Christmas is the perfect time for indulgence, and there are few better ways to treat yourself than a decadent afternoon tea. Many London venues have put together special festive teas to celebrate the season, and we’ve picked out 10 of the best below. Don’t forget to book in advance and, if you’re looking for something really special, remember that you can supplement any of them with a glass (or two!) of champagne.

Afternoon Festivi-Tea at the Corinthia Hotel 
Sit under the spectacular chandelier in the Corinthia Hotel’s Lobby Lounge and enjoy a sumptuous variety of festive treats. Their Christmas confections include cranberry macaroons filled with fresh fruit crème and a snow egg of chocolate mousse, which is covered with vanilla marshmallows and coconut. £39, until 5 Jan

Christmas Shopping and Afternoon Tea at St James’s Hotel & Club
Find the perfect excuse to indulge at the St James’s Hotel & Club, where Afternoon Tea comes with a 10% discount card for stylish department store Liberty and the nearby Burlington Arcade shops. Better still, the delicious afternoon tea is made by the hotel’s Michelin-starred chef, William Drabble. £19, until 30 Dec

Festive Afternoon Tea at The Athenaeum
As the winners of the Tea Guild’s 2012 Best Afternoon Tea award, The Athenaeum are guaranteed to provide a great festive treat. Highlightsof their Festive Afternoon Tea include turkey and cranberry sandwiches, mulled wine jellies and chocolate yule logs. £29.50, until 30 Dec

Christmas Afternoon Tea River Cruise
Combine dining with sightseeing on this fun river cruise, which allows you to see London’s landmarks from the Thames whilst you enjoy mulled wine and a full afternoon tea. Board the festively decorated boat from Tower Pier at 3.30pm for a 90 minute cruise, professional commentary and lots of scrumptious treats. £25, until 29 Dec

12 Days of Christmas Afternoon Tea at the InterContinental Park Lane
Featuring confections themed around the 12 days of Christmas song, the InterContinental’s pretty tea is sure to get you in the festive spirit. Delights include a golden treacle tart with chantilly and gold leaf, a walnut powder crusted chocolate torte made to look like a drum, and a partridge, mushroom and foie gras pie. £28, until 6 Jan

Traditonal Afternoon Tea at The Petersham
Head to leafy Richmond for a festive afternoon tea with spectacular views at the Petersham Hotel. You can enjoy seasonal pastries such as Christmas spiced financiers, star-shaped linzer biscuits and warming gingerbread macaroons whilst overlooking the Thames. £25, until 6 Jan

Free-flowing Champagne with Festive Afternoon Tea at the Mandeville Hotel
Featuring brandy mince pies, mulled plum fancies and Dundee Christmas cake, the Mandeville’s Festive Afternoon Tea is already a winner. Between Friday-Sunday, however, you can make it even better thanks to a special offer from afternoontea.co.uk, which allows you to add a mulled wine cocktail and unlimited champagne to the package. £32.50, until 23 Jan 

Sugar & Spice Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych 
The hotel’s Sugar & Spice Afternoon Tea gets a special mention for including bacon-wrapped sausages, which are surely an essential part of any Christmas-themed meal! If you’re not a fan of pork, however, there are plenty of other tempting morsels including chestnut delice, eggnog mousse  and mandarin trifle. £26.50, until 31 Dec

Chocolate Afternoon Tea at the Hilton Park Lane
Ever heard the expression “it’s so good, I could lick the plate”? At the Hilton Park Lane you actually can, because their Festive Afternoon Tea is served on one made of solid chocolate. Atop this unique treat is a host of other cocoa-based goodies such as gift-shaped chocolate fancies, which are accompanied by traditional favourites including freshly-baked scones and open sandwiches. £32.50, until 4 Jan

Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Wyndham Grand 
This chic Chelsea Harbour hotel is offering a seasonal afternoon tea that features turkey and stuffing sandwiches, Christmas pudding and a quirky selection of mince pies. The hotel is close to the King’s Road, so it’s a great place for a post Christmas shopping treat! £35, until 31 Dec

Have a craving for Christmas confections but no time to stop for tea? You can pick up seasonal cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery, acclaimed mince pies from Konditor and Cook, or lebkuchen from Bea’s of Bloomsbury.

 We escaped the bustle of Oxford Street  to take in the calming atmosphere of the hotel’s restaurant, The Montagu, and get into the festive mood. 

We ordered their special Christmas-themed afternoon tea which included turkey and cranberry sandwiches, scones with strawberry jam, mini mince pies and iced gingerbread cupcakes. I especially loved the mini Christmas cake and the mini chocolate Santa Claus.

I appreciated the roaring log fire which made the place feel homely and as an extra special treat, had a glass of champagne before we braved the shops again. 

The Festive Afternoon Tea is served daily, 3-6pm, £28 per person or £35 per person with a glass of Pommery Champagne. To make a reservation or for further information contact The Montagu on + 44 (0) 20 7299 2037 or email montagu.hrlondon@hyatt.com

Aly was a guest of the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill