1960s Routemaster Tea Bus

London #1 Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - 1960s Routemaster Bus. Rated 4.4 across 2,121 reviews. Runs 1 hour 25 minutes. From $94.

Overview

A vintage 1960s Routemaster double-decker rolls out of Victoria Coach Station with tables set for afternoon tea, and for the next hour and 25 minutes passengers eat sandwiches, cakes and pastries while central London slides past the windows. Brigit's Bakery Bus runs the experience, with tea or coffee served alongside food made fresh by a local bakery. Prerecorded commentary, mixed with music, fills in the history and architecture along the route.

The bus passes Big Ben, Harrods, Marble Arch and Trafalgar Square without stopping, covering a number of London landmarks without getting footsore. Reviewers often praise the staff and describe the food as plentiful. Families with children are welcome, though under-5s are not permitted, and reviewers who brought children said they enjoyed it.

Dietary selections, including vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options, must be pre-booked in the Special Requirements section. Nut allergies cannot be catered for. Tables sit on both levels, and top deck seats are not guaranteed.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Board at Victoria Coach StationThe classic afternoon tea buses depart from Victoria Coach Station on Buckingham Palace Road, at the junction with Elizabeth Bridge, a short walk from Victoria Station. Gate information is posted inside the coach station.
2. Take your tablePick a table on the upper or lower level, though top deck seats are not guaranteed.
3. Afternoon tea on boardEnjoy a traditional tea with sandwiches and pastries made fresh by a local bakery, with tea or coffee served during the ride.
4. Pass Big BenThe route passes Big Ben without stopping, with prerecorded commentary and music covering the sights along the way.
5. Pass Harrods and Marble ArchThe bus continues past Harrods and Marble Arch, both pass-by sights on the loop through central London.
6. Pass Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is the last of the named landmarks passed on the route.
7. Return to VictoriaThe tour ends back at the same boarding point at Victoria Coach Station. The total duration is 1 hour 25 minutes.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this tour goes, from seating assignments to what the bus does and does not have.

• Top deck not guaranteed. Top deck seats are not guaranteed, so anyone set on the upstairs view should temper expectations before booking. Tables are set on both the upper and lower levels of the bus.
• Book dietary needs. Menu selections must be entered in the Special Requirements section at the time of booking. Traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options are available, but nut allergies cannot be catered for, and combined dairy and gluten-free or vegan and gluten-free requests are not accommodated.
• It can get warm. The bus has no air conditioning, and multiple reviewers mentioned the heat. Dress in light layers, especially in warmer months.
• Commentary and noise. Commentary is prerecorded and interspersed with music. Several travellers found parts of the audio hard to hear over passenger conversation, so expect a chatty, social atmosphere rather than a quiet guided commentary.
• No stops or toilets. The bus does not stop during the tour and there are no toilets on board, so plan accordingly before boarding. The tour runs for 1 hour 25 minutes in total.
• Children and food. Children under 5 are not permitted for safety reasons, and reviewers who brought older children said they enjoyed the experience. Reviewers often describe the food as plentiful, so come with an appetite.

Common issues. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and there are no toilets or stops during the tour. One reviewer reported not being offered a choice between upper and lower deck tables, and top deck seats are not guaranteed. Heat is a recurring complaint, since the bus lacks air conditioning. Some travellers also struggled to hear the commentary over passenger chatter. Nut allergies and certain combined dietary requirements cannot be accommodated.

What To Decide Before You Go