London: Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

The most memorable part of this experience is the setting: afternoon tea in the Palace Lounge at The Rubens at the Palace, where ornate surroundings give a simple cup of tea a royal frame. You sit down for 90 minutes of sandwiches, scones, pastries, and tea, with Champagne available if you select that option.

I like the carefully themed menu, which includes smoked salmon with caviar, roast beef with horseradish cream, seasonal preserves, lemon curd, and clotted cream. I also like the broad tea list from P.M. David Silva & Sons, with black, green, white, and herbal choices.

The main caution is price. At $111 per person, this is a special-occasion splurge, not a casual snack. The formal dress code also matters, and the menu can change.

Key points to know before you book

• Royal setting: Afternoon tea takes place in The Rubens at the Palace Lounge, with an opulent hotel backdrop.
• Three-part menu: Expect savoury finger sandwiches, freshly baked plain, fruit, and cheese scones, then individual pastries.
• Tea selection: Choose from black, green, white, and herbal teas by P.M. David Silva & Sons.
• Optional Champagne: Champagne is included only when you choose the Champagne-inclusive booking option.
• Formal dress required: Sportswear, flip-flops, sandals, ripped clothing, and non-tailored shorts are not allowed.
• Plan dietary needs early: Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free requests should be sent to the provider at least 48 hours before your booking.

Entering The Rubens at the Palace

This is a hotel afternoon tea rather than a sightseeing tour, so your first task is simply to arrive at The Rubens at the Palace and show your voucher at the entrance. There is no transportation included, and there is no sightseeing guide leading you from one attraction to another.

That simplicity is part of the appeal. You are not racing between landmarks or watching the clock for a departure. The experience gives you one polished London pause, in a setting designed for lingering over small plates and a pot of tea.

The activity lasts 1.5 hours. That is enough time for a leisurely tea service, though you should not expect an entire afternoon of repeated courses or a long hotel visit. The host or greeter speaks English, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

Bring a passport or ID card. The dress rules are stricter than you might find at a café. Leave the flip-flops, sportswear, ripped clothes, and shorts at your hotel. Men should avoid non-tailored shorts, and everyone will be better off in smart, neat clothing.

The Palace Lounge sets the tone

The food matters here, but the room is a major part of what you are paying for. The Palace Lounge provides the formal British atmosphere that makes afternoon tea feel like an occasion rather than lunch served on a stand.

The setting has an opulent, royal character. That suits the experience and helps explain its appeal for birthdays, anniversaries, family treats, or a first visit to London. You do not need to know anything about royal protocol to enjoy it. You simply sit back, take in the surroundings, and let the service unfold.

This is also where expectations matter. If you want a quick bite between museums, $111 is hard to justify. If you want an elegant hotel setting and a slow, traditional ritual, the surroundings give the meal a clear purpose.

Savoury sandwiches with a polished British touch

The savoury course is more interesting than a basic plate of egg and cucumber sandwiches. The sample menu includes five varieties:

• Scottish smoked salmon, caviar, and chive cream cheese on cape seed loaf
• Roast beef sirloin, wild rocket, and horseradish cream on beetroot bread
• Chicken with grain mustard mayonnaise and toasted almonds on white bread
• Barber’s cheddar and plum tomato on onion bread
• Cucumber and mint crème fraîche on Norfolk crunch

I like the way the menu mixes familiar afternoon tea staples with more dressed-up ingredients. Smoked salmon and roast beef give the plate a luxurious feel, while cucumber, cheddar, and chicken keep it recognisably British.

The breads also add variety. Beetroot bread, onion bread, and Norfolk crunch make the sandwiches feel less repetitive than a single loaf used five different ways. The menu is a sample, so you should expect changes based on the season or the hotel’s current offering.

Do not think of the sandwiches as a full lunch portion. Afternoon tea is built around small bites, and the meal continues with scones and sweets. If you arrive very hungry, the quantity may feel modest for the price. If you treat it as a measured, multi-course experience, the pacing makes more sense.

Fresh scones are the heart of the meal

The scone course is the part I would pay close attention to. You receive freshly baked plain, fruit, and cheese scones, served with homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream.

That combination gives you several ways to build each bite. The preserve brings fruit and sweetness, lemon curd adds a sharper note, and clotted cream supplies the dense, cool richness that makes a proper British scone feel complete.

The cheese scone changes the rhythm of the meal. It is a useful savoury break between the sandwiches and the pastry course, rather than forcing every item into the same sweet pattern.

Scones are best eaten fresh, and the menu specifically presents them as freshly baked. They are one of the reasons to take your time. This is not a box of pastries picked up on the way to the next attraction. The pleasure comes from eating them slowly, with tea, while seated in the hotel lounge.

Pastries that lean toward the elaborate

The sweet course is made up of individual pastries rather than one large cake. The sample menu includes:

• The Crown Hukambi chocolate with hazelnut praline and chocolate sablé
• Blackberry éclair
• Blackberry chiboust with blackberry fruit glaze
• Rhubarb and vanilla, with vanilla sponge, rhubarb jelly, and Opalys crémeux
• Citrus meringue tart with almond cream, candied lemon, and lime zest

This is a more refined pastry selection than a standard cream tea. Chocolate, blackberry, rhubarb, and citrus give the plate a mix of dark, sharp, fruity, and creamy flavours.

The descriptions also suggest a range of textures. You might find crisp sablé, soft sponge, fruit jelly, cream, meringue, and pastry in the same course. That variety is useful because afternoon tea can become overly sweet when every item is soft and sugary.

The menu is subject to change, so do not book solely for one particular pastry. If the blackberry éclair or rhubarb dessert is the item that caught your eye, treat it as a pleasant possibility rather than a guarantee.

Tea is more than an afterthought

Tea and coffee are included, but tea is the natural choice for this experience. The selection comes from P.M. David Silva & Sons and covers black, green, white, and herbal teas.

That range lets you choose how strong or gentle you want the drink to be. A black tea fits the traditional mood, while green, white, or herbal tea may suit you better if you prefer something lighter or do not want caffeine late in the day.

I like that the tea choice is not reduced to one generic house blend. Since tea carries much of the ritual, the selection gives you a small but useful way to make the service your own.

Champagne is available only with the inclusive option. Check the exact booking choice before paying if Champagne is important to you. It is not automatically part of every $111 package, and extra food and drinks are not included.

What the $111 price really buys you

At $111 per person, the value comes from three things: the hotel setting, the formal service, and the full spread of sandwiches, scones, pastries, and tea. You are paying for an occasion, not just for calories.

The price will make sense if you want a polished afternoon in a grand London hotel. It is also easier to justify if you choose the Champagne-inclusive version for a celebration, provided the added cost fits your budget.

The value is less convincing if you compare it with an ordinary café afternoon tea. You could find cheaper tea and cake elsewhere, and this experience does not include transport, a tour of London, or an extended hotel stay. One Dutch-language booking comment specifically noted that the price and quality did not feel perfectly balanced, along with repeated attempts to sell extra drinks such as water or wine.

That is a useful warning. You should feel free to decline extras and remember that additional drinks are not included. The meal itself is designed to be complete, but add-ons can push the final bill higher.

The overall rating is 4.6 from 70 reviews, with especially strong praise for the setting, attentive service, tea, and food. The clearest pattern is that people who value the royal atmosphere tend to see the experience as worthwhile, while price-sensitive diners may hesitate.

Who will enjoy this afternoon tea most

I would recommend this experience for someone who wants one elegant London memory without committing to a full evening event. It suits couples, families marking a special occasion, and anyone curious about the British afternoon tea tradition.

It also works well for a visitor who has already seen the major sights and wants a quiet break. The 90-minute length is long enough to feel special but short enough to fit into a busy day, assuming you allow time to reach the hotel.

Families should consider the dress code and menu. Children may enjoy the sweets and the grand room, but this is a formal service rather than a casual, flexible meal. If anyone in your party needs vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free food, send the request at least 48 hours ahead. Do not wait until you sit down.

People with mobility needs can consider it because the experience is wheelchair accessible. The supplied information does not specify every detail of the hotel’s accessible facilities, so you may still want to confirm any particular requirements before booking.

Practical timing and booking advice

The experience has different possible starting times, so check availability before you plan the rest of your day. Since transportation is not included, allow enough time to reach The Rubens at the Palace without turning your tea reservation into a sprint.

You can cancel up to two days in advance for a full refund. That gives you some flexibility, but it does not protect you from a same-day change of plans.

Wear smart clothing from the start. The rules specifically exclude sandals or flip-flops, sportswear, ripped clothing, and non-tailored shorts. A neat outfit will also feel more comfortable in the Palace Lounge than sightseeing clothes would.

Dietary requests must be provided 48 hours before the scheduled booking. The menu can vary, so share both your dietary needs and any serious allergies clearly with the activity provider.

Is The Rubens afternoon tea worth booking?

Book it if you want the setting as much as the food. The Palace Lounge, formal mood, broad tea list, fresh scones, and detailed pastries create a classic London treat, and the high marks for atmosphere and service support that choice.

Think twice if you mainly want a cheap meal or a quick cup of tea. At $111, the experience asks you to pay for ceremony and surroundings, and extra drinks can add to the cost. For a birthday, anniversary, or carefully chosen London splurge, I think the setting and menu make a reasonable case. For everyday sightseeing fuel, spend less elsewhere.

FAQ

How long does the afternoon tea last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the afternoon tea take place?

It takes place in the Palace Lounge at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel in London.

Is Champagne included?

Champagne is included only if you select the Champagne-inclusive option when booking. Additional food and drinks are not included.

What food is served?

The menu includes delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked plain, fruit, and cheese scones with seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream, followed by assorted pastries. The menu may change.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free afternoon teas can be requested. You must inform the activity provider at least 48 hours before your booking.

Is there a dress code?

Yes. Sportswear, flip-flops, sandals, ripped clothing, and non-tailored shorts are not permitted. Smart clothing is required for entry.