Surrey is well supplied with country houses that serve a proper afternoon tea, and the choice comes down to three things: how much you want to spend, how grand you want the room to be, and whether you need a weekday or a weekend. Prices below come from each venue's own pages where we have them, and they do change, so check before you book.
The price bands at a glance
Around £33 to £38: Oatlands Park, Weybridge (from £32.95) and Barnett Hill, near Guildford (£38).
Around £42 to £45: Foxhills, Ottershaw (£42 Monday to Thursday, £45 Friday to Sunday).
Around £52: Great Fosters, Egham.
£59 to £79: Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, according to SquareMeal.
Champagne versions across these places run from roughly £48 to £64. Children's teas are typically £15 to £25.
Great Fosters, Egham
On Stroude Road, Great Fosters is a Grade I listed house built as a royal hunting lodge in 1550, set in 50 acres. Afternoon tea is £52 a head, or £64 with champagne, served daily from 12 noon to 4pm. You sit in the Anne Boleyn Drawing Room, the Garden Room or the Cocktail Bar, and in summer on the terrace overlooking the parterres. Sotheby's Realty's journal says the tea has become a fixture in its own right among the topiary gardens.
Two practical points: children's tea (£25, up to age 12) needs 24 hours' notice, with no same-day bookings, and a doggy afternoon tea is available from £20 per dog when booked alongside a human tea. Smart casual is the listed dress code. A reviewer has mentioned a 12.5% service charge, so ask when you book. Egham is the nearest station.
Foxhills, Ottershaw
The Manor at Foxhills, on Stonehill Road, is a 19th-century house where tea is served in the Manor House, on the patio or by the fire. The hotel's afternoon tea page gives £42 Monday to Thursday and £45 Friday to Sunday, with young guests at £18 and an English sparkling wine upgrade at £54 or £57. Earlier menus showed lower prices, so confirm when you reserve. Reservations are encouraged.
Foxhills says there is no specific dress code, but suggests smart, relaxed outfits and steering clear of shorts, ripped jeans, trainers and hoodies. That is useful guidance for anyone unsure how dressed up to be.
Pennyhill Park, Bagshot
The top of the price range. Afternoon tea is served daily from 12.30pm to 4.30pm at Hillfield, the bar and restaurant at Pennyhill Park on London Road, Bagshot. Surrey Live describes tea in the Hillfield Bar overlooking the spa. SquareMeal lists £59 a person for the standard tea and £79 for the ultimate version. The hotel also promotes woodfired afternoon snacks on the Lily Pond Terrace. It suits a long, special occasion rather than a casual catch-up, and with 300 free parking spaces, the car is easy.
Barnett Hill, near Guildford
A Queen Anne-style mansion built in 1905, on Blackheath Lane in the Surrey Hills, with 26 acres of grounds. Afternoon tea is £38, or £48 with champagne, served from 12 noon to 4.30pm. You take it in the lounges, or on the garden terrace when the weather allows. It is one of the more accessible prices for a country house setting.
Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge
At 146 Oatlands Drive, the Grade II listed hotel stands on the site of Henry VIII's Tudor palace. Tea is served in the Mulberry Restaurant overlooking Broadwater Lake, from £32.95 for adults and £15 for children under 12. Classic, vegetarian and vegan versions are offered, with a Laurent-Perrier champagne upgrade. Listings give Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 4.30pm, and smart casual dress. Dietary requests such as gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free should be pre-booked. Weybridge and Walton stations are both close.
The Ivy Castle View, Guildford
Not a country house, but a sensible town choice. In the Tunsgate Quarter, 98 to 110 High Street, Guildford, it serves tea in the Brasserie with views of Guildford Castle, noted by Surrey Live. SquareMeal gives £35.95 a person, or £45.95 with a glass of champagne. Listings suggest 3pm to 5pm daily. The station is a 12-minute walk, so it works well for a shopping day.
Booking and what to wear
Book ahead for weekends and any celebration, and ask about dietary needs at the time.
Smart casual is the usual standard. No venue we found asks for jackets or ties.
Always check the current price and serving days on the venue's own site, as menus and prices are revised.
For a first visit, Great Fosters suits those who want history and gardens, Foxhills those who want a relaxed house with clear guidance, and Barnett Hill or Oatlands those who want a country house setting at a gentler price.
More listings are on Visit Surrey, and Surrey Live's round-up covers more. Prices and hours for the venues above are on Great Fosters and Foxhills.
