Twinings - The Strand

Tea and coffee shop · Temple

Twinings - The Strand

Tea and coffee shop · Temple

5

216 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1AP, United Kingdom

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Twinings - The Strand by https://www.twinings.co.uk/about-twinings/... (Public Domain)
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Twinings - The Strand by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
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Twinings - The Strand by AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)
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Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null
Twinings - The Strand by null

Highlights

Flagship tea emporium offering tastings, gifts, and history  

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216 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1AP, United Kingdom Get directions

twinings.co.uk
@twiningsuk

$$

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216 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1AP, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 20 7353 3511
twinings.co.uk
@twiningsuk
𝕏
@twiningsuk

$$

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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@atlasobscura

50 Obscure and Amazing Places to Visit in 2017

"You’ll have to excuse the exoticized Chinamen figures atop the Twinings tea shop doorway at 216 Strand. They’ve been sitting up there for about three centuries, in which time the cultural acceptability of such caricatures has lessened, and tea is more often associated with British gentry than with Chinese merchants. As a young man Thomas Twining apprenticed under an East India Company merchant, importing goods from exotic locales, coffee and tea in particular. Twining’s mercantile career began in 1706 when he opened a small storefront on a busy London thoroughfare called the Strand. He called it Tom’s Coffee House, and it soon became a popular gathering spot for fashionable aristocrats. Despite the fact that his shop was dedicated to coffee, Twining soon garnered a reputation for having some of the finest tea blends in London. Within a decade he ceased selling coffee entirely and almost exclusively sold dry packaged teas. This allowed women to partake in tea-drinking at home as well, as coffee houses were male-only establishments. Twining expanded his business, opening up more shops, and eventually growing it into the tea empire it is today.  Though we think of Britain’s relationship to tea being as old as the nation itself, the drink had only been introduced in the 1660s by a Portuguese queen. With the expansion of East Indian trade and merchants like Twining though, tea quickly became the national beverage. Today Twinings is synonymous with the history of British tea. Over 300 years later, the original Twinings shop on the Strand is still in business. The Twinings logo, a simple, gold sign bearing the company name, has remained unchanged since 1787, making it the second oldest corporate logo still in use, behind that of Stella Artois, which was first introduced in 1366. In 1837, Queen Victoria granted the company a royal warrant, a merit which has given Twinings the honor of providing tea to the royal family ever since." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-50-most-wondrous-places-to-visit-in-2017
View Postcard for Twinings - The Strand
@atlasobscura

9 Cool Shops in London

"You’ll have to excuse the exoticized Chinamen figures atop the Twinings tea shop doorway at 216 Strand. They’ve been sitting up there for about three centuries, in which time the cultural acceptability of such caricatures has lessened, and tea is more often associated with British gentry than with Chinese merchants. As a young man Thomas Twining apprenticed under an East India Company merchant, importing goods from exotic locales, coffee and tea in particular. Twining’s mercantile career began in 1706 when he opened a small storefront on a busy London thoroughfare called the Strand. He called it Tom’s Coffee House, and it soon became a popular gathering spot for fashionable aristocrats. Despite the fact that his shop was dedicated to coffee, Twining soon garnered a reputation for having some of the finest tea blends in London. Within a decade he ceased selling coffee entirely and almost exclusively sold dry packaged teas. This allowed women to partake in tea-drinking at home as well, as coffee houses were male-only establishments. Twining expanded his business, opening up more shops, and eventually growing it into the tea empire it is today.  Though we think of Britain’s relationship to tea being as old as the nation itself, the drink had only been introduced in the 1660s by a Portuguese queen. With the expansion of East Indian trade and merchants like Twining though, tea quickly became the national beverage. Today Twinings is synonymous with the history of British tea. Over 300 years later, the original Twinings shop on the Strand is still in business. The Twinings logo, a simple, gold sign bearing the company name, has remained unchanged since 1787, making it the second oldest corporate logo still in use, behind that of Stella Artois, which was first introduced in 1366. In 1837, Queen Victoria granted the company a royal warrant, a merit which has given Twinings the honor of providing tea to the royal family ever since." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/cool-shops-in-london
View Postcard for Twinings - The Strand
@atlasobscura

London's Top 8 Wonders in 2018

"You’ll have to excuse the exoticized Chinamen figures atop the Twinings tea shop doorway at 216 Strand. They’ve been sitting up there for about three centuries, in which time the cultural acceptability of such caricatures has lessened, and tea is more often associated with British gentry than with Chinese merchants. As a young man Thomas Twining apprenticed under an East India Company merchant, importing goods from exotic locales, coffee and tea in particular. Twining’s mercantile career began in 1706 when he opened a small storefront on a busy London thoroughfare called the Strand. He called it Tom’s Coffee House, and it soon became a popular gathering spot for fashionable aristocrats. Despite the fact that his shop was dedicated to coffee, Twining soon garnered a reputation for having some of the finest tea blends in London. Within a decade he ceased selling coffee entirely and almost exclusively sold dry packaged teas. This allowed women to partake in tea-drinking at home as well, as coffee houses were male-only establishments. Twining expanded his business, opening up more shops, and eventually growing it into the tea empire it is today.  Though we think of Britain’s relationship to tea being as old as the nation itself, the drink had only been introduced in the 1660s by a Portuguese queen. With the expansion of East Indian trade and merchants like Twining though, tea quickly became the national beverage. Today Twinings is synonymous with the history of British tea. Over 300 years later, the original Twinings shop on the Strand is still in business. The Twinings logo, a simple, gold sign bearing the company name, has remained unchanged since 1787, making it the second oldest corporate logo still in use, behind that of Stella Artois, which was first introduced in 1366. In 1837, Queen Victoria granted the company a royal warrant, a merit which has given Twinings the honor of providing tea to the royal family ever since." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/top-8-wonders-london-2018
View Postcard for Twinings - The Strand
@atlasobscura

15 Places Every Tea-Lover Should Visit Before They Die

"You’ll have to excuse the exoticized Chinamen figures atop the Twinings tea shop doorway at 216 Strand. They’ve been sitting up there for about three centuries, in which time the cultural acceptability of such caricatures has lessened, and tea is more often associated with British gentry than with Chinese merchants. As a young man Thomas Twining apprenticed under an East India Company merchant, importing goods from exotic locales, coffee and tea in particular. Twining’s mercantile career began in 1706 when he opened a small storefront on a busy London thoroughfare called the Strand. He called it Tom’s Coffee House, and it soon became a popular gathering spot for fashionable aristocrats. Despite the fact that his shop was dedicated to coffee, Twining soon garnered a reputation for having some of the finest tea blends in London. Within a decade he ceased selling coffee entirely and almost exclusively sold dry packaged teas. This allowed women to partake in tea-drinking at home as well, as coffee houses were male-only establishments. Twining expanded his business, opening up more shops, and eventually growing it into the tea empire it is today.  Though we think of Britain’s relationship to tea being as old as the nation itself, the drink had only been introduced in the 1660s by a Portuguese queen. With the expansion of East Indian trade and merchants like Twining though, tea quickly became the national beverage. Today Twinings is synonymous with the history of British tea. Over 300 years later, the original Twinings shop on the Strand is still in business. The Twinings logo, a simple, gold sign bearing the company name, has remained unchanged since 1787, making it the second oldest corporate logo still in use, behind that of Stella Artois, which was first introduced in 1366. In 1837, Queen Victoria granted the company a royal warrant, a merit which has given Twinings the honor of providing tea to the royal family ever since." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/unique-places-for-tea-around-world
View Postcard for Twinings - The Strand
@atlasobscura

Twinings Tea Shop – London, England - Gastro Obscura

"You’ll have to excuse the exoticized Chinamen figures atop the Twinings tea shop doorway at 216 Strand. They’ve been sitting up there for about three centuries, in which time the cultural acceptability of such caricatures has lessened, and tea is more often associated with British gentry than with Chinese merchants. As a young man Thomas Twining apprenticed under an East India Company merchant, importing goods from exotic locales, coffee and tea in particular. Twining’s mercantile career began in 1706 when he opened a small storefront on a busy London thoroughfare called the Strand. He called it Tom’s Coffee House, and it soon became a popular gathering spot for fashionable aristocrats. Despite his shop being dedicated to coffee, Twining soon garnered a reputation for having some of the finest tea blends in London. Within a decade he ceased selling coffee entirely and almost exclusively sold dry packaged teas. This allowed women to partake in tea-drinking at home as well, as coffee houses were male-only establishments. Twining expanded his business, opening up more shops, and eventually growing it into the tea empire it is today. Though we think of Britain’s relationship to tea being as old as the nation itself, the drink had only been introduced in the 1660s by a Portuguese queen. With the expansion of East Indian trade and merchants like Twining though, tea quickly became the national beverage. Today Twinings is synonymous with the history of British tea. Over 300 years later, the original Twinings shop on the Strand is still in business. The Twinings logo, a simple, gold sign bearing the company name, has remained unchanged since 1787, making it the second oldest corporate logo still in use, behind that of Stella Artois, which was first introduced in 1366. In 1837, Queen Victoria granted the company a Royal Warrant, a merit which has given Twinings the honour of providing tea to the Royal family ever since. None" - P Pengwn, Gavin, rbenn250, mawawi9806, karaouim081, m mawawi9806, AdOYo, spadaadjusting, n nickylouder, J Julius Spada, Collector of Experiences, Xavixavir, Molly McBride Jacobson, SEANETTA, thesecretcity, Mintenk0, s spadaadjusting

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/twinings-tea-shop
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Girija Rajendran

Google
Twinings offers a wide variety of natural, flavoured teas with unique combinations to suit every taste. From classic blends to herbal infusions, there's something for everyone. They also have caffeine-free options, perfect for those looking for a relaxing cup any time of day. The shop is well-organised, and you can explore and even taste different blends before buying. It’s a great place to discover new flavours and bring home some special tea gifts. A must-visit spot for tea lovers!

Henrik

Google
We stumbled on this store when we walked in the area. A lovely little tea store, that has been the Twinings store since 1706. Long and narrow, with a fantastic selection of teas, and a bar for tasting teas at the back. Well worth a visit.

Alba

Google
The ladies working here were so very kind and attentive. As soon as I started expressing my interest and amazement at their dynamic and didactic entry it took them no time to engage with me and dive right into the conversation. Thank you very much for every tip shared. Looking forward to telling my students and colleagues about what it is that you do. (I was the young English teacher from Spain.)

Doug W

Google
This is one of THE ultimate LONDON MUST-SEE GEMS !!!! Astounding history.....and just HOW did it survive the bombings in WW 2 is beyond belief. Even if you DO NOT drink tea...you MUST visit this place and enjoy it. Also....look carefully or you will MISS IT!!!

christina howard

Google
This place is AMAZING. I was overwhelmed with joy to see how many great teas they offered! Not only was the tea section immaculate, they also had free tea tasting at the back of the store. You could pick any of the teas to try so you knew exactly what you were buying. We had a lovely tea ambassador named Theviya helping us at the tasting bar. She was so sweet, personable, and patient. Also shoutout to Catriona for being so friendly and having such great recommendations! She really made my experience so enjoyable. All the prices of the teas were very reasonable. I highly recommend going to this store, you will not regret it!

Giles Jackson

Google
Went on the Tea Masterclass. It was fabulous. Learnt a lot about tea and really enjoyed the course. Don't think that I'll ever utilise a tea 'bag' again!

Bessie Lee

Google
Twinings Tea Room since 1706, 319 years old tea room. From a distance the tea room looked like being squeezed by two large buildings which is quite cute. So much respect for Twinings and London government for keeping this Tea Room. It is still standing strong and busy! It’s still very much a busy retail shop by Twinings. If you love English tea and English history and heritage, The Tea Room is definitely worth a visit. And Twinings has been a Royal Warrant badge bearer since 1837 which tells you something about their tea quality.

L Moore

Google
Tea lovers, take note: the Twinings flagship store in London is worth a trip. This is the place in town to find every flavor and type of Twinings teas. It's surprisingly small, but is stuffed to the gills with all sorts of tea bags, loose tea, accessories, and gifts. This is a great place to go if you want a fun souvenir of your trip to London (or if you want to take something that will be appreciated by the folks back home). This flagship store is over 300 years old, making it the oldest tea shop in London! It's very pretty and photogenic. The employees are super helpful too, and eager to guide you towards items they think you might like. I'm normally a loose leaf tea drinker and prefer to brew my own, but one of the coolest features at this shop is the Pick & Mix wall. You can create a personalized selection of individual tea bags (a make-your-own sampler box, if you will). Twinings has so many options, and their tea envelopes feature art that's pretty as well. I came home with a couple of loose leaf tins as well as four boxes of their Spiced Apple and Vanilla Superblend Sleepytime Tea, which I became absolutely obsessed with on my Virgin Atlantic flight across the pond. I looked all over town for it, but I made the trek to the Twinings store because I knew they'd have it (and they did). This is THE place if you are searching for a particular or hard-to-find Twinings tea. There's a tea sampling bar in the back, where they usually have three or four different varieties for you to try. I visited during the holiday season, so I was able to taste a couple of Christmas teas which were excellent. The closest tube station is Temple (on the District and Circle lines). It's a short walk, but you have to go up a very steep hill so be aware.