Tourist Treats
31 August 2021
Looking for a sweet treat on your holidays, or want to indulge in a British classic? Our new study reveals where in the UK, according to customer data, you’ll find the best spot for the ultimate afternoon tea. It also found that the number one spot is…Dorset! So, if you’re off on your Dorset holidays this year, why not pop by the Garden Gate Tea Room for a spot of delicious afternoon tea?
With more Brits than ever looking to the UK for alternative travel options, indulging in this traditional dish is the perfect way to start supporting local businesses and tearooms while enjoying time away.
Whether you’re in the north or the south, the UK boasts plenty of spots to enjoy an afternoon tea. From Cardiff to Glasgow, from the traditional to the luxury, there’s a top-rated tearoom to enjoy in all the key tourist destinations.
Best Tea Rooms
North vs South
The north-south divide also exists in the realms of afternoon tea, as data reveals that the tea rooms in the north prove more popular amongst the public on average than those located in the south.
Based on TripAdvisor data, tea rooms in the north take the lead with an average popularity score of 2, compared to the south’s 1. The popularity score was calculated based on the number of customer reviews left, the average rating across each review, as well as the relevance of afternoon tea menu items across the cumulative reviews and ratings, and the average price.
The study also looked to name the top tearoom in each location, with the results showing that W Hamond Tea Rooms in Whitby has been named the UK’s best tearoom!
Tourist Destinations
Despite the results of the data, the south of course still boasts an excellent choice of destinations and tearooms for holiday-goers.
The top regions to enjoy an afternoon tea are:
1. Dorset
2. Cornwall
3. York
4. Whitby
5. Isle of Wight
Head down to Cornwall where you can enjoy a gorgeous spread at The Garden or to Dorset, where the Garden Gate Tea Room is loved by its customers, scoring 4.6/5 when it comes to reviews.
If you fancy a trip up north, why not indulge in a quintessential treat at Cup Merchant City in Glasgow? Or, head to Tea on the Green in York, and enjoy fantastic homemade cakes and scones.
Best Afternoon Tea Components
Some say there are no particular rules around what makes the perfect afternoon tea, while some strongly disagree. We looked at what makes the ultimate spread according to the top tearooms’ menu data, to see if there were any standout findings.
Whether you’re strictly cream first then jam, or prefer the Cornish way, scones are top of the list, followed by a classic cup of tea. One popular item that might rock the boat is prosecco which sits in fifth place - it seems that the UK loves a bit of bubbly with their afternoon tea.
Top Recipes
Fancy trying to make your own afternoon tea at home, or maybe you are looking to recreate one you tried whilst away? The staple of scones with clotted cream and jam proves the favourite afternoon tea recipe amongst budding home cooks, according to data from the nation’s leading recipe site.
Runner-up homemade favourites include a twist on the classic with cheese scones and an Italian infusion to the British tradition with tomato bruschetta.
Regardless of where you holiday this year, there are a plethora of gorgeous tearooms around the UK where you can indulge in a delicious afternoon tea. But if you do want to sample the best of the bunch in Dorset, find somewhere to stay with Dorset Coastal Cottages.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.