Snowman-Themed Tea Bus, 1 Hour

London: The Snowman Afternoon Tea Bus Christmas Tour. Rated 4.6 across 14 reviews. Runs 1 hour. From $47.

Overview

The whole thing lasts an hour: a bus ride through central London with a festive afternoon tea, run by Golden Tours as an official partner of The Snowman. Finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, festive cupcakes and Snowball truffles make up the food, with hot chocolate, tea or coffee to drink. Music from The Snowman and classic carols plays for the whole trip, and every guest keeps a souvenir cup at the end.

Departures leave from either the London Eye or Aldwych, depending on the option booked, and the route passes Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Evening departures add the Christmas displays, from the stars on Oxford Street to the angels on Regent Street.

It suits anyone after a short, cosy Christmas treat rather than a full sightseeing day, though under fives cannot travel and tables may be shared. The timing is built around The Snowman theatre show in the West End, with departures before and after performances and the Aldwych stop right by the theatre. Show tickets are not part of the package, and there are no toilets on board.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at your departure pointThe bus leaves from either the London Eye or Aldwych, depending on the option selected. The booking page shows which address applies to each choice.
2. Board the Snowman busTake a seat, settle in and choose from hot chocolate, tea or coffee. Music from The Snowman and classic carols plays throughout the ride.
3. Afternoon tea on boardThe menu brings finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, festive cupcakes and Snowball truffles. Guests who bought drinks in advance, such as Prosecco, mulled wine or a Snowball cocktail, have those served as well.
4. Landmarks along the wayThe bus passes Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and other central London sights while the tea continues.
5. Christmas lights on evening departuresEvening departures also take in the Oxford Street stars and the Regent Street angels. This part of the ride depends on the departure time booked.
6. Tour endsThe ride finishes and each guest takes home a souvenir cup.

What To Expect From The Tour

The ride itself is straightforward, but a handful of booking and boarding details shape how it goes. These are the ones that matter.

• Departure points. Two meeting points are used, the London Eye and Aldwych, and which one applies depends on the option selected. Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure time, as the listing asks.
• On board. There are no toilets on board, so plan around that before boarding. Tables may also be shared with other guests, which affects how private the experience feels.
• Food and drink. The tea covers sandwiches, scones, cupcakes and truffles, with a choice of hot chocolate, tea or coffee included.
• Dietary needs. Standard, vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten free menus all exist, but requests must be emailed to the operator at least 24 hours before the visit. Nothing can be arranged on the day, and the operator cannot guarantee that dishes have avoided contact with nuts.
• Evening lights. The Christmas displays only feature on evening departures, which pass the Oxford Street stars and the Regent Street angels. Other departures cover the landmarks without the lights, so pick the evening option if the displays are the main draw.
• With children. Under fives cannot travel, and anyone aged 15 or under must be accompanied by a paying adult. An hour at a table with carols playing suits children old enough to enjoy that pace.

Common issues. The tour divides opinion. One reviewer found the route short, the food light for the price and the windows too dirty for photos, and was disappointed that no Snowman mascot appears. One reviewer also reported a departure that ran half an hour late and a paperwork error over the departure point that cost them the seats they had booked. On the operator side, the listing warns that the route can change with road closures and traffic, that dishes may change, and that nut contact cannot be ruled out. One reviewer further suggested an earlier start time, since central London gets very crowded around the 5 p.m. departure.

What To Decide Before You Go