London Afternoon Tea Cruise
How can you maximise your London trip if you’re short on time? One of my top suggestions is to plan activities that are in close proximity. And the London Afternoon Tea Cruise is a perfect opportunity for this!
After a morning exploring the historic Tower of London, there’s no better way to combine sightseeing than by embarking on a London Afternoon Tea River Cruise.
I recommend booking your visit to the Tower of London as soon as it opens to make the most of your day. For more on Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting the Tower of London, watch this TikTok video.
We booked both tickets for the Tower of London and the London Afternoon Tea Cruise through Fever. My experience was complimentary as a Fever Ambassador. Each month they give me discount codes for readers to use on certain activities. Make sure to read the current ones at the end!
There’s also a Cutty Sark Afternoon Tea in London. It’s a 3 hour experience. You can have your scrumptious treats, beneath the iconic copper hull of the world’s sole-surviving tea clipper.
The cruise itself lasts 90 minutes, with adult tickets priced at £55 each, excluding any alcohol you might wish to enjoy during your cruise.
The Experience
The adventure begins at Tower Millennium Pier, conveniently located at the base of the Tower of London. It’s featured in the image above. Plan to arrive by 3.15pm, with the cruise setting off by 3.30pm.
Our journey first took us west along the River Thames. We were seated on the starboard side, offering us excellent views of iconic landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the London Eye and The Shard.
Parties of two are seated closest to the windows at tables anchored to the floor, providing the best views. Larger groups seemed to be seated towards the centre of the boat, which means their views weren’t as spectacular. Once you’ve finished your afternoon tea, you can head upstairs to enjoy the 360° views of London’s riverside landmarks. Casual attire is recommended for a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
The Food
The afternoon tea menu offers a lovely array of options, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free selections. However, they are unable to accommodate menus that are both vegan and gluten-free. Be sure to advise them of any dietary requirements at the time of your booking.
The spread includes a variety of sandwiches, mini pastries, and scones served with clotted cream and jam. While you can order wine or champagne for an additional cost, tea and coffee are unlimited throughout the cruise.
The food is delicious, albeit different from what you’d find in a five-star hotel’s afternoon tea offer. The true highlight, however, is the stunning views that accompany your meal.
Our menu included:
- Fish Sandwich (smoked salmon and cream cheese on light Rye and Caraway bread
- Egg Sandwich (egg mayonnaise and watercress on basil & spinach bread)
- Coronation Sandwich (coronation chicken on brown bread)
- Chipotle Sandwich (chipotle and sweetcorn on beetroot & dill bread)
- Plain Scone (with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve)
- Lemon Meringue
- Mango Pebble
- Pink Macaron
- Chocolate Fudge Cake
London Afternoon Tea Cruise: Final Thoughts
City Cruises is the tour operator for this event. They once again impressed me with their system of organisation and consistent service, which I have experienced on several occasions.
This London afternoon tea cruise is an excellent way to combine sightseeing with a quintessentially British food tradition. For the best experience, I suggest going as a party of two to increase your chances of being seated next to a window. Overall, this river cruise with food offers very good value for money and is a great addition to your London itinerary.
These are a few other suggestions which are similar to this experience.
Discounts, London News and London Trip Planning
Current Ticket Discounts for London
- PARADOX MUSEUM– 10% off until 31st March 2025
- Bubble Planet– 10 % off until 31st March 2025
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past 10% off until 31 March 2025
- Plied & Prejudice 10% off until 30th April 2025
- Babylon Park: London’s Underground Theme Park 10% off until 30th April 2025
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For more about how to plan your day near the Tower of London, you can watch the Sunny in London YouTube video below.
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