REVIEW · LONDON
London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus
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London has a way of making you walk nonstop.
This afternoon tea bus tour turns that chaos into a comfy ride on a 1960s Routemaster, serving tea and treats as you glide past major landmarks. I love the simple idea: you get sightseeing without the foot traffic, plus a classic high-tea style meal at the same time.
What I like most is how the experience is built for real schedules. You can pick different departure times, and staff seat you on the lower or upper level while you enjoy coffee/tea with sandwiches and cakes. One drawback to plan for: there’s no top deck guarantee, and the bus has no toilets on board, so you’ll want to go before you board.
In This Review
- Key things that make this bus tea tour worth your time
- A 1960s Routemaster Meets Afternoon Tea
- Price and Timing: What $87.01 Gets You
- Victoria Coach Station: Where the Tour Starts and Ends
- Seating on Upper vs Lower Deck: No Guarantees, No Drama
- What You Eat and Drink: The High Tea Portion
- Dietary options (and one limit you should know)
- The Route: Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, and Mayfair
- Recorded Commentary and Music: Helpful, But Not Perfect
- London Traffic and Bus Comfort: What to Plan For
- The Service: Where the Experience Really Gets Smarter
- Best For Who? Tea Lovers, First-Timers, and People Who Hate Long Walks
- Should You Book This Afternoon Tea Bus Tour?
- FAQ
- How long is the London Afternoon Tea Bus Tour?
- Where does the tour start?
- Is it a walking tour?
- What’s included with the ticket?
- Can I choose dietary options?
- Is top deck seating guaranteed?
- Are there toilets on board?
- What language is the commentary in?
- Are service animals allowed?
- Is there a cancellation or change option?
Key things that make this bus tea tour worth your time
- Vintage double-decker Routemaster feel while you stay seated and moving through Central London
- Afternoon tea service on board: sandwiches plus pastries and cakes from a local bakery
- Landmark route including Harrods/Knightsbridge and Hyde Park/Mayfair
- Recorded commentary with music so you get context without stopping to walk
- Food and hot drinks fit special diets (with listed options)
A 1960s Routemaster Meets Afternoon Tea
This tour is basically two ideas braided together: a classic London bus ride and a proper afternoon tea spread. You board a double-decker from Victoria Coach Station, then spend about 1 hour 25 minutes cruising through the sights while staff set up your table and keep things moving.
The “vintage bus” part matters more than you’d think. A modern coach is just transport; a Routemaster feels like an event. And that mood is exactly what makes the afternoon tea feel less like a box meal and more like a London outing.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in London.
Price and Timing: What $87.01 Gets You
At $87.01 per person for roughly 1 hour 25 minutes, you’re paying for convenience plus a fully packaged experience. You’re not just buying tea; you’re buying a built-in sightseeing loop where the narration and landmarks are bundled into the ride.
To get the value, I’d treat this as a “one-and-done” afternoon plan:
- You’ll cover several major areas in a short window.
- You get your food at the same time, so it doesn’t eat up extra time later.
- You avoid the usual London trade-off of tea places that sit still while you’re stuck commuting.
Also, plan ahead. It’s commonly booked about 42 days in advance, and that makes sense because the seats are limited. Capacity is 32 seats on Bus 1 and 44 seats on Bus 2, so popular time slots can disappear.
Victoria Coach Station: Where the Tour Starts and Ends
You meet at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, and the tour ends back at the same place. That’s useful. Victoria is well connected, so you can pair this with other plans before or after without a long, complicated reposition.
When you arrive, expect quick setup rather than long wandering. The bus staff seat you at a table on the upper or lower level so they can serve safely. One important reality check: no toilets are on board, so use the station facilities before you go.
Seating on Upper vs Lower Deck: No Guarantees, No Drama
You might hope for the classic top-deck view, but the tour doesn’t guarantee top deck seats. They’ll seat you where staff can best serve you during the drive, which means your view plan depends on how the group is arranged.
If you’re the type who loves an overhead view, arrive with flexibility. If you’re sensitive to heat or want easier access, the lower deck may actually feel more comfortable—especially given the feedback about warmer temperatures on the bus.
Either way, the best part is that your table stays with you while London flows past. You’re not juggling cups, napkins, and cameras while standing in traffic.
What You Eat and Drink: The High Tea Portion
The included spread is coffee and/or tea plus a full afternoon tea style meal: sandwiches and cakes and pastries. The tour description also notes French-inspired baked treats, and the whole thing is prepared fresh by a local bakery.
A few details that really help you set expectations:
- The tour doesn’t promise a huge “feast” in quantity, but it’s framed as an afternoon tea experience, not a snack.
- In reviews, people also describe the hot drinks as unlimited, which is great if you want to warm up or linger a bit over dessert.
- There’s mention that you can take the reusable cup with lid home after your drink.
Dietary options (and one limit you should know)
You can pre-book dietary selections in Special Requirements, with options listed as: Traditional, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Vegan, and Gluten Free. The tour also clearly states they do not cater for Nut allergies, so if that’s your concern, you’ll need to plan around it.
If you’re traveling with someone who has to eat within those categories, this is one of the easier London meal formats to manage. You don’t have to find a café that matches everyone’s needs mid-trip.
The Route: Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, and Mayfair
The ride is designed as a Central London highlights loop with minimal walking. As you drive through the city, you’ll pass several big names, including Harrods and Knightsbridge, plus Hyde Park and Mayfair.
Here’s the value of that route:
- These are locations you’d usually want to photograph or at least see from the street, but you might not want to dedicate your walking time to.
- By combining them with tea service, the experience feels like a proper outing rather than a rushed “bus sighting.”
Also, the tour doesn’t just list landmarks—it’s paired with explanations. You’ll learn about London’s history and architecture with pre-recorded commentary and music, spaced across the drive so it doesn’t all hit at once.
Just remember: the bus does not stop during the tour. That’s perfect for staying seated, but it means you won’t be hopping off for a quick look. If you want “pause and stroll,” this isn’t built for that.
Recorded Commentary and Music: Helpful, But Not Perfect
You get pre-recorded guided commentary as the bus goes by major sights. The style is designed to be hands-off: you hear context while you sit with tea.
The catch is audio quality depends on the group. Some people note narration can be hard to hear, often because of normal chatter during a fun social meal. If you want to catch everything, lean slightly toward the speaker side of your seating area and don’t expect pinpoint clarity.
That said, even when the audio isn’t perfectly loud, the combo of landmarks you can recognize (like Harrods and Hyde Park) plus the running explanation is a solid way to learn without stopping.
London Traffic and Bus Comfort: What to Plan For
In London, traffic is part of the day. This tour doesn’t avoid it; you’re literally riding through the streets. The result is the drive can feel slower than you’d expect if you’re used to fast, open roads.
Comfort is another factor. Several reviews mention the bus can run hot because it doesn’t have air conditioning. On warm days, you’ll want to dress light and bring your own water outside of what’s served. If you’re heat-sensitive, treat this as a seasonal choice rather than a universal win.
One more comfort note: the bus is cozy, and while the service is attentive, you are still in a moving bus environment with limited space for big bags. Pack accordingly.
The Service: Where the Experience Really Gets Smarter
This is one of those tours where the staff can turn a scripted experience into a genuinely pleasant one. Multiple reviews praise friendly, attentive service, and several names come up again and again—Cara, Nella, Cristian, and also Alex, Taino, and Azu. Others mention Azucere, Dolcas, and Taiwo, calling out their cheerful help.
What you should take from that: service is part of the value here. They seat you so you can enjoy the tea safely, and they keep things moving so you’re not waiting forever between courses. If you’re celebrating a birthday or traveling with kids, that attention tends to matter.
There’s also feedback about staff accommodating drink preferences for children without fuss. If you’re traveling with a family, that’s reassuring.
Best For Who? Tea Lovers, First-Timers, and People Who Hate Long Walks
This tour is ideal for you if you want London highlights in a low-effort format. It’s also a strong match if you’re a first-timer who needs a quick orientation: you’ll see major areas and learn what you’re looking at, all while you’re eating.
It also suits travelers who don’t want to hunt down a tea room during a busy day. Instead of planning two separate activities—tea plus sightseeing—you’re doing one combined plan from Victoria.
A note for families: children under 5 aren’t permitted, and some families say kids enjoy the experience because it feels like a treat and a ride at the same time. The bus setting can help kids stay engaged without constant walking.
Should You Book This Afternoon Tea Bus Tour?
If your goal is to see London’s big sights with minimal walking and you really want the afternoon tea experience, I’d say this is a good booking. The strengths are clear: high tea on board, a recognizable Central London route, and staff who get praised by name for their service.
I’d skip it (or adjust expectations) if you strongly need one of these:
- guaranteed top-deck seating
- toilets during the ride
- photo stops or short off-bus exploring
- cooler temperatures, especially on hot days
Also, if nut allergies are part of your needs, don’t assume you’ll be accommodated—nut allergies are explicitly not catered for.
Bottom line: for the right afternoon plan, this is a fun, classic London day that saves you time and effort while still giving you plenty to look at.
FAQ
How long is the London Afternoon Tea Bus Tour?
The tour runs about 1 hour 25 minutes.
Where does the tour start?
You meet at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP.
Is it a walking tour?
No. It’s a ride on the bus through Central London, and the tour does not stop during the experience.
What’s included with the ticket?
The ticket includes coffee and/or tea plus afternoon tea-style food: sandwiches and cakes and pastries.
Can I choose dietary options?
Yes. You can pre-book selections in Special Requirements, including Traditional, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Vegan, and Gluten Free. Nut allergies are not catered for.
Is top deck seating guaranteed?
No. Top deck seats are not guaranteed, and staff seat you on the upper or lower level.
Are there toilets on board?
No. There are no toilets on board.
What language is the commentary in?
The tour is offered in English.
Are service animals allowed?
Yes. Service animals are allowed.
Is there a cancellation or change option?
No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.
