10 Tips to book Afternoon Tea in London

Afternoon tea in London is a quintessential tradition that combines delicious pastries with a relaxed atmosphere and memorable experience. But here at Brigit's Bakery, we've taken things to the next level! With our incredibly popular Afternoon Tea bus tours, we add something beautifully unique to the mix - the iconic sights of the vibrant city of London. Whether you're a local or a visitor, having afternoon tea to celebrate a special occasion or create happy memories of your trip is a must! So, to help you navigate the many options available, we've compiled a list of our top 10 tips to make sure you have the perfect booking for your afternoon tea in London.

1. Always book in advance

How far in advance should I book afternoon tea in London?

If you're planning on joining us onboard of one of our Afternoon Tea bus tours, booking is essential. Our seasonal, limited-time-only themed tours get booked up in no time, so we recommend you take a look at our website (see what's on, month by month) and book your tour at least two weeks in advance.

We also offer afternoon tea at Brigit's Bakery on Chandos Place - our customers see it as a quiet, relaxing sanctuary in the hustle and bustle of busy Covent Garden. We have private rooms and seating downstairs, but we advise you book a table a minimum of 24hrs in advance to avoid disappointment, as we can get very busy during weekends, holidays, or peak times.

2. Know your locations

If you're looking for a unique afternoon tea experience in London, nothing beats having a 'moving backdrop of London' like in our Afternoon Tea bus tours. However, our tours depart from different locations, so it's important you know where you want to be (and by when) to avoid missing the whole experience!

For example:

• Our Classic Afternoon Tea bus tour and the Gin Afternoon Tea London bus tour depart from Victoria Coach station, although our Bombay Sapphire gin tour also departs from Trafalgar Square, so do check your booking in advance!
• The PAW Patrol Afternoon Tea bus tour departs from Northumberland Avenue.
• The Paddington Afternoon Tea bus tour departs from Trafalgar Square.
• And the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea bus tour and the MONOPOLY Afternoon Tea bus tour depart from Temple Embankment.

We also have a range of pop-up tours departing from these same locations.

At times, we may need to make last-minute changes due to traffic restrictions or unplanned events, and if that's the case, we'll communicate these to you via the email address you used for your booking. So make sure to keep an eye out for any emails from us before you head to your departure point on the day.

3. Explore options for group booking or private bookings

Can I book a private or group afternoon tea experience?

Absolutely! If you're celebrating a special occasion or planning a get-together with friends, we also offer private bookings to accommodate your whole party and make your gathering even more memorable. Most of our iconic Routemaster double-decker buses can be hired for private events.

Our Classic buses, for example, can accommodate up to 12 guests on the lower deck and 20 guests on the upper deck (or 32 guests max if you want the whole bus to yourself), while our long-wheeled buses are perfect for larger parties of up to 44 people (16 on the lower deck and 28 on the upper deck). Prices vary depending on your requirements, so make sure to get in touch to see how we can help!

4. Check for dietary requirements

We totally understand that different people in your family or group of friends might have different dietary preferences or requirements, which is why we ask to select your menu option at the time of booking.

Are there vegan or gluten-free options available on the bus tour?

Of course! Our afternoon tea menus include Traditional, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, and Halal.

5. Consider the time of day

When booking afternoon tea, timing can make a difference to the experience. And we recommend you come to our tours feeling hungry! You can always take any leftovers with you at the end of the tour, but our food is freshly-prepared by our experienced pastry chefs, and we love it when our guests get to fully enjoy it onboard our buses.

Our Classic Afternoon tea bus tours have 5 daily departure times ranging from midday to 5 pm, giving you plenty of options to choose from. Our Bombay Afternoon tea bus tours (for adults only) on the other hand, only run on Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm, so if you have a preference on the time of day, it may impact which tour you book.

6. Look for special themes

Here at Brigit's Bakery, we love a celebration! We're known for running special-event and themed bus tours to mark particular occasions, milestones, or important dates in the calendar. For example, every year we run Halloween tours and events (we even did a collaboration with toy store Hamleys!), and during the holiday season, most of our tours take a special route to allow our guests to enjoy the Christmas lights.

If you want to know what's month on monty, take a look at our website.

7. Consider the views

Our Afternoon Tea bus tours offer an unparalleled view of London's landmarks, making it not just an indulgent food experience (with a French twist) but an adventure through the city’s rich history. Most of our tours drive past famous museums, royal attractions, bridges, and parks.

As an example, our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea bus tour will take you past Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and more.

8. Consider the atmosphere

All our afternoon tea bus tours are a lot of fun! Our staff will treat you like royalty and our onboard entertainers will make sure you and friends and family have a great time.

For example, here's what one of our customers had to say about our Paddington Afternoon Tea bus tour:

"The team on board were fantastic and attentive, [...] offering to take pictures and topping up our drinks etc. We greatly enjoyed our food and the joyful atmosphere. Just charming! And they made all those celebrating birthdays on the bus (including my mum!) feel very special."

9. Make a day of it

If you're going to be out and about in and booking your afternoon tea in London, why not make a day of it? There's plenty you can do - from visiting one of the many London attractions before or after an afternoon tea bus tour or checking out seasonal activities and events. We often publish handy guides with suggestions on what to do at specific times of year, such as this article about half-term activities, so it's always worth checking the Blog section of our website for interesting ideas.

A popular choice for anyone choosing to have afternoon tea at Brigit's Bakery is to hit the shops or watch a show at one of the many theatres in the area. Once again, make sure you plan in advance to avoid disappointment!

10. Choose the complete afternoon tea experience

What makes Brigit’s Bakery’s afternoon tea bus tour unique?

The uniqueness of Brigit's Bakery's afternoon tea bus tour lies not just in our amazing treats but in the experience itself. We are proud of offering one of the best afternoon tea experiences in London - certainly the best afternoon tea with a view! Where else are you treated to London's most famous sites as you sip on your tea and enjoy a carefully curated selection of finger sandwiches and pastries?

With Brigit's Bakery, it's never just about the afternoon tea - it's about spending quality time with your loved ones and making memories you won't forget, whether this is your first time in London or you live here. If you're looking for a great British tea bus experience, we are definitely it!

And if you're in the area around Christmas Day and the festive season, you can also combine your tea experience with Christmas shopping or come to unwind at Brigit's Bakery after visiting the festive Christmas markets. Whether you're going to be at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park or basking in the vibrant atmosphere of South Bank, booking afternoon tea with us will make the day even more memorable.

So, which London afternoon tea experience will you book?