With its bone china and crisp linen, the whole experience has a pre-Beeching, high-class railway café feel. If you’re looking for a boisterous dining experience, with all manner of 21st century gadgets and modern fripperies, go elsewhere. However, if you want a gentle, Enid Blyton style glimpse into our nation’s most-loved meal, an afternoon at the Midland Tea Room comes highly recommended.

Like a spa? Like afternoon tea? Now imagine the two together – no, not at the same time, that’d be messy. Set aside a day for compound relaxation at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly. Double bliss. 

The afternoon tea experience at The Alan is just that. A truly memorable, wonderfully laid-back experience and whether you love tea and scones, or simply want to catch up with friends or family, you’ll definitely be wowed.

Head to The Ivy Spinningfields for Champagne-fuelled high-end tea, cakes and delicate little sandwiches in opulent surroundings.

Keating’s restaurant at the Stock Exchange Hotel, Tender, has launched an afternoon tea service. The menu is a sort of medieval story book-cum-Bible. It’s decadent, it’s detailed, and it’s very, very British.

Despite its two large rooms, one Alice in Wonderland-esque, the other more Scottish Highlands in style, the Richmond Tea Rooms regularly gets booked out. This might be because of its hidden away feel, its four different afternoon tea options, or the high quality of the food. Either way, book ahead.

Our favourite place in the NQ to pop in for a brew, some excellent freshly-baked goods and friendly chat. It’s not the biggest venue in town so be sure to dive in when you see a spare seat.

Not many venues are as easy on the eye as The Refuge. Inside, you’ll find a maze-like array of spaces and rooms, consisting of bars and dining areas, all serving different purposes and all wonderful. For their newly-launched afternoon tea, try the Winter Garden, easily one of the most grand and instantly relaxing locations this side of a spa day.

The retro-styled Sugar Junction is a dainty place for treats served on vintage china. With everything from a simple cream tea through to a cake platter and the traditional afternoon tea (with or without prosecco), this is one of the less pricey options in the city – but the quality is still up there with the best.

Sitting proud on the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower, Manchester’s tallest building, Cloud 23 boasts unparalleled views across the city. There’s a stunning range of cocktails on offer, a possible compliment to a traditional afternoon tea. Go and stand on the small glass oval in the floor to look down at street level 23 floors below and really get your heart racing.

Boasting delightful views over the centre of Manchester, Level 3 in the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel are offering a classic Afternoon Tea for visitors to the city.