Tea with a view
The best afternoon tea in London
Afternoon tea on a vintage bus, on a Thames cruise, at the British Museum and at Kensington Palace, plus a Taylor Swift-themed bus: here is which to book, with honest advice on value for the price, eating on a moving bus or boat, and refunds.
See our 8 picks
The best London afternoon tea for sightseeing is a vintage bus tea through the centre. Bus teas here start from €58 a person.
A Thames cruise with afternoon tea starts from €26. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Good afternoon tea in London: our picks
Four teas on a bus, two on the river, one in a palace garden and one in a museum. Seven have free cancellation. The British Museum tea is non-refundable, so it comes last.
-
from €70 per person Our top pick 1 h 30 min 4.7 (1,121) reviews on GetYourGuide
Great British afternoon tea bus
A 1.5-hour tea on a 1960s Routemaster, with a live guide. You get sweet and savoury snacks and tea, coffee or hot chocolate. It starts at Embankment.
Best for First-timers who want a guide with their tea
Check availability: Great British afternoon tea bus on GetYourGuide -
from €58 per person 1 h 30 min 4.4 (2,134) reviews on GetYourGuide
Afternoon tea bus with a glass of prosecco
A 1.5-hour tea on a double-decker, with prosecco or a soft drink. It passes the Tower of London and St Paul's. There is no live guide.
Best for Couples and friends
Check availability: Afternoon tea bus with a glass of prosecco on GetYourGuide -
from €70 per person 1 h 30 min 4.3 (454) reviews on GetYourGuide
Afternoon tea sightseeing bus from Victoria
A 1.5-hour tea on a vintage Routemaster, with English audio and music. It passes Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Hyde Park. It leaves from Victoria Coach Station.
Best for Guests with vegan, halal or gluten-free needs
Check availability: Afternoon tea sightseeing bus from Victoria on GetYourGuide -
from €26 per person 1.5–2.5 hours 4.7 (191) reviews on GetYourGuide
Thames cruise with afternoon tea
A 90-minute afternoon tea cruise past Big Ben and Tower Bridge. Coffee and dinner cruises are other options. It leaves from Butler's Wharf Pier.
Best for Budget teas and river views
Check availability: Thames cruise with afternoon tea on GetYourGuide -
from €113 per person 2–4 hours 4.6 (373) reviews on GetYourGuide
Kensington Palace afternoon tea and garden walk
A guided walk in Kensington Palace Gardens, then tea in the Orangery or a takeaway cream tea. Palace entry comes with some options. It meets at Queensway Station.
Best for Royal fans with half a day
Check availability: Kensington Palace afternoon tea and garden walk on GetYourGuide -
from €58 per person 1 h 30 min 4.4 (3,980) reviews on GetYourGuide
Afternoon tea cruise on the Thames
A 1.5-hour cruise from Tower Pier with sandwiches, scones and cakes. Tea and coffee are unlimited. A child menu is offered.
Best for Families
Check availability: Afternoon tea cruise on the Thames on GetYourGuide -
from €58 per person 1 h 30 min 4.4 (216) reviews on GetYourGuide
Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus
A 1.5-hour tea bus with Taylor Swift songs, prosecco or a soft drink, and a mug to keep. There is no live guide.
Best for Swifties and birthday groups
Check availability: Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus on GetYourGuide -
from €51 per person 1 h 30 min 4.3 (593) reviews on GetYourGuide
Afternoon tea at the British Museum (non-refundable)
Afternoon tea inside the British Museum, with loose-leaf teas, scones and clotted cream. Prosecco comes with one option.
Best for Museum visitors with fixed plans
Check availability: Afternoon tea at the British Museum (non-refundable) on GetYourGuide
London afternoon teas side by side
| Tour | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great British afternoon tea bus | €70 per person | 1 h 30 min | Yes | First-timers who want a guide with their tea | The only tea bus here with live commentary, rated 4.7 from 1,121 reviews. |
| Afternoon tea bus with a glass of prosecco | €58 per person | 1 h 30 min | Yes | Couples and friends | Prosecco is included, and it has 4.4 from 2,134 reviews. |
| Afternoon tea sightseeing bus from Victoria | €70 per person | 1 h 30 min | Yes | Guests with vegan, halal or gluten-free needs | The bakery behind it offers five menus, and it has 4.3 from 454 reviews. |
| Thames cruise with afternoon tea | €26 per person | 1.5–2.5 hours | Yes | Budget teas and river views | The lowest price here, from €26, with 4.7 from 191 reviews. |
| Kensington Palace afternoon tea and garden walk | €113 per person | 2–4 hours | Yes | Royal fans with half a day | A walk and a palace tea in one, with 4.6 from 373 reviews. |
| Afternoon tea cruise on the Thames | €58 per person | 1 h 30 min | Yes | Families | The most reviewed tea here, with 4.4 from 3,980 reviews. |
| Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus | €58 per person | 1 h 30 min | Yes | Swifties and birthday groups | A themed tea with 4.4 from 216 reviews. |
| Afternoon tea at the British Museum (non-refundable) | €51 per person | 1 h 30 min | No | Museum visitors with fixed plans | Tea under a famous roof, with 4.3 from 593 reviews. It is non-refundable. |
Great British afternoon tea bus
€70 per person1 h 30 min 4.7 (1,121)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want a guide with their tea
- Why we picked it
- The only tea bus here with live commentary, rated 4.7 from 1,121 reviews.
Afternoon tea bus with a glass of prosecco
€58 per person1 h 30 min 4.4 (2,134)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Couples and friends
- Why we picked it
- Prosecco is included, and it has 4.4 from 2,134 reviews.
Afternoon tea sightseeing bus from Victoria
€70 per person1 h 30 min 4.3 (454)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Guests with vegan, halal or gluten-free needs
- Why we picked it
- The bakery behind it offers five menus, and it has 4.3 from 454 reviews.
Thames cruise with afternoon tea
€26 per person1.5–2.5 hours 4.7 (191)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Budget teas and river views
- Why we picked it
- The lowest price here, from €26, with 4.7 from 191 reviews.
Kensington Palace afternoon tea and garden walk
€113 per person2–4 hours 4.6 (373)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Royal fans with half a day
- Why we picked it
- A walk and a palace tea in one, with 4.6 from 373 reviews.
Afternoon tea cruise on the Thames
€58 per person1 h 30 min 4.4 (3,980)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Families
- Why we picked it
- The most reviewed tea here, with 4.4 from 3,980 reviews.
Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus
€58 per person1 h 30 min 4.4 (216)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Swifties and birthday groups
- Why we picked it
- A themed tea with 4.4 from 216 reviews.
Afternoon tea at the British Museum (non-refundable)
€51 per person1 h 30 min 4.3 (593)
Details
- Free cancellation
- No
- Who it suits
- Museum visitors with fixed plans
- Why we picked it
- Tea under a famous roof, with 4.3 from 593 reviews. It is non-refundable.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- Private option: Kensington Palace afternoon tea and garden walk.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Afternoon tea on a bus: how it works
You sit at a table on a double-decker and eat while it drives past the sights. The ride takes about 1.5 hours. This is a seated tour, not a hop-on hop-off bus.
The stand holds sandwiches, cakes and scones, with tea or coffee. Some buses add prosecco. Only the Great British tea bus lists a live guide.
Vintage buses have steep stairs. Most bus teas here say they do not suit wheelchair users. Check the listing for your seat deck.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free teas
The bakery behind the Victoria bus offers five menus: Traditional, Halal, Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free. It says it cannot cater for nut-free or coeliac diets. Send allergies to the bakery by email before your trip.
For the other teas, ask through the booking. The listings do not name diet menus.
Themed afternoon teas
The Taylor Swift-inspired bus is the themed tea on this page. It plays her songs and comes with a mug to keep. It does not suit children under 5.
The Kensington Palace tea mixes a garden walk with tea in the Orangery. The palace's Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027. Check which parts your option covers.
The British Museum tea is served inside the museum. It suits a museum visit on the same day. Read more about British Museum tours.
Cheaper afternoon tea in London
The cheapest tea here is on the river, from €26. That is the Thames cruise from Butler's Wharf Pier. The bus teas start from €58.
Grand hotel teas often cost €100 or more per person.
For a cheaper food stop, see Borough Market.
Before you book afternoon tea
Check refunds
Seven picks have free cancellation. The British Museum tea is non-refundable, so book it only when your plans are firm.
Find the start
Bus teas leave from Embankment, Victoria or Bulleid Way near Victoria. River teas leave from Tower Pier or Butler's Wharf Pier.
Bring children?
The Thames tea cruise has a child menu. Several buses and the Butler's Wharf cruise do not suit children under 5.
Leave room for later
Tea is filling. Book it for mid-afternoon and plan a light dinner, or none at all.
Afternoon tea in London: questions and answers
Which afternoon tea is the best in London?
How much does afternoon tea in London cost?
Where can I find affordable afternoon tea in London?
What is a traditional English afternoon tea?
More afternoon teas in London, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore food in London
Sources (5), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.