When I first started with Yelp, I threw this question to the masses; "Where is the best tea shop in…read moreBirmingham?". One of the first recommendations I received was the Edwardian Tea Room. Now, I have always known this place existed - but never had a chance to visit. This was finally rectified last week. The Edwardian Tea Room is housed within the fantastic Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (on Victoria Square). You need to head in the building, up the stairs and through the shop and the Buddha exhibit to find it. Decorated beautifully, the tea room really does feel like you've stepped back in time. No music plays in the background, but you can hear the murmur of conversation, the scraping of chairs along the floor and the clanging on trays as the staff clean up the empty tables. The menus are displayed on the wall (rather than individually on tables). You need to head up to the counter and order before you find a table (although if you're in a group, you would do well to bag a table first). The Tea Room (as you would expect) has a large selection of cakes (and tea, of course). A slice of cake and a pot of tea is a bargainous £2.95 - meaning it's a wallet safe alternative to some of the more hipster coffee and tea shops in the centre of town. Again, as previously mentioned, it's very popular with an older crowd due to the prices. However, on my visit their were older visitors, young people and families (who were catching their breath after trekking around the huge museum). I grabbed a herbal tea (£1.60) and took a seat in the large room to do a little bit of work while I enjoyed my hot drink. As well as tea, coffee and cake, there is a varied menu on offer for very reasonable prices. A large fish and chips (with all the trimmings) and a cup of tea was around £7.50. Not too bad, and they offer many other hot options too. Even on my many trips to BMAG, I haven't ever taken the opportunity to visit the Tea Rooms. Following my trip last week, there is a good chance I'll be back JUST TO visit the tea rooms.

Such a beautiful place to spend time. It's a great way to end or start a visit to the museum but…read moreyou can also just pop in for food and drinks which I've done before. As I said, it's completely lovely. It was re-decorated about a year ago, which improved an already lovely space. Mis-matched furniture and big prints of Edwardian ladies sit perfectly in the lovely, big, light room.There are tables for big groups and soft chairs for cosy coffees. I've had a fish finger sandwich here which was nice but nothing to write home about. I've also tried the afternoon tea which was lovely, especially the cakes. It's not a particularly fancy afternoon tea but it makes a lovely lunch. The highlight here is really the space and the atmosphere- definitely worth spending some time in.

Now this little tearoom only opened today. I was one of the privileged few to have stepped through…read morethe doors of this amazingly quirky and colourful venue. The theme is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Not surprising really, considering the owner/proprietor also has a gift shop called Mad As A Hatter directly opposite! The tearoom, aptly named The Tea Party! (what else!?) is very child friendly, with high and low chairs, with pushchair & wheelchair access, two toilets (one of which is also the nappy changing room) a selection of reproduction, upcycled, ornate seats and chairs to choose from, it provided a cornucopia of dizzying delights to bombard the eye with an original look to an otherwise oft neglected part of Bearwood. As a stand out, it really provides a change from the generic high street cafes and as an independent cafe/tearoom. It's going to offer a "library" where patrons can simply read or work on their tablets/laptops or other electronic devices, a "gallery" for local artists and photographers to display and sell their work, craft workshops and rooms to hire to either demonstrate/teach "crafty" things or simply have a small party! The whole concept or venue really offers good value for money and can easily become the creative community hub of Bearwood. Watch this space! It's open 9.30am until 5pm.

If the Alice in Wonderland inspired Tea Party was in Los Angeles it would have a cult following and…read morelines around the block. As it is, in Bearwood, would you believe, it is a fine place to while away an hour with a friend over a pot of tea or coffee. A lot of imagination has gone into making this a fun and relaxing place to be - from the pretty tea pots leading to the entrance, to the delightfully mismatched furniture, hand painted cups and cuckoo clocks! When I was there, the coffee was really kinda lovely and Santa was in there too, taking a tea break!

Winterbourne is a great place for a sunny day. £5 gives you access to the Arts and Crafts house and…read moregardens, both of which are lovely. Behind the more formal gardens are woodland trails (you might even see a beech tree I helped to coppice as a student many years ago) and Edgbaston reservoir, a calm expanse of water populated by ducks, moorhens and crested grebes. There are beautiful waterside rock gardens with stepping stones, which I love. The whole place feels like a sanctuary from the city and is conveniently located close to the Barber Institute and the university campus if you want to make more of a day of it. There's a tea room which sells serviceable scones (with that really aerated cream rather than proper whipped or clotted cream though) and also sandwiches, soup and potatoes etc. You can get plants and gifts at the shop- and if you go during the week you may be able to get some advice from the gardeners, too.

Beautiful House and garden just 5 minutes away from Birmingham University. Amazing greenhouses…read morefilled with various flowers, cacti, plants. Such a lovely place to visit on a summer day especially if you check out their tearoom by the terrace!

This is my idea of heaven! a little hidden gem, a delightful little Tea room and very popular with…read morethe Barnt Green folk. Walking in from the small high street of Barnt Green village it's style is a combination of someone's living room and what I would imagine a post war tea shop would be like, Minus the hair net and curlers! It is filled to the brim with vintage crockery and gifts, quirky ornaments and fabulous post war style tables with cute little table place settings. Everything in the shop can also be bought. Although Vintage Tea Rooms are the current trend I welcome the quirkiness and makes it more of a unique day out as opposed to the high street franchises and once again supporting local and independents. I stumbled across this tea room by accident whilst visiting Barnt green and as I was on my own they just about had a place for me to have lunch, it's very busy with small groups of ladies lunching with their three tiered ornate cake stands and afternoon teas. It needs to be booked well in advance to reserve a place. I had a simple lunch of soup served in an ornate tea cup and a small plate of sandwiches and of course Earl Grey Tea for one. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I will definitely visit again with friends and it's only a short walk from Barnt Green station. Looking at their website you can also hire their services or the tea room for parties. Lush!

Offering order-at-your-table waitress service and an extensive, homemade cake selection, this New…read moreOscott-based tea room is a great place to relax. Alex, the waitress is lively and polite and the café holds a pleasant, 'Old English' ambience, which is complimented nicely by its classy cutlery and condiments. The homemade cakes selection is near-irresistible and Britton's even offers its own take-away service and menu. Unfortunately though, with only 5 or 6 tables and no easy-listening soundtrack, the tea room feels cramped and uncomfortably silent, even when every seat is full. Britton's is smart, charming and very reasonably priced, but it would definitely benefit from some piped music and comfortable seat cushions, both of which would be sure to cosy things up a little.

Believe it or not, I'm just about old enough to remember the Lyon's Tea Rooms. If you've never…read moreheard of them then Google it. So I was taken back to my childhood when I paid a recent visit to this corner tea room. The former flower shop has been transformed into a beautiful tea shop with a fabulous range on offer. Let's start with cakes! Scones with jam and thick cream, chocolate fudge cake, served as it come or hot. Lemon drizzle, carrot cake, Mmm ok let's move on! They do a great breakfast, sandwiches, light lunches oh and being a tea shop there is a wide selection of teas of course. I shall be popping along soon to enjoy a long lost British tradition "Afternoon Tea", on offer is a three tier stand with a finger sandwich selection, those scones I was talking about earlier and a pot of tea all for £10.00, a nice touch and perfect treat.

Kings Heath Park Tea Room is a quintessentially and quaint British tea room, with delicious cakes,…read moreice creams and of course some splendid tea. Situated in the centre of Kings Heath Park, It is one of the more serene places that I have been to sip on a cup of tea. It transports you from the bustle of inner-city Birmingham and nestles you into a tranquil and enchanting environment where you can forget your troubles and return to a more balanced state of mind. There are few place in Birmingham that you can spend an afternoon having tea and treats with such an idyllic view to take pleasure in whilst doing so - Kings Heath Park Tea Room is a delightful place, in a beautiful spot. The British Tea Room lives on.

Also known as The Victorian Tea Room, the cafe at Kings Heath Park is a lovely place to spend the…read moreafternoon. Set within the park grounds it affords splendid views of the park and offers what you'd expect - sandwiches, tea, cakes and best of all ice cream. It is also housed in between the Horticultural College - where you can pick up leaflets on all sorts of things (not just gardening based stuff either - I found information on local tango classes and listings for the nearby Red Lion Folk Club as well as whole load of flyers offering mega bucks if you are interested in working from home - needless to say I ignored the latter) and the nursery. Fully decked out in bunting in readiness for the Jubilee celebrations it had a sort of Cath Kidson-y vibe which I expect was unintentional and sort of all the better for it. The ice creams are to die for and the cakes looked pretty good too.

I just lost the counting on how many times I have passed in front of this cafe and wanted to have a…read morereason to check it properly. So last weekend I saw myself having a nice cup of latte while waiting for someone to join me a visit to JQ. I always thought that Moor Street Station itself is stunning but with a tiny gorgeous place like this, it makes your coffee time much more appreciative! I just loved Centenary Lounge menu as well. Cakes that are impossible to resist and I didn't say no to a sweet treat. So, a Cranberries kind of tiffin, it was. Really delicious. For being a bit small, I thought the tables were too near to each other and there was no much room for elbows. As well as it is busy all the time, it makes me believe that during the summer or in a better weather we all would prefer sitting outside. Well, there is something else about watching people coming and going from train stations. Not in a weird way, of course! I had no idea that Centenary Lounge also serves drinks and it is good to know that is is famous for it as well. I also love the decor that really adds to the whole beauty in the station.

It is hard to imagine Brief Encounter happening in many modern train station cafes. Except, maybe,…read morein this art deco gem of a place, hidden away in the ticket hall of Moor Street Station. The cafe is inspired by the glamour of the Great Western Railway's heyday. The china plates and cups come emblazoned with the GWR insignia. There is a mirrored bar and abundant wood panelling. The clock and light fittings scream 1930s elegance. They serve good hot drinks as well as a bistro-style menu of hot and cold food. You can get food and drink to go, but why not eat in and soak up the gilded age glamour?

Most British people love a good cup of tea. There are a few other tea rooms in Solihull but I think…read morethis one is the best, thanks to its fantastic variety of tea, great prices (all drinks are under £2.00 and tea is £1.30) and delicious cake. As a food lover I thought there was also decent amount of food on the menu that is also simple. I was pleased to know that all the sandwiches are freshly made with your choice of bread (white, baguette, toastie, wholemeal and gluten free.) As well as this some of their cakes are made on site and it tastes even better fresh! The food is filling but not heavy. One day I would love to indulge in their cakes and tea in their garden, which looks great on a warm Summer and Spring day. Even if the weather is bad don't be disheartened because there is also an indoor seating area which is spacious beautifully decorated. Where better to enjoy great tea and tasty food than amongst other tea drinkers in a fantastic and unique British style setting that only a tea room can have?

My mom and I stumbled over the Manor House Tea Room and Garden whilst shopping in Solihull. This…read moreplace is a refreshing change from the chain eateries in Touchwood. Set at the back of a 500 year old grade II listed building the café is not at all stuffy as it occupies a gloriously light and bright annex overlooking a beautiful walled garden. The menu is simple but offers a lot of choice. All sandwiches are freshly made with a large choice of bread (white, wholemeal, baguette, toastie and even gluten free.) They also serve jacket potatoes and hot/cold light lunches including cottage pie, pastas, quiches and salads. They also make some of their cakes onsite and the profiterole cheesecake is on my immediate must do list! The café is extremely clean and the staff were super friendly and efficient. Our prawn sandwich and smoked salmon & cream cheese bagel were perfect. Great pot of tea as well.

I popped in here after a long walk around Bournville and since then I have been back once or twice…read more It is a sweet little cafe, it's simplistic and reminds me of a country cafe. The staff are warm and welcoming and they serve a variety of cakes and pastries. The tea isn't fabulous, but I am rather fussy about tea. However, the cappuccinos are fantastically frothy. I feel like it is a cafe where you can go and read a book for ages and they won't mind; it's quite relaxed and there are always others in there too. I like this cafe very much, it is lovely and I can't help but go back, it's a good place to sit and think and drink coffee. It is a great meeting place, as the title suggests.

I visited here for the first time last year; I'd decided to do a tour of the entire 11 route (all 3…read morehours!) and Bournville seemed like a good halfway point to have a break. The relaxed little time-capsuled village was definitely the perfect resting point, and The Meeting Place Tea Rooms looked like a great cafe to stop by and take in the scenery. Entering the tea rooms, I expected the inside to replicate the old fashioned village heritage, but unfortunately, I was instead greeted by a fairly modern interior. Very few customers were sitting at the tables, considering the time was 5pm, I thought more people would spend time in here after work; seemingly not! (I certainly would!) Drink weren't especially cheap, and a teapot of rooibos tea cost me £2 (I managed to salvage one and a half cups out if it.) I have also purchased a chocolate brownie from here in the past, which was very delicious, but again, a little pricey. The cafe experience was lovely and relaxed, and the premises was absolutely spotlessly clean. Also, I found it quite quirky that you had to ask for a key behind the counter to use the toilets, like it was some sort of secret taboo!