Historians have credited Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, for inventing afternoon tea in the 1840s.

The upper class would gather between 3 and 4 p.m. to nibble on finger sandwiches, scones and pastries, served on a coffee table or low table. The working class would have high tea between 5 and 7 p.m. and eat heavier fare such as meats, cheeses and soups served at a dinner table or high table. Nowadays, the terms are used interchangeably and the menus vary.

Afternoon and high teas are enjoyed year-round at tearooms, cafes and events throughout the Hampton Roads region. Here are places to visit this season and beyond.

Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot The English Rose Tea Room in Virginia Beach. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot) Shari Yauneridge, a native of Englan

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