Cucumber sandwich anyone? Earl grey tea or Darjeeling? Maybe a glass of bubbly? Jane Wilson indulges
I’m sitting top deck of a double decker bus. Temptingly displayed on the table in front of me are plates laden with appetising finger sandwich, (no crusts). Oh, should I take the turkey ham & cheese or cucumber & soft cheese sandwich and then maybe the butterscotch choux or one of the cakes with vividly coloured icing and still have room for a warm scone. What a dilemma, what a treat. This is not the usual bus tour of London. It’s an exclusive vintage Routemaster bus which winds through the heart of Central London, a journey through its heritage, blending the sights of the capital with Brigit’s themed classic afternoon tea.
Boarding at Victoria Station we take our seats, four friends excited to experience afternoon tea in a novel way. A cup of Darjeeling please. A mounted soldier from the Household Cavalry stands guard outside St James in Whitehall while we bite into our first savoury selection. I choose a delicious quiche as the iconic Marble Arch appears ahead of us and as Harrods draws our attention. Harrods started in 1849 as a small Knightsbridge grocery store founded by Charles Henry Harrod and today a global centre of opulence. I take a break to admire this major tourist destination and the throngs of people entering its doors. I bite into my first cake as we enter Exhibition Road in South Kensington, a cultural quarter and home to the V&A, the Science Museum and National History Museum. Time for my second sweet dessert, a chocolate mousse dome cake as the historic Royal Albert Hall stands proudly. From the window on the other side is the Albert Memorial which glitters in the sun in Kensington Gardens. We listen to excellent commentary and watch London street life as it passes. Buckingham Palace, with its history as a royal residence, quite fittingly, appears in all its splendour as a basket of warm scones is handed out with individual portions of cream and jam – sumptuous. A macaroon is tempting as we drive parallel to the Thames with the sights of the London Eye, the world’s largest cantilever observation wheel and 135m tall and County Hall which was once the seat of London’s local government (LCC/GLC) and is now a multi-use complex featuring the Sea Life Aquarium.On the right is the Savoy which originally opened in 1889. Its private entrance on The Strand requires driving on the right-hand side of the road, the only one in the UK, which was designed for the convenience of hotel guests and cab drivers to access the entrance without obstruction. Coming up next, one cannot miss Big Ben within the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of The Houses of Parliament.
More tea is poured as we round Trafalgar Square which commemorates the British naval victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. And with cakes still sitting in front of us, we are provided with a takeaway box to enjoy at our leisure after we have disembarked, together with a souvenir Brigit mug…. Thank you.
The atmosphere onboard is jovial and friendly, the service excellent. Most tables are on the top deck. Each table lavishly decorated and appetisingly displayed with a medley of handmade cakes, including tarts, cupcakes, macarons, and choux. Allergies are taken seriously and champagne has to be ordered prior to the day if you wish to toast the occasion.
Dietary Options & Allergens
The company is unable to cater for all allergens and dietary requirements such as nut-free, peanut-free. Vegan and gluten free teas are £3 extra and are required to be booked upon reservation. They also offer halal options. All optional menus are prepared with the same level of care, quality, and presentation as the classic menu.
Afternoon Tea Onboard
Freshly Prepared Savouries
Mini seasonal quiche
Cucumber, cream cheese & spring onion on basil bread
Turkey ham & cheese, mayo mustard on tomato bread
Creamy avocado choux
Salmon & cucumber pretzel with cream cheese
Assortment of mini Homemade Cakes & Tarts
Butterscotch choux
Coconut & cardamom tart
Chocolate mousse dome cake
Lemon vanilla cupcake
Freshly baked, plain scone with clotted cream & jam
Drink options included in our Traditional Afternoon Tea
Water
Coffee & Hot Chocolate
Americano | Cappuccino | Latte Macchiato | Hot Chocolate
Tea Selection
English Breakfast | Earl Grey | Decaf Black Tea | Redbush | Peppermint | Lemon & Ginger | Berry & Elderflower | Jasmine Tea | Green Tea | Chai Tea
The traditional menu is seasonal and may vary. Please check at the time of booking, for any changes.
To reserve your table for a tea-infused journey through the heart of London, this Classic Afternoon Tea Bus London Sightseeing Tour can be reserved with this link, quoting WELLNESS26, https://b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours
Brigit’s Afternoon Tea Tour Departs from Victoria Station
The Tour is approximately 90 minutes.
Adults from £50, children £42 from 5 years
Wheel chair access
