Great Places to go for a proper Devon Cream Tea … Cream first of course, you’re in Devon!
Course there is barely a tea shop or café in Devon where you can’t buy a cream tea but here are a few good ones!…
Knightshayes Court (National Trust)
Tiverton, Bolham EX16 7RQ 01884 254665 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes
Open Times: *House opens 11am, with last admissions 30 minutes before closing. **Selected rooms open in the winter. Late-night opening until 8 on 28 and 29 October and 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 December. Everything closed 24 and 25 December. Saturday 23 July: Mid-Devon Show, open as usual but expect significant delays on entry.
With acres of glorious gardens and parkland, surrounding a spectacular Gothic Revival house, Knightshayes is the complete country gentleman’s dream. The house is a rare example of the work of William Burges, whose richly decorated interiors have always inspired extremes in opinion. Full of quirks and curiosities, you can see gargoyles, corbels and a medieval inspired great hall.The garden is one of the finest in Devon and its collection represents one of the most varied in the Trust; with over 1200 plant species unique to Knightshayes and riotous seasonal colour, it’s always worth a visit. Covering an area of just over four acres, the walled kitchen garden is another great highlight, brimming with seasonal produce for the Stables Café.Café has gluten free and special diet options, non dairy milk etc if required. Produce from gardens and locally soured.
Bridwell Park – The Orangery Cafe
Bridwell, Uffculme, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 3BU 01884 842430 https://bridwell.co.uk/
Opening Times: 7 days a week, with gates opening at 10am and closing at 4pm BUT CHECK WEBSITE as there may be private events
The entrance gates are located via Commercial Rd (just off Uffculme Rd) on the edge of the village of Uffculme. Look out for our Orangery Cafe sign or find us on google maps!
The Orangery Cafe menu offers: Roast works barista coffee, Exmoor Tea artisan infusions, Willie’s luxury hot chocolate, Luscombe organic juices, fresh milkshakes, Exploding Bakery cakes, assorted sponge cakes & tray bakes, freshly baked cookies & cheese straws, Pretty Little Pastry macaron, Ginger Cat Deli quiche & pie with house side salad, toasted sandwiches, tea cakes, Devon cream tea, Rod & Ben’s organic soup & sour dough, Yarde Farm ice cream, Chunk of Devon pasties & sausage rolls, frozen yoghurt treats for dogs, and more. Vegetarians, Gluten Free and Vegans: are always catered for where ever possible. Please feel free to ask a member of our team at the counter for guidance on our menu selection when it comes to allergens and special diets.
The Orangery Cafe & Bridwell Parkland is usually open 7 days a week, with gates opening at 10am and closing at 4pm. PLEASE NOTE – Opening days and hours will be reviewed carefully each month to ensure we work in harmony with the Estate demands, the Mountbatten family privacy, and our private wedding and event bookings.
Oak Barn Coffee Shop
Knowle Hill, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7AL http://oakbarnfurnishings.com/coffee-shop/
Open Times: Monday – Sunday 9.45am-4.30pm
In the countryside on the outskirts of the beautiful East Devon seaside town of Budleigh Salterton is the Oak Barn coffee lounge and furniture shop. They offer cream teas with a difference – large Cherry Bakewell flavoured scones! The loose leaf tea also adds to the experience as its accompanied by a three-phase tea timer for weak, moderate or strong tea strength.
Bickleigh Mill
Bickleigh, Tiverton, Devon EX16 8RG http://www.bickleighmill.com/
Open Times: 10am-5.30pm daily
Set on the Exe River, along the picturesque road half way between Tiverton and Exeter, Bickleigh Mill is one of Devon’s largest and most exciting rural shopping, eating and recreation destinations housed within this 18th century historic working water Mill. Their cream teas come with extra large home-made scones and local clotted cream.
Rosemoor Garden Kitchen
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor/plan-your-visit/food-and-drink
Open Times: Daily, 10am-5.30pm in Summer & 10am-4.30pm in Winter
Deep in the West Devon countryside outside of Torrington is the Royal Horticultural Society’s Rosemoor Garden. Admission to the restaurant is free and it has views overlooking some of the beautiful gardens. The garden kitchen restaurant serves excellent Devonshire cream teas with warm homemade scones and a choice of jams.
Southern Cross Tearoom
Newton Poppleford, Near Sidmouth, Devon EX10 ODU http://www.southerncrossdevon.co.uk/
Open Times: Call to check 01395 568439
The Southern Cross Guest House & Tea Room in Newton Poppleford, near Sidmouth, serves traditional Devonshire cream teas within the historic 18th century thatched cottage. http://www.travelsignposts.com rated their cream tea as one of the top 10 in Devon and Cornwall. Their cream teas come with warm large home-made scones served with mountains of local clotted cream.
Salty Monk Restaurant
Church Street, Sidford, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 9QP http://www.saltymonk.co.uk/
Open Times: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-5pm
The Salty Monk Restaurant situated in the Sid Valley, near Sidmouth in East Devon, is a former salt house used by the Benedictine Monks who traded salt at Exeter Cathedral. Their cream teas are served with made-to-order scones, a selection of homemade preserves and loose leaf teas, with the clotted cream coming from the nearby Yarty Valley.
Otterton Mill Tearoom
Otterton, Near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 7HG http://www.ottertonmill.com/
Open Times: Daily 10am-5pm
Otterton Mill is an award winning café, bakery and food shop set in the ancient mill on the banks of the peaceful River Otter. The mill is dog friendly and there is a lovely walk following the river to Budleigh Salterton where it meets the sea. They produce fine organic scones in the ancient mill and their cream teas are regularly featured in local papers as one of the best cream teas in Devon and the Westcountry.
Tea on the Green Exeter
2 Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon EX1 1EZ http://www.teaonthegreen.com/
Open Times: 8am – 6pm Monday to Saturday, & 9am – 5pm on Sundays
The Tea On The Green is set in one of the best locations in Exeter, overlooking the cathedral, its green and the surrounding cobbled streets. Cream teas can be enjoyed inside the modern café or outside by the Cathedral green. They offer loose leaf tea and a selection of jams with their cream teas, served with Cornish clotted cream and home-made scones.
Dartmoor Cream Teas
Fingle Bridge Inn www.finglebridgeinn.co.uk
Drewsteignton, Devon EX6 6PW
Open Times: Daily 11am-5pm or later (seasonal opening times do check)
A family-run pub on the banks of the river Teign. The Fingle Bridge Inn has a homely atmosphere with cosy log fires in winter and river fronted terraces to enjoy in good weather.
A variety of food – ploughman’s lunches and cream teas. The emphasis is on quality produce, quality surroundings and quality service.
Fingle Bridge is a wonderful start or finish to a walk along the Teign Gorge.
Home Farm Café
Parke, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9JQ http://www.homefarmcafe.co.uk/
Open Times: Daily 10am-5pm
On the outskirts of Bovey Tracey, Home Farm Café is set in the Parke Estate, which is now home to the Dartmoor National Park Authority. There is dog friendly seating inside and outside which is ideal for dog walkers who want to enjoy a stroll along the River Bovey and Granite Railway that pass through the estate.
Bovey Castle
Dartmoor National Park, North Bovey, Devon TQ13 8RE http://www.boveycastle.com/
Open Times: 2.00pm – 4.30pm daily
Bovey Castle, set in Dartmoor National Park, is one of the finest hotels in the UK and offers visitors a chance to be treated like a king whilst enjoying a cream tea or a more extensive afternoon tea within its wonderful grounds.
The Old Forge Cafe & Restaurant
6 The Square, Chagford, Dartmoor, Devon TQ13 8AB http://theoldforgechagford.co.uk/
Open Times: Tuesday – Sunday 9.30am-5pm
The Old Forge is a beautiful converted blacksmith’s forge in the heart of Chagford serving high quality local and homemade food and drink. Independent cream tea reviewer Ditch Townsend rated their cream tea as the best of the over 200 cream teas he has tasted this year. Their cream teas are well presented in wicker baskets on a wooden chopping board and come with loose leaf tea.
Prince Hall Hotel
Two Bridges, Dartmoor, Devon PL20 6SA http://www.princehall.co.uk/
Open Times:
The Prince Hall Hotel is set high on Dartmoor in a lovely setting overlooking the beautiful West River Dart. They serve delicious Devonshire cream teas featuring freshly baked crumbly scones, locally made strawberry preserve and Devon clotted cream. Creams teas can be enjoyed in the cosy sitting room or bar, the light and airy restaurant or outside on the terrace. They are dog friendly so pop in for a cream tea after a walk on Dartmoor.
Badgers Holt
Dartmeet, Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon PL20 6SG http://www.badgersholtdartmoor.co.uk/
Open Times: Summer 10am-6pm Winter 10am-5pm, call to check in winter 01364 631213
Once an old fishing lodge, Badger’s Holt is located on Dartmoor between Ashburton and Princetown at Dartmeet, the famous beauty spot where the east and west tributaries of the River Dart meet. Badger’s Holt serves a great Devonshire cream tea, with a secret scone recipe going back 60 years, offering homemade traditional fruit, cheese and gluten free scones.
Fox Tor Café
Two Bridges Road, Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon PL20 6QS http://www.foxtorcafe.com/
Open Times: 9am-5pm daily
The Fox Tor Café, situated close to the centre of Princetown in the heart of Dartmoor, makes for a perfect place to rest after a hard day walking on Dartmoor. Their cream teas are very reasonably priced and they offer gluten free homemade scones and diabetic jam. They also usually offer flavoured scones, including a ginger one, and various jams.
Tor Royal B&B
Tor Royal Lane, Princetown, Devon PL20 6SL http://www.torroyal.co.uk/
Open Times: Wednesday – Sunday 2pm – 5pm (April – September)
The Tor Royal bed & breakfast is set within a beautiful Grade II-listed building located on the edge of Princetown in the same unspoilt region of Dartmoor that was chosen as the location to film War Horse. The Tor Royal currently enjoys a 5 star rating on TripAdvisor with lots of positive reviews of their cream teas.
Moorland Gardens Hotel
Yelverton, Near Plymouth, South Devon, PL20 6DA http://www.moorlandgardenhotel.co.uk/
Open Times: Call to check 01822 852245
Moorland Garden Hotel is located in ‘War Horse’ country, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, not far from Plymouth, Tavistock and the border with Cornwall. It’s set within nine acres of stunning and tranquil moorland garden. Devon cream teas and afternoon teas are served in the Lounge or in the picturesque garden and come with homemade scones and a choice of tea.
White Hart Hotel
The Square, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 8NQ http://www.whitehartdartmoor.co.uk/
Open Times: Cream Teas served Monday – Saturday, 10am-4pm
The White Hart Hotel is a family-owned hotel in the centre of Moretonhampstead on the Eastern side of Dartmoor. The hotel is very dog friendly so dog owners can pop in after a nice walk on the moors. Food is sourced locally and cream teas can be enjoyed daily in the restaurant or bar area.
http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden-app.aspx For Devon Open Gardens – there are often Cream Teas on offer.
Don’t forget to look out for village fetes and so on – always have cream teas there too! http://hubcast.co.uk/ for details!