London · LONDON AFTERNOON TEA
Scones, sandwiches and a pot that keeps coming. These 14 afternoon teas range from palace gardens to a vintage bus and a boat on the Thames, priced per person with sittings noted.
Board a City Cruises riverboat at Tower Pier for a 90-minute round trip toward the Houses of Parliament and back. Enjoy sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, plus live or recorded commentary. Panoramic windows frame the sights, while an onboard bar sells extra drinks.
“had a nice time: staff were attentive and personable. boat tour was smooth. food and tea were tasty.”
Board a vintage double-decker at Victoria Coach Station for an 85-minute afternoon tea ride through central London. Enjoy sandwiches, cakes, pastries and tea or coffee as recorded commentary and music accompany views of Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park and Mayfair. Staff assign your table upstairs or down, so a top-deck seat is not guaranteed.
“What a delight! Was a little concerned that it might be kinda gimmicky, but Cara made it a real treat. Food was good and more than enough and the tea choices fabulous and hot ! Would recommend and would do again with friends.”
Board the English Tea Bus at Golden Tours Stop 1 for a 90-minute ride past sights including the London Eye, Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Afternoon tea includes sandwiches, scones and mini desserts, plus Prosecco or a soft drink. Choose lower or upper deck seating; there is no live tour guide, and traffic can change the route.
“Ayaan and Saman were wonderful hosts. The driver did a great job navigating busy London traffic. The food drinks and tea were excellent.”
Meet your guide at Queensway Station for a roughly two-hour walk through Kensington Gardens, with stories about Hyde Park and the Royal Family. The tour ends with traditional afternoon tea at the Orangery, including sandwiches, scones, and cakes. Guides such as Doug, Paul, Paddy, Barbara, and Simon have led the walk. Palace admission is not included unless selected at checkout.
“Paul was an excellent guide, very informative and paced walking tour perfectly to accommodate all of us. High Tea was ok, had better tasting sandwiches and scones in other countries.”
Board at Tower Pier for a 90-minute City Cruises trip toward Westminster and back. Settle at an assigned table for sandwiches, cakes, scones, and unlimited tea or coffee as landmarks such as Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s dome, and the London Eye pass by. Commentary is live or recorded, and a bar sells drinks such as champagne at extra cost.
“Do the trip in the daytime. A bit stressful to manage the whole tea in the time. Excellent scones. Impossible to hear commentary du to engine noise and people talking .”
Ride through central London for about 90 minutes on a double-decker bus, with tea or coffee, finger sandwiches, pastries, scones, and Prosecco or a soft drink. The route passes sights including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. Hosts have included Abi and Hetal, though staffing varies.
“Great way to take in all the sites and try new things. The sweets were great, the tea sandwiches were not for picky eaters.”
In a one-hour workshop above De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar, an English-speaking instructor guides you through making four scones while you sip tea and hear about scone and tea traditions. Eat one warm, take the others home, and leave with a British Baking Certificate. Instructors have included Ron and Danni.
“Kiddos LOVED it! Scones were tasty and we really enjoyed the entire experience!”
Settle in at the Great Court Restaurant for a 90-minute afternoon tea beneath the British Museum’s glass roof. Choose from organic loose-leaf and flowering teas, then work through finger sandwiches, handmade pastries, cakes and scones with clotted cream and jam. You can add Prosecco, but check dietary options before booking.
“This was an amazing experience! If you want to truly experience the culture, you must enjoy afternoon tea & the British Museum is THE best place. Food, beverage, ambiance & service is all fantastic! Bonus: admission to the museum is included!”
Walk Kensington Gardens with a guide such as Simon, Doug, Dee or Astrid, hearing royal stories and seeing the Sunken Garden and formal flower beds. Then settle in for afternoon tea at Kensington Palace’s Orangery, with sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea. Palace admission and sparkling wine depend on the option you book.
“My friend and I had a wonderful experience at Kensington Gardens and the tour. I will say, we were unaware that the tour was going to be an hour long and other members of our group were also unaware that the booking came with the tour and not just the tea. If you are booking this for the tea, be aware this comes with a tour! This was a great experience and great tour guide but we were unaware of the tour until right before. The tour was somewhat of a long walk. I do recommend this though!”
Walk from Notting Hill’s film-famous blue door to Portobello Road Market, then cross to Kensington Gardens and the Princess Diana memorial. A guide leads the roughly four-hour route, with morning and afternoon departures and takeaway cream tea included. Paddy, Maddie and Elliott are among the guides associated with especially well-regarded outings.
“Maddie was a great tour guide! Her knowledge of notting hill was above reproach! She was really fun to be around too!”
At this 60-minute West End workshop, a local instructor guides you through mixing, shaping, and baking traditional English scones. You’ll hear about scones and tea, then eat your warm creations with jam and clotted cream. Tea, baking equipment, at least three scones, and a certificate are included. Hosts named in accounts include Ron, Danni, and Rob.
“This was the perfect London experience! We really enjoyed the cooking class as they explained the process step by step and provided the history of scones. Great afternoon!”
Meet your guide near Hampton Court station at 11 am for a two-hour palace tour focused on Tudor and royal stories, followed by afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, cake, and tea. Guides have included Tom, Julie, Theresa, Suzanne, and Prue. Your ticket also gives you full-day access to the palace and gardens.
“We travel a great deal, usually Europe and North America, and this was one of the best tours we’ve ever experienced. Suzanne is an exceptional guide, full of knowledge, fun facts, and lots of gossip about the kings, queens, and others who inhabited Hampton Court Palace. She deserves 6 out of 5! The High Tea was also wonderful, with a seat by the river, a beautiful day, perfectly brewed tea, and excellent scones, finger sandwiches, and petit fours on offer. Truly a magical day! We just wish it could have been longer!”
Travel independently to The Rubens at the Palace for a seated afternoon tea opposite Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews. Expect finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and a choice of tea in the Palace Lounge. Champagne and a children’s tea are available as options. Allow about two hours, and arrive 15 minutes early.
“The service was very good and there were great vegan options available. The atmosphere was relaxed.. I would highly recommend.”
Meet your guide near Kensington Gardens for royal stories, a walk to the Sunken Garden and Princess Diana statue, and afternoon tea at the 18th-century Orangery. Timed Kensington Palace entry is an optional upgrade, with palace rooms explored using the official audio tour. Guides have included Mike, Liz, and Warren.
“Really loved this experience! The first hour is spent walking in Hyde Park, getting a little bit of history of the area as well as about Kensington Palace and the Royal Family. After, you have tea at The Orangery. Come hungry because there’s a lot to eat and it will fill you up! You can also try more than one tea, if you like. Our tour guide, Mike, was wonderful. Very knowledgeable and kind.”
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