The Lavender Tearooms

Set in the storybook hamlet of Etal, close to the Northumberland–Scotland border, The Lavender Tearooms is the sort of place you stumble upon and never forget. Whitewashed and unhurried, it rewards the meandering drive through the Till valley with proper homemade cakes, a well-poured cup and a welcome that feels genuinely local. A near-flawless reputation among those who've found it speaks volumes. Pair it with a wander past the castle ruins and it becomes an afternoon rather than a stop — the very definition of a hidden countryside tearoom worth seeking out.

A near-perfect rating in one of Northumberland's prettiest tucked-away villages makes this a hidden tearoom people will happily drive for and gladly recommend.

• Coffee & Cake
• Peace & Quiet
• Hidden Gem
• Romantic Escape