Although originating some 200 years ago, the British custom of afternoon tea is still as alive as ever. Across the UK, afternoon tea can be had in countless hotels and tearooms, often paired with sandwiches, scones and cakes, served on a tiered cake stand. Of all cities, London stands tallest with its wide selection of afternoon tea options, tailored to suit any budget. In London, you may even experience an afternoon tea with a twist.

Like the coffee house to New York, China's tea houses are a ubiquitous part of the country's culture - and nowhere more so than in Shanghai. The most populated city in the entire world, Shanghai boasts over 3,000 tea houses, from old to new, modern to classic, no-frills to luxurious.