12 Best Afternoon Tea Spots in the Lake District

If you’re looking for a quintessential British experience, look no further than afternoon tea in the Lake District. It’s one of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon in the region.

You’ll find plenty of tea rooms and hotels offering their take on this classic ritual, from traditional scones and clotted cream to more unusual offerings like mini fish and chips or gin-paired cakes. I’ve gathered my pick of the best, combining my own personal favourites with recommendations from locals and fellow travellers.

Many of these spots sit in historic buildings or picturesque locations, with views across the fells and the region’s famous lakes. Find a cosy spot to warm up on a chilly day, or a sunny terrace to soak up the views, cup of tea in hand.

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At a glance

Map of the best Lake District afternoon tea spots

Use my map below to see where all of my recommended afternoon tea spots in the Lake District are based.

1. Cedar Manor, Windermere

Choose where you want to enjoy your afternoon cream tea: the hotel’s restaurant, lounge or garden. The menu features finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam, and a range of loose leaf teas from local suppliers, plus gluten-free and vegetarian options.

💡 Good to know: served Thursday to Monday, 13:30-16:00. Why not book a stay at Cedar Manor too, one of the best hotels in the Lake District.

2. The Wild Boar, Kendal

If you love the scones with jam and cream but aren’t too keen on finger sandwiches, The Wild Boar’s “Alternative Afternoon Tea” will be right up your street. 

Forget the usual sandwiches and dive into mini fish and chips, pork scratchings and pigs in blankets, finished off with traditional scones.

Cosy and inviting, this charming inn keeps the essentials of afternoon tea while adding a modern twist. On warmer days, opt for the “Alternative Afternoon Picnic” instead, a basket of delights you can take into their 72-acre private woodland.

💡 Good to know: served Monday to Friday, 12:00-15:15, and weekends 12:00-15:30.

3. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Cumbria

For a unique way to experience the stunning scenery of the Lake District while indulging in a cream tea, a trip on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a must.

This exclusive experience takes you along seven miles of dramatic landscapes to Dalegarth, with views of mountains, forests, rivers and several small villages along the way.

Choose the First Class Afternoon Tea and Steam Experience, or the simpler cream tea served at Dalegarth Café, both include home-baked scones with clotted cream and jam, plus tea or coffee served in a souvenir keep-cup to take home.

👉 Read my guide to the best things to do in the Lake District.

4. Storrs Hall Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere

This elegant Georgian mansion is set in 17 acres of landscaped gardens on the shores of Lake Windermere, with stunning views of the surrounding fells.

Afternoon tea is served in the sophisticated drawing room, restaurant or study, each with large windows overlooking the gardens and lake.

The menu features finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and delicate pastries and cakes, from £29.95pp. Add a glass of Prosecco (£8.75) or Champagne (£15) if you’re celebrating something.

💡 Good to know: served daily, 12:30-16:30. Read my full review of my stay at Storrs Hall.

5. Bassenthwaite Lake Station, Cockermouth

For a truly unique setting, head to Bassenthwaite Lake Station for afternoon tea in a carriage that could be straight out of the Orient Express.

Two beautifully decorated 1930s carriages, the Restaurant Carriage and the Salon Carriage, make up this art-deco tea room, with plush seating and vintage details throughout.

New for 2026, there’s also an Afternoon Tea double-decker bus tour, a two-hour circular route through Grasmere and back, if you fancy your tea on the move.

💡 Good to know: carriage teas served 11:00-15:00, £15pp deposit required at booking.

6. The Gaddum Restaurant, Windermere

This elegant restaurant sits in the former dining room of Brockhole House, a 19th-century property with Arts and Crafts interiors and beautiful gardens overlooking Lake Windermere. 

Afternoon tea is served in the Garden Room or the Orangery, both with wonderful views to the Lakeland fells and beyond.

The menu changes seasonally with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and there’s an excellent range of teas on offer, including British Mint & Caramel and Green Flamingo. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.

7. Mae’s Tearoom & Gallery, Uldale

8. The Lingholm Kitchen, Portinscale

The Lingholm Kitchen offers a quintessential Lake District afternoon tea with some added charm. It’s set in the idyllic grounds of the Lingholm Estate, once home to Beatrix Potter over ten summers and autumns.

She credited the estate’s walled garden as her inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and there’s now an outdoor gallery here dedicated to her work.

The menu covers classic afternoon tea treats: finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and a variety of cakes and pastries. What sets it apart is the location, overlooking Derwentwater, one of the most beautiful lakes in the whole of the Lake District.

💡 Good to know: afternoon tea must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

9. The Hazelmere Café, Grange-over-Sands

The Hazelmere Café has held a Tea Guild Award for its teas, and has been run by the Stubley family for 38 years, so it’s fair to say they know what they’re doing. 

Choose from Traditional Afternoon Tea, Cumbrian Cream Tea or the Children’s Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea, so the little ones don’t miss out.

The scones are a particular highlight, freshly baked and served warm with Lyth Valley damson preserve and clotted cream.

10. The Inn on the Lake, Glenridding

This four-star hotel sits on the shores of Ullswater, with 15 acres of grounds sweeping down to the water. Afternoon tea is served in the Orangery, a bright conservatory with floor-to-ceiling views over the lake, or on the outdoor terrace in summer.

The menu includes finger sandwiches, scones (with an orange and sultana option) and a variety of cakes and pastries. If you’re celebrating, add a glass of Prosecco or Champagne to the spread.

11. Shed One Distillery, Ulverston

If you’re a gin lover, you won’t want to miss Afternoon G&Tea at Shed One Distillery, which won Cumbria Tourism’s Experience of the Year for good reason. 

It comes with a welcome G&T, a distillery tour with owners Andy and Zoe, and a botanical-inspired afternoon tea built around flavours from their own gins, think juniper, elderflower and honey.

The whole menu is gluten-free and vegetarian as standard, with vegan options on request, and there’s a second G&T to send you off.

💡 Good to know: served at 14:00 on most Fridays and Saturdays only, booking essential.

12. Armathwaite Hall Hotel, Keswick

This stunning hotel sits on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake and offers a cosmopolitan take on the tradition, with flavours from around the globe running through the sandwiches, pastries and scones.

Prices run from £39pp for the traditional tea, £45pp with a glass of Prosecco, or £50pp with Champagne.

💡 Good to know: served daily, 12:30-17:00, with vegan and coeliac menus available on request.

Plan your Lake District afternoon tea

Whichever you choose, book ahead where you can, several of these spots take reservations days in advance during busy periods, especially at weekends.

Pair your tea with a lakeside walk or a scenic drive between towns, and you’ve got a classic Lake District afternoon sorted.

Planning a trip to this beautiful part of the UK? Read my Lake District guide or discover more of my articles on the region:

• Top things to do in the Lake District
• Best luxury hotels in the Lake District
• Prettiest towns and villages in the Lake District
• Most beautiful waterfalls in the Lake District
• Hidden gems in the Lake District