Afternoon Tea and Fat Rascals at Bettys in York

If you're heading to York and fancy a proper cup of tea, Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St Helen's Square is hard to miss. The building has been a tea room since 1936, and the interiors are inspired by the Queen Mary liner. The tea room also has part of a collection of more than 600 teapots, including the Queen Mary Liner Teapot, so there's plenty to look at while you wait for your food.

The café is open Sunday to Wednesday from 9:00 to 17:30, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 to 21:00, and Saturday from 8:30 to 21:00. There's also a shop downstairs selling cakes, biscuits and Bettys specialities, which is a good option if the queue is long. Speaking of queues, expect to wait at busy times. One recent visitor went into the shop instead because of the queue, then waited about 45 minutes for a table in the tea room. Another reviewer only waited a short time and was seated at a front-view table. Going earlier in the day or on a weekday seems the easiest way to avoid a long wait, though the reviews don't say this specifically.

For most people, the main draw is the afternoon tea. It's reservation-only and served in the Belmont Room, a historic suite with the Queen Mary-inspired design. Afternoon tea costs from £39.95 per person and is served from 1pm to 5:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, and from 11am to 5:30pm on Saturdays. There's a live pianist, and several reviewers mention the music playing throughout the afternoon. One reviewer says the sandwiches are replenished so you can keep eating them, and another mentions a choice of around 15 teas, along with other drinks. The menu is based on Bettys' best-loved patisserie and tea room specialities. You can add a glass of champagne, and there are alternative menus for children, vegetarians, vegans and people who are gluten-free. The dress code is smart casual, and jeans are acceptable.

If you're not booking afternoon tea, the Fat Rascal is worth trying. It's a Yorkshire treat that sits somewhere between a bun and a scone, with a rock-cake style texture, dried fruit, and blanched almonds and glacé cherries on top. TasteAtlas lists it as a dish recommended by Visit York and several food critics. Reviewers have also praised the salmon sandwich and the lemon and poppy seed scones, and one customer said they'd return for the cheese rascals. The service gets good comments too. Reviewers describe the staff as friendly and efficient, and one mentions a waitress who was very helpful and informative.

Accessibility is worth checking before you go. At the time of the information available, the adapted lift was out of service. The tea room has a portable ramp, seats for people who can't queue, an accessible toilet with an emergency cord and a portable induction loop. The afternoon tea page also says the ground floor can be made available for guests who need it. Only guide dogs are allowed inside.

On price, afternoon tea is the biggest single spend at £39.95 per person, while a visit for tea and a cake or a light lunch falls into a more moderate range. Google reviews give the tea room an average of 4.6 out of 5 across more than 9,000 reviews. If you want to book afternoon tea or ask about availability, you can call 0800 456 1919.