The quintessentially British heritage of afternoon tea has surged in popularity in recent years. Once a treat reserved for the upper classes and associated only with high-end hotels, this late-afternoon dining concept which dates back to Victorian times is now affordable and accessible to most.
The historic market town of Skipton, with its charming cobbled streets, an impressive castle, and a picturesque canal basin, forms the perfect backdrop for a sophisticated afternoon of delicate dining. Home to numerous independent cafes, award-winning hotels and excellent restaurants, there’s a venue to suit every budget. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a guide to the best places to get afternoon tea in Skipton. You’ll find an eclectic array of venues on our list offering superb afternoon tea menus, quirky tea rooms, scenic country retreats, pretty Parisian-style parlours and family-friendly pubs.
In a prime location at the top of Skipton’s award-winning high street, this large cafe, bar and restaurant is hard to miss with its stylish exteriors and elegant entrance.
The Best Afternoon Teas Near Skipton
Alexander’s only opened a few years ago, but it quickly established itself as one of the town’s top foodie destinations. It boasts an enviable reputation with numerous dining options available, including brunch, lunch, small plate sharing, evening fine dining, and even exclusive supper clubs and festive pop-ups.
Afternoon tea at Alexander’s is their unique and contemporary take on the traditional. Served Wednesday to Saturday between 1 pm and 3 pm, this delightful afternoon tea in Skipton is bound to impress and is ideal for special occasions and celebrations. Prices start at £27.50 pp, and their stylish 3-tier platters are piled high with decadent treats.
Krafty Kitchen is one of the newer venues in Skipton offering afternoon tea, and it is one of our favourite places to eat.
Krafty Kitchen offers a multitude of dining options too. Enjoy a romantic meal for two in their contemporary Tomato Dip restaurant, unwind in their stylish bar area, share tapas dishes on their sun-soaked terrace or celebrate with friends in one of their fantastic party pods.
Where to Enjoy Afternoon Tea in Skipton
Afternoon tea at Krafty Kitchen is casual and includes mini versions of their bestselling hot dishes rather than cold sandwiches. For just £15 pp, you get Mini Fish & Chips, Mini Beef & Ale Pie, Beef Sliders and much more. For an additional £3 pp, you can enjoy it with a glass of Prosecco rather than the standard tea or coffee.
It’s no secret that Skipton is home to many, many cafes. However, The Cake’Ole is one of our favourites by far. Boasting quirky, colourful interiors and serving a changing daily selection of delicious homemade cakes, it’s a venue that the whole family will love if you choose to visit.
The cakes at The Cake’Ole are delicious and have various flavours available daily. You get a free scoop of ice cream with every slice too! A firm favourite with us is their Salted Caramel Cake. Moist sponge, velvety buttercream and generous drizzles of salted caramel sauce combine to make it one of our favourite sweet treats in town.
Their afternoon tea is one of the most reasonably priced in Skipton, and you get plenty for your money! A selection of sandwiches, a handful of crisps, enormous fruit scones with the expected accompaniments, a few of their most popular sweet treats and a whopping great slab of one of their brilliant cakes. Brilliant!
Discovering Scrumptious Afternoon Teas
Situated on Skipton’s Belmont Bridge, The Parlour is as pretty as a picture with its pink and mint green exterior decor. The intimate tea room only seats a few people, but it’s undoubtedly one of the town’s most Instagrammable places to eat.
The afternoon teas at No. 62 are equally as pleasing to the eye. Expect three tiers of soft rolls and flaky croissants packed with delicious fillings, homemade buttery scones topped with lashings of jam and cream, plus their signature pink cream-filled meringues. The little ones don’t have to miss out, either! No.62 does a brilliant afternoon tea for kids too. If you can’t get a table or prefer to sample their delicious treats at home, their afternoon teas are available to click and collect.
Afternoon Teas in and Around Skipton
Their stylish on-site restaurant, The View, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows so diners can immerse themselves in the unrivalled beauty of the local countryside whilst tucking into quality, homemade food.
Afternoon tea at The Coniston Hotel is available daily from 3 pm until 5:30 pm and costs £21.95 per person. For this relatively reasonable price, you get a selection of finger sandwiches with traditional fillings such as Egg Mayo, Coronation Chicken and Smoked Salmon, plus Mini Pork Parcels, fresh scones and some fabulous mini desserts.
There are numerous alcoholic upgrades available, but we recommend opting for their Bottomless Prosecco Afternoon Tea which is priced at £35.00. With views like that to take in, this is not an experience you’ll want to rush.
