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The Library at County Hall, London,

The Library at County Hall

4.4
4.4
876 Reviews
£41 and over
British

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 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

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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

  • Valentines Day Afternoon Tea

    £90.00 per person

    Feb 10, 2025 - Feb 16, 2025
    Indulge the quintessentially British tradition at The Library with a special afternoon tea to share with your loved one on Valentines Day . Discover signature cakes, inspired by the views of the iconic Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben, alongside a delicious spread of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and a glass of Louis Pommery Rose for just £90 per person.
    Valentines Day Afternoon Tea Photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 876 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 3.9Value

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 "gorgeous space" with views of Big Ben and the Thames, creating a "peaceful relaxing ambience." The "afternoon tea" is a highlight, boasting "delicious food" and "excellent service," with "attentive" staff and a "fantastic" tea selection. Although some found it pricey, the "unique experience" and scenic setting make it worth a visit.

876 Reviews

  1. Sarah

    New York City

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The photos of the view are accurate. And that’s what I would say was the only good part. I booked tea for two and I chose the £55 option with tea, pastries, and sandwiches. When we arrived we were asked if we would like sparkling wine or champagne and we said yes. She said “ok champagne?” And we said sure. We got the tea and champagne and food and then were offered a refill on the champagne. Imagine my shock when the bill came and it was £247.50. We were charged for the champagne tea special (£90 each) and £20 each for the refill and £27.50 for a “service fee” lol. Unbelievably sneaky. The waitress saw the shock on my face and just kept asking “so separate cards?” without a care in the world, like this is a common to scam customers of money. Really soured my layover experience in London.

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  2. Amanda

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful setting with great views over Elizabeth Tower and the Houses of Parliament. Staff very attentive, beautiful food would visit again and recommend to friends

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  3. HYEMIN

    London

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    It was the worst racist restaurant, from the sarcastic staff as soon as they entered to the restaurant, to the staff who talked back throughout the serving~

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  4. Tracie

    Cincinnati

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The tea was wonderful! Our server shared very interesting info about the library and its history. The food was super yummy and we absolutely loved the sweets! The view was also amazing! Highly recommend!

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  5. Astrid

    Berlin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wundervoller Ort toller mit großartiger Aussicht. Super aufmerksamer Service. Sehr schöne schöne Stimmung und Atmosphäre.

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  6. Trevor

    Yorkshire

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 17, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Good service, knowledgeable and helpful staff Nice food, presented well Just feel it was a little expensive when all considered although in line with other establishments

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  7. Laura

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 16, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Gorgeous space with fantastic views, ambience, and special feel. Food and teas lovely. It was the service (a bit mid-day lazy and unrefined) and the quantity of food (cakes are shared, not one each, and only the equivalent of one sandwich per person) that were disappointing for the price.

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  8. Amina

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I celebrated my birthday with afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall, and it was a lovely experience. From the beginning, all the staff were very attentive, friendly and responsive. They brought out a special birthday dessert with a candle, on the house, and wrote a thoughtful birthday message in a card - which was a lovely surprise and made my birthday special. The sandwiches were fresh and tasty, with different flavours, and the scones were fresh and not too sweet and tasted great with the fresh vegan cream and fresh jam. The other pastries and desserts were amazing, they tasted fresh and light. It was very relaxing sitting there with a view out to the Houses of Parliament and the Thames, and was fairly quiet though I did go on a weekday Thursday so may be busier on weekends. Thanks for a great birthday afternoon tea to all the staff at the Library!

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  9. Jeanine

    VIP

    Las Vegas

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We particularly enjoyed selecting our tea from numerous choices in the tea box. We picked the County Hall blend.

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  10. EVELYNE

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Overpriced I took the less expensive menu at 70 livres which is Not really cheap and there is not very poor and nothing exceptional Cakes are very sweet I am very désappointed I hoped so much for such an unique experience

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FAQs

The Library at County Hall is rated 4.4 stars by 876 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 14 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
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