Teatime is the traditional late afternoon custom, especially popular in Britain, of stopping work or play to have tea and light refreshments. Around four or five o'clock, people gather for hot tea served with small sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, or biscuits (what Americans call cookies).

The custom became fashionable in England in the 1840s when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, complained of feeling hungry in the long gap between lunch and dinner. She started inviting friends to join her for tea and snacks in the late afternoon, and the practice spread throughout British society. Today, many hotels and tea shops serve afternoon tea as a special treat.

Teatime provides a chance to pause, sit down, and talk with others while enjoying food and drink together. In stories set in England, like The Secret Garden or Paddington, characters often gather for teatime, making it feel cozy. Some families still observe teatime as a daily ritual, while others save it for special occasions. The word can also simply mean the time when tea is typically served, as in “Come visit us at teatime tomorrow.”