First introduced in the 19th century as a means of bridging the large gap between meals, afternoon tea was taken by the majority of people - although, of course, the contents of the spread available would differ greatly between classes according to what households were able to afford. While it is not as strictly observed in British households today, many hotels, restaurants and cafés offer an afternoon tea menu and it is still a popular pastime for both tourists and native Brits alike. Spreads today typically include a selection of savoury finger-sandwiches, pastries, cakes and indulgent scones with generous helpings of jams and cream, washed down with a pot of afternoon blend tea.

Browse our fabulous collection of afternoon tea recipes before hosting your own for friends and family. With delicious recipes including savoury Cheddar scones with pickled celery by Nathan Outlaw, delicious Battenberg cake and Adam Stokes' scrumptious Carrot and walnut cake.