Afternoon Tea in York: Where to Book, Checked October 2026

The places most people look for afternoon tea in York are Bettys in St Helen’s Square, served upstairs by reservation; The Grand by the city walls, which says it won Condé Nast Johansens’ Best Afternoon Tea 2026; Middlethorpe Hall, a National Trust house from 1699; and the Countess of York carriage inside the National Railway Museum. Every entry was checked against the venue’s own site on 27 October 2026.

We have not been to any of these for this guide, and nothing here is a review. Each entry gives what the venue says it serves, the prices and serving times it publishes, and what the public record adds: the Food Standards Agency hygiene rating and the history of the building. All nine hold a hygiene rating of 4 or 5. Where a venue’s own site does not give a price or time, we name the listing we used instead.

Historic houses and hotels

Middlethorpe Hall, Bishopthorpe Road

Middlethorpe Hall is a symmetrical red-brick house built in 1699 and owned by the National Trust since 2008 (Wikipedia); it is now a hotel. Its afternoon tea page describes “this traditional English ritual” served “in one of the grand public rooms of the historic hall”, with loose-leaf teas from Hoogly. The traditional afternoon tea is £40 a person; with a glass of prosecco £48, or champagne £54 to £57. Served Monday to Friday from 1.30pm to 5.30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 5.30pm. A discretionary 12.5% service charge is added. Book on 01904 641241. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 20 November 2025). Bishopthorpe Road, YO23 2GB.

The Grand, Station Rise

The Grand occupies the Edwardian former headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, built in 1906 and listed Grade II* (Wikipedia). Its afternoon tea page says it was “awarded ‘Best Afternoon Tea 2026’ by Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence” and serves it in The Rise, with views over the city walls. The autumn menu, running until 11 November, is £42.50; £52.50 to £57.50 with prosecco, champagne or English sparkling wine; and £26.50 for children up to 12. Served 12.30pm to 4pm. The hotel also runs a separate Wizarding Afternoon Tea. Book online or on 01904 380038. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 21 March 2025). Station Rise, YO1 6HT.

The Milner York, Station Road

The Milner is York’s original station hotel, a Grade II listed building completed in 1878 (Wikipedia), and was formerly the Principal. Its afternoon tea page offers a chocolate afternoon tea “inspired by York’s rich history as the ‘chocolate city’”, served in the Garden Room, which the hotel says looks across its lawns to the Minster. It is £34.95 with a hot drink, £39.95 with prosecco and £44.95 with champagne, served 12pm to 4pm. A children’s tea for under-12s is £12.95, must be booked alongside an adult tea and needs 24 hours’ notice. On the first Friday of each month a Twilight Afternoon Tea with a pianist runs from 6pm to 9pm, from £39.95. Reservations are recommended on 01904 653681. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 30 September 2025). Station Road, YO24 1AA.

Hotel du Vin, The Mount

Hotel du Vin is on The Mount, outside Micklegate Bar, in what AfternoonTea.co.uk describes as an early 19th-century Grade II listed mansion house. Its York page offers afternoon tea with “sweet and savoury delights alongside fine teas and coffees”. The hotel’s own page does not give a price; AfternoonTea.co.uk lists it from £29.95 a person, served Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 4pm, with teas developed with Bird & Blend, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus, and children of all ages welcome. It says bookings must be made in advance (AfternoonTea.co.uk). Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 18 February 2026). 89 The Mount, YO24 1BL.

Middletons, Skeldergate

Middletons is a city-centre hotel made up of several old buildings, including cottages named after Sir Joseph Terry of the chocolate family, and AfternoonTea.co.uk’s listing says it was Visit York’s Large Hotel of the Year in 2023. Its own site does not publish an afternoon tea page. AfternoonTea.co.uk lists a traditional afternoon tea from £26 a person, served daily from 12pm to 4pm in the conservatory, the lounge or on the terrace, with Yorkshire Tea, gluten-free versions on advance notice, children welcome and dogs allowed in the lounge (AfternoonTea.co.uk). Other listings give shorter hours, so ring 01904 611570 before you go. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 4 August 2025). 55-57 Skeldergate, YO1 6DS.

Tea rooms and restaurants in the centre

Bettys, St Helen’s Square

Bettys opened in York in 1937, and its room was inspired by the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary (Wikipedia). Afternoon tea is served upstairs in the Belmont Room by reservation only, from £39.95 a person, with children’s, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions and a pianist. AfternoonTea.co.uk lists serving times as 1pm to 5.30pm on Thursday, Friday and Sunday and 11am to 5.30pm on Saturday, says jeans are acceptable, and says the room has no step-free access but the ground floor can be made available (AfternoonTea.co.uk). Bettys’ own site would not load for us on 27 October, so check times and booking there. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 18 June 2025). 6-8 St Helen’s Square, YO1 8QP. Our listing.

The Ivy, St Helen’s Square

The Ivy St Helen’s Square, across the square from Bettys, is part of The Ivy Collection. AfternoonTea.co.uk describes art deco interiors with marble floors, and an afternoon tea on a three-tier stand of fruit scones, finger sandwiches and sweets with tea or coffee, from £33.50 a person, served 3pm to 5pm every day, with step-free access and children of all ages welcome (AfternoonTea.co.uk). The Ivy Collection site did not show the afternoon tea menu when we checked, and an OpenTable listing gives a seasonal tea at £35.95, so confirm the price when you book. Hygiene rating 4 (FSA, 25 April 2025), which means good. 2 St Helen’s Square, YO1 8QP. Our listing.

Partisan, Micklegate

Partisan describes itself as “a vibrant, independent coffee shop, licensed restaurant and arts space on Micklegate”, and says it serves “breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea every day of the week”. Its menu changes with the seasons and always has gluten-free and vegan dishes. It is the only independent cafe in this guide and the least formal: its website does not publish an afternoon tea price, so ask when you book. Open daily 9am to 3pm. Tables can be booked online or on 01904 629866. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 13 November 2025). 112 Micklegate, YO1 6JX. Our listing.

In a museum

Countess of York, National Railway Museum

The Countess of York is a restored railway carriage inside the museum’s Station Hall. The museum’s own page promises “crisp white tablecloths, silver teapots and fine-bone china” and a menu of sandwiches, savouries, miniature scones with Yorkshire strawberry preserve and clotted cream, and sweets including Stephenson’s ginger cake. The tea is £38.95 a person, or £46.50 with prosecco, and there is a separate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu at the same price. It opens Friday to Sunday; AfternoonTea.co.uk gives serving times of 10.30am to 4pm. Book online with no booking fee, or on 033 0058 0058. Museum entry itself is free. Hygiene rating 5 for the museum’s caterer (FSA, 14 July 2025). Leeman Road, YO26 4XJ.

How we chose

This is a list of the places people search for when they want afternoon tea in York, chosen on records anyone can check rather than on taste: the history of the building, published awards, how long a place has served afternoon tea, and its Food Standards Agency hygiene rating. Nothing rated below 3 was considered. We checked each venue’s own website on 27 October 2026 for prices, serving times and any closure notice. Where a site would not load or did not publish a price or time, we say so and name the listing we used, usually AfternoonTea.co.uk. Hygiene ratings come from the FSA register on the same day. Seasonal menus change, and Christmas afternoon teas start at several of these in November, so check before you book.

For more ideas, see York cafes and coffee shops, York restaurants, Sunday roast in York, York pubs, things to do in York and what’s on in York this month, or browse every cafe in our York business directory.

Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@theyorktimes.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions

How much is afternoon tea in York?

Prices published in October 2026 run from £26 a person at Middletons (according to AfternoonTea.co.uk) to £42.50 for the autumn afternoon tea at The Grand. Middlethorpe Hall charges £40, Bettys lists from £39.95, the Countess of York at the National Railway Museum £38.95 and The Milner’s chocolate afternoon tea £34.95. A glass of prosecco or champagne adds roughly £5 to £15.

Where can children have afternoon tea in York?

The Grand has a children’s autumn afternoon tea at £26.50 for under-12s, and The Milner has a children’s afternoon tea at £12.95 for under-12s, which must be booked with an adult tea and needs 24 hours’ notice. Bettys offers a children’s version too, according to AfternoonTea.co.uk.

Do you need to book afternoon tea at Bettys York?

Yes. AfternoonTea.co.uk says afternoon tea at Bettys York is served by reservation only, upstairs in the Belmont Room, from £39.95 a person. Bettys’ own website would not load for us on 27 October 2026, so check booking there.