“Here We Go Again” London Afternoon Tea Bus

Sing your way through central London. This 90-minute afternoon tea ride pairs an iconic double-decker bus with tea, sandwiches, sweets, Prosecco, and a soundtrack of ABBA songs. I like the easy mix of sightseeing and celebration, and I like that you can choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu.

The main caution is that the ABBA theme may not fill the entire ride. Some departures have included other music for part of the journey, and one booking was reportedly operated as a regular afternoon tea bus instead. The route also uses recorded commentary rather than a live guide, so this is more about fun and city views than detailed London history.

Key points before you book

• ABBA music gives the bus its party spirit, but the songs may not play for the full 90 minutes.
• Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge are among the major sights featured along the route.
• Afternoon tea is included, with standard, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices.
• A glass of Prosecco is included for people over 21, while younger passengers receive a non-alcoholic drink.
• The bus holds a maximum of 26 people, making this a small-group outing rather than a huge coach tour.
• The ride begins and ends at Bulleid Way, close to public transportation and near Victoria.

What this ABBA tea bus actually is

This is a sightseeing ride with food and music, not a traditional guided tour. You board a double-decker bus at the Golden Tours departure point on Bulleid Way, take your seat, and spend about an hour and a half moving through central London while afternoon tea is served.

That distinction matters. You are not buying entry to Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge. You see these landmarks as part of the route, with information supplied through an English audio guide. If you want to walk inside the abbey, ride the London Eye, or visit the Tower Bridge exhibition, you need separate tickets and more time.

I see the appeal as simple and honest: you get a comfortable sightseeing framework, something to eat, and an ABBA theme that gives the outing a light, social mood. It is especially well suited to a birthday, graduation, family celebration, or afternoon when you want to see London without planning every step.

The maximum group size is 26 people. That keeps the experience smaller than a standard sightseeing coach, though the bus still needs to function as a moving dining room. Service comes from the driver and tea staff, rather than from a dedicated tour guide.

Starting at Bulleid Way near Victoria

The meeting point is Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR, London SW1W 9SR. The activity returns to the same location, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back from an unfamiliar part of the city.

This location is practical for a sightseeing day around Westminster and Victoria. You should allow enough time to find the departure point and board without rushing, especially if you are carrying coats, shopping bags, or a special celebration cake. The booking confirmation arrives at the time of purchase, and the experience is offered in English.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. That is not a problem for most people, since the meeting point is near public transportation, but it does mean you need to handle your own route to and from Bulleid Way.

The bus is a major part of the appeal. London’s double-deckers give you a raised view above much of the street traffic, although your view depends on the cleanliness of the windows and where you sit. One particularly negative experience involved dirty windows that made sightseeing difficult. That is not a guaranteed problem on every departure, but it is a useful reminder not to treat the bus itself as a perfect viewing platform.

Tea, sandwiches, sweets, and Prosecco

The afternoon tea is the heart of the experience. You receive tea sandwiches, desserts, and hot tea, served during the ride. A small souvenir plastic mug has been used on some departures, adding a playful touch even if it is not the same as afternoon tea in a grand hotel.

The food receives mixed but generally favorable attention. The sweets have been praised for being tasty, while the sandwiches have received a more moderate response. One meal was described as slightly soggy, which can happen when sandwiches are prepared in advance and served on a moving vehicle.

The practical value of the meal comes from convenience. You do not need to stop at a café before or after the ride, and you can enjoy London sights while eating. Still, you should not book this expecting the polished service or delicate presentation of a luxury afternoon tea at a famous hotel. This is a themed sightseeing meal, and the moving bus places limits on space and presentation.

You can choose from four menus:

• Standard
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten-free

You should select the correct menu when booking. Golden Tours cannot guarantee that food has not come into contact with nuts or other allergens, so anyone with a serious allergy needs to consider that warning carefully before reserving.

A glass of Prosecco is included for passengers aged 21 and older. People under 21 receive a non-alcoholic drink instead. The Prosecco has generally been part of the fun, although one experience found it a little warm. Tea is served hot, so you may want to pace yourself if the bus is warm as well.

ABBA music and the most important expectation

The ABBA theme is what makes this experience different from a standard afternoon tea bus. Hearing songs such as those associated with Mamma Mia! while passing famous London landmarks can turn a fairly ordinary sightseeing ride into a shared singalong.

The strongest praise centers on the fun of singing along. If you already love ABBA, the music creates an instant social connection. You do not need to know London’s full story to enjoy the ride, and the format gives you an easy way to meet people who booked for the same reason.

But you should set your expectations carefully. ABBA music has not always played for the entire journey. One account described other music during the first 15 minutes, followed by ABBA later in the route. Another account said the bus was not ABBA themed at all and operated as a regular afternoon tea bus.

That inconsistency is the biggest risk in booking. If the music is the entire reason you are buying a ticket, check the current departure details and confirmation closely. You should also be prepared for the possibility that the soundtrack is only one part of the outing, rather than a nonstop concert on wheels.

Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square

The route includes Westminster Abbey, one of London’s most important landmarks. The Gothic church sits on Parliament Square beside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It has traditionally been used for coronations and remains one of the city’s key historic buildings.

From the bus, you get a passing view and recorded information. You do not go inside as part of this experience. That makes this stop useful for orientation, especially if you are seeing central London for the first time, but it cannot replace a proper visit to the abbey.

I like this part of the route because several major sights are packed into a small area. The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Parliament Square, and Westminster Abbey help you understand London’s political and ceremonial center. You can make a note of anything you want to revisit later on foot.

The drawback is time. A moving bus gives you a quick look, not a chance to study the architecture or take your ideal photograph. The recorded narration also keeps the information brief, so history fans will want a separate walking tour or admission visit.

The London Eye from street level

The London Eye is another route highlight. Its glass capsules rise 135 meters above the Thames, offering wide views across London when you ride it. On this tea bus outing, however, the attraction is viewed from the route rather than experienced from inside a capsule.

That makes the bus a good way to spot the London Eye and decide if you want to return for a separate ride. The description of fast-track and standard tickets relates to the attraction itself, not to admission included with this afternoon tea experience. No London Eye ticket is listed among the inclusions.

The sight works well in combination with Westminster because both are central London landmarks you can recognize quickly from the bus. You may get a better sense of the city’s scale than you would from a café table, but you will not receive the full London Eye experience on this booking.

If riding the wheel is high on your list, plan that separately. The tea bus is best seen as a preview of the area, not a ticket bundle.

Tower Bridge and the eastern stretch of the route

Tower Bridge brings a different look to the sightseeing portion. Its twin towers and upper walkways are among London’s most recognizable views, and the bridge took eight years to build. More than 11,000 tonnes of steel were used for its towers and walkways.

The bus route lets you see the bridge as part of a broader city circuit. The audio guide points out selected landmarks, but this is not a stop where you leave the bus for the interactive displays and exhibitions inside Tower Bridge.

That distinction is worth keeping in mind. If you want the engineering story, walk through the exhibition, and look out from the high-level walkways, you need a separate ticket. The afternoon tea bus gives you the quick visual reward without turning the ride into a full museum visit.

For a first look at London, the three featured sights create a useful arc: royal and religious Westminster, the modern viewing wheel beside the Thames, and the historic crossing at Tower Bridge. The route is more about seeing a set of famous places than studying any one of them.

The audio guide instead of a live guide

An English audio guide is included. A live guide is not.

I would treat that as an important part of the product. Recorded commentary can point out landmarks without interrupting your meal, but it cannot answer questions, adjust the pace, or add local color when you become curious about something outside the prepared script.

The audio guide suits you if you want light background information while listening to music and chatting. It will disappoint you if you want a detailed account of London’s architecture, politics, or royal traditions.

The experience also depends on the driver and the tea server doing their jobs at the same time. One account praised the server’s hard work during a demanding service. Since the bus is moving and space is limited, service may feel more functional than leisurely.

Is $68.06 a fair price?

At $68.06 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see London. You are paying for more than transportation, but less than a formal meal in a top afternoon tea room plus separate attraction admissions.

The price makes the most sense when you value several things at once:

• A 90-minute sightseeing route
• Afternoon tea and hot drinks
• A glass of Prosecco for those over 21
• A choice of dietary menus
• A small group capped at 26 people
• An ABBA theme and shared music experience

The value is weaker if you mainly want detailed sightseeing or landmark admission. You can see the famous buildings, but you do not enter them. You also do not receive hotel transportation, a live guide, or a guarantee that ABBA will play throughout the ride.

I would compare it with the cost of afternoon tea plus a separate sightseeing activity in London. For a special occasion, the combined format may be worth the convenience. For a budget-conscious sightseeing day, it may feel expensive, especially if the windows are dirty, the bus is too warm, or the music does not match the theme you expected.

Comfort, heat, and seating expectations

A moving bus is a fun dining room, but it is still a bus. Conditions can vary. One account described the interior as miserably hot, with a passenger becoming unwell and unable to drink the hot tea.

That issue matters because the food and drink are central to the experience. Hot tea in a hot bus is not a winning combination, and anyone sensitive to heat should keep that possibility in mind. The data does not specify air-conditioning arrangements or preferred seating, so you should not assume every seat will have the same view or temperature.

Window condition is another practical concern. Clean windows are essential when sightseeing from a bus. If you are choosing this tour for photographs, remember that reflections, dirt, passing traffic, and your assigned seat can affect the result.

The good news is that the group size is limited to 26 people, rather than an enormous coachload. That helps the dining service and gives the outing a more social feel, but it cannot remove the basic limits of a compact vehicle.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this outing most strongly to ABBA fans who want a relaxed London activity with food attached. It is also a good match for families, couples, and friends marking a special event, provided everyone understands that this is a light sightseeing ride rather than a serious history tour.

It can work well for a first afternoon in London because you see several headline landmarks without walking between them. The return to Bulleid Way also makes it easy to continue your plans from the same general part of the city.

You may want to skip it if your top priorities are quiet luxury, precise historical commentary, excellent photography, or full attraction visits. You should also think twice if the ABBA theme is non-negotiable and the current departure details do not clearly confirm the music format.

The 4.5 rating from 110 reviews suggests that the overall concept works for many people, but the lower scores point to real risks rather than minor complaints. The main variables are the soundtrack, window cleanliness, bus temperature, and the quality of the sandwiches.

Should you book the ABBA afternoon tea bus?

Book it if you want a cheerful, social way to see Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge while eating tea sandwiches and sweets. The strongest reason to go is the combination of ABBA singalong energy and easy sightseeing, not the depth of the commentary.

Before paying, confirm that your departure is still the ABBA-themed version. Pick your dietary menu carefully, allow time to reach Bulleid Way, and remember that landmark admission is not included. If you accept those limits, this can be a memorable change from the usual London bus tour.

If you want a guaranteed ABBA-heavy soundtrack, a cool and polished dining setting, or detailed access to London’s major attractions, spend the money elsewhere. If you want an amusing afternoon with a view, a cup of tea, and a chance to sing along with strangers who know the chorus, this one is worth considering.

FAQ

How long does the London ABBA afternoon tea bus last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the bus tour start?

It starts at Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR, UK.

Where does the experience end?

The bus returns to the original meeting point on Bulleid Way.

What food choices are available?

You can choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free afternoon tea menu.

Is a drink included?

Yes. Afternoon tea and drinks are included. People aged 21 and older receive a glass of Prosecco, while those under 21 receive a non-alcoholic drink.

Is there a live tour guide?

No. An English audio guide is included, but there is no live guide.

Does the tour include entry to Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge?

No attraction admission is listed as included. These landmarks are seen along the sightseeing route.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.