Tea tours · THE UK TEA TOURS

The 15 Best Tea Experiences in Britain

67 tours  ·  from $29 a head

Afternoon tea here comes attached to a bus, a boat, a palace or a two-hundred-year-old shop counter. The 15 below are priced and timed, with a note on dress codes and which ones need a weekend booking.

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

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

1.London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

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

Board a City Cruises boat at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea with sandwiches, warm scones, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, and Thames views. You’ll pass Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, The Shard, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament, with live or recorded commentary along the way.

“Great trip. Upgraded to window seats VIP package seats were amazing great view. Food was better standard than we expected and commentary good. Service fast and professional. Would recommend this and we are now looking at doing the dinner one.”

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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - 1960s Routemaster Bus - Harrods and Knightsbridge through the bus window
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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

2.London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

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

Ride a 1960s Routemaster through Central London while enjoying tea, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and French-inspired pastries. The 85-minute route passes Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, Mayfair, and other major sights, with recorded commentary and music. Staff seat you upstairs or downstairs, and dietary choices include vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and gluten-free.

“The Food Was Fantastic Staff Lovely And The Whole Experience Was Wonderful Seeing The Sites in This Way I Would Recommend it Anytime”

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London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco - What you eat, from sandwiches to scones
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London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

3.London: Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,853 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $64

Ride Golden Tours’ pink-striped English Tea Bus for 90 minutes past the London Eye, Tower of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. You’ll share a table, enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes, tea, and Prosecco or a soft drink, with hosts such as Ayaan, Dee, and Wumi looking after the bus. It is a sightseeing ride with recorded commentary, not a fully guided tour.

“it was very cozy and peaceful. First they serve plate and prosecco . Then , coffee came. They tell us every important corner in the London. Thank you very much🩷”

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Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience - Afternoon tea with Edinburgh moving past the window
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Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience

4.Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience

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

Spend about 90 minutes touring Edinburgh aboard a vintage red Routemaster bus while eating sandwiches, scones, petit fours, cupcakes, and drinking tea or coffee. The route passes the Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, Holyroodhouse, and more. This is a dining experience, not a fully narrated sightseeing tour.

“Enjoyed chatting with some Scots sitting near me. Food was ok, there is no tour as such— just riding around Edinburgh. Music was good, acoustics for microphone was awful so couldn’t understand anything that was said. Staff was pleasant and worked hard. Enjoyed the experience and we laughed a lot but there is room for improvement”

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The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea - The Italian Gardens and Round Pond
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The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea

5.The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 934 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $158

Meet your guide at Queensway Station for a two-hour walk through Kensington Gardens, including the Italian Gardens, Round Pond, royal sites, and Hyde Park history. Finish with traditional afternoon tea at the Orangery beside Kensington Palace. Guides such as Doug and Paul are praised for humor and strong storytelling. Palace entry costs extra unless selected.

“The guide was informative, witty, and made us feel at ease. It was perfect to be informed about the history of the Gardens.”

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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames - Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

6.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

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

Board City Cruises at Tower Millennium Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea ride along the Thames. You’ll pass the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and Westminster while enjoying sandwiches, cakes, scones, and unlimited tea or coffee. Tables are assigned, with panoramic windows throughout the boat.

“The cruise shows a different perspective of London that is beautiful and impactful. The food was excellent and my whole family loved it. We highly recommend.”

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London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour - The food: a pleasant tea spread with some uneven details
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London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour

7.London Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour

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

Spend 90 minutes touring central London on a decorated double-decker bus while enjoying sandwiches, pastries, scones, tea, and a Prosecco or soft drink. You pass Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. This is a sightseeing ride with limited commentary, not a guided history tour.

“Food and beverage was decent. Ride was smooth. Hostess did not provide much history unless asked. Pre recorded tracks were very few and often late for the attraction.”

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Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience - Glasgow sights from Shuttle Street to George Square
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Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience

8.Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience

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

Board a vintage Routemaster at Shuttle Street for 70 to 90 minutes of afternoon tea, Glasgow sightseeing, tea, coffee, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and music. Helen and the bus team keep the mood lively, but this is a dining ride, not a fully narrated city tour. Expect shared tables and no onboard toilet.

“Food was good and plentiful (like pictured) but there was no commentary. The description notes places we would pass by but idk if we did because they are not even pointed out. We expected more of a tour atmosphere and to get to know the city.”

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London: Traditional English Scone Making and Tea Workshop - What happens during the 60-minute class
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London: Traditional English Scone Making and Tea Workshop

9.London: Traditional English Scone Making and Tea Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 702 reviews · from $45Top rated

In a one-hour class at De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar, an English-speaking instructor guides you through traditional scone making, tea customs, and the jam-versus-clotted-cream debate. You bake four scones, eat one warm, take three home, and receive a We Are London certificate. Ron and Danni are among the instructors praised for their humor and friendly teaching.

“My friend and I both thought it was great! We enjoyed the history information as well. Excited to try making scones back home in the US. Definitely a highlight of our visit to London.”

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Edinburgh: Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin - The route from Waterloo Place to Edinburgh’s main sights
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Edinburgh: Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

10.Edinburgh: Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

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

Board a vintage Routemaster at Waterloo Place for 90 minutes of tea, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and Edinburgh sights. Staff such as Helen, Jimmy, Mark, and Steven add friendly service, music, humor, and occasional city facts. Choose standard afternoon tea or a gin cocktail served in a teapot. Seats are allocated, with paid upgrades for upper-deck and front-row views.

“Loved this and staff were friendly and great sense of humour.”

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London: Great British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - Afternoon Tea on a Moving Bus
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London: Great British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

11.London: Great British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

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

Settle into a converted 1960s Routemaster at Embankment for a 1.5-hour sightseeing ride with sandwiches, scones, cakes, and tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Guides such as Lucy, Katie, Cameron, and Sasha add live stories and friendly service as you pass Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Piccadilly Circus.

“Our tour was lovely!! A perfect cozy tour with delicious sandwiches, cakes and desserts. They offered a wide selection of tea, coffee, juices and more and came by several times to make sure our drinks were hot. Our guide Lucy had many funny stories and some history I didn’t know after visiting London three times and living here for a summer course in college. Alex kept us safe while smoothly navigating the streets of London. The route took us to all of the best spots and my pictures of Tower Bridge were better than off the bus. Thank you!! André and Kelli”

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Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford - Tea on the Thames, with The Folly’s food
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Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford

12.Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford

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

Cruise from central Oxford along the Thames with tea, sandwiches, scones, and cakes served aboard. You’ll pass Christ Church Meadows, the university boat houses, and Iffley Lock before reaching quiet water meadows. Guides including Nick, Henry, Dexter, Duncan, and Louis have led recent trips. The small boat carries up to 12 people.

“Had the best afternoon of high tea on the Thames! Every bite from the sandwiches to dessert was amazing. Skipper Nick was so friendly and full of great stories (and his dog totally stole the show). Perfect mix of yummy food, gorgeous views, and good vibes.”

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Buckingham Palace & Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Tour with PG Tips - The sightseeing route: four famous London views
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Buckingham Palace & Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Tour with PG Tips

13.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 sightseeing ride and freshly prepared afternoon tea on a tea bus, then walk from Victoria Station to Buckingham Palace for a 4:15 PM State Rooms visit. Expect an audio-guided palace visit, seasonal food, tea and coffee, and a maximum group size of 52. Children under five are not permitted.

“The self-guided tour was great. We had a wonderful time visiting the palace and enjoyed ourselves in the garden. The instructions and GPS location to exchange the vouchers were confusing. We were standing in front of the locked main gate and had to ask one of the guards. He told us to go around the left side of the palace to find gate A to obtain tickets. It would be helpful if the tour company can include a picture of the ticket office.”

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Afternoon Tea at the British Museum - Arriving at the Great Court Restaurant
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Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

14.Afternoon Tea at the British Museum

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

Spend 90 minutes at the British Museum’s Great Court Restaurant with finger sandwiches, handmade cakes, pastries, and scones with clotted cream and jam. Choose organic loose leaf or flowering tea, such as Rising Flower or Jasmine Fairies. Museum entry is included, and you can add Prosecco. Book ahead and allow time to find the restaurant.

“Excellent. . Wide selection including sandwiches, scones & cakes with a choice of teas & coffees. . We were served as soon as we sat down & it all felt very special with lovely matching China. Bought as a treat for a friends birthday. . Highly recommend.”

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Skipton: 2-Hour Afternoon Tea Cruise - Afternoon tea arrives at your table
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Skipton: 2-Hour Afternoon Tea Cruise

15.Skipton: 2-Hour Afternoon Tea Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 508 reviews · 2 hours · from $44Best value

Board a luxury canal boat near Skipton’s high street for a two-hour afternoon tea cruise. You’ll travel along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, and watch the Yorkshire Dales from a warm, comfortable cabin. A licensed bar also serves soft drinks, local beers, and other drinks at extra cost.

“Very relaxing passing through beautiful countryside and the food was delicious withvery friendly service they couldn't do enough for us . We will definately be going again.”

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New in the UK Tea Tours

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★ 4.0Italian Afternoon Tea Experience in ManchesterFrom $3425 reviews
★ 4.5Afternoon Tea and Visit to Cutty Sark Ship in LondonFrom $6625 reviews
★ 4.0Taylor Swift-Inspired London Afternoon Tea BusFrom $6732 reviews
★ 4.5London: Tower, Cruise, & Harrods Tea Full-Day ExperienceFrom $21833 reviews
★ 4.8London: Afternoon Tea at The Milestone with Champagne OptionFrom $11436 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour: Royal High Tea At Kensington Palace GardensFrom $27239 reviews
★ 4.5Guided Kensington Palace Tour, Royal Guard Change & Afternoon TeaFrom $14939 reviews
★ 5.0A Fun Afternoon of Baking Scones and Afternoon TeaFrom $6138 reviews
★ 4.5Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus TourFrom $6738 reviews
★ 4.6London: Cutty Sark Entrance Ticket & Afternoon TeaFrom $6437 reviews
★ 5.0Tea Time & Doughnuts at Borough Market: A Proper London TreatFrom $4441 reviews
★ 4.8London: Buckingham Palace Walk & Tea at Kensington PalaceFrom $16050 reviews

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