We’re not sure whether it’s a distinctly British tradition, but alongside annual school photos, parents are often bestowed the opportunity to purchase tea towels.
These aren’t just any old cotton rags, for they tend to feature hilariously drawn self-portraits lovingly crafted by little ones in primary school. They’re also quite magical tea towels, as they seem capable of lasting for decades longer than regular old shop-bought ones. Some of our parents have become grandparents in the time that our primary school tea towels have lasted.
There’s no real way of recreating the nostalgic charm offered by our primary school tea towels when it comes to purchasing practical accoutrements for our modern kitchens. While we can search high and low for value-for-money, vintage-style tea towels, cheaper options tend to stain easily, working to ruin the perfectly crafted kitchen aesthetic that we’ve worked hard to create.
Never underestimate the power of tea towels to elevate your kitchen, whether delicately draped over the oven handle or hung up with purpose-built wooden hooks. However, we’re not sure who needs to hear this, but you simply do not need a collection of 48 different cotton or linen towelling rags. We hate to say it, but it’s time to throw some out or repurpose them.
If you’re looking to overhaul your kitchen collection, we have curated a selection of chic tea towels that will have dinner guests ogling at your charming kitchen accessories. Keep scrolling for an eclectic selection of the British tea-time staple.
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Gingham Cotton Tea Towel, Haze Blue
A classic gingham tea towel can do wonders for recreating a farmhouse kitchen aesthetic. This option from John Lewis is available in black and myrtle green to help diversify your tea towel collection. Plus, those overlapping gingham squares will certainly help to disguise any stains.
Buy now £5.00, John Lewis
Garnier Thiebaut Mona Lisa Tea Towel
It doesn’t get any more luxurious than a Garnier Thiebaut tea towel - the French home linen experts have been weaving exceptional creations since 1833. Crafted from 100 per cent jacquard linen, this beautiful tea towel features an embellished Mona Lisa surrounded by fruity, colourful borders.
Buy now £25.28, Cologne & Cotton
Liberty 2PK The Power of Love and Liberty 70x50cm Tea Towel
Celebrate the Power of Love and your adoration for all things related to the iconic British department store with this set of two Liberty tea towels. The highly saturated colours are not only beautiful, but practical – for who will notice the odd tomato stain here, or a coffee stain there?
Buy now £40.00, Liberty
Lobster Cotton Tea Towel
The iconic Fortnum’s lobster inspired by the illustration by W.M. Hendy is realised here in a red top hat, playfully balancing a ball on his whiskers. The minimal design, in F&M’s signature colour Eau de Nil, is a staple for any British kitchen.
Buy now £14.95, F&M
Ulster Weavers 'Kitchen Measurements' Food and Drink Cotton Tea Towel
Practical and perfectly rendered, this vintage-style tea towel features an array of incredibly useful measurements and conversions for the home baker.
Buy now £6.99, Debenhams
Hay Canteen waffle-texture cotton dish cloths pack of two
For a pop of much-needed colour, look no further than Scandinavian design house Hay. These waffle-texture waffle dishcloths come in two colourways, but our favourite is the strangely complimentary fuchsia and beige.
Buy now £13.00, Selfridges
Retro Laughing Cow
La Vache qui Rit, otherwise known as The Laughing Cow, is an iconic image in the culinary world. We simply adore this retro tea towel inspired by everyone’s favourite cheese.
Buy now £12.08, Amazon
Emma Bridgewater Hens Tea Towel
Another icon of British tea time culture is the cookware and kitchen accessories of Emma Bridgewater. New to the collection is this gorgeous tea towel featuring a flock of feathery hens. We love the factual, brightly coloured border with its classic Bridgewater lettering.
Buy now £13.00, Emma Bridgewater
Amuse La Bouche Gemini Tea Towel
Whether purchased as a gift for a friend or to yourself, these astrology tea towels by Amuse La Bouche will serve as a delightful kitchen accessory to match one’s personality for years to come.
Buy now £32.00, Amuse La Bouche
Scottish Wild Flowers
One for foragers and botany enthusiasts, this beautiful tea towel features an array of wildflowers and blooms from the Scottish highlands printed onto sage green cotton.
Buy now £8.60, Etsy
Rex London Tea towel - Vintage Passata
Encapsulate the feeling of 1980s Italy with this gorgeous vintage passata tea towel by Rex London, realised in highly saturated primary colours to add a pop to your kitchen.
Buy now £5.95, eBay
