High tea is a heavier version of the British tea, typically eaten between 5pm and 7pm. Meat pie, spreads, and sausages might be included along with the traditional tea and biscuits. In the 19th century, it was sometimes called a "meat-tea."
In areas outside the south of England, a class distinction was made between the names given to meals. For most of the population, the midday meal was "dinner" and the evening meal was "tea", while for the upper classes, the midday meal was "luncheon" or "lunch" and the evening meal was "dinner", if formal, or "supper", if informal. The use of "tea" for an evening meal is still common in Australia and New Zealand.