Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. London
  4. South West London
  5. Waterloo
The Library at County Hall, London,

The Library at County Hall

4.5
4.5
843 Reviews
£41 and over
British

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 24 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for scenic views
Located in the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, The Library décor features the original oak bookcases stacked with the classics and adorned with busts of literary and historical figures. Indulge in history whilst enjoying spectacular views over the River Thames and Big Ben.
Award-winning Executive Head Chef Jamie Welch has created a new elegant menu for The Library featuring contemporary British dishes with a modern twist.
Freshly prepared by our creative pastry chefs, afternoon tea features reimagined classics including a delectable arrangement of cakes and pastries, sweet and savoury scones served with seasonal jams and clotted cream, and full flavoured finger sandwiches.

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    British, Afternoon Tea
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 12:00 pm–5:00 pm
  • Phone number
    020 7902 8000
  • Website
    https://www.thelibraryatcountyhall.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Jamie Welch
  • Private party facilities
    Toast the season with the introduction of a new quintessentially English menu in some of the most historic rooms within the former home to the Greater London Council. We opened our doors as The London Marriott Hotel, County Hall in 1998 and the building retains its original features to this day.
  • Private party contact
    Hannah Smith: 020 3589 4330

Experiences

  • Festive Afternoon Tea 2024

    £70.00 per person

    Nov 14, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025
    We are excited to be hosting a festive inspired Afternoon Tea in our historical Library boasting views over the Houses of Parliament and River Thames. Sit back and relax in this unique setting amongst the 4,000 plus original books from the former library of the Greater London Council.
    Festive Afternoon Tea 2024 Photo

  • Festive Champagne Afternoon Tea 2024

    £90.00 per person

    Nov 14, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025
    Champagne lovers, this is for you! A glass of Champagne with Festive afternoon tea and iconic views. We are excited to be hosting a festive inspired Afternoon Tea in our historical Library boasting views over the Houses of Parliament and River Thames. Sit back and relax in this unique setting amongst the 4,000 plus original books from the former library of the Greater London Council.
    Festive Champagne Afternoon Tea 2024 Photo

  • Festive Free-Flowing Sparkling Wine Afternoon Tea

    £120.00 per person

    Nov 14, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025
    Treat yourself to a Free-Flowing Sparkling Wine Afternoon Tea at The Library. For £120 per person you can tuck in to a delicious spread of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, cakes and sweet treats and enjoy 1.5 hours of sparkling wine. We are excited to be hosting a festive inspired Afternoon Tea in our historical Library boasting views over the Houses of Parliament and River Thames. Sit back and relax in this unique setting amongst the 4,000 plus original books from the former library of the Greater London Council.
    Festive Free-Flowing Sparkling Wine Afternoon Tea Photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 843 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • South West London

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Library at County Hall offers a delightful afternoon tea experience with "fantastic views" of Big Ben and Westminster. Guests praise the "amazing service," especially from attentive staff like Chandra. The elegant ambiance and extensive tea selection create a memorable visit. While some find the price steep, the "wonderful food" and setting make it worthwhile for special occasions.

843 Reviews

  1. Gail

    London

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Not bottled still water, sandwiches on the plate, no taste, very basic, cakes too rich and similar, not very festive

    Is this helpful?

  2. Lucy

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The venue itself is superb, a beautiful old library with views over the Thames and the Houses of Parliament. The service was friendly and attentive. My main point of concern is that the Afternoon Tea appears to be designed for two people, there are 5 delicious cakes and pastries that you are expected to cut in half to share. We were a table of three and we were given extra cakes and pastry, but it was still difficult to make these divisible by three. Every other venue where I have had Afternoon Tea has provided individual, smaller cakes so that each person has their own, which seems more sensible to me. This being said, the quality and flavour of all the foods provided were delicious. We had a wonderful experience at The Library but, as with all these top London venues, at a very high price.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Natalie

    Brighton

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Blown away by the exceptional service provided by all the staff we interacted with. From choosing your personal tea blend, to the delicate sandwiches, the beautiful cakes & sweet delicacies down to the ambience of The Library or the views of The Houses of Parliament, it'll be a experience we won't forget.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Sue

    Oxford

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Did book in advance for a birthday surprise but wasn’t acknowledged so disappointed. Average after tea No atmosphere Lovely setting

    Is this helpful?

  5. Natasha

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We’ve been coming here for this experience for the past ten years - best afternoon tea! We’ll undoubtedly be back! Thank you as always and a big thank you to the manager and Jamie who both made us feel very welcome and at home 🥰

    Is this helpful?

  6. Rosa

    New York City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Très beau endroit avec des superbes vues. Le tea time était copieux et Très bon, j'ai adoré le thé Bora Bora. Ce n'est pas du tout donné mais à faire pour une occasion spéciale.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jenni

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    No-one on the welcome desk for several minutes, scones disappointing (very dry), cakes too sweet, servers friendly - a couple were excellent

    Is this helpful?

  8. Samantha

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The festive afternoon tea was amazing. The views, service, & overall experience was perfect for first timers.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Georg

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    very good tea, also the sandvich very fine, the scones unfortunately a little dry, the cakes good but too sweet for me

    Is this helpful?

  10. Lesley

    Cornwall

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We booked this for our Friends 70th birthday surprise. What can I say, we was all taken aback by the the surrounds and attention to detail. Highly recommend

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Library at County Hall is rated 4.5 stars by 843 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 24 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Library at County Hall

London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Waterloo
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 12:00 pm–5:00 pm
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    British, Afternoon Tea
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Public transit
    Waterloo Station, Westminster Station
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jamie Welch
  • Additional
    Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.thelibraryatcountyhall.com/
  • Phone number
    020 7902 8000
  • Private party facilities
    Toast the season with the introduction of a new quintessentially English menu in some of the most historic rooms within the former home to the Greater London Council. We opened our doors as The London Marriott Hotel, County Hall in 1998 and the building retains its original features to this day.
  • Private party contact
    Hannah Smith: 020 3589 4330
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
  • Open for Business Blog
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo