There’s nothing quite like a cuppa. Whether you take yours black, green, or white, served with a dash of milk and a lump of sugar, sip it delicately with a pinkie extended, or slurp it from a chipped old mug — there’s a cup of tea to suit everyone’s taste.

But from the first flush of harvest to a nice strong brew, there’s a lot that goes into making the perfect cup of tea. While that’s certainly a thought to savour, so is this: 21st May marks International Tea Day and so — whether you like yours with a scone, a bit of Shakespeare, on a train, or inspired by fantasy — we’re serving up eight different cuppas in eight different destinations, each of which is guaranteed to hit the spot.

1. Tavistock, home of the Devonshire Cream Tea

A cup of English cream tea with biscuits.

The English have been drinking tea since the mid-17th Century, when the beverage was imported into Europe from East Asia via the Dutch East India Company. Back then, tea was a luxury reserved for the rich; but today, a good cuppa is one of life’s simple pleasures. There are many ways to enjoy a cup of tea, but if you find yourself in Devon, head for the UNESCO-listed town of Tavistock, the home of the Devonshire Cream Tea.

This is an affair that sees fresh scones first spread with clotted cream and then dolloped with strawberry jam before finally being served up alongside a pot of fresh tea. But despite its genteel appearance, the origins of the Devonshire Cream Tea are rooted in medieval England. Indeed, it is said that the very first cream teas were created by monks at Tavistock’s Benedictine Abbey, who would reward workers with home-made bread, clotted cream, and jam. Over time, these light meals became so popular that they were also served to visitors to the abbey, who travelled to the site specifically to taste these famed cream teas.

2. Take tea like a royal in Windsor


For something a bit more substantial, afternoon tea — complete with sandwiches, cakes, and scones — is truly a treat to savour. According to the Visit Windsor website, the tradition of afternoon tea originated in the 1840s with Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, who requested a meal of cake, bread and butter, and tea to stave off hunger in the long hours between an early lunch and a late dinner. Today, this simple meal has evolved into a luxurious affair and — given its aristocratic connections — there’s no better place to try an afternoon tea than in or around the town of Windsor. From floating venues to charming hotels, this is a destination that has a tea to suit everyone.

3. Enjoy tea aboard the Orient Express carriage café in the Lake District

For an Orient Express-themed tea experience, look no further than Bassenthwaite Lake Station in the Lake District. Here, guests will find a replica French SNCF Class 241 steam engine, the very one that appeared in the 2017 film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel “Murder on the Orient Express.” Now a permanent feature at the station, this carriage — built a little wider to accommodate the movie’s film crew — exudes a romantic charm that is accented by Art Deco features. Inside, the Agatha Christie Carriage Café offers a unique dining experience that appeals to locomotive lovers, film enthusiasts, and foodies too.

4. Tell Cersei it was tea…

Patries and tea on a serving platter.

If fantasy is more your thing, then head to Ballygally Castle Hotel in Northern Ireland for a Game of Thrones-themed afternoon tea. From Lannister egg rolls and Baratheon bread to Little Finger chicken Caesar wraps, this is the place to sample savouries and sweets inspired by the lands of Winterfell. The show was of course filmed on location in Northern Ireland, so this is an experience for fans who just can’t get enough of this famous series.

5. Morning, noon, or night, enjoy café culture in Sognefjord


Looking for something a little less moody? Grab a cardamom-scented sunshine bun and have a light-hearted chat in one of the many cafés dotted throughout the Sognefjord region of Norway. More than places to grab a cup tea (or, as is more widely consumed here, coffee) these places serve as meeting spots for young and old throughout the day, from morning, noon, and night. If cardamom’s not your thing, other regional delicacies — like sweet cinnamon buns, pancake-like svele, or hedlekake topped with freshly made jam — will be sure to take your fancy.

Isles of Scilly: Tea on Tresco


Great scenery, history, atmosphere, and adorable red squirrels … the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly offers visitors a little bit of everything. From Bronze Age burial sites and romantic castle ruins to secluded sandy beaches and the world-famous Tresco Abbey, there’s plenty to explore here. And when you’re tuckered out from all that sightseeing, why not enjoy a lovely cup of tea in the equally lovely Tresco Abbey Garden Café.

7. A twist on tea in the Outer Hebrides


If you’re after a local twist on the traditional cup of tea, look no further than the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Whether you call into one of the region’s famed quaint tea rooms for some home-style baking or a contemporary café serving locally sourced produce — think seafood, Stornoway black pudding, and specialities from the area’s smokehouses — this is a great opportunity to sample Hebridean fare. If that’s whetted your appetite for more, follow the Eat Drink Hebrides trail to taste the best of the Western Isles.

8. Enjoy a Jane Austen-themed afternoon tea in Shakespeare’s England


There’s nothing more quintessentially English than afternoon tea — except maybe afternoon tea with Jane Austen! For an experience not to be missed, Anglophiles and tea lovers alike can head to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Abbey in (where else?) the heart of Shakespeare’s England. Founded in 1154 as a Cistercian monastic house, this former monastery was later converted into a comfortable family home that has connections to Queen Victoria, Prince Charles, and Jane Austen. Today, visitors can enjoy teas and light lunches while taking in scenic views out over the River Avon.

And so, whether you like yours with a slice of history or a dash of fantasy, this round-up of Europe’s tea spots goes to show that — this International Tea Day and beyond — there’s a cuppa out there to suit everyone’s taste.