London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour & London Eye Option

London sightseeing is usually a choice between sitting on a bus or sitting down for tea. This tour does both. For 90 minutes, you roll past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge while eating sandwiches, scones and cakes from an onboard kitchen. The live guide adds the stories that turn a string of famous buildings into a proper introduction to the city.

I especially like the freshly prepared tea service, which includes a generous mix of sandwiches, savoury bites, scones and small cakes. I also like the practical comforts: air-conditioning, a toilet, Wi-Fi, USB charging and a souvenir travel cup. The main catch is simple: traffic can stretch the ride, and lower-deck seats have a partly blocked view. Book carefully if seeing the sights matters more to you than the meal.

Key points to know before booking

• Big sights without changing buses: The route takes in Big Ben, the London Eye, Somerset House, Fleet Street, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
• A real afternoon tea: Expect sandwiches, a truffled sausage roll, cakes, scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam.
• Guide-led sightseeing: A live English-speaking guide explains what you are seeing, with Meghan receiving especially warm praise for her presentation.
• Prosecco for adults: One glass is included for guests aged 18 and over, along with tea, coffee, juice and water.
• Seating affects the view: Premium seats are on the upper deck, in the front row or near the stairs. Lower-deck views are partly obscured.
• London Eye is optional: The 135-metre observation wheel is not part of the basic tour unless you select the inclusive option.

What this London tea bus actually feels like

The tour begins at Evan Evans Tours on Vauxhall Bridge Road, a short distance from Victoria station. You board a branded PG Tips afternoon tea bus, settle into your seat and begin a moving meal with central London passing outside the windows.

This is not a hop-on, hop-off bus. You stay aboard for the full sightseeing loop, so the appeal is comfort and convenience rather than freedom to explore each landmark. You get a tidy overview of central London in one sitting, then can return later to the places that caught your eye.

The bus has air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, USB charging and an onboard toilet. Those details matter more than they sound. London traffic can make a 90-minute outing feel longer, and a hot day or a crowded sightseeing schedule is easier to handle when you have a cool seat, a phone charger and no need to search for a public toilet.

The live guide speaks in English and points out the landmarks as you pass. Meghan, one of the guides praised by name, was described as professional, funny and full of useful information. A guide makes a big difference here because many sights appear only briefly through the window. You need someone to tell you where to look and why the building matters before it slips behind the bus.

The route from Big Ben to the Tower of London

The exact order can shift with London traffic, but the advertised route covers a strong run of central sights.

Big Ben and Westminster

Big Ben is the first major visual anchor. Technically, Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, but most people use the name for the whole clock tower. From the road, you see it with the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames nearby.

The bus also passes Westminster Abbey. This is one of London’s most important historic churches, known for royal ceremonies, coronations and famous burials. You will not go inside on this tour, so think of this section as a preview rather than a full visit.

That distinction matters. If Westminster Abbey is high on your list, you should plan a separate entry. The bus gives you context and an exterior view, but it cannot replace time inside the church.

The London Eye and the Thames

The London Eye is hard to miss. At 135 metres high, it is one of London’s signature sights and the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. The bus passes it during the sightseeing portion, offering a useful look at its scale and position beside the Thames.

You can add a standard London Eye ticket when booking, but the ride is taken independently. In practical terms, the tea bus does not carry you straight into the wheel. You will need to follow the instructions for the separate visit and allow extra time in your day.

From the top of the wheel, the views include Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral. If you want a high view of the city after seeing its streets from the bus, this is the logical add-on. If you already plan to visit the London Eye separately, the basic tea tour may be the better value.

Somerset House and Fleet Street

Somerset House brings a different look to the route. Its grand courtyard and riverside setting show off London’s formal Georgian side. You see it from the bus, not through an interior visit, but the guide helps place it within the city’s story.

The route then moves toward Fleet Street, once closely tied to London’s newspaper trade. The street connects the City of London with Westminster and has long been associated with journalism, publishing and old commercial London.

This stretch is especially useful for first-time visitors who want more than a checklist of major monuments. The large sights are easy to recognize, but streets such as Fleet Street explain how London developed as a working city.

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the strongest views on the route. Christopher Wren’s great dome has shaped London’s skyline for centuries, and its position near the City makes it a natural marker between old commercial London and the financial district.

Again, you pass by rather than enter. The bus lets you see the cathedral as part of its city setting, but you will need a separate ticket and visit if you want the interior, crypt or dome galleries.

Try to sit where you can see across the street side of the bus as the cathedral approaches. Premium upper-deck seats give you the best chance of a clear view, though the front row or seats near the stairs may be more useful than simply choosing any upper-deck place.

The Tower of London, HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge

The eastern part of the route brings several major sights close together. You pass the Tower of London, the fortress and former royal residence best known for its prisoners, ceremonies and Crown Jewels. The bus does not stop for entry, so treat the view as an introduction to a place that deserves a separate half-day if you want to go inside.

Nearby, HMS Belfast sits on the Thames as a reminder of London’s naval past. Tower Bridge follows, with its twin towers and high-level walkways. Crossing this bridge by bus gives you a useful sense of its location and relationship to the river.

This is one of the best sections for photographs, but keep your camera ready. Traffic, buildings and the bus windows can make a perfect shot difficult. The guide’s commentary is just as important as the view because the bus moves on quickly.

The afternoon tea menu, from gammon to clotted cream

The food is more than a token snack. The standard menu includes four sandwiches: honey roast gammon with pickled onion, smoked salmon with crème fraiche, Croxton Manor Cheddar with spring onion, and cucumber with minted butter.

You also get a truffled sausage roll, followed by chocolate éclair, fruit tart, mini Victoria sponge and salted caramel brownie. Fresh plain and fruit scones arrive with Devon clotted cream and Tiptree strawberry jam.

The mix gives you the familiar afternoon tea structure, with savoury food first and sweet items after. One especially useful point is the portion size. A Canadian couple who took the tour after arriving in London said the food was ample enough to take leftovers with them. That makes the $66 price easier to judge, especially if you are replacing a separate lunch.

The chef is onboard, and the menu is freshly prepared. It is still bus catering, so you should not expect a formal hotel tea with white-glove service. But the menu is substantial, varied and tied to the main purpose of the outing: sightseeing while eating well.

The vegan and gluten-free menu is not an afterthought. It includes vegan feta with pickled cucumber, roasted bell pepper with hummus, spiced avocado with mint, and vegan mozzarella with beef tomato. The savoury bite is a wild mushroom and truffle pithivier.

For dessert, the alternative menu includes spiced gingerbread cake, lemon drizzle cake, mini Victoria sponge and salted caramel brownie. Fruit and plain scones come with Tiptree strawberry jam and butter. You must provide dietary requirements at least 72 hours in advance, and the menu can change.

Drinks, Prosecco and the practical comforts

The tea list comes from PG Tips and includes Gold, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Chai, decaf, raspberry, camomile, peppermint and green tea. Coffee is made with Lavazza and includes Americano, cappuccino, latte, espresso and espresso macchiato.

You can also order decaf Americano or Cadbury hot chocolate. Milk choices for tea and Americano include semi-skimmed, skimmed and oat milk.

Cold options include apple juice, orange juice, still water and sparkling water. Adults aged 18 and over receive a glass of Prosecco. Children and younger guests receive the non-alcoholic choices instead.

The variety is useful because a long tea sitting can become repetitive if you only drink one standard brew. I would choose tea if I want the classic afternoon tea feel, but coffee and hot chocolate make the menu work for mixed groups.

The bus also has air-conditioning, which proved particularly valuable during a London heatwave. On the other hand, one evening outing in heavy rain was much harder for sightseeing because the dark windows and wet streets made buildings difficult to identify. The lesson is clear: daylight helps. If you care about the city views, choose an afternoon departure when possible.

Choosing your seat and handling the view problem

Premium seats are on the upper deck, either in the front row or in front of the stairs. These are the seats to consider if the view is your main reason for booking.

Lower-deck tables are accessible and more practical for guests who need them, but their views are partly obscured. The bus has a fully wheelchair-accessible table on the lower deck. You should contact Evan Evans before booking to confirm that an accessible table is available on your chosen date.

The bus is designed for a meal, so you are not simply choosing a sightseeing seat. You also need enough table space for plates, cups and the tea service. A good seat balances a clear window with comfortable access to the food.

Sound can matter as much as sight. One person with hearing difficulty struggled to hear the guide at first, then received better access when the guide moved nearby. If you have hearing concerns, tell the staff as soon as you board. The provided information does not promise earphones or a personal audio system, so do not assume one will be available.

Is $66 good value?

At $66 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see London. You are paying for a guided bus ride, an afternoon tea meal, drinks, service, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, USB charging and the novelty of combining sightseeing with dining.

The value improves if you already planned to buy afternoon tea. A formal tea in London can take up a separate part of your day, while this tour gives you a meal and a city overview in one booking. It is also useful when weather, tired feet or a packed schedule make a walking tour less appealing.

The value is weaker if your main aim is to enter the landmarks. You do not go inside Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London or the London Eye during the basic bus ride. You only pass them, and traffic can reduce the time you have for each view.

The London Eye upgrade should be judged separately. It adds a standard experience ticket to the 135-metre wheel, but the visit is independent. Choose it if you want both a street-level introduction and a high city view. Skip it if you prefer to spend your budget on interior visits or already have a London Eye booking.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend the bus to first-time visitors who want a broad look at central London without walking between every sight. It also suits couples and friends who enjoy food as part of sightseeing, and anyone looking for something different from a standard open-top bus.

It works well for a short London stay because you see a long list of major sights in 90 minutes. The souvenir travel cup is a small bonus, and the onboard facilities remove several minor hassles.

Families should note that children under five are not permitted. Older children can join, but the sightseeing commentary is in English and the experience is built around a seated meal rather than hands-on activity.

I would be cautious about booking if you need uninterrupted views of every landmark, want to enter several attractions, or find it hard to hear live commentary in a moving vehicle. I would also avoid a rainy evening departure if the skyline and buildings are your priority.

Final call: a tasty introduction, not a full London tour

Book this if you want afternoon tea, a comfortable ride and a guided look at London’s essential sights in one compact outing. The food is a real strength, the staff can be warm and capable, and the route gives you useful orientation before you explore on foot.

Do not book it as a substitute for visiting Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral or the Tower of London. Think of the tour as a pleasant city sampler with a proper meal attached. Choose an upper-deck seat if possible, give dietary details at least 72 hours ahead, and select the London Eye only if you have time for the separate visit.

FAQ

Where does the London Afternoon Tea Bus Tour begin?

The meeting point is Evan Evans Tours at 258 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1BS.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at Victoria train station.

How long does the bus tour last?

The afternoon tea bus tour lasts about 90 minutes, depending on traffic.

What language is the live tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is Prosecco included?

One glass of Prosecco is included for adults aged 18 and over.

Are children under five allowed?

No. Children under five are not permitted on this activity.

What food is included?

The standard tea includes sandwiches, a truffled sausage roll, cakes, plain and fruit scones, Devon clotted cream and Tiptree strawberry jam.

Can I request vegan or gluten-free food?

Yes. Vegan and gluten-free menus are available, but you must provide dietary requirements at least 72 hours before the tour. The menu may vary.

Is the London Eye included?

The London Eye is included only when you select the London Eye inclusive option. The visit is taken independently from the bus tour.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

The bus has a fully wheelchair-accessible table on the lower deck. Contact the activity provider before booking to confirm availability on your chosen date.