Best of · AFTERNOON TEA EXPERIENCES

The 15 Best Afternoon Teas Worth Booking

78 tea experiences  ·  from $11 a head

Afternoon tea is a two-hour sit-down, not a drink, and the price gap between a hotel room and a moving bus is enormous. These 15 compare the rooms, the boats and the buses on what arrives on the stand and how far ahead they go.

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames - Boarding at Tower Pier beside the Tower of London
Afternoon Tea Cruises, Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, UK Tea Experiences

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

1.Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,274 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53Our pick

Enjoy sandwiches, warm scones, cakes, and unlimited tea on a 90-minute City Cruises boat from Tower Pier. Cruise past Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Shard, the London Eye, and Parliament, with live or recorded commentary and an onboard bar.

“This was the second time my family and I have done the High Tea River Cruise and we love it so much. The boat staff and crew are amazing, and the our captain had an amazing sense of humor it made the ride even better! The cruise is great and there’s a good chance our next visit to London, we may be on this cruise again!!”

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Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in Dublin - What you see from St. Stephen’s Green to Phoenix Park
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Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in Dublin

2.Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,791 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72Top rated

Ride a restored front-engined double-decker through Dublin, Phoenix Park, Georgian streets, Trinity, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral while enjoying tea, coffee, sandwiches, warm scones, and sweets. Hosts such as Orla, Hannah, Aleks, and Liam add stories and humor. The 90-minute tour returns to St. Stephen’s Green.

“Excellent experience, completely worth it. Our tour guide Aleks was amazing. The tea was exceptional.”

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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - 1960s Routemaster Bus - What you eat and drink on the bus
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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

3.Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

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

Ride a vintage 1960s Routemaster from Victoria Coach Station through central London while enjoying tea, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries. You may sit upstairs or below, with seating assigned on the day. Recorded commentary covers sights near Harrods, Hyde Park, Mayfair, and central London.

“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.”

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London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco - What arrives on the afternoon tea stand
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London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

4.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. Choose an upper or lower deck, arrive 15 minutes early at Golden Tours Stop 1, and expect staff-led landmark highlights rather than a full guided tour.

“the service by the2 staff was excellent and the driver gave us a nice smooth,smooth ride”

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Dublin: Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Tour - From St. Stephen’s Green to the upper deck
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Dublin: Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Tour

5.Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,664 reviews · from $65

Ride from St. Stephen’s Green on a restored 1960s bus, with afternoon tea, warm scones, sandwiches, desserts, and unlimited tea or coffee. Hosts such as Adam, Leah, and Rachel add Dublin stories and humor while you pass Trinity College, Georgian streets, and Phoenix Park.

“The tour was incredible! The tea, sandwiches, scones & pastries were wonderful. The drive hit the major points of Dublin and the tour guide was energetic and engaging. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone coming here!”

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Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience - The route from Waterloo Place to Edinburgh Castle
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Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience

6.Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,275 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Ride a vintage Routemaster from Waterloo Place while enjoying sandwiches, warm scones, petit fours, cupcakes, and unlimited tea or coffee. The route passes Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, Holyroodhouse, Greyfriars Bobby, and more. This is a dining experience with sightseeing, not a guided bus tour.

“The Big Red Bus Afternoon Tea was a blast. The bus sets a fun and quirky mood. The food was delicious and the music selection was great. The driver and the chef were nice and kind. I'm sorry I forgot names. Definitely another unique experience. This was my third trip to Scotland... I try new things. Will recommend.”

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The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea - What you see on the garden walk
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The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea

7.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, Paddy, or Barbara, then enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes, and tea at the Orangery beside Kensington Palace. Palace entry is optional, and the two-hour outing suits visitors who want royal history with a relaxed tea stop.

“We had the pleasure of having an exceptional tour guide named Doug. He was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, pleasant, and helped us understand a lot of the historical facts of London. The High Tea experience was superb and the food was extremely delicious. We highly recommend this experience.”

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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames - Tea with London moving past the windows
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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

8.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

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

Board City Cruises at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea sailing past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and Westminster. Enjoy sandwiches, cakes, scones, unlimited tea or coffee, and panoramic river views from the indoor saloon or open-air deck.

“This was such a fun and memorable experience for my family! The snacks and cakes were delicious and there were generous portions. The staff were very attentive and the views were spectacular! This was a fun twist on afternoon tea on the river, rather than at a hotel or restaurant.”

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London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour - The Food: Pleasant Tea Fare With Some Variation
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London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour

9.London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour

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

Enjoy finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, tea, coffee, and a drink while a double-decker bus rolls past Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. This is a scenic tea outing, not a fully narrated sightseeing tour.

“The tea and sandwich was lovely, the staff friendly but I did expect more than just driving us around and eating. There was some good views of iconic places but keep in mind it was by bus and no history or notification of places we went by.”

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Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience - Starting with tea, sandwiches, and scones
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Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience

10.Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 735 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $61

Ride Glasgow in a vintage Routemaster while enjoying sandwiches, warm scones, petit fours, cupcakes, and unlimited tea or coffee. Crew members including Helen, Tallulah, and George bring humor and occasional commentary, but this is a dining experience, not a full guided tour.

“Wonderful! High tea was great. Tour was fabulous and the staff was friendly and fun! Would recommend it to anyone visiting Glasgow.”

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Edinburgh: Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin - Meeting at Waterloo Place and settling into the bus
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Edinburgh: Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

11.Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 699 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $57

Settle into an original vintage Routemaster for a 90-minute Edinburgh tour with prosecco, afternoon tea, unlimited tea and coffee, and optional gin cocktails served in teapots. Staff such as Helen, Jimmy, and Steven add humor and helpful commentary, but this is not a fully guided sightseeing tour.

“We had a great time on our tour. The food was great and we enjoyed the sing along. The driver was excellent. We were the envy of all of the tourists who saw us.”

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London: Great British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - What Arrives on the Afternoon Tea Stand
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London: Great British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

12.Great British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 616 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $80

Ride a Union Jack-painted 1960s Routemaster from Embankment, enjoying afternoon tea and live English commentary from guides such as Lucy and Cameron. You’ll pass St Paul’s, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and more in 1.5 hours.

“I highly recommend this bus tour. Even if you know London quite well already it gives you a different perspective and is just great fun for a day out. The food is fantastic, excellent quality and more than you can eat. The staff on the bus are fantastic and look after you really well. Excellent value.”

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Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford - Passing through Iffley Lock
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Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford

13.Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 583 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80

Set out from The Folly at Folly Bridge for a 90-minute Oxford river cruise with afternoon tea, live commentary, and views of Christ Church Meadows, rowing boathouses, Iffley Lock, and quiet water meadows. Guides may include Nick, Henry, Dexter, or Louis, depending on the departure.

“Unfortunately, this event did not rise to expectations. We begin with the fact that there is no parking close to the restaurant. As two in our party have mobility issues, this started the day on a bad note. The morsels on the tea tray were fine but actually, it amounted to one sandwich per person, cut into quarters, a macaroon per person, two scones per person with Devon cream & a pot of jam, and a few other sweet items...nothing near what one would expect of a tea costing what this tea cost. The trip was uneventful. We were not treated to any facts along the journey, it was just…”

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Buckingham Palace & Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Tour with PG Tips - London landmarks from a moving tea bus
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Buckingham Palace & Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Tour with PG Tips

14.Buckingham Palace & Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Tour with PG Tips

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 540 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $151

Start with a guided London coach tour and freshly prepared afternoon tea on a tea bus, then walk to Buckingham Palace for a self-guided visit to the State Rooms at 4:15 PM. Expect an audio tour inside the palace, no hotel transport, and a group of up to 52 people.

“Oh my!! The Palace is opulent beyond expectations. Wish photos were allowed in the State Rooms as you cannot describe the splendor.”

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Afternoon Tea at the British Museum - What arrives on the afternoon tea stand
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Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

15.Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

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

Meet at the Great Court Restaurant for a 90-minute English afternoon tea beneath the British Museum’s famous glass roof. Choose organic loose-leaf or flowering tea, then enjoy sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and scones with clotted cream and jam. Prosecco is available as an optional extra.

“Everything was delicious, served nicely. Service was good, everybody was friendly. This was my first afternoon tea in UK ever and was very nice experience!”

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Pick a kind of tea day

A ceremony, a garden, a tasting bench or a tiered stand.

The ceremony

Tea CeremoniesIn KimonoMaking ClassesBrush & BowlSweets & Tea

The gardens

Plantation DaysFactory FloorsTastingsFarm Visits

Afternoon tea

Afternoon TeaBus TeasBoat TeasCakes & Sweets

And the rest

MatchaTurkish TeaBubble TeaCoffee