Looking for a Great British Tea Bus Experience? Why Choose Brigit's Bakery

If you're looking for an authentic British afternoon tea bus experience, Brigit's Bakery is just the place! As pioneers of the Afternoon Tea Bus Tour on the iconic Routemaster, we've redefined how Londoners and visitors can enjoy this longstanding tradition. Our blend of delicious treats, sightseeing, and exclusive fun means our guests can indulge in our luxurious afternoon tea while cruising past famous landmarks - and having a great time in the process! We combine tradition with innovation, continually evolving while maintaining excellence. So join us if you want to experience a great British tea bus experience like no other!

Why Choose Brigit's Bakery?

Brigit's Bakery pioneered the concept of enjoying afternoon tea on a Routemaster bus while touring the streets of London back in 2014. As the original provider of afternoon tea on a London bus, we maintain a balance of authenticity and modern flair through our carefully curated menu. The result? A confident and timeless experience.

Each tour provides a warm, inviting atmosphere where guests are greeted with genuine hospitality. All our menus (carefully curated by our pastry chefs) feature British and French influences - we call it L'Afternoon Tea for a reason! From the moment guests step onto our bus, they enjoy attentive service and a commitment to ensuring all dietary and accessibility needs are catered for. Because we want everyone to feel included!

Plus, by regularly creating themed tours and special collaborations with other brands, we keep the experience fresh and engaging. Our focus is on quality and unforgettable moments, and our goal is to deliver an afternoon tea experience that is truly one of a kind.

Our Story

Brigit's Bakery was founded in 2010 by Brigit Bloch, a French entrepreneur passionate about baking. She was the first to blend French culinary elegance with the British tradition of afternoon tea. Brigit and her son Cedric picked London as the ideal cosmopolitan city to launch their unique patisserie concept. Their first establishment, a French Salon de Thé, opened next to the London Eye in County Hall. The bakery quickly gained popularity among locals and tourists for its exquisite French pastries and the innovative concept of L'Afternoon Tea, a fusion of English afternoon tea with a delicate French twist.

In Spring 2024, Brigit's Bakery proudly celebrated 10 years since the launch of our now-iconic Afternoon Tea Bus Tours—the perfect mix of French flair, British tradition, and London sightseeing in style. What began in 2014 with one vintage Routemaster bus has evolved into an experience now enjoyed by thousands of locals and tourists alike.

At the time, the concept was simple yet innovative: serve exquisite afternoon tea on a moving vintage bus while touring London’s most famous landmarks. Within a year, demand soared, prompting the addition of more buses and routes. Over time, we also added new services, such as our Afternoon Tea picnic and our Afternoon Tea Delivery.

By our 10th anniversary in 2024, with a fleet of themed Routemasters, we had hosted more than 10,000 tours, including birthdays, proposals, anniversaries, hen dos, and royal celebrations, just to name a few. Today, we also continue to delight customers from all over the world with our bakery in Covent Garden, offering a range of French pastries, breakfasts, and lunches, alongside our renowned afternoon tea experiences.

The Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus tour is the original concept that launched our iconic brand experience, and it remains our most popular tour to date. Since its debut, this quintessentially British outing has become a must-do for locals and visitors alike, offering a perfect mix of sightseeing and indulgence.

Aboard a vintage 1960s Routemaster double-decker bus, our guests get to enjoy a delicious French-inspired afternoon tea while gliding past some of London’s most famous landmarks, including bridges, parks, and royal attractions. Our routes typically drive past Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The London Eye, Hyde Park, and Harrods – views that change with the seasons, adding to its repeat appeal.

What’s on the menu?

The menu is a refined mix of savoury and sweet treats, including:

• A selection of gourmet finger sandwiches.
• Freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam.
• Delicate pastries, mini cupcakes, and French cakes.
• Unlimited teas, coffees, and a variety of juices.
• An optional champagne upgrade for a bubbly experience (to be pre-ordered when you buy your tickets).
• Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, and Halal options to accommodate diverse dietary needs.

Why is our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour so loved?

What makes the Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour a perennial favorite is its timeless charm. You can think of it as a moving tea room that offers a relaxing yet immersive way to see London! Whether it's a first visit to the city or a special treat for locals, this tour captures the spirit of Brigit’s Bakery and the heart of British culture. Plus, just like all our London bus tours, it makes for a fantastic photo opportunity!

Collaborations with other brands

Over the years, we've partnered with renowned brands to create memorable, themed offerings that celebrate various milestones, cultures, and characters. This means you're spoiled for choice when it comes to booking an afternoon tea bus tour with us, and each one is a unique, unforgettable adventure for all our guests.

So let's take a look at some of our most popular collaborations...

The Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

In partnership with Hasbro and Entertainment One, we now run two (or more) daily Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tours. This is a family-friendly experience featuring a themed afternoon tea menu, interactive tablets with guided animations, sing-along songs, and activity books for children. Special editions, such as Halloween and Christmas tours, offer seasonal treats and decorations. If you have a Peppa Pig fan in the house, this tour makes for a fantastic day out.

The Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

The Paddigton Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is a family-friendly experience that invites guests aboard a classic 1960s Routemaster bus for a 90-minute sightseeing tour of London’s iconic landmarks. Each table features a built-in screen with animated commentary by Paddington, sharing stories about the sights.

The menu includes finger sandwiches, pastries, and Paddington's absolute favourite - marmalade sandwiches! The tour operates from Wednesday to Sunday, with departures at set times from Northumberland Avenue near Trafalgar Square.

NEW PAW Patrol Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

We're excited to announce we're set to launch a new, exciting collaboration with Paramount Consumer Products: the PAW Patrol Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. Debuting on July 1, 2025, this immersive experience invites families to join the PAW Patrol team on a mission through iconic London landmarks. The tour features interactive mission screens at each table where Ryder and the pups guide junior patrollers through engaging challenges. A live entertainer onboard makes the experience even more fun with sing-alongs and games.

The MONOPOLY London Afternoon Tea Tour

Collaborating with Hasbro's MONOPOLY, between Thursdays and Sundays, we offer an exclusive MONOPOLY London Tea Tour. This experience combines a traditional afternoon tea with an interactive digital version of the classic board game. Guests can enjoy themed treats like the "Pass 'GO'lden Chocolate Brownie" while navigating London’s streets and landmarks through a custom app.

The Bombay Sapphire Gin Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Teaming up with Bombay Sapphire, the Gin Lovers Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is a 90-minute journey through London’s iconic sights. Available on Fridays and Saturdays only, the experience includes gin-infused cakes and a selection of Bombay Sapphire gin cocktails served aboard our vintage Routemaster.

Royal Celebrations

Over the years, we've also partnered with Debrett's, the authority on modern British etiquette, to create exclusive themed Afternoon Tea Bus Tours celebrating British traditions and royal events.

• Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea Bus Tour (2018). To commemorate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018, we collaborated with Debrett's to offer a special tour featuring a custom-created afternoon tea menu while touring iconic landmarks. An expert from Debrett's provided insights into royal wedding traditions, enriching the experience with fascinating commentary.
• Platinum Jubilee Celebration Bus Tour (2022). In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, we partnered with Debrett's once again for a festive Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. The Routemaster was adorned with jubilee-themed decorations, and guests enjoyed a specially curated menu. Debrett's contributed an elegant leaflet with tea trivia and etiquette tips, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
• The King Charles III Coronation (2023). In May 2023, we celebrated King Charles III's coronation with a special Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. Guests enjoyed a menu of royal favourites while touring iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. The tour featured insightful commentary, allowing everyone to share in the joy of this monumental occasion in British history.

What customers say about the Brigit's Bakery Great British Tea Bus Experience

We're lucky to regularly receive kind words from our customers on TripAdvisor. From families with children to couples looking for a unique experience, the combination of London’s iconic sights, delicious afternoon tea, and attentive service makes our bus tours a standout attraction.

Here's what some of our customers say:

• On the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. "Fun experience for all ages, my 7yo loved it, and the food was delicious! This tour was SO MUCH FUN! Our family had a wonderful time and enjoyed the tour and the afternoon tea very much. [...] The bus is adorable [...] I would recommend this to anyone with a child who loves Paddington. The tour was perfectly framed for both children and adults [...] We treated this as our lunch for the day, which was perfect because they provide a good amount of food. [...]"
• On the MONOPOLY Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. "We had a very enjoyable Monopoly afternoon tea. The selection of food was great. The staff [...] were exceptional and made sure we were well looked after. Given it was a hot day, the staff did an amazing job and had bags of enthusiasm. We enjoyed the game of Monopoly and will look forward to booking again."
• On our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. "Perfect treat and great fun. The whole experience was exceptional, from the ambience of the bus, the helpful and smiley staff, delicious food, and the unexpected bonus of the takeaway cup! My friend was blown away by the surprise. We loved the novelty of sightseeing from the comfort of the bus with scrumptious food to eat. We needed the box to take cakes home as it was so filling. We would highly recommend."

So, which Great British tea bus experience will you choose next?