Britain · AFTERNOON TEA EXPERIENCES

The 15 Best Afternoon Teas in Britain

25 tours  ·  from $39

A proper tea runs two hours and lands somewhere between a late lunch and an early dinner. These 15 compare the hotel rooms, the bus tours that serve it moving and the ones with a vegetarian stand worth having, priced per head.

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames - What the 90-minute cruise feels like
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

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

Board at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea cruise past Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, The Shard, the London Eye, and Parliament. Your allocated table comes with sandwiches, warm scones, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, plus live or recorded commentary. Champagne and other drinks cost extra.

“Excellent cruise. Service was impeccable. We were able to see all the major tourist attractions. We had a lovely time as a family of four with 2 kids. Thank you!”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco - The route from the London Eye to the Tower
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews

London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

2.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. Hosts such as Ashkay, Abisola, Ayaan, and Dee are known for warm service, but this is not a fully guided sightseeing tour. Choose upper or lower deck seating.

“It was a nice take on afternoon tea. The only thing that would improve the tour is if there was someone to actually be a guide and inform you about what we are passing. They played a recording but sometimes it didn’t match up with what we were actually passing. Still a great experience though.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Afternoon Tea at the British Museum - What happens during the 90-minute sitting
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, British Museum Tours, London Tours, Museum Tours in London, Museums, Tour Reviews

Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

3.Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

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

Spend 90 minutes at afternoon tea in the British Museum’s Great Court Restaurant beneath its glass roof. Choose organic loose-leaf or flowering tea, enjoy sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and scones with clotted cream and jam, and add Prosecco if you wish. The museum setting makes this a smart pairing with a museum visit.

“The hospitality was great! The food was delicious! The table top was a little stained from the tea but overall this was great!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea - Christ Church Meadows and the university boathouses
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Boat Tours in Oxford, Cruises & Boat Tours, Oxford Tours, Tour Reviews

Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea

4.Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 328 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $78

Join Oxford River Cruises at The Folly Restaurant for a 1.5-hour English-language cruise to Iffley Lock and Rose Island. Expect rowing crews, punts, willow-lined meadows, a guide such as Nick, Will, or Rory, and afternoon tea with scones, sandwiches, cakes, and tea.

“The weather was perfect for the cruise and afternoon tea was delightful. Will was also very friendly and engaging.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Kensington Palace Gardens Tour with Royal High Tea - Reading Kensington Gardens with a guide
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: Kensington Palace Gardens Tour with Royal High Tea

5.Kensington Palace Gardens Tour with Royal High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 325 reviews · from $160

Meet near Queensway Station for a guided walk through Kensington Gardens, with royal stories, formal flower beds, water features, and the Sunken Garden. Finish with afternoon tea in the Orangery, including sandwiches, Welsh-butter scones, cakes, and your choice of tea or coffee. Guides may include Doug, Simon, Astrid, or Dee.

“very relaxed pace with an excellent high tea to conclude. Doug our guide was engaging and accommodating to our needs.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Taylor Swift-Inspired Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - Meeting the pink-striped English Tea Bus
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: Taylor Swift-Inspired Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

6.Taylor Swift-Inspired Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 183 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $66

Ride a pink-striped double-decker through London while Taylor Swift songs play and afternoon tea is served. You’ll get sandwiches, scones, pastries, a prosecco or soft drink, and a souvenir mug. Guides such as Odun and Claudia have added warm personal touches on some departures.

“The hole tour felt like a big scam the food was not very good and me and my friend where very disappointed by the end of the tour it felt overpriced and the stuff working on the bus where not very nice we felt like if we went on a hop on hop off bus we would have gotten allot more out of the experience it felt more like a party bus not a tour because we didn’t learn anything we just drove around listening to Taylor Swift absolutely not worth the 60 euro.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Blackpool: Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom - The Food: Traditional, Filling, and Not Quite Gourmet
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Blackpool Tours, Tour Reviews

Blackpool: Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom

7.Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews

Spend 90 minutes beside Blackpool Tower Ballroom’s famous dance floor with sandwiches, fruit scones, cakes, and freshly brewed tea or coffee. Listen to the Wurlitzer, watch dancers, and join in if you wish. Booking is for at least two people, with groups limited to six.

“Our afternoon tea was just wonderful,all staff were extremely helpful and friendly, nothing was a problem.. the afternoon tea was made more special watching all the beautiful dancing. Was truly amazing to watch…. Will definitely go again next time we visit Blackpool next year . Highly recommend the whole experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Afternoon Tea at The Regency Tea Room - Tea Service With a Small Regency Touch
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Bath Tours, Tour Reviews

Afternoon Tea at The Regency Tea Room

8.Afternoon Tea at The Regency Tea Room

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 136 reviews · 1 hour · from $39Best value

Spend one hour at The Regency Tea Room in Bath with finger sandwiches, cakes, a warm scone, Dorset clotted cream, seasonal jam, and tea or coffee. Period decor, Austen-themed details, costumed staff, and a group limit of six make this a small, theatrical break from sightseeing.

“had a fabulous time and the food and cakes where loveky. We would definitely recommend giving them a visit .”

Check availability →Read our full review

Portsmouth: Spinnaker Tower High Tea in the Clouds - What arrives on the tea stand
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Portsmouth Tours, Tour Reviews

Portsmouth: Spinnaker Tower High Tea in the Clouds

9.Spinnaker Tower High Tea in the Clouds

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 126 reviews · 3 hours · from $60

You’ll enjoy sandwiches, fruit scones, cakes, jam, clotted cream, and tea or coffee high inside Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower. Your ticket also covers the viewing decks, glass floor, and Sail of the Solent film, with views reaching up to 23 miles across the Solent.

“Spectacular view high tea was very nice great experience”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Cream Tea at Blenheim Palace & the Cotswolds Tour - Bampton, Downton Abbey’s village setting
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, Cotswolds Tours, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: Cream Tea at Blenheim Palace & the Cotswolds Tour

10.Cream Tea at Blenheim Palace & the Cotswolds Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 113 reviews · from $173

Trade London for the Cotswolds on a 10 to 11-hour English-language tour with Blenheim Palace entry, traditional cream tea, Bampton’s Downton Abbey exhibition, Bourton-on-the-Water, and a comfortable coach ride with Wi-Fi.

“Had a fabulous day we absolutely loved Dr Dolly our guide. Small group enamelled lots of conversation and connection. Really enjoyed the overall experience. Dolly was a wealth of information.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace - The Palace Lounge sets the tone
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews

London: Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

11.Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 70 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $111

Spend 1.5 hours in The Rubens at the Palace Lounge with traditional sandwiches, fresh scones, pastries, tea, and optional Champagne. You will need smart clothing, and dietary requests must be made 48 hours ahead. The experience is hosted in English and costs $111 per person.

“Min dotter och hennes sambo var mycket nöjda. Very impressed! De kände sig mycket väl omhändertagna och njöt av delikatesserna.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Royal Hampton Court Guided Tour with Afternoon Tea - Meeting at the railway station
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, Guided, Hampton Court Palace Tours, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: Royal Hampton Court Guided Tour with Afternoon Tea

12.Royal Hampton Court Guided Tour with Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $206Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide at Hampton Court Station for a two-hour walk through Tudor courtyards, Henry VIII’s kitchens, Wren’s Fountain Court, and the gardens. Afternoon tea follows, with full-day palace entry for your own exploring. Guides may include Tom, Julie, Thomas, or Geraint.

“Thomas was a superb guide. We were the only two people on the tour so we got a lot of personal attention. There is a lot to see at Hampton Court and Thomas systematically got us from one place to the next with great commentary on what we were seeing. The tea was outstanding. Five different sandwiches, two scones each, and five different desserts as well as a good selection of teas. We recommend this tour as a very nice day trip from London.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Vintage Bus Tour and Cream Tea at Harrods - Riding through Westminster on a vintage bus
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Vintage Bus Tour and Cream Tea at Harrods

13.London Vintage Bus Tour and Cream Tea at Harrods

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 4 hours · from $134

Spend four hours seeing London by restored vintage bus and Thames boat, with stops at the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Guides such as John and Lisa add lively stories and photo help. Finish with scones, tea, live music, and Prosecco at Harrods.

“Everything about this tour was exceptional and the cream on the top was the wonderful hotel for the afternoon tea, exceptional Michael”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: National Gallery Guided Tour and Afternoon Tea - Finding the guide at the Sainsbury Wing
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, Guided, London Tours, Museum Tours in London, Museums, National Gallery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: National Gallery Guided Tour and Afternoon Tea

14.National Gallery Guided Tour and Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · from $66

Spend an hour with an English-speaking National Gallery guide, seeing highlights by Vermeer, Titian, and Monet before afternoon tea at Ochre. Expect headsets, seasonal pastries, finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and coffee or tea. The tour is wheelchair accessible.

“So, a couple of things I just didn't know beforehand. Normally, entry to the museum is free so you are paying for the tea and for not having to wait on line to enter the museum. Fair enough. I truly, truly enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide, Martin was knowledgeable, excellent, spoke quickly and clearly and taught us an enormous amount about the art we saw. We then had the opportunity to explore the museum a bit on our own. I didn't entirely understand what "tea" was. While I enjoyed the experience and would certainly do it again, tea is very, very sugary. There are finger sandwiches but the majority…”

Check availability →Read our full review

From London: Lake District Tour with Cream Tea & Cruise - Meeting your guide at Oxenholme
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, Boat Tours in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake District Tours, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From London: Lake District Tour with Cream Tea & Cruise

15.Lake District Tour with Cream Tea & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · 1 day · from $438

Travel by reserved train from London to Oxenholme, then explore the Lake District with a local English-speaking guide. Visit Hawkshead, see Beatrix Potter sites, ride across Windermere, pass Tarn Hows and Langdale, and finish with cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country Hotel.

“The guide Peter was excellent. He really enjoyed his work and so it was very pleasant to be with him.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Afternoon Tea Experiences

★ 3.0Royal Tour with Westminster Abbey & Afternoon TeaFrom $1743 reviews
★ 4.8Gin and Afternoon Tea Bus Tour with Audio GuideFrom $9411 reviews
★ 4.3Royal Tour with Afternoon Tea at the RubensFrom $17412 reviews
★ 5.0Horse Drawn Carriage ride & Cream Tea3 reviews

Keep browsing

Food & Drink53Distillery Tours36Drinking Tours46Wine Tours11Dessert Tours8Markets6
Scroll to Top

Explore Britain

Pick a city, a castle or a long drive north.

Crown and castle

CastlesWindsor CastleTower of LondonBuckingham PalaceChanging of the Guard

On foot

Walking ToursGhost WalksJack the RipperHistory ToursCity Tours

Food and drink

Afternoon TeaDistilleriesPub CrawlsFood ToursWine Tastings

Out of the city

StonehengeThe CotswoldsThe HighlandsLoch NessIsle of Skye