“Here We Go Again” London Afternoon Tea Bus

The main appeal here is simple: you get afternoon tea on a moving double-decker bus while London landmarks roll past the windows and ABBA songs play overhead. It is more of a lighthearted city outing than a serious sightseeing tour, with tea, small sandwiches, sweets, and a drink served at your seat.

I like the easy social setup, since the small group of up to 26 people gives you a chance to chat and sing along. I also like the route, which brings Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge into one short outing. The catch is that the ABBA theme may not fill the whole ride, and dirty windows, warm conditions, or uneven music choices can take the shine off the experience.

Key things to know before booking

• ABBA is part of the fun, not always the entire soundtrack: Some rides include other music, including a reported opening stretch of Adele.
• You see major sights from the bus: Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge are pointed out, but admission to them is not included.
• Afternoon tea is served during the ride: Choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu.
• The tour lasts about 90 minutes: It starts and finishes at Golden Tours on Bulleid Way near Victoria.
• A recorded English commentary replaces a live guide: This keeps the mood casual but offers less depth than a walking tour.
• The value depends on your priorities: It works best if you want food, music, and city views in one package, not a detailed tour of London.

What the ABBA tea bus is really like

This experience is built around atmosphere rather than serious sightseeing. You board a classic double-decker bus, settle in with your tea service, and watch central London pass by as music plays. The bus is the setting, the afternoon tea is the main activity, and the famous sights provide the backdrop.

That makes it a good match for an ABBA fan, a birthday outing, or anyone who wants a break from museums and long walks. You are not getting a live guide explaining every building or a full historical account of London. Instead, an English audio guide points out selected sights while you eat and listen.

The group is limited to 26 people, which is a useful detail. It should feel more manageable than a large sightseeing coach, though the compact bus setting means you have less room than you would in a restaurant. You will also be sharing the ride with other people, so the mood may be quiet on one departure and very sing-along friendly on another.

The music is the most important expectation to set. The experience is marketed around ABBA, but the soundtrack may include other artists. One account described Adele playing for roughly the first 15 minutes before ABBA began, while another found that ABBA filled only about half the ride. If you want a nonstop ABBA session, this may disappoint you. If you see the music as a cheerful theme within a broader tea bus ride, you are more likely to enjoy it.

Starting at Bulleid Way near Victoria

The meeting point is Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point Stop 1, London SW1W 9SR. The activity returns to this same point, so you do not have to arrange a separate ride home from an unfamiliar part of the city.

This location is near public transportation, which makes it practical for a short London visit. Build in enough time to find the departure point, especially if you are unfamiliar with the Victoria area. Your mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is provided at booking.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. That is not unusual for a central London activity, but it matters if you are staying well outside the center or planning a tight connection afterward. The ride lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes, so allow extra time around the stated duration for boarding and returning to the departure point.

Afternoon tea on a moving double-decker

The food is served as a lunch-style afternoon tea, with tea sandwiches, desserts, and hot tea. You can choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu, which makes the experience workable for several common dietary needs.

The sweet course receives the strongest praise in the available feedback. The desserts are described as very tasty, while the sandwiches are more mixed. Some may be fine, but the moving setting can affect presentation and texture, and one account found the sandwiches a little soggy.

That is worth keeping in mind when you compare the price with a traditional afternoon tea in a hotel or tearoom. Here, you are paying for the combination of food, transport, music, and views. You should not expect the same calm service or refined presentation as a dedicated afternoon tea venue.

Tea is served hot, and the service includes a small plastic souvenir mug. That is a fun touch for some people, especially children and ABBA fans, though it is not the same as fine china. The bus has a driver and a tea server rather than a larger restaurant-style staff, so service can feel busy when food and drinks are being passed around.

You can also have a glass of Prosecco if you are over 21. Anyone under 21 receives a non-alcoholic drink instead. The Prosecco was described as slightly warm in one account, so I would treat it as a pleasant extra rather than a reason to book the experience on its own.

If you have a serious allergy, take the warning seriously: the operator cannot guarantee that food has not come into contact with nuts or other allergens. The menu choices are useful, but they do not remove the risk of cross-contact.

Westminster Abbey from the bus

Westminster Abbey is one of the most important sights along the route. It sits on Parliament Square beside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and it is known as a traditional coronation church. Its Gothic exterior is easy to recognize, even during a short drive-by view.

The value here is convenience. If you are visiting London for the first time, seeing Westminster Abbey as part of the route helps you connect several major landmarks in one part of the city. You can enjoy the view without giving up your tea service or spending time changing between buses and walking tours.

The limitation is just as clear: this is not an entry visit. You do not receive a guided tour inside the abbey, and the audio commentary gives only a brief introduction. If Westminster Abbey is high on your list, plan a separate visit for the interior, royal connections, monuments, and coronation details.

The bus also cannot give you the same freedom as walking around Parliament Square. You may have only a short window to look, take a photograph, and listen to the commentary. Sit on the side with the clearest view if seating arrangements allow, but do not count on a perfect photograph through the glass.

The London Eye and the Thames view

The London Eye is another major landmark on the route. Its glass capsules rise 135 metres above the city, offering wide views over London. The tea bus does not include a ride on the wheel, fast-track access, or standard admission. It simply gives you a chance to see this unmistakable structure as you pass.

That distinction matters when comparing costs. The activity lets you combine sightseeing with lunch, but it does not replace the London Eye experience. If you want the high view from one of the capsules, you will need a separate ticket.

Still, the London Eye works well as part of this short city circuit. It helps you get a visual sense of the Thames area and places the ride within a recognizable London setting. The audio guide may add a few useful facts, but the commentary is not designed to offer a long explanation of the attraction.

Tower Bridge and the eastern end of the route

Tower Bridge brings a different look to the ride. Its towers and walkways used more than 11,000 tonnes of steel and took eight years to build. The bridge has more than 135 years of history, and its shape is among the easiest London sights to identify from the road.

The route lets you see the bridge without committing to a full attraction visit. If you later decide to return, Tower Bridge has walkways, interactive displays, and exhibitions. Those features are not part of this tea bus activity, so do not expect to enter the towers or learn the bridge’s story in detail.

For me, this is where the ride works best as a sampler. You get a broad taste of London, from Westminster’s famous church and government district to the London Eye and Tower Bridge. The route gives you useful orientation, but you will need separate visits if you want real time at any of these places.

Music, commentary, and the mood onboard

The ABBA theme gives the ride its personality. Familiar songs can make a standard city drive feel more social, and the setup encourages people to sing along. The happiest version of this outing is likely to be a group of friends or family members who enjoy the music and do not need a formal tour lecture.

The audio guide is in English and is recorded, not live. That means you receive basic information about selected sights without a guide walking through the bus or taking questions. I see this as a fair trade for a relaxed ride, but it is a poor fit if you want detailed history or personal recommendations from a local guide.

The music mix deserves attention before you pay. ABBA may not play from the moment you board, and it may not run continuously. Some music choices can feel unrelated to the theme, so fans who expect a full ABBA playlist should consider this a risk.

The bus itself is part of the charm, but it also creates practical limits. One account found the windows too dirty for clear views, which defeats much of the sightseeing purpose. Another described the bus as miserably hot, with one passenger feeling unwell and unable to drink the hot tea. Conditions can vary, but you should be prepared for a warm, compact setting rather than a cool, spacious restaurant.

Is $68.06 a fair price?

At about $68.06 per person, this is not a cheap way to get afternoon tea. The price includes the food, hot tea, a drink, the bus ride, the route past major sights, and the English audio commentary. For someone who wants all those pieces together, the package can make sense.

The value is weaker if you judge it only by the food. The sandwiches may be ordinary, the desserts are the stronger part of the meal, and the Prosecco may not be served at an ideal temperature. A traditional afternoon tea could offer a more polished meal, while a standard sightseeing bus could provide more detailed commentary.

I would compare it with the cost of buying several separate activities. You are paying for the novelty of eating on a London double-decker, not just for the calories on the plate. That novelty is meaningful for ABBA fans and for people marking a celebration. It matters less if you mainly want landmark access or strong historical commentary.

The small group cap helps the price feel more reasonable than a large coach experience. You get a social setting with a limited number of people, although the service team is also small. Since the activity is roughly 90 minutes, it is easy to fit into a busy London schedule without using half a day.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• ABBA fans who like a casual sing-along atmosphere
• First-time London visitors who want to see several major sights from the road
• Families and friends looking for a themed outing
• People who enjoy afternoon tea but want something less formal
• Anyone with a vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free requirement, provided they confirm the menu at booking
• Visitors who prefer a short, organized activity with a fixed start and end point

I would be more cautious if you want nonstop ABBA music, spotless windows, a cool bus, gourmet food, or detailed commentary. It is also not the best choice if your main goal is to enter Westminster Abbey, ride the London Eye, or explore Tower Bridge. None of those admissions are included.

The experience is also less suitable for anyone sensitive to heat or who needs a lot of room while eating. The bus can feel warm, and hot tea may not be appealing on a hot day. If you have serious food allergies, the operator’s warning about possible contact with nuts and other allergens should guide your decision.

Practical details that affect your day

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off uses London local time.

The activity is offered in English, including the audio guide. Most people can participate, and the departure point is near public transportation. Since no live guide is included, you should not expect personal sightseeing advice or a detailed question-and-answer session.

The mobile ticket is convenient, especially if you are moving around London with only your phone. Keep the confirmation easy to access when you reach the Golden Tours departure point.

The tour is commonly booked well ahead of time, with an average booking lead of about 51 days. That suggests you should reserve early if your schedule is fixed or you want a particular date. The group limit of 26 people is another reason not to leave it until the last minute.

Should you book the ABBA tea bus?

Book it if you want a playful London outing that combines music, afternoon tea, and landmark views in one short ride. It is a good celebration activity and a pleasant change from churches, museums, and walking tours. The desserts, hot tea, social mood, and recognizable sights are the strongest parts.

Skip it if you expect a nonstop ABBA concert, polished hotel-quality tea, or a detailed tour of London. The music may be mixed, the windows may not provide perfect views, and the bus can become uncomfortably warm. I would book this for the theme and the novelty, not because it is the best sightseeing or afternoon tea experience in London.

FAQ

How long does the London afternoon tea bus last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the activity start and finish?

It starts at Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR. It finishes back at the same meeting point.

Is the whole soundtrack made up of ABBA songs?

No. ABBA music is included, but the soundtrack may also feature other artists. The amount of ABBA music can vary.

What food choices are available?

You can choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free afternoon tea menu.

Is Prosecco included for everyone?

A glass of Prosecco is available for people aged 21 and over. Those under 21 receive a non-alcoholic drink.

Is a live guide included?

No. The experience includes an English audio guide, but not a live guide.