I belong to a bimonthly afternoon tea group (eek! we've been at this for over 25 years!), so I get your distinction, but fabulous foodstuffs and tea can be awesome even with your own company.

I love the grand afternoon tea at Harrod's. It's spendy, but not horrific -- and they bring you more if you're not filled up the first time around. The last time I was there, I was traveling on business, so I was able to expense the tea, which I had instead of dinner. That felt amazingly decadent.