Enjoy a quintessentially English afternoon tea at London’s The Rubens at the Palace Hotel, overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. Visit the elegant 4-star hotel and linger over a gorgeous traditional English tea, complete with dainty finger sandwiches and selections of delicate cakes and other treats. Feast on delights including freshly baked scones served with fresh clotted cream, and creations such as mouth-wateringly moist carrot cupcakes. Pair them with your choice from a range of delicious classic loose teas; the perfect, time-honored accompaniment.

Afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel in London
Savor a traditional English tea at the hotel overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace
Enjoy delicious finger sandwiches and cakes in the elegant Palace Lounge
Savor bite-size savory sandwiches, fresh scones with clotted cream, and delicate pastries
Select from a range of choice, freshly brewed teas to complement your sandwiches and cakes
Ideal for first-time visitors to London and as a romantic occasion for couples
Vegetarian and children's teas available

Sample Menu

Main

THE RUBENS ROYAL AFTERNOON TEA

A selection of Sandwiches A selection of Scones A selection of Pastries A selection of Teas Glass of Champagne (If option selected)

What's Included

Afternoon tea
Beverages
Glass of Champagne (if selected this option)

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

The Rubens at the Palace
39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS, UK
Departure Point: The Rubens at the Palace, London Address: 39 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PS Directions: Nearest Station : Victoria (Victoria, Circle, District Lines and National Rail)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Travel independently to The Rubens at the Palace Hotel in time for the serving of afternoon tea. The hotel is situated opposite the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, so it enjoys one of London’s most prestigious locations.

Make your way into the handsome 4-star hotel and admire the plush surroundings as you take your seat in the elegant Palace Lounge.

Then, simply relax and soak up the genteel atmosphere as you enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea, produced by the team at the hotel’s pastry kitchen. This highly skilled group of chefs are masters at making the most exquisite and freshest cakes and pastries, so you're in for a treat.

Enjoy an enticing selection of mouth-watering finger sandwiches and sweet cakes, accompanied by your choice from the range of sophisticated, freshly brewed teas, and all served at your table.

While the afternoon tea menu may vary, expect to savor such delights as freshly baked, fluffy scones with clotted cream, and sweet treats such as delectable carrot cupcakes and marshmallows. See the Itinerary below for a sample menu.

For younger guests, there’s the option of a Little Prince and Princess Tea (for children aged from five to 12), made up of tasty bite-size sandwiches, freshly baked scones and selected pastries accompanied by a tea, milkshake, hot chocolate or soda.

Your afternoon tea experience concludes when you finish your tea.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please arrive at the hotel 15 minutes prior to your booked timeslot
Allergies / Dietary Restrictions: Please inform us of any special requests with 72 hours-notice. Please note that due to the nature of their business and offering the hotel cannot guarantee 100% allergen or intolerant free recipes/dishes. Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal and Gluten-Free options available, Please contact us after the booking.
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Menus listed are samples and subject to variations.
Most travellers can participate
Dress code: Smart casual. We respectfully ask guests to refrain from wearing sportswear, flip-flops, and non-tailored shorts. Guest not adhering to the dress code policy will not be permitted entry into our restaurants and bars
A full refund or date change will be offered up to 24 hours before travel. Cancellations inside 24 hours will be charged at 100%
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Cynthia_J

The staff was amazing. It was everything I had hoped it would be. The sandwiches and deserts were delicious. A great variety.

Reviews

4.5

110 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 110 reviews

Indulgent and delightful experience

Ada_G, May 2023

Delicious high tea.. impeccable service , food was well presented and tasted amazing! Too good to eat …..almost!! Great selection of teas.. and a glass of bubbles to start.. a must visit for an indulgent treat!

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello Ada_G, Thank you for leaving us a fantastic 5* review! We continuously work to create good experiences for our customers, and we are thrilled to see we were able to offer you a memorable day! We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Highlight of our trip.

Cynthia_J, May 2023

The staff was amazing. It was everything I had hoped it would be. The sandwiches and deserts were delicious. A great variety.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Cynthia_J, Thank you for leaving us this fantastic 5* review! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear we hit the mark for you. Come back and see us soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Afternoon Tea for two

Krista_F, May 2023

We had an excellent experience. We really liked out server. He was quiet jolly and knowledgeable on all of the food. Although, Viator messed up our reservation. When we went to check-in our name was not listed at all. I had to show that we had paid online but there were no tickets to show. There was one table left and they let us have it but then we had to pay again. 😣 Viator had sent an email saying they canceled our reservation but we did not see it till we arrived for tea. We now need to see if Viator gave a refund or not to us.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello Krista_F, Thank you so much for this lovely review, we are so happy to hear you had such a good experience with us. Guest satisfaction is our top priority. We are sorry to hear that you didn't have a great experience with Viator, unfortunately we don't deal with their tickets so if you are looking for refunds you are going to have to contact their customer service. We're constantly looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes, Evan Evans

Great place to celebrate mother's day or anything else.

Aimee_B, May 2023

The staff was very friendly and the seating was so comfortable! We really enjoyed mother's day together.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Aimee_B, Thank you for leaving us a 5* review! We hope to see you again soon on another one of our tours. Best wishes Evan Evans

Great Experience

Rebecca_B, May 2023

The staff at the Ruben were extremely attentive and polite. They made my sister and I feel welcome and they were very helpful. This was a great experience and I would do it again.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Rebecca_B, We would like to thank you for your kind words and for sharing it with the rest of the community. Our team works very hard to provide the best service and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your visit to our establishment. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Nicely presented

Delissa_K, May 2023

Everything was tasty and nicely presented. I will have afternoon tea there again. What a beautiful hotel to just relax and have tea.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello Delissa_K, Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback about your tour. Seeing that you had a 5-Star experience is the best thing we could hope for! Your review means a lot to us. We cannot wait to welcome you onboard another one of our tours in the future! Best wishes Evan Evans

Afternoon Tea

Mary_T, May 2023

If you want a true authentic afternoon English tea experience, this is the place for you. The service, food, tea, drinks etc. were displayed beautifully and was so delicious too. It was a lovely time.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Mary_T, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans

TREATED LIKE ROYALTY!!!!! WONDERFUL FOOD AND TEA!!!

Anonymous, Apr 2023

I felt I was treated like royalty. The food and view of The Mews were excellent! My server (something like "Naranit") was so knowledgeable about the cinnamon chai tea I had. He had a wonderful personality and was so likeable. The sandwiches were the best I had while in London and of course the desserts were exquisite. The restaurant is beautiful and I will definitely return on my next trip to London. (live in South Carolina, USA)

Response from Host, May 2023

Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you felt treated like royalty during your visit to The Mews. It's fantastic to know that you enjoyed the excellent food and stunning view. We're delighted to hear that your server, Naranit, provided such outstanding service. We will make sure to pass on your compliments to him, as we know he will be thrilled to hear them. We're glad that he was able to offer his extensive knowledge of cinnamon chai tea and that you found him to be so likeable. We're pleased to hear that the sandwiches were the best you had while in London, and that you found the desserts to be exquisite. Our team takes great pride in providing high-quality food and service, and we're thrilled that we were able to exceed your expectations. We appreciate your kind words about the restaurant's beauty, and we're thrilled to hear that you will definitely return on your next trip to London. We hope to welcome you back soon! Thank you once again for choosing us for your dining experience, and for sharing your feedback with us. Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Great Food, Great Service

Amari_H, Apr 2023

I attended the afternoon tea alone. It was a great atmosphere and the food was very delicious. Although my waiter took a little while to come back for each part of the tea, he offered some great recommendations. I was seated in a timely manner and I was served within 5 minutes of being there.

Response from Host, May 2023

Dear Amari_H, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at our afternoon tea. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the atmosphere and the delicious food. We apologize for any delay in service you may have experienced, but we're glad that your waiter was able to provide some great recommendations. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back again soon. Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Anniversary celebration!

kim_w, Mar 2023

Lovely afternoon tea. And met some nice young ladies next to us from Newcastle University. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary (we are a married female couple from the US) and they arranged to surprise us with a “happy anniversary” dessert and champagne toast from the Rubens!!!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear Kim, Thank you for your 5* review. Although we do not directly provide the afternoon tea, this is done by our sister company (Red Carnation Hotels), we will make sure to forward them your lovely comments. Happy anniversary, Evan Evans Team

Wonderful

PATTY_M, Jan 2023

What a wonderful time we had!! Excellent food and the staff was very friendly!! If I ever get back to London I will do this again!!!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hello PATTY_M, Thank you for your feedback. We are very happy that you took the time to leave us this wonderful note. We do our best to keep our customers happy and we are glad that our hard work has paid off! We look forward to seeing you again in the future. Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Perfect location for tea

Kristin_H, Jan 2023

This was a wonderful afternoon tea. The location is perfect (directly across from The Royal Mews). Tony the doorman was delightful. He even had my 16 year old laughing.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Dear Kristin, Thank you for leaving us a 5* review! We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. So, thanks for your kind words and we look forward to seeing you again. Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Tea for your majesty

melody_y, Jan 2023

Highly recommend to try especially if first time in London! The sandwiches, cakes, and tea are delicious. The ambience is amazing and friendly staff with superb customer service and detail of their setup. You will feel like a lord or lady having an afternoon tea and so much fun!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hello melody, Thanks so much for giving us your take on how we are doing. We're glad that customers like you are having a great experience! We thank you for the recommendations and we hope to see you again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Ruebens for High Tea

Marcia_H, Dec 2022

Wonderful and beautiful experience. Overlooking the Buckingham Palace while enjoying High Tea was amazing. The atmosphere was so elegant and the food was delicious. Thanks especially to Ellie and Gabrielle who took wonderful care of us

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Dear Marcia_H, We would like to thank you for your kind words and for sharing it with the rest of the community. Our team works very hard to provide the best service and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your visit to our establishment. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Nice informal place

Ignacio_G, Dec 2022

Nice champagne! The scones were very good as well as the sweet pastries. The service was also excellent and very friendly.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hello Ignacio_G, We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear we hit the mark for you. Come back and see us soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Interesting view

Andrew_S, Dec 2022

Sitting by the windows with good view of the mews. Food was good too. Service was very friendly. What else can we say?

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hello Andrew, Thank you for leaving us a fantastic 5* review! We continuously work to create good experiences for our customers, and we are thrilled to see we were able to offer you a memorable day! We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Lovely Experience, Would Definitely Recommend

Janelle_S, Nov 2022

We had the most lovely time at this high tea. The staff was incredibly courteous, seating us a few minutes early. They explained the service in detail and encouraged us to read through the tea selection and to choose one. Come hungry because while it doesn’t look like a lot of food, two of us brought scones and desserts with us in convenient paper takeaway boxes. They even offered more clotted cream, ham and apples to take with. Everything was truly delicious. As we were leaving, they loaded us up even more with gratis chocolate bark, mints and merengues. Would highly recommend and I’ve included a screenshot of the current menu and regular prices. Buying the ticket through Viator definitely saved some money.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Dear Janelle_S, We would like to thank you for your kind words and for sharing it with the rest of the community. Our team works very hard to provide the best service and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your visit to our establishment. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Family friendly and highly enjoyed by teens

Cynthia_M, Nov 2022

My 17-year-old son described the in-house jam as "made by gods" and referred to multiple bites as "exquisite." I don't think I've ever heard him give such high praise to food. Our party consisted of three generations and we all had a wonderful afternoon. There was great variety in teas, sandwiches and desserts. We really couldn't pick a favorite because everything was so good.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Hello Cynthia, Thank you for leaving us this fantastic 5* review! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear we hit the mark for you. Come back and see us soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Great experience

Elena_F, Nov 2022

Great experience at the Rubens. Lovely staff, beautiful ambiance, live piano music and delicious fresh pastries! Definitely recommend

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Hello Elena, Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion about our services. We are glad that our team did a great job. We take pride in providing a comfortable space for all of our guests, so our team appreciates that you noticed. We hope to welcome you onboard another one of our tours in the future! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Exceptional!!!

Shawana_B, Nov 2022

One of the best experiences I have had in my entire life. Everything and I do mean everything was exceptional!! Ellie and Katrina had excellent customer service. They ensured that we were attended to and that our needs were met. We will be back on Sunday for round two.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Dear Guest, Thank you for your great review of our Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace, We’ve passed your kind words on to our team. The team are passionate about providing all of our customers with outstanding experiences and they’ll be delighted to know they hit the mark with you. We hope that in the future we’ll be able to provide a similarly excellent experience. Please let us know if there are any areas we can improve upon in future, we value our customer’s feedback. We hope to see you again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

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