We tried 56 afternoon tea deliveries and these are the best for gifting

Score: 91/100

Our testers were impressed with this well curated, premium hamper. Inside are 12 items, including a bottle of prosecco, a collection of teas, a fruit cake, lemon curd, strawberry jam, clotted cream, shortbread and sables (buttery cookies to you and me!).

Highlights include the locally made Victoria sponge and scones, and our experts thought this would make a delicious gift.

Read more: Best prosecco

Score: 89/100

This well-priced hamper features a fabulous selection of teatime treats, including lemon drizzle cake, traditional fruit cake, decadent chocolate tiffin and our experts' pick of the bunch: crumbly shortbread. All washed down with fragrant Darjeeling tea. Everything is beautifully presented and ready for gifting.

Score: 89/100

Ensuring no one misses out, Piglets Pantry offers a fresh selection of sweet and savoury bites for meat-eaters and veggies alike. We tried a meat-free selection, which impressed our panel with its special touches and exciting flavours.

The cakes were incredibly moist, while the veggie scotch "egg" opened to reveal a bright beetroot interior. It's excellent value for money as well, with easily enough to serve three people.

Please note that this will arrive in the form of a voucher from Virgin Experiences, which the lucky recipient can then redeem for their tasty Piglet's Pantry hamper. It's a handy solution if you’re not sure they'll be in to receive a fresh delivery. The voucher can be redeemed within 12 months, on a date of their choice.

Score: 88/100

If any brand knows a thing or two about afternoon tea, it’s surely Bettys, which opened its famous Café Tea Room in the 1920s. That treasured tradition has been lovingly translated into this giftable box, which includes delightful scones with strawberry jam and a round of sweet treats.

You can also expect jewelled fondant fancies finished with pretty iced flowers, a raspberry and vanilla loaf cake and multi-coloured macarons. There's also some delicate Darjeeling tea to enjoy it all with (just don’t forget to pick up the clotted cream!).

This impressive spread deserves the fancy plates.

Score: 87/100

Our testers loved this beautifully curated afternoon tea, which has a mixture of classic sweet treats made in Devon and Cornwall, including buttery shortbread, rich fudge, and classic fluffy scones with strawberry jam and a generous tub of clotted cream. You also get a refreshing bottle of prosecco for sipping alongside.

Score: 85/100

Whether you choose to send it as a free e-voucher, or as a physical gift pack, the lucky recipient has 12 months to redeem this afternoon treat. The generous selection includes four scones and 10 (yes, 10!) sandwiches, alongside sweet treats, making it ideal for a family.

The packaging isn’t quite as attractive as some of our top-rated hampers, but the contents more than make up for that. The classic sandwiches — generously filled with smoked salmon, cucumber, ham and mustard and retro coronation chicken — were impressively fresh, while the fluffy scones come with an abundance of clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Alongside lemon drizzle cakes and flapjacks, there’s also a colourful assortment of macarons (the dulce de leche was our favourite!), and a choice of tea to serve.

Score: 83/100

Moist, fudgy, rich and sticky — these indulgent brownies received plenty of superlatives from our judging panel. So, you may be surprised to learn that they’re also vegan! Our mixed case featured three of the brand’s most popular flavours — sea salt, Biscoff and salted caramel — and they’re sent (conveniently) in a letterbox-friendly package.

And in case you need further convincing, one enthused tester said, “I could eat a whole box of these brownies and die happy!”.

Score: 83/100

Our second entry from Bettys but this is a more affordable option. The pretty, giftable box is a lovely choice for traditionalists too. It contains moist fruit scones, strawberry jam and a classic tea loaf. You’ll also receive 80 tea bags, so you’ll have plenty left over long after the last crumb is hoovered up.

Although we would have loved the selection to include clotted cream or butter, at this price, it’s not a dealbreaker. The scones were a real highlight, and we loved that these could be frozen too (although we wouldn’t blame you if you eat the lot in one sitting!).

Score: 82/100

This luxurious edit serves four people, and we think the quality of the produce justifies the price tag. The traditional scones are packed with juicy sultanas and come with a generous array of clotted cream and raspberry jam, so you can slather on with wild abandon.

The lemon drizzle cakes also proved a highlight, while the box of macarons adds a touch of class.

Score: 81/100

Gin fans, rejoice! This cream tea hamper includes a mini bottle of craft gin, alongside Franklin & Sons mixers for a refreshing aperitif before you get stuck into the scones (and tea!).

Standout elements for our experts included the moreish baked apple and custard all-butter biscuits from Elegant & English – the perfect crumbly dunker for your cuppa. Elsewhere, the scones proved the ideal vessel for lashings of strawberry jam.

Read more: Best gin | Best gin gifts

Score: 81/100

Huffkins specialises in luxury hampers and delicious handmade cakes, sent directly to your door from the Cotswolds.

This afternoon tea delivery box contains freshly baked fluffy scones, smooth and creamy clotted cream and the brand's homemade strawberry jam. There are also tea bags and chocolate brownies, making this a great all-rounder, which impressed our panel.

Score: 80/100

A good brew just isn’t quite complete without dunking a biscuit or two, so Cartwright & Butler has covered all bases by including four distinct types.

From zingy lemon zest shortbread to chewy cranberry, our testers appreciated the mix of flavours, all of which are presented in a reusable green tin alongside tea and coffee.

Score: 79/100

This crowd-pleasing edit of Marks & Spencer's best baked bits conveniently fits through the letterbox and is great value too. Testers loved the spicy carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and who can resist a classic Victoria sponge when it's this moist?

With chocolate-coated biscuits, brownies and shortbread making up the rest of this care package, all that’s left to do is to pop the kettle on (don’t worry, tea bags are included).

Score: 78/100

The British Hamper Company is a family-run business championing homegrown artisan brands. Arriving in a modern box tied with a bow, this hamper includes handmade scones, fresh clotted cream, raspberry jam and tea. You’ll also find buttery shortbread and ginger cookies for an extra sweet treat.

Score: 78/100

Can’t get to a Patisserie Valerie store in person? No problem. The brand has packaged up its best bits, ready to send straight to your door (with nationwide next day delivery available, perfect for last minute gatherings!).

It's frozen before sending, to ensure absolute freshness, and includes enough goodies to serve two to four people. Inside, you'll find indulgent choux pastry filled with fresh cream, and freshly baked cake slices. Our experts were impressed with how natural and fresh everything tasted, especially considering it had been defrosted on site.

Score: 76/100

There’s nothing like curling up with a good book, a cup of tea and a biscuit – and independent Welsh brand Bluebells & Thyme brings them all together in this sweet, giftable hamper. Inside, you’ll find clotted cream fudge, a bar of milk chocolate, and chocolate chip shortbread to nibble as you read, plus a delicate loose-leaf tea sprinkled with petals to sip alongside.

Beyond the treats, the giftee also receives a vintage teacup, saucer and side plate, a tea strainer, two books (chosen from a curated selection of 30 titles) and a bookmark.

There's also a coffee version if you're not a tea fan.

Score: 74/100

Moving away from the traditional theme, there's not actually any tea in this hamper, but you get two bottles of Hawkstone premium Cotswold lager instead. And you can still put the kettle on at home, if you can’t be without your cuppa.

The goodies come in a Union Jack jute bag, and also include bready savoury scones, which are delicious served with the extra mature Black Bomber cheddar and spicy tomato and caramelised onion chutney. Warm the scones up a touch to enjoy them at their best.

Score: 74/100

Cutter & Squidge has packaged up all the classics in this modern orange gift box. You’ll start with warm scones, slathered with jam and clotted cream, before moving onto treats like lemon drizzle cake and freshly baked chocolate brownie. Served with loose leaf black tea, it’s almost like being at the cafe in person.

The brand also makes it easy to send afternoon tea deliveries to multiple locations, so this is ideal for different groups and catch-ups from afar.

Score: 72/100

For a little Fortnum & Mason magic at home, this upmarket bag for life is packed with the brand’s best bits. Alongside traditional scones, clotted cream and strawberry preserve, highlights include Fortnum’s marshmallow-filled tea cakes. You’ll also find 25 bags of the crowd-pleasing Afternoon Blend – equivalent to a strong builder’s brew.