“Here We Go Again” London Afternoon Tea Bus

The best thing about this 90-minute afternoon tea bus is the odd mix of London sightseeing and ABBA singalong. You sit on an iconic double-decker, nibble sandwiches and sweets, and watch Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge pass by the windows. It is sightseeing with a soundtrack, not a serious history tour.

I like the easy social mood, especially if you enjoy singing along with other ABBA fans. I also like the menu choice: standard, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free afternoon tea, plus Prosecco for people aged 21 and over or a non-alcoholic drink for younger passengers. The main drawback is consistency: the ABBA music may not fill the entire ride, and hot weather, dirty windows, or a warm bus can spoil the view.

Key points to know

• ABBA meets central London: Expect music, tea, sweets, and city sights rather than a detailed music or history lecture.
• Three major sights pass by: The route takes in Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge.
• The food is part of the ticket: You receive afternoon tea with sandwiches, desserts, and tea, with several dietary menus available.
• No live guide onboard: An English audio guide points out selected sights.
• Small-group setting: The bus carries a maximum of 26 people, which keeps the outing more personal than a large coach tour.
• Check the music expectation: ABBA may play for only part of the trip, so book this for the full combination of tea, music, and London views.

What this ABBA tea bus actually feels like

Golden Tours Gray Line London runs this outing from the Bulleid Way departure point near Victoria. You meet at Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR, then return to the same point at the end.

The bus ride lasts about an hour and a half. That sounds brief, but it is long enough for a relaxed tea service and a look at several central London sights without using up half your day. You do not get off at the attractions. The point is to see them from the road while eating and listening to music.

This is best understood as a themed sightseeing meal, not a conventional guided tour. A driver handles the route, a tea server handles the food and drinks, and an English recording supplies some commentary. There is no live guide walking you through the city or explaining every building in detail.

The small maximum of 26 people helps. You are still on a bus, but the setting is less anonymous than a large sightseeing coach. It also gives the outing a social side. If you are traveling alone or with one companion, the shared ABBA playlist and table service make it easier to feel part of the occasion.

Starting near Victoria and Bulleid Way

The departure point is Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point, Stop 1, London SW1W 9SR. The meeting point is near public transportation, a useful feature in a city where getting across town can take longer than expected.

Build in a little time to reach the stop. The provided details do not include hotel pickup, so you must make your own way there. The bus also returns to the same meeting point, which simplifies the end of the afternoon. You do not need to arrange a second pickup across town.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book. The experience is offered in English, including the audio commentary.

One practical point matters before you reserve: the title promises an ABBA theme, but the music mix may not be pure ABBA from start to finish. Some rides have included other pop music, with ABBA arriving later or playing for only part of the trip. If you want a full ABBA concert on wheels, this may disappoint. If you want afternoon tea with a playful soundtrack, the format makes more sense.

Westminster Abbey from the bus

One of the first major sights associated with the route is Westminster Abbey, beside Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament. The Gothic church is a traditional place of coronation and one of London’s most important religious and civic buildings.

From the bus, you get a passing view rather than an interior visit. That distinction matters. You will not walk through the coronation church, see its chapels, or spend time with its monuments. The audio guide may point out the building, but the commentary is selective and fairly light.

I like this part of the route because it gives you a useful first look at the center of London. Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Big Ben are packed into a small area, and seeing them from a moving bus helps you connect the city’s main landmarks. Still, you should choose a separate visit if Westminster Abbey is a top priority.

The bus setting also affects your view. Window condition and seating position can make a real difference. On one ride, dirty windows made it hard to see outside. That is an avoidable problem on a sightseeing experience, so try to keep your expectations flexible rather than treating every passing view as a perfect photograph.

The London Eye and the riverfront view

The London Eye is another major sight along the route. Its glass capsules rise 135 meters over the city, giving visitors who ride it a high view across London.

This tea bus does not include a ride on the London Eye. You see the wheel from street level as you pass through the area. That makes the bus a useful way to spot the attraction and decide if you want to return for a separate ticket, but it does not replace the full London Eye experience.

The contrast is part of the fun. You are seated with a teacup instead of standing in a capsule, and you get a quick city view instead of a slow rotation above the Thames. If you have already ridden the Eye, the bus gives you another angle. If you have not, do not assume it is included.

The audio commentary can identify notable places, but this is not a stop-and-explain tour. You get short observations as the bus moves along. I would treat the narration as helpful background, not the reason to book.

Tower Bridge without leaving your table

Tower Bridge provides the route’s most dramatic piece of engineering. The bridge took eight years to build, and more than 11,000 tonnes of steel went into its towers and walkways. Inside, exhibitions and interactive displays explain how it works, but those interior features are not part of this bus experience.

You see the bridge from the road, likely while tea service continues around you. That is a convenient way to place one of London’s famous sights within a wider afternoon, especially if your schedule is tight.

The tradeoff is time. You will not stroll across the walkways, visit the exhibitions, or study the bridge’s machinery. You also cannot count on a long photo stop. This is a moving view, and traffic or your seat may affect the angle.

For me, that is the right way to judge the itinerary: it gives you an overview of several sights, not a full visit to any one of them. You save walking time, but you give up close contact.

Afternoon tea, sweets, and drink choices

The food makes this more than a sightseeing bus with background music. You receive afternoon tea with sandwiches, sweet desserts, and hot tea. The menu can be standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, which gives you useful flexibility when booking.

The strongest food praise has gone to the desserts. The sandwiches have been described as acceptable but sometimes soggy, so I would put this closer to a fun tea service than a destination meal. The tea is served hot, and the souvenir-style plastic mug adds a cheerful touch, though it is not fine china.

You can also receive a glass of Prosecco if you are over 21. Anyone below 21 receives a non-alcoholic drink instead. The supplied age rule is specific, so do not assume that a younger passenger can order the alcoholic option.

Drink temperature may vary. Prosecco has not always arrived well chilled, and a hot bus can make the whole service feel less refreshing. On a warm day, the hot tea may be harder to enjoy, especially for children or anyone sensitive to heat.

Golden Tours warns that food may have been in contact with nuts or other allergens. A vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu helps with menu selection, but it does not remove the risk of cross-contact. If you have a serious allergy, this is an important reason to ask questions before booking.

Music, narration, and the ABBA promise

The music is the heart of the theme, but it is also the part you should judge most carefully. Some rides have included ABBA for only part of the journey, with other pop songs, including Adele, playing early in the trip. That can feel like a mismatch if the title is the main reason you chose the experience.

When the ABBA songs do arrive, the bus can become a cheerful group activity. Singing along is encouraged by the format, and the shared setting makes the outing feel less formal than a standard afternoon tea. This is a good match for a birthday, graduation, family outing, or a casual celebration with friends.

Do not expect a live performance, dance show, or detailed story about the band. The provided service includes an English audio guide, not a live ABBA host. The music provides atmosphere, while the city provides the scenery.

That distinction also explains the mixed value. You are paying for food, transport, a theme, and a look at central London. You are not paying for a museum-quality commentary or a guaranteed two-hour ABBA playlist.

The bus itself matters

The double-decker design is one of the main attractions. It gives the experience a clear London identity, and the upper level can offer a better angle on passing buildings.

At the same time, a classic bus is not always as comfortable or climate-controlled as a modern coach. Heat has been a serious problem on at least one ride, with a passenger feeling unwell and unable to drink the hot tea. I would think carefully about the weather and your own comfort before booking, especially for a warm afternoon.

Window cleanliness also matters more here than on a normal transfer. You are buying the view. If the glass is dirty, the central London sights lose much of their appeal. You can ask whether seating is assigned, but the supplied information does not specify a seat-selection policy, so do not count on choosing the perfect window.

The service team has a demanding job. One driver and one tea server may be handling the entire bus, including food, drinks, announcements, and special occasions. Service can therefore feel hardworking rather than polished. The small group size helps, but this is still a moving kitchen with limited space.

Is $68.06 a fair price?

At about $68.06 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Westminster, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge. You can view those sights from public streets for little or no admission cost, and you can buy tea elsewhere.

The price begins to make sense if you value the combination. You receive a 90-minute ride, afternoon tea, a drink, a themed music program, an audio guide, and transport between several central sights. You also avoid planning a route and finding a café during the same period.

The value drops if you mainly want detailed sightseeing. There is no live guide, no interior access to Westminster Abbey or Tower Bridge, and no London Eye ride. It also drops if you expect ABBA music throughout or a high-end afternoon tea.

I would compare it with the cost of a separate afternoon tea and a standard sightseeing ride. The bus is attractive when you want one light, social activity that does several things at once. It is less attractive if you prefer to spend the same money on one excellent meal or a proper attraction visit.

Who should book it?

I would recommend this for ABBA fans who also want a quick London overview. It suits couples, families, and friends who enjoy a relaxed group activity more than a formal lesson. It can also work well for a celebration, provided you are comfortable with a simple announcement rather than a personalized event.

It is a sensible choice for a first London afternoon when you want to see several famous places without walking between them. The return to Bulleid Way also makes the plan easy to fit around other central London activities.

I would hesitate if you have mobility, heat, or food-allergy concerns that require close control of the setting. I would also skip it if Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge is a must-see interior visit. This bus only gives you outside views of those sights.

The overall rating of 4.5 from 110 reviews reflects the experience’s appeal, but the reasons for disappointment are clear too. Music coverage, bus temperature, window condition, and food quality can change the mood quickly. Go for the cheerful combination, not for perfection.

Should you book the Here We Go Again tea bus?

Book it if you want a fun London sampler with tea and ABBA, and you understand that the sightseeing is viewed from the bus and the music may be mixed. The desserts, hot tea, menu choices, and singalong mood are the best reasons to go.

Skip it if you want a full ABBA program, a live guide, polished afternoon tea, or entry into London’s major sights. For the right person, this is a memorable and easygoing afternoon. For the wrong person, it is an expensive ride past places you may have wanted to visit properly.

The flexible cancellation policy helps: you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. That gives you some protection if your plans change, but changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

Where does the London ABBA afternoon tea bus start?

It starts at Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point, Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR, United Kingdom.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity finishes back at the same meeting point on Bulleid Way.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Is there a live guide on the bus?

No. The experience includes an English audio guide, but not a live guide.

Which London sights are included on the route?

The route features views of Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge. You do not receive entry to those attractions as part of the tea bus experience.

What food choices are available?

You can choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free afternoon tea menu.

Is Prosecco included?

A glass of Prosecco is included for people aged 21 and over. People below 21 receive a non-alcoholic drink.

How many people can join the bus?

The maximum group size is 26 people.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must reach the Bulleid Way meeting point yourself.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.