London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

London sightseeing usually means walking until your feet complain. This tour gives you a seat, a pot of tea, and a moving view of central London aboard a 1960s Routemaster bus. You pass Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, and Mayfair while eating sandwiches, scones, cakes, and French-inspired pastries.

I like the friendly service, with hosts such as Alex, Taiwo, Azucere, Nella, and Cristian receiving special praise for being attentive and cheerful. I also like the practical format: several departure times, a return to Victoria Coach Station, and enough food that you may take extra cakes home.

The main catch is London traffic. The bus can move slowly, the recorded commentary may be hard to hear over conversation, and warm weather can make the bus uncomfortably hot. You also cannot choose your deck, there are no planned stops, and no toilet onboard.

Key things to know before booking

• A vintage Routemaster carries your afternoon tea through central London, combining a classic bus ride with sightseeing.
• The meal is more substantial than a quick snack, with sandwiches, tea, cakes, pastries, and scones. Boxes are available for leftovers.
• The route passes Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, Mayfair, and other central sights, but traffic can limit how much ground you cover.
• Your seat is assigned, and no top-deck place is guaranteed.
• The bus has no toilet and does not stop, so use facilities before boarding.
• Children under five are not permitted, and dietary choices include traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals. Nut allergies cannot be accommodated.

A Routemaster ride with tea instead of a standing commute

The appeal here is simple: you get two familiar London pleasures in one sitting. The old double-decker bus supplies the atmosphere, while afternoon tea gives the ride a proper purpose. Instead of rushing between landmarks with a map in hand, you watch London pass your window with a cup of hot tea nearby.

This is not a private sightseeing vehicle or a quiet luxury coach. It is a working-style vintage bus adapted for dining, with tables on the upper and lower levels. Staff remain attentive because passengers stay seated while food and drinks are served. That safety rule may limit movement, but it also keeps plates and hot drinks under control as the bus rolls through city traffic.

The route lasts about one hour and 25 minutes and begins and ends at Victoria Coach Station, at 164 Buckingham Palace Road. That makes it easy to fit into a day based around Westminster, Buckingham Palace, or Victoria, though you should allow extra time to reach the departure point.

The tour is offered in English, with recorded commentary mixed with music. You get an overview of London’s sights and architecture without a live guide walking beside you. For some people, that is perfectly adequate. If you want a detailed, question-and-answer tour, this format may feel light.

What arrives on your afternoon tea stand

The meal includes tea or coffee, sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and other afternoon tea items prepared by a local bakery. The baked selection has a French influence, giving the menu a slightly different feel from a strictly traditional hotel tea.

The savory food may look modest when it first arrives, but the portions are filling. Several people have found they could not finish the cakes and were given boxes for the extras. That is useful if you have a later dinner planned or simply want a sweet souvenir for the evening.

The scones receive particularly warm attention, and tea choices are a strong part of the meal. One drink that gets special mention is ginger tea with lemongrass. Hot chocolate has also been a hit with younger passengers. Tea is described as unlimited, which improves the value if you enjoy several cups during the ride.

You can request a traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu in the special requirements section when booking. Nut allergies cannot be catered for, so this is not a suitable choice if avoiding nuts is essential.

Service is one of the safest reasons to book. Staff have helped with late arrivals, changed a child’s drink without fuss, provided ice water in warm conditions, and packed leftovers. Hosts including Bridget, Alex, Taiwo, Azucere, Dolcas, Nella, and Cristian have been singled out for friendly and caring service.

The dining setting is casual rather than formal. You are eating while the bus turns, brakes, and crawls through traffic. Keep your cup and plate secure, and do not expect the polished stillness of afternoon tea in a grand hotel.

The sights from Victoria to central London

The bus departs from Victoria Coach Station and heads through central London. The route is designed to show you a selection of famous areas rather than give you time inside any attraction.

Harrods and Knightsbridge

Passing Harrods gives you a look at one of London’s best-known department stores and the polished streets of Knightsbridge. This is a good introduction to the city’s upscale west side, especially if you have not yet visited the area on foot.

Do not expect to stop for shopping or photographs. The bus continues along the route, and the sights are viewed through the windows. If Harrods is high on your list, make a separate visit another day.

Hyde Park

The route also takes in Hyde Park, one of central London’s major open spaces. From the bus, you get a broad sense of the park and its place beside the city’s grand districts.

The view is more useful for orientation than detailed sightseeing. Trees, traffic, buildings, and other buses may compete for your attention, and the exact view depends on the side of the bus and current road conditions.

Mayfair

Mayfair adds elegant streets and expensive-looking architecture to the ride. It helps show how close London’s grand residential and commercial areas are to its major parks and shopping districts.

The recorded commentary supplies background as you go, with music between sections. Some passengers have found the audio difficult to hear, especially when fellow diners are talking. Sit near the speakers if you can, keep conversation low during the commentary, and treat the narration as a helpful extra rather than the main reason to book.

London landmarks along the way

The route covers several central London sights, though the supplied details do not promise a fixed list of every landmark. Traffic has a real effect here. London roads can turn a short route into a slow ride, and the bus may cover less ground than you expect.

That can be frustrating if you are trying to tick off as many sights as possible. It can also be relaxing if you view the ride as a meal with a changing backdrop. I would use this tour to get an overview and spot places for later visits, not to replace a full walking tour.

Upper deck or lower deck?

The vintage double-decker design is part of the fun, but you cannot guarantee a top-deck seat. Staff assign tables on either level. If riding upstairs is the key reason you want to book, this uncertainty matters.

The upper deck can provide a better view, while the lower deck may feel more convenient for some passengers. The supplied information does not promise that staff can honor seat requests, so make your decision with an open mind.

Every passenger stays seated during the ride. This lets staff serve safely, but it means you cannot wander upstairs, stand for photographs, or move freely between tables. It also makes the tour less suitable for anyone who needs frequent movement.

The bus has no toilet and does not make a scheduled stop. Use a restroom before you arrive at Victoria Coach Station, particularly if you plan to drink several cups of tea. The ride is short enough for most people, but the combination of unlimited tea, no toilet, and London traffic is worth planning around.

Heat, noise, and the practical side of the ride

Weather matters. The bus has been described as too hot even on warm days, and it does not have air conditioning. Staff have supplied ice water, but that does not solve the problem for everyone. Check the forecast before booking, especially in the warmer months.

The interior can also feel crowded. You are seated at dining tables, food is being served, and the old bus design leaves less open space than a modern coach. That is part of the character, but it is not the right setting if you need a cool, quiet, roomy vehicle.

The recorded commentary can be difficult to follow when passengers are chatting. Music adds atmosphere, though it can make the narration harder to catch. I would not choose this tour if every historical detail matters to you.

One unusual practical point is the serving equipment. A sudden stop once caused plates, jam, and cream to spill onto a passenger’s clothing. That is not a routine feature of the tour, but it is a reminder that you are eating on a moving bus. Wear something comfortable and avoid bringing an outfit you cannot risk staining if you have evening plans.

Is $87.01 a fair price?

At $87.01 per person, this costs more than buying a takeaway tea and riding a regular London bus. You are paying for the vintage vehicle, the arranged table service, the bakery meal, the route, and the novelty of combining sightseeing with afternoon tea.

The value improves if you want both a city overview and a memorable meal. Tea is unlimited, the food can be plentiful, and leftovers can be boxed. The reusable cup with a lid is another small keepsake that some passengers have appreciated.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a detailed guided tour or a guaranteed upper-deck view. London traffic may reduce the amount of sightseeing, while hot weather and weak audio can affect comfort. A hotel afternoon tea gives you a calmer dining setting, and a walking tour gives you more detailed commentary and photo stops.

For a birthday, family outing, or first afternoon in London, the unusual format may justify the price. Several families have found that children enjoyed the bus, the treats, the music, and drinks such as hot chocolate. Children under five are not allowed, so check ages before making plans.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a gentle first look at central London without spending the afternoon on foot. It suits couples, families with older children, birthday groups, and anyone who enjoys classic vehicles, cakes, and a little theater in the way a meal is served.

It is also a useful orientation ride. If you are new to London, seeing Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, and Mayfair from the bus can help you decide which areas deserve a return visit.

I would hesitate if you dislike heat, motion, crowded seating, or fixed schedules. It is also a poor match for anyone who needs a toilet stop, requires a specific seat, or wants a fully interactive guide.

Book an early visit during your London stay if you can. That way, the route can help you get your bearings, and you can return later to the places that catch your eye. Booking it on your final day may feel less useful if you have already seen the central sights.

Should you book the Brigit’s Bakery Bus?

Book it if you want afternoon tea with a story attached. The food is generally generous, the tea selection is enjoyable, and the staff have a strong record of warm service. The vintage Routemaster gives the meal a distinctly London setting that a standard café cannot match.

Skip it if your priority is a cool bus, a guaranteed top-deck seat, or detailed live guiding. Traffic, limited commentary, no toilet, and uncertain seating are genuine limitations.

My practical verdict: this works best as a fun London occasion, not as your main sightseeing tour. Choose a cooler day, use the restroom first, arrive ready for assigned seating, and think of the route as a moving afternoon tea with landmarks outside the window.

FAQ

Where does the afternoon tea bus tour start?

It starts at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TP.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point, Victoria Coach Station.

How long does the tour last?

The ride lasts approximately one hour and 25 minutes.

What food and drinks are included?

You receive tea or coffee with sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and afternoon tea items. The food is prepared by a local bakery, with French-inspired baked treats included.

Can I request a special diet?

Yes. Available choices are traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Nut allergies cannot be accommodated.

Is a top-deck seat guaranteed?

No. Staff assign tables on the upper or lower level, and top-deck seating is not guaranteed.

Does the bus stop during the tour?

No. The bus does not make a scheduled stop during the ride.

Is there a toilet onboard?

No. There are no toilets on the bus, so use facilities before boarding.

Are young children allowed?

Children under five years old are not permitted for safety reasons.