A local’s guide to beautiful Alice in Wonderland places to visit in London, from afternoon tea spots to coffee shops, unique stores and secret gardens!
To this day, there is only a handful of Alice in Wonderland-inspired places to visit in London.
The world-famous story sees its characters star in various posh afternoon teas, limited-in-time immersive experiences, and a couple of stores.
Since I love themed cafes, movie and cartoon inspired spots, I thought now would be a great time to share the places I know relate to Alice in Wonderland, at least loosely.
If you’re always on the lookout for unusual, secret spots to discover in London, keep reading!
Alice in Wonderland Places in London: 12 Top Spots to Visit
I have included in this guide some of the most secret places in London, including two life-size mazes, a few coffee shops, stores, and Alice in Wonderland afternoon teas.
However, since most of the Alice in Wonderland experiences are limited in time, some of the most famous, including Taj 51 and other high end afternoon tea spots, are now obsolete.
This is why I chose to include other hidden gems in London, such as the Crystal Palace Park Maze, or the incredible Glade room at Sketch London, in Mayfair.
Hopefully, you’ll find here all kinds of magical places to visit to make that inner child of yours happy!
Alice in Wonderland Cafes, Restaurants and Afternoon Tea in London
Best Alice in Wonderland Cafes and Afternoon Tea in London: Rabbit Hole Cafe, Holloway Road
The Rabbit Hole Cafe is currently the only Alice in Wonderland cafe in London, and unfortunately, very few people know about it.
It’s one of the best halal cafes to get a Full English breakfast or brunch with halal meat, and The Rabbit Hole Cafe also offers plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
The highlight of this coffee shop slash restaurant located on Holloway Road, in the heart of North London, is the decor, which oscillates between rustic and Alice-themed.
Indeed, you’ll find a few clocks here and there, figurines of rabbits, and even the menu bears Alice in Wonderland names.
One of the best hidden gems in North London, The Rabbit Hole Cafe is the perfect spot to get a filling breakfast, brunch, all the way to early dinner.
And one of the only places, too, where you can still get lunch under £5 in London!
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in East London
Best Alice in Wonderland Cafes and Afternoon Tea in London: Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea
The Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson, in the heart of the beautiful neighborhood of Fitzoriva, is the only remaining Alice-themed experience at the moment.
From immaculate plates to Mad Hatter-themed tea flavors, everything in this immersive experience will remind you of the Lewis Carroll character.
Finger sandwiches, chess-themed macarons, vials and Alice decor – what more could we wish for, really?
I know what – shopping on Oxford Street afterwards!
And if you feel like walking around a bit more to digest, there are some cute hidden gems in Soho and Carnaby Street that are worth a glance!
Best Alice in Wonderland Cafes and Afternoon Tea in London: Sketch London, Glade Room
When it comes to finding really maximalist restaurants in London, I’d say we can hardly do better than the Glade Room at Sketch London.
One of Mayfair’s prettiest restaurants, Sketch offers three rooms: a floral, ethereal blue room, a crisp pink room in which you can enjoy some of the city’s most delicious afternoon tea, and a neon pink room called The Parlour.
While Sketch is not affiliated to Alice in Wonderland in any way, it’s still one of the most magical places to visit in London on a romantic date.
You’ll find nearby loads of hidden gems in Mayfair, from the beautiful Mount Street Gardens to the free rooftop garden at Brown Hart Gardens – a really pretty place to keep the day going.
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in West London
Best Alice in Wonderland Cafes and Afternoon Tea in London: Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, Bethnal Green
One of the only cat cafes in London, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is filled with kittens to pet while you’re enjoying breakfast or afternoon tea.
Lady Dinah’s clearly takes its inspiration from Alice’s cat’s name in the book, and the decor is both colorful, lively and authentic.
There are a few rules to observe when visiting any kind of cat, dog or pet cafe, the most important one being respectful of the animals’ well-being.
Popping by Lady Dinah’s makes for a great afternoon, and is one of my favorite things to do in Bethnal Green.
The neighborhood is so close to Brick Lane that you can then walk to see all the colorful street art in Brick Lane!
Update: This place is now closed.
Read: The Prettiest Floral Cafes in London
Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Cafes in London: Biscuiteers, Notting Hill
The last of the themed coffee shops I wanted to share, that could be part of an Alice in Wonderland itinerary, would be Biscuiteers in Notting Hill, West London.
Notting Hill is far from being only posh; you’ll find lots of street art there, in addition to wonderful concept stores and even budget shops to buy super cheap things to bring back home.
Anyhoo – Biscuiteers is famous for being a really cute bakery slash cafe; their biscuit collections, which have included Bridgerton in the past as well, are as tasty as they are beautiful.
Should you want to do something a little different while you’re staying in London, know that you can attend super interesting workshops at Biscuiteers to learn about biscuit glazing and decorations, too!
Alice in Wonderland Places and Things to Do in London
Best Alice in Wonderland Things to Do in London: Alice’s Adventures Underground, Waterloo
Alice’s Adventures Underground is currently one of the best Alice in Wonderland things to do in London, and is open several times during the year.
Located at Labyrinth in Waterloo, the immersive experience includes all sorts of arts, from circus to music, puppetry an storytelling.
During one hour and a half, you’ll be able to revisit Alice in Wonderland’s tale and really lose yourself in that utterly magical world.
And since you’re not too far from Waterloo, you have a few options afterwards:
- Having one of London’s best hot chocolates at Coffee Academy on Southbank
- Visiting some of the best hidden gems in London Bridge and Southwark
- Or popping by the Leake Street tunnel to unravel the secrets of colorful street art pieces
Update: This experience is currently closed.
Read: The Prettiest Mews in London
Alice in Wonderland Places in London: Hampton Court Maze
Nestled within the gardens of Hampton Court Palace, the maze has been around since the 17th century, and was commissioned by King William III.
While there is another maze we’ll be talking about below, Hampton Court Palace is already one of the must-visit stately homes in London, whether you visit during the summer or the fall – a great spot to discover with kids, too!
It takes about 20 minutes to reach the center, and since the tall hedges close you in on all sides, you really have that enchanting feeling of being disoriented, until you find the way out.
Read: 17 Unique Experiences in London (Far) from the Beaten Path
Most Magical Places in London: Crystal Palace Park Maze
One of South London’s best hidden gems, the Crystal Palace Park Maze is a must-see for anyone looking to blend nature with magic.
The Crystal Palace is already one gem of architecture, but another one of its probably most famous features is the collection of life-size dinosaurs, impressive and beautiful.
You won’t find many mazes and labyrinths in London, but the Crystal Palace Park Maze is a great spot to visit with kids, if you’re on a budget, with your other half or your friends.
And yes, while it’s not a proper Alice in Wonderland place to visit (most of them are located in Guildford, UK), it’s still magical enough that lovers of the story will enjoy their time there.
Read: The Best Free Rooftops in London
Alice in Wonderland Shops in London
Alice in Wonderland Shops in London: Alice Through the Looking Glass, Cecil Court
Now, for the only real Alice in Wonderland shop in London, pop by Alice Through the Looking Glass on Cecil Court, a few minutes’ walk from vibrant Leicester Square.
Cecil Court is still one of the most secret passageways in London, filled with bookshops, esoteric shops, and provides beautiful angles for photos.
Alice through The Looking Glass is the only one of these shops filled with Alice in Wonderland memorabilia, books, artwork, stationery and even rare editions of the books.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Lewis Carroll-created story, there’s a museum inside the shop in which you can learn more, see more, feel more – even a white pet rabbit!
Read: Desserts in London: 9 Cozy Cafes, Bakeries and Food Spots
Most Colorful Places in London: Cyberdog, Camden
Cyberdog Camden is probably one of the most unique shops in London; the Alice goes raving theme is ultra-colorful, enticing, with collections that make you want to take out your card instantly.
Some of the clothes bear transparent hearts, others have multicolor paint splatters on the front, and you’ll find endless accessories there.
It’s safe to say that Cyberdog, located a stone’s throw away from the Amy Winehouse statue, is one of the most neon places in London.
Three floors of shopping possibilities, surrounded by incredible deep house and techno music? Yes, please.
And if you’re ever looking for neon makeup in London, Cyberdog has a few brands available with neon eyeliner, neon nail polish, and much more!
Read: The Best Makeup Stores in London
Alice in Wonderland Places in London: Vendula London, Gabriel’s Wharf
Although the magical Vendula London shop on Gabriel’s Wharf, along the South Bank, is not related in any way to Alice in Wonderland, it’s still a unique store that I had to include in this guide.
The collections of quirky handbags, wallets and other accessories span from diner themes to gardening, pie shops and bookbinders.
All the pieces are hand-sewn and are incredibly high-quality; I myself try to pop by the Southbank shop every chance I get, if only to see the new collections.
Read: Rainy London: 25+ Things to Do When It’s Pouring Buckets
Alice in Wonderland Places in London: Whittard of Chelsea
Whittard of Chelsea is the last spot I wanted to share that is a little more loosely tied to the Alice in Wonderland novel; it’s one of the most famous tea shops in London.
Inside one of their many branches across town, you won’t only find delicious tea, but also all kinds of flavored hot chocolate and coffee specialties.
In particular, the chocolate-covered coffee beans are one of my favorite snacks to buy in London.
If I wanted to mention Whittard of Chelsea, it’s because of their complete Alice in Wonderland collection, which is made up of tea cups, various tea flavors, and wonderful tea sets.
My favorite branches are the Whittard shop on Oxford Street and the one inside the Apple Market in Covent Garden; you’ll find many more amazing things to buy in there, too!
Read: London’s Fashion Museums: 8 Spots To Dive Deep into Style
Alice in Wonderland Places in London: 12 Top Spots to Visit
There you have them, all the most magical Alice in Wonderland places to visit in London, from afternoon tea to gardens, shops and more!
Alice in Wonderland experiences change greatly according to the years.
As I told you at the beginning, most of the places who used to offer an Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea have now sailed to other couture or magical themes.
In any case, you’ll hopefully have found here a myriad of hidden gems to pop by to really enjoy your trip to London!