On a brisk autumn day, there are few better ways to get cosy than with a piping hot cup of tea. So why not make a meal of it? We’ve rounded up the best afternoon teas in the area, where your cuppa will come with a tempting pile of sandwiches, scones, pastries and cakes. Want to make it a real occasion? Go on, order a glass of fizz, too.

Vintage vibe

Head to Nancy’s Vintage Teashop and tuck in for a classic afternoon tea. Traditional afternoon tea is served here all year, but for the special Christmas Tier they add turkey to the sandwiches, bacon, brie and cranberry to the quiche and sherry to the trifle (there are veggie options, too). Sometimes Santa even makes an appearance – who can blame him.

Afternoon teas from £8 per person, click here.

Spice it up

There’s a real seasonal feel to the Autumn Afternoon Tea Menu at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa with sweet treats including Pumpkin Spiced Latte Trifle. And they keep it local here with delicious sausage rolls made with the town’s famous bangers. Pair your choice with the Everyday Brew or one of the menu’s more adventurous choices, such as a Mao Feng Green Tea.

Full Afternoon Tea from £28 per person, click here.

Past perfect

Afternoon tea comes with fascinating tales about the home of horse racing at the Jockey Club Rooms. Follow in the footsteps of royalty and the rich and famous around this beautiful historic building on a 90-minute tour hosted by an entertaining guide. Then sit down to sweet and savoury delicacies served by a butler in the elegant Members Dining Room.

Champagne Afternoon Tea & Tour costs £49 per person bookable via Discover Newmarket, click here

Shop and drop

Freshly cut finger sandwiches, homemade scones loaded with cream and jam, and a cup of English Breakfast or perhaps Earl Grey? Handily located at the top of the high street, Heath Court Hotel is just the place for a reviving teatime treat when you’re ready to put down the shopping bags. And even after all that spending, this indulgence won’t bust the budget.

Afternoon Tea from £16.95 per person, click here.

Master chefs

This historic hotel in Ely provides a masterclass in how to create and serve the traditional afternoon tea. Delicate finger sandwiches, fluffy scones with cream and jam, and tempting cakes and pastries are rustled up by the chef’s team and presented just as they should be on a triple-tier cake stand. Come Christmas, this year-round treat is sprinkled with a little sparkle, too.

Afternoon Tea from £34 per person, click here.