Searching for the best afternoon tea tours in London? The best afternoon tea tours in London pair a proper spread of finger sandwiches, scones, and clotted cream with a royal palace, a guided garden walk, or a full day of landmarks, so tea is the reward at the end of the story. We’ve spent years running tours across London, and these are the five tea experiences we’d point you to first. Here’s what each one covers, who it suits, and what it costs.
How We Chose These Best Afternoon Tea Tours in London
London has no shortage of tea rooms, so these five tours earned their place by pairing tea with something you’d want to see anyway:
- A proper afternoon tea: every pick includes a full tea service with scones, from the Orangery at Kensington Palace to tea and Prosecco at Harrods.
- Royal London as the backdrop: each tour builds the tea around royal history, whether that’s palace gardens, Hampton Court Palace, or Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.
- Entry handled where it counts: three of the five include tickets to Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace, or St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. The other two explore the palace grounds and gardens.
- Guides who bring the stories: every pick comes with a guide who shares tales of the royals along the way, from Henry VIII to Princess Diana.
- Small groups on most picks: four of the five tours cap groups at 10 guests, so tea feels like a gathering rather than a crowd. The full-day landmarks tour takes up to 50.
Quick Look: The Best Afternoon Tea Tours in London Compared
Short on time? Here’s how the five picks compare on length, inclusions, and price.
| Tour | Duration | What You Get | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal London Afternoon Tea Tour | 3 hours | Royal quarter walk, bus ride, and afternoon tea in the Orangery | From around $175 |
| Royal Gardens & Kensington Palace Tea Tour | 3.5 hours | Garden walk, Orangery afternoon tea, and Kensington Palace entry | From around $210 |
| Hampton Court Palace Afternoon Tea Tour | 2 hours | Guided palace tour, afternoon tea, and all-day palace access | From around $215 |
| London Icons & Harrods Tea Tour | 10 hours | St. Paul’s, Tower of London, Thames cruise, and Harrods tea | From around $235 |
| Kensington Gardens High Tea Tour | 2 hours | Kensington Gardens walk, Diana statue, and tea on palace grounds | From around $175 |
The 5 Best Afternoon Tea Tours in London
Each of these tours pairs a proper tea with a slice of royal London. They’re listed in the order we’d book them, so start at the top if you can only fit in one.
1. Royal London Walking Tour with Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace
Best London Afternoon Tea Tour For: first-time visitors who want an easy walk past London’s royal palaces before sitting down to tea.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Group size: up to 10
- Sites: St. James’s Palace, Clarence House, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace
Not ready to book? Read up on where to get the best afternoon tea in London.
Why Book the Royal London Afternoon Tea Tour with Us?
This is the only pick that strings three royal residences into one walk: St. James’s Palace, where King Charles was proclaimed, Buckingham Palace, and Kensington Palace. You also ride a red double-decker bus across town like a local, then finish with tea and scones in Queen Anne’s Orangery.
Highlights:
- Guided walking tour of London’s royal quarter
- Views of Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Clarence House, and Kensington Palace
- Visit to Princess Diana’s statue and memorial
- Afternoon tea at the Orangery with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and pastries
- Tea or a hot drink of your choice with unlimited refills
2. Royal Gardens Walking Tour with Afternoon Tea & Kensington Palace Entry
Best London Afternoon Tea Tour For: royal history fans who want to step inside a palace, not just admire it from the gates.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Group size: up to 10
- Sites: Kensington Gardens, Italian Gardens, Peter Pan statue, Sunken Garden, Kensington Palace State Rooms
Not ready to book? Discover the top things to see at Kensington Palace.
Why Book the Royal Gardens & Kensington Palace Tea Tour with Us?
Three experiences fit into one afternoon here: a guided garden walk, a traditional tea in the Orangery, and a ticket into Kensington Palace. It’s the only pick that takes you inside the State Rooms where Queen Victoria grew up. You explore them at your own pace with an audio guide.
Highlights:
- Guided tour through Kensington Gardens
- Traditional afternoon tea at the Orangery
- Entry ticket to Kensington Palace
- Audio guide for self-guided palace exploration
- Expert English-speaking guide
3. Royal Hampton Court Palace Tour with Afternoon Tea
Best London Afternoon Tea Tour For: Tudor history lovers happy to make their own way out of central London for a full palace day.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Group size: up to 10
- Sites: Hampton Court Palace, Anne Boleyn’s Gatehouse, Fountain Court, sunken gardens, Tudor kitchens
Still shopping? Check out all our Hampton Court Palace tours.
Why Book the Hampton Court Palace Afternoon Tea Tour with Us?
Henry VIII’s palace sets the scene, and it’s the only pick that leaves your whole day free to keep exploring. After your guided tour and a traditional afternoon tea, your all-day ticket covers the palace and its 60 acres of gardens.
Highlights:
- Guided tour with a fun, knowledgeable guide
- Full-day access to Hampton Court Palace
- Traditional afternoon tea
- Royal courtyard and sunken gardens
- Stories of Henry VIII and 16th-century Tudor England
4. London Icons: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, and Harrods Tea Tour
Best London Afternoon Tea Tour For: travelers who want London’s biggest landmarks and a Harrods tea in one organized day.
- Duration: 10 hours
- Group size: up to 50
- Sites: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, River Thames, Harrods
Not ready to book? Find out if a Tower of London tour is worth it.
Why Book the London Icons & Harrods Tea Tour with Us?
Tea is the finale of a full day here, not the main event. You start beneath the dome of St. Paul’s, see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, and cruise the Thames on a private boat. Then you toast the day with Prosecco and scones in The Georgian at Harrods, with coach transport between stops.
Highlights:
- First entry to St. Paul’s Cathedral with a guided visit
- Entry ticket to the Tower of London
- Private Thames River cruise
- Tea and scones at Harrods’ The Georgian, plus a glass of Prosecco
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach
5. Kensington Gardens tour with Royal High Tea
Best London Afternoon Tea Tour For: anyone who wants a relaxed tea in a royal setting without a long day of sightseeing.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Group size: up to 10
- Sites: Kensington Gardens, Italian Gardens, Sunken Garden, Princess Diana statue, Round Pond, Kensington Palace grounds
Still shopping? Check out all our Kensington Palace tours.
Why Book the Kensington Gardens High Tea Tour with Us?
Your guide puts the tea itself front and center, showing you how Queen Victoria would have enjoyed hers. The spread even includes one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite sandwiches. Palace entry isn’t included, so you’ll spend the tour in the gardens and on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
Highlights:
- Guided walk through Kensington Palace grounds and Kensington Gardens
- Visit to the Princess Diana statue
- Traditional royal English tea with sandwiches, cakes, and scones
- Friendly, knowledgeable tour guide
More London Tour Ideas: Royal Landmarks and Ceremonies
Tea is only one slice of royal London. These tours swap the scones for the Tower’s Beefeaters, Westminster Abbey, and the Changing of the Guard.
Not ready to book a tour? Explore the top things to do in London.
Frequently Asked Questions About Afternoon Tea Tours in London
For most travelers, yes. A tour books the tea for you and pairs it with a palace, garden, or landmark you’d want to see anyway, with a guide sharing royal stories along the way. If you’re still deciding, see whether tours in London are worth it.
The Royal London Walking Tour with Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace is the best all-round pick, covering three royal palaces before tea in the Orangery. Choose the Royal Gardens Walking Tour with Afternoon Tea & Kensington Palace Entry if you want to go inside the palace, or the Royal Hampton Court Palace Tour with Afternoon Tea for Tudor history.
Afternoon tea is the elegant mid-afternoon spread of finger sandwiches, scones, and cakes, while high tea began as a heartier evening meal for working families, eaten at the dinner or “high” table. Despite its name, the Kensington Gardens tour with Royal High Tea serves a classic afternoon tea spread. Learn more in our guide to where to get the best afternoon tea in London.
Book as early as you can, especially in summer. Four of these five tours cap groups at 10 guests, so each departure has only a handful of spots, and tickets for sites like the Tower of London can sell out by the morning in peak season. Read up on how to visit the Tower of London for more booking tips.
You can. The café next to the palace is open without a palace ticket and serves cakes, scones, and tea, and you can book a table in the Orangery for a traditional afternoon tea. Our list of the best restaurants near Kensington Palace covers both.
Expect to pay from around $175 to $235 per person for the tours on this list, with tea included every time. The shorter garden walks sit at the lower end, while the full-day London Icons & Harrods Tea Tour, with entry tickets and coach transport, sits at the top. The Quick Look table above shows where each one lands.
Not on these tours, though comfortable shoes matter since every pick involves walking on paths, cobblestones, or palace floors. Some upscale hotel tea rooms are stricter, and the Ritz asks men to wear jackets and bans jeans and sneakers.
Most can, as long as you contact us in advance. The Royal London, Royal Gardens, and Kensington Gardens tours all offer vegan and gluten-free options, and the Royal London tour also caters to vegetarians.
Final Thoughts
The right afternoon tea tour turns a London tradition into a royal day out. If you only book one, make it the Royal London Walking Tour with Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace. With a few more days, pair the Royal Gardens tour for an inside look at Kensington Palace with the Hampton Court Palace tour for Henry VIII’s side of the story. Spots are limited on most departures, so browse all our afternoon tea tours in London and lock in your date.
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