Afternoon Tea in London: The 13 Best, and Who Each Suits

1.Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,032 reviews · 1 hour 25 minutes (approx.) · from $87Our pick

Spend about 85 minutes on Brigit’s Bakery Bus, a vintage 1960s Routemaster leaving from Victoria Coach Station. Enjoy unlimited tea or coffee, fresh sandwiches, scones, cakes, and French-style pastries while passing Harrods, Hyde Park, Mayfair, and central London sights. Choose from traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, or gluten-free menus.

“I had the most wonderful experience on the Tea Party Bus Tour for my birthday! The food was absolutely delicious. The service was exceptional, with the staff going above and beyond to make the experience special. The bus was spotlessly clean and adorned with beautiful decorations that created a charming and cozy atmosphere. It truly felt like a one-of-a-kind celebration. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking for a unique and memorable outing!”

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2.The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 934 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $158

Meet near Queensway Station for a guided walk through Kensington Gardens, including the Italian Gardens and Round Pond, then settle into a private table at the Orangery beside Kensington Palace for traditional afternoon tea. Guides such as Doug and Paul add royal history and humor. Palace entry costs extra unless selected at checkout.

“This is a must have tour to see the lights of London. Absolutely fabulous.! The guide was very knowledge and a lot of fun.”

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3.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 884 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55Best value

Board City Cruises at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea voyage past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster. You’ll have a reserved table, unlimited tea or coffee, sandwiches, cakes, and scones, with indoor panoramic windows and an open-air deck.

“The worst afternoon tea we ever attended. The desserts were not fresh. The level of service was very low. The cruise was not good either. It was very poorly run”

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4.London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 763 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $67

Enjoy finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, tea, and a drink while a double-decker bus circles central London. You’ll pass Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Charing Cross. Seating is shared, upper-deck seats are first come, and commentary is limited.

“I e mail this company to book a diabetic meal and they confirmed this by e mail how ever on the day no diabetic meal was available. So my friend couldn’t eat anything whole experience was ruined as I didn’t want to sit and eat mine as she couldn’t eat they didn’t do what they advertised.”

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5.Notting Hill Walking Tour with Cream Tea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 319 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $81Top rated

Walk from Notting Hill Gate through film-famous streets and Portobello Road Market, then continue to Kensington Gardens, Princess Diana’s memorial, and Royal Albert Hall. Guides such as Paddy, Maddie, and Elliott bring local color to the route. The tour ends with a takeaway cream tea. Choose a morning or afternoon departure.

“Paddy was knowledgeable and entertaining. Lots of walking but worth it to see Notting Hill and hear some history.”

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6.Hampton Court Guided Tour. Full day Access & High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 270 reviews · 4 hours 5 minutes (approx.) · from $212

Meet your guide at Hampton Court station at 11am for a two-hour tour of Henry VIII’s palace, then enjoy tea, sandwiches, scones, and cake near the river. Your ticket also lets you return to the palace and gardens for the rest of the day. Guides may include Tom, Julie, Suzanne, Theresa, or Prue.

“Massive estate and gardens, dress comfortably with walking shoes. Tom, our guide, was fantastic: he made history come to life and was open to all sorts of questions. Truly enjoyed the high tea - perfect way to end the tour. One recommendation: The meeting pace is hectic and super crowded. Tom would have been easier to find with an identifying cap or flag.”

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7.Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace, Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 236 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $114

Meet independently at The Rubens at the Palace, opposite Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews, for about 90 minutes to two hours of tea, finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and freshly brewed tea. Choose vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free options with 72 hours’ notice. Smart-casual dress is required, and Champagne is an optional upgrade for adults.

“We had a lovely afternoon tea experience, although we were across from the back of Buckingham Palace- for some reason e we thought it would be across from the front, which in retrospect would be quite impossible. The food and the service were wonderful. I just loved the little cakes and finger sandwiches. Bianca gave attentive, personalized service and was happy to box up our pieces that we could not finish. We felt quite special.”

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8.London Afternoon Tea Bus and Panoramic Tour on Lower Deck

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 160 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $67

Ride a decorated double-decker bus for 90 minutes while enjoying finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, pastries, tea, and a glass of Prosecco or soft drink. The route passes Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and the London Eye. There is no live guide, and seating is shared on the lower deck.

“We were a few minutes late and called to let them know that our flight got seriously delayed but se would make it five minutes late and they still left without us.”

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9.London Vintage Bus Tour with Cream Tea at Harrods

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 145 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $137

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a guided ride on a 1960s open-top bus past Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Tower Bridge. Cruise the Thames, stop for photos at the Tower of London, then finish at Harrods with scones, clotted cream, jam, more than 35 teas, and a glass of Prosecco.

“Our guide - Alan - was so much fun. Funny and knowledgeable. He made it a great experience. Our bus driver Sean was great too. They make a good team. We loved the fact that we got to get off the bus at Buckingham Palace to take pictures. A previous tour only drove by very fast. The boat ride on the Thames was cool, and driving across Tower Bridge was even cooler. The tour ended on a high note with tea at Harrods. Alan didn't just dump us off there. He took us up to the tea room and made sure we were all checked in and knew how to…”

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10.“Here We Go Again” London Afternoon Tea Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 110 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $68

Enjoy a 90-minute afternoon tea ride through London on a double-decker bus, with sandwiches, sweets, tea, and Prosecco for those aged 21 and over. An English audio guide points out Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge. The ABBA music can be mixed with other songs, so set your expectations accordingly.

“This Golden Tours Abba themed tea bus tour was a bit sad and not worth the price. The double decker bus looked so cute. The windows of the bus were so dirty it was hard to see out of them which defeated the purpose. There was a driver and one tea server. She clearly worked very hard to serve the guests on board. The desserts were very tasty and the tea sandwiches were just okay (a bit soggy). The prosecco was a little warm but the tea was hot and served in a cute plastic souvenir mug. One or tour historic sites were pointed out by a recorded narrator and…”

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11.Afternoon Tea at The Milestone Hotel London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $117

Enjoy a 1-hour-45-minute afternoon tea at The Milestone Hotel beside Kensington Palace. Settle into an elegant library or tea room for sandwiches, warm scones, pastries, clotted cream, preserves, and a wide tea menu. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free versions require at least 72 hours’ notice. Champagne is available with the right option.

“Elegant restaurant, great service and very good food. Expensive but worth it to experience an English tradition.”

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12.Afternoon Tea and Visit to Cutty Sark Ship in London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $66

Visit Greenwich’s Cutty Sark, the sole surviving tea clipper, then enjoy sandwiches, cakes, and Cutty Sark teas beneath its copper hull. You tour the ship at your own pace without a guide, so allow at least an hour aboard. Choose tea at 12pm, 1:30pm, or 3pm, and arrive on time.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our “afternoon tea” on the sole surviving tea clipper the “Cutty Sark” At Greenwich, UK! The tea itself was delicious and the tour of the ship was fun indeed and informative. The walking tour of Greenwich was very interesting as well!”

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13.Official National Gallery Highlights Tour and Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10 reviews · from $67

Meet at 2pm for an expert-led tour of the National Gallery’s 700 years of art, using headsets so you can follow every explanation. Then sit down at Ochre for afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream, pastries, tea, and coffee. The tour suits first-time visitors with limited time, but the non-refundable policy calls for careful planning.

“Loved having a most interesting knowledgeable guide taking us through the highlights of the national gallery. This made navigating through the museum easy and pleasant . The high tea at ochre was spectacular and the setting was perfect Well worth the price! Highly recommend!”

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