For many visitors, no trip to London is complete without afternoon tea. Upmarket venues like Claridges and The Dorchester may be bucket list destinations – but not necessarily the best choice for a large family gathering. Which is how we come to be writing an afternoon tea at The Swan review.
The venue
The Swan is a riverfront bar and restaurant situated directly in front of the Tudor-style Globe Theatre. The restaurant is easily accessed from the Thames Path which runs directly in front of the building – and a short walk from our hotel.
The restaurant is spilt across two floors. The lower features booths and benches, more suited to casual drinks and dining. The upper floor is light and airy, with several tables split between three rooms. The décor is pale greens, creams and wood, understated and unassuming.
The front of the room is largely glass, providing a spectacular view of the north bank of the Thames. St Pauls Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge and the various City skyscrapers can all be seen from your seat.
The view from The Swan is something that none of the other ‘traditional’ London afternoon teas can offer.
The food
There are three afternoon tea options – classic, savoury and vegetarian. Our party had both classic and savoury options – and both were delicious.
Rather than recount the entire menu, these were the highlights:
- The Cashel blue and pear quiche is packed full of rich, creamy flavours.
- The Earl Grey and white chocolate mousse is a riot of colour, wrapped in bright purple icing and topped with a dark chocolate book.
- The fennel sausage and scotched quail egg.
Everything was tasty, but these three menu items are exceptional. You an find the full current menu here.
Top tip: Afternoon tea at The Swan includes free refills. The waiters will happily refill your teapots and food. If you run out of sandwiches or scones, you can always ask for more.
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The service
The waiters at The Swan are uniformly attentive and excellent. Special shoutout to Riyas who obliged by taking dozens of photos for our family gathering. Don’t be afraid to tell the team if you’re celebrating a special occasion – they may offer you a special bonus treat.
At the end of our tea, Riyas was more than happy to box up our leftovers so we could take them back to our hotel. Thanks to all the generous top-ups and refills, we still had a few cakey-bits to nibble on for morning tea the next day.
Top tip: Don’t let good food go to waste – you can take your leftovers away.
Linda’s comment
It was great and our waiter was really friendly. Limitless sandwiches and scones are great.
Price and value
Both Classic and Savoury afternoon teas currently cost £42.50 per head. That’s a lot cheaper than the well-known hotels – and you get an exceptional view as a bonus.
Our verdict
This is the second time Linda and I have had afternoon tea at The Swan and we would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants the traditional experience without the high-end price tag. The staff were incredibly accommodating, making for a genuinely superb family gathering.
The Swan may lack some of the cachet associated with London’s top hotels, but the food, service and view more than make up for it. The Swan has also been awarded a spot on OpenTable’s Top 100 Brunch & Lunch Restaurants list, proving our excellent experience is not a one-off event.
If you’re headed south of the River, or simply looking for a spot that most tourists miss, The Swan is a great place to experience a traditional afternoon tea.
Accessibility info
Accessing The Swan means entering via the side door of the Globe Theatre complex, then taking a lift up to the first floor. Some of the turning angles and corridors are quite tight, creating tricky driving conditions for Linda on her scooter.
Wheelchair users may wish to advise The Swan’s management team of any specific accessibility needs in advance so that they can ensure you have a suitable table allocation.
Getting to afternoon tea at The Swan at The Globe
Address: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT
Telephone: +44 020 7928 9444
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.swanlondon.co.uk
What3Words (accessible entrance): ///wash.sparks.first
Nearest Underground station: London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines). Alternatively, disembark at Blackfriars or Mansion House (Circle and District lines) and walk across the Millennium Bridge to admire spectacular views of the River Thames.
Afternoon tea is served Monday-Saturday between 12pm and 5pm. Advance booking is recommended.
Afternoon tea at The Swan FAQs
A traditional English afternoon tea is served on a tiered set of plates. One starts at the bottom layer (savoury) and works their way upwards through scones to the pastries and cakes.
The Swan does not operate a strict dress code, but like any venue, they reserve the right to refuse entry if required. But why not dress up if you want to maximise the experience?
Yes! Feel free to ask your waiter for additional sandwiches or scones at no extra cost. They will also top up your teapot with hot water if you run low.
No. A 12.5% discretionary service fee will be added to your bill.
The Swan was happy to accommodate our group of eight. You can also pre-book a separate seating area for very large parties. Contact the management team to discuss your requirements.
Yes. The restaurant is fully accessible by wheelchair and the waiting staff are extremely accommodating. If in doubt, contact the venue for further details.
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