The 15 Best Afternoon Teas in London

1.Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

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

Board a vintage Routemaster at Victoria Coach Station for a 1-hour-25-minute afternoon tea ride through central London. Expect sandwiches, French-style cakes, pastries, hot drinks, recorded commentary, and sights including Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, and Mayfair. Seats are assigned, and the upper deck is not guaranteed.

“The food was lovely. A great way to see the sights of London. However it was spoilt when the driver did an emergency stop and I was covered in broken plates, jam and cream. My dress was covered and all I was given was a small wet wipe. Sadly it spoilt my day in London as then I had to spend time to find a new dress to go to the theatre that evening instead of the sightseeing we had planned.”

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2.Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,853 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $64

Ride a traditional double-decker through central London while enjoying sandwiches, scones, cakes, tea, and Prosecco. Hosts such as Ameen, Dee, Wumi, and Abisola keep service warm and festive, but landmark commentary comes from a recording rather than a live guide.

“It was the most fun and enjoyable tour. The staff was kind”

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3.The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea

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

Walk from Queensway Station through Kensington Gardens with guides such as Doug, Paul, Barbara, or Simon, then enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes, and tea at the Orangery beside Kensington Palace. Palace entry costs extra unless selected at checkout.

“It was a perfect experience with a very friendly tour guide I will recommend it to our friends and family”

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4.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

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

Board at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea cruise with window views of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, the London Eye, and Westminster. You’ll receive sandwiches, cakes, scones, unlimited tea or coffee, and live or recorded commentary.

“Try to check before you leave your hotel for the pier (by Tower Bridge) because our cruise was cancelled and we walked all the way there before they told us the cruise was cancelled. Oh, and I contacted Viator a week ago, still no response on the refund.”

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5.London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour

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

Ride a decorated double-decker bus through central London while enjoying tea, finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and a drink. The route passes Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, and Trafalgar Square. Seating is shared, and commentary is limited.

“This is not a narrated guide. It is a tea on a bus throughout the city. You would need to know the sites so I recommend having a map handy. The service, food, and drinks were nice and plentiful. The cup is a good souvenir.”

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6.Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 511 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $58

Settle into the Great Court Restaurant for a 90-minute British afternoon tea inside the British Museum. Choose organic loose-leaf or flowering tea, then enjoy sandwiches, handmade cakes, pastries, and scones with clotted cream and jam. Add Prosecco if you like, and tell museum security you have a tea booking.

“It was very pleasant. We were not rushed during our meal. in fact, we only ate one dessert, because our tummies were full. We were given a take away box of sweet desserts to enjoy later that evening.”

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7.Kensington Palace Gardens Tour with Royal High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 325 reviews · from $160

Walk through Kensington Palace Gardens with an English-speaking guide such as Doug, Simon, or Astrid, hearing royal stories and garden lore before afternoon tea in the Orangery. Expect about an hour of walking, classic sandwiches, Welsh-butter scones, cakes, and optional palace entry or sparkling wine.

“It was very enjoyable and the high tea was delicious!”

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8.Notting Hill Walking Tour with Cream Tea

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

Walk through film-famous Notting Hill with a guide such as Paddy, Maddie, or Elliott, browse Portobello Road Market, see Princess Diana’s memorial in Kensington Gardens, and finish near Royal Albert Hall with scones, clotted cream, jam, and tea to go.

“Paddy was excellent- very knowledgeable and helpful, and he handled our large group perfectly HOWEVER there were 25 people on the tour. A Canadian group added itself to our tour (which would have been about 8 otherwise, and should NOT have been more that 15). It was our biggest Viator disappointment by far - if your tours max out at 15, don’t allow group tours to add on to them!”

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9.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 11 am for a two-hour tour of Henry VIII’s palace, Tudor stories, and royal apartments. Guides such as Tom, Julie, Suzanne, Theresa, and Oliver bring the rooms to life. Afternoon tea follows across the road, with full palace and garden access for the rest of the day.

“Tom our tour guide was amazing. So many interesting facts. Timing was perfect. Learned a lot. Tea was delightful. Worth every penny.”

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

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

Enjoy a roughly two-hour afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace, opposite Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews. You’ll have finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and brewed tea in the Palace Lounge, with a Champagne upgrade available. Arrive independently, dress smart-casual, and request dietary changes 72 hours ahead.

“Fun experience! It was a rainy day and having tea was a perfect option. I would recommend this experience.”

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11.Cream Tea at Blenheim Palace & the Cotswolds Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 113 reviews · from $173

Trade London for a day in the Cotswolds, with stops in Bampton and Bourton-on-the-Water, entry to Blenheim Palace, and traditional cream tea. An English-speaking guide such as Dolly, Simon, or Zozo leads the day, while a comfortable coach handles the long distances.

“An awesome day trip from London. Everything was on schedule and the right amount of time was spent at each location. Tour guide was friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend this company and tour.”

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12.Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 70 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $111

Spend 1.5 hours in The Rubens at the Palace’s Palace Lounge with traditional sandwiches, pastries, homemade preserves, clotted cream, and tea from P.M. David Silva & Sons. Add Champagne if you choose the inclusive option. Smart dress is required, and dietary needs should be shared 48 hours ahead.

“Min dotter och hennes sambo var mycket nöjda. Very impressed! De kände sig mycket väl omhändertagna och njöt av delikatesserna.”

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13.National Gallery Guided Tour and Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · from $66

Spend three hours at London’s National Gallery with an English-speaking guide, seeing works by Vermeer, Titian, and Monet before afternoon tea at Ochre. Guides such as Martin, Mike, and Emily have led lively, focused tours, with headsets helping you hear every detail.

“The tour guide, Mike, was amazing. Using audio boxes recalled me hear him clearly. Since we only had an hour, I am really happy with the choices he decided to include. He added so many extra bits of information, I really learned a lot and will be a better Trivia player. Mike was friendly and very approachable. The afternoon tea was delicious. It was served in a beautiful side room, with china and tablecloths. We each had a lovely added three tier trivet of delicious food. The finger sandwiches were fresh and flavors be, but the two tiers of scones and desserts were wonderful! We were offered refills, but had…”

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14.Lake District Tour with Cream Tea & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · 1 day · from $438

Travel by reserved train from London Euston to Oxenholme, then tour the Lake District with an English-speaking guide. Visit Hawkshead, see Hill Top or the World of Beatrix Potter, cruise Lake Windermere, and finish with cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country Hotel.

“Our tour guide Mike was fabulous. He navigated the narrow roads like a pro. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The train rides and transition were seamless. No worries that day, so we could just enjoy the beautiful countryside. The tea house was lovely as well as the scones.”

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15.Cutty Sark Entrance Ticket & Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 37 reviews · 3 hours · from $64

Spend your visit exploring Cutty Sark in Greenwich, then enjoy afternoon tea beneath the ship’s raised hull. You’ll see the sailors’ quarters, take the wheel, use an English audio guide, and study the ship’s wooden planks and iron frame. Allow about two hours, though the booking duration is listed as three.

“Lovely experience, staff were lovely at afternoon tea. Boat was fascinating and filled with history.”

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