to wash it all down. It is all delivered in a smart wicker basket that you can keep as handy storage, and also makes it easy to hand deliver to a lucky loved one if giving as a gift.

Available from:
DukesHill (£66)

Fitzbillies Afternoon Tea

• Available from Fitzbillies (from £35)

Best bakery afternoon tea delivery

Fitzbillies is an institution in Cambridge, having been open for over 100 years. Now you don't have to be in the city to enjoy their famous baked goods, with nationwide delivery of their cakes, buns and more. Bring the tearoom to you with a Fitzbillies afternoon tea delivery, available for two, four or eight people.

We tried the afternoon tea for two. Arriving in a Fitzbillies' signature teal box, there is plenty in here to please a sweet tooth. Fruity scones are large and soft, ready to be topped with the mini jam and clotted cream. Squidgy lemon loaf cakes are topped with a thick layer of tangy icing and a box of macarons is perfect for sharing. The highlight is the classic Chelsea buns that Fitzbillies is famous for – reheat with their sticky syrup for an indulgent treat.

Available from:
Fitzbillies (from £35)

Devon Hampers family cream tea hamper

• Available from Devon Hampers (£34.50)

Devon and Cornwall are arguably the home of a classic cream tea, and this hamper makes the most of local produce from the south west. There is a large variety of hampers to choose from on Devon Hampers, with plenty of twists on the perfect afternoon tea so you're sure to find one that suits you. We tested the family cream tea hamper which has enough to generously serve four people and comes in a smart wicker basket. The classic scones (some of the largest we've seen!), strawberry jam and clotted cream are joined by fudge and chewy ginger biscuits. Alongside teabags, the tea also comes with two bottles of Luscombe lemonade – perfect if you're having the tea with children.

Available from:
Devon Hampers (£34.50)

Marks & Spencer afternoon tea letterbox

• Available from Marks & Spencer (£20)

Best letterbox afternoon tea delivery

Know someone who can’t resist popping into M&S for treats during their lunch hour or on road trips? This afternoon tea-inspired letterbox delivery would make the perfect gift. Although not complete with classic scones and jam, for just £20, you’ll get a box filled with classic M&S cakes and bakes, along with teabags. The buttery Viennese swirls will disappear incredibly quickly, followed by the classic Victoria sponge slices, fudgy chocolate brownies and iced carrot cakes, with 2 of each to share. A bag of buttery shortbread fingers keeps the tea going until the next day too. The individual slices do make more plastic packaging but are good for taking on the go. A simple, wallet-friendly way to post an afternoon tea to a friend who can't get to an M&S themselves.

Available from:
Marks & Spencer (£20)

Piglets Pantry Classic Afternoon Tea for Two

• Available from Virgin Experience Days (£41.50), Red Letter Days (£34.99)

Best afternoon tea delivery if you don’t like sandwiches

For lovers of a savoury snack, this pastry-packed afternoon tea box, available through Virgin Experience Days, is sure to impress. An award-winning food producer based in West Sussex, Piglets Pantry was initially know for its artisan handmade pies and pastries, but has now extended its range to bespoke hampers and afternoon tea boxes. After unwrapping the eye-catching pink packaging, you'll discover a splendid array of sausage rolls, scotch eggs and quiches in place of traditional sandwiches. These are accompanied by plain buttermilk scones and a selection of four dainty loaf cakes. A particular highlight is the generously filled mini sausage rolls with cheese and pickle. On the sweet side, we can't get enough of the beautifully moist carrot cake with thick soft cheese frosting. With such a handsome selection of goodies, it's best to tackle this takeaway hungry.

Available from:
Virgin Experience Days (£41.50 for 2)
Red Letter Days (£34.99)

Huffkins afternoon tea treats hamper box

• Available from Huffkins (£37)

Best Cotswolds afternoon tea

Huffkins is a popular string of family bakeries based in the Cotswolds, who also do a tempting range of gifts, hampers and cakes all available online for delivery. We tested out their afternoon tea treats hamper - a simple box of scones, jam, clotted cream and millionaires shortbread. The four scones (two fruit, two plain) were large and fluffy and we particularly appreciated the generous full-sized jar of jam instead of a little miniature. You might want a little extra clotted cream if sharing between four. The highlight of the tea for us was the rich, buttery millionaire’s shortbread - four generous slices that disappeared very quickly. This can also be bought on it’s own if you miss it once it’s gone! The hamper also includes 15 teabags for sipping alongside the sweet treats. The quality and care for ingredients is clear and it's a great simple option for an afternoon tea delivery.

Available from:
Huffkins (£37)

Devon Heaven Afternoon Tea Hamper

• Available from Devon Heaven (£30 for 2-4 people)

Best traditional Devon afternoon tea

A traditional cream tea hailing straight from the heart of the West Country. This award-winning hamper from Devon Heaven delivers all the classic components whilst showcasing the best of the area's produce. The four buttermilk scones are made by local chef Richard Hunt and are a cross between Devon splits and the standard scone, giving them a lighter texture which doesn't crumble apart. The jam is made from Devon-grown strawberries, whilst a generously sized container of clotted cream comes courtesy of Jersey and Guernsey cows on the local Langage Farm. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy rounding off the experience with a selection of treats: a pack of crisp shortbread with strawberry centres, two mini chocolate brownie pieces and our personal favourite, two flapjacks topped with a generous layer of yogurt icing.

If you want an extra layer of luxury, why not splash out on the Prosecco & Truffles Afternoon Tea (£55) or Celebration Cream Tea (£70)– both hampers come with an additional selection of sweet treats and bottles of bubbly.

Available from:
Devon Heaven (£30 for 2-4 people)

Sketch MMmm... Afternoon Tea

• Available from Sketch (£55)

Best modern afternoon tea delivery

Looking for an afternoon tea with a difference? Sketch's exquisite hamper offers a taste of Mayfair luxury from the comfort of your home. Housed in a stylish pink box, it comprises a seasonal selection of delightful patisserie, fingers sandwiches and savoury buns alongside a star-shaped scone, fruity preserve and clotted cream. Flavours change seasonally and you can pick your scone and jam preferences. From a delicate bergamot macaroon and lusciously light chocolate buckwheat cake to truffle buns, egg gougères and cherry Battenberg, this tea takes your tastebuds on a fun and flavourful journey. A rich and creamy blend of JING-Yunnan Gold tea is included to wash it down, but you can also order a bottle of Pommery POP Champagne (additional £15) or Pommery POP Rose Champagne (£19) for some extra pizzaz. As well as the original afternoon tea, sketch is offering a vegetarian and a pescatarian alternative.

Available from:
Sketch (£55)

Daffodil Foods Deluxe Welsh Afternoon Tea Gift Box

• Available from Daffodil Foods (£25)

Best Welsh afternoon tea delivery

Break away from the traditional and sample a mouthwatering array of Welsh teatime treats. Based on the beautiful Llyn Peninsula in the foothills of Snowdonia, Daffodil Foods is a family business that produce its own desserts, compotes and dairy products, as well as partnering with Welsh food service companies and bakeries to showcase the best of the country's produce. The brand's recently launched clotted cream and own brand raspberry compote are included in the afternoon tea box, along with award-winning bara brith from Popty bakery, Welsh cakes, scones, Welsh mature cheddar, salted Welsh butter and fair-trade tea bags. The attractive Daffodil designed gift box allows you to personalise the delivery with greeting cards, ribbons and gift wrapping, making it ideal for treating someone special.

Available from:
Daffodil Foods (£25 for two people)

The English Cream Tea Company Banoffee Edition Afternoon Cream Tea

• Available from The English Cream Tea Company (£83.75)

Best blowout afternoon tea delivery

For lovers of banoffee pie, this delicious offering from The English Cream Tea Company is a dreamy affair and makes a fun alternative to traditional afternoon tea. Star of the show are the special edition banana and coffee scones, which come with soft toffee mixture, fresh clotted cream and banana, ready for you to assemble at home. Also included are more classic components like luxury afternoon teabags, shortbread, meringue whirls and dainty finger sandwiches. Round it off with some award-winning brownies and moist lemon drizzle slices and you'll be left feeling fully satiated and satisfied. If banoffee isn't your favourite flavour, there are also classic and vegan versions of the afternoon tea available, and you can add champagne to any of the hampers for an extra £36.

Available from:
The English Cream Tea Company (£83.75 for two people)

Piglets Pantry Vegan Afternoon Tea

• Available from Piglets Pantry (£32.50 for two people)

Best vegan afternoon tea delivery

Looking for a vegan afternoon tea? Treat yourself to a stunning spread of dairy- and egg-free delights from Piglets Pantry. As well as the classic offering mentioned above, this purveyor of fine pastries also includes a range of free-from options. The seasonally changing vegan tea comes complete with light and fluffy scones and whipped vegan ‘butter’, gorgeously spongy loaf cakes and a set of savoury pastries. For us, the highlights are the veggie-packed scotch ‘eggs’ and flavourful leek and tarragon tarts finished with a beautifully crisp pastry - flavours change seasonally. Perfect for a Mother’s Day celebration or special event, this tea is sure to be enjoyed whether you're following a vegan diet or not.

Available from:
Piglets Pantry (£32.50 for two people)

Is cream tea the same as afternoon tea?

Cream tea and afternoon tea are very similar, with a few key differences that are important to keep in mind when ordering your delivery.

A cream tea refers to tea accompanied by scones, clotted cream and jam, whereas afternoon tea usually includes some savouries like finger sandwiches, sausages rolls or quiche, as well as some extra sweet treats or cakes.

It could be understood that an afternoon tea is more like a whole meal with different course, while a cream tea is more of a mid-afternoon snack. Both are delicious.

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