The Best Afternoon Tea in Durham

Afternoon tea makes a fine way to mark a birthday, a graduation or simply a slow afternoon in Durham. From a tea room on the river to grand hotels a little out of town, here are the best places to book.

In the centre

Chapters Tea Rooms on Elvet Bridge is the classic city-centre choice, a traditional tea room right by the river serving loose-leaf teas, sandwiches and cake stands a few steps from the peninsula. It is an easy stop after a morning at the cathedral.

By the river

Jozef's at the Radisson Blu on Framwellgate Waterside does a contemporary afternoon tea in a smart riverside setting, a comfortable spot for a treat with a view of the water and the viaduct.

Country-house tea

For something grander, three hotels on the edge of the city do afternoon tea in style. 61 Durham at Hallgarth Manor in Pittington sets its tea in a handsome country manor, while Ramside Hall at Carrville pairs its afternoon tea with extensive grounds and a spa. In the city itself, the Durham Marriott Royal County on Old Elvet offers a refined afternoon tea in a historic riverside hotel.

Booking

Afternoon tea is almost always by reservation, usually with a day or two's notice, and many venues offer sparkling or vegetarian and vegan options if you ask when booking. For more places to eat and drink across the city, see our full directory.