London: Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

Royal tea without leaving central London. The Rubens at the Palace pairs the polished setting of its Palace Lounge with freshly baked scones, delicate sandwiches, and fine pastries. I like the strong sense of occasion and the thoughtful tea selection from P.M. David Silva & Sons. The Champagne option also makes this a pleasant choice for a birthday, anniversary, or special London afternoon.

The main drawback is price. At $111 per person, this is a luxury treat, and the value depends on how much you care about the hotel setting and service. One recent booking also found the quality good but felt the price did not fully match it, with some attempts to sell extra drinks such as water or wine.

Key points to know before booking

• Royal setting: Afternoon tea takes place in the Palace Lounge at The Rubens at the Palace, with an ornate atmosphere that gives the meal a special sense of occasion.
• A full traditional spread: You receive finger sandwiches, plain, fruit, and cheese scones, seasonal preserves, lemon curd, clotted cream, and several finely made desserts.
• A wide tea choice: Select from black, green, white, and herbal teas supplied by P.M. David Silva & Sons.
• Champagne is optional: Check the booking option carefully, since Champagne is included only with the Champagne-inclusive choice.
• Plan for 1.5 hours: The timing gives you room to eat at a relaxed pace, but this is not an all-day hotel experience.
• Dress matters: Sportswear, flip-flops, sandals, ripped clothing, and non-tailored shorts are not accepted, so pack for a smart hotel dining room.

Entering The Rubens at the Palace

You begin by showing your voucher upon entering The Rubens at the Palace. The experience takes place in the Palace Lounge, not on a sightseeing bus or during a walking tour, so transportation is not included and you make your own way there.

The setting is a major part of the appeal. Several bookings praised the opulent interior and the feeling of being treated like royalty. One description compared the atmosphere to feeling like a princess, while another praised the magnificent backdrop. That tells you what kind of afternoon this is: less about grabbing a quick snack and more about taking time in a formal London hotel.

I would allow a few extra minutes before the scheduled start. You need to arrive dressed appropriately, present your voucher, and settle in without turning the first part of the meal into a rush. The hotel asks for smart clothing, and entry can be refused if you arrive in sportswear, flip-flops, or unsuitable shorts.

You should also bring a passport or identity card. That is a small requirement, but it is worth knowing before you leave your hotel.

The first course: five carefully arranged sandwiches

The savoury course gives you a proper start rather than treating the sandwiches as decoration. The sample menu includes five types, each served on a different bread.

You might receive Scottish smoked salmon with caviar and chive cream cheese on cape seed loaf. There is also roast beef sirloin with wild rocket and horseradish cream on beetroot bread. Chicken is paired with grain mustard mayonnaise and toasted almonds on white bread.

The remaining choices include Barber’s cheddar with plum tomato on onion bread, plus cucumber with mint crème fraîche on Norfolk crunch. This is a nice mix of familiar afternoon tea fillings and more distinctive combinations.

The salmon and caviar option adds a touch of luxury, while the roast beef and horseradish gives the plate a stronger, savoury bite. The cucumber sandwich keeps the selection light. That balance matters because afternoon tea can become heavy very quickly once the scones and pastries arrive.

The menu is a sample, not a promise of every item on the day. Ingredients and presentation may change, but the general structure is clear: expect delicate sandwiches with a range of breads, fillings, and textures. If you prefer savoury food to sweets, you should take your time here rather than rushing straight to the dessert stand.

Scones with clotted cream and seasonal preserves

The scones are the heart of a British afternoon tea, and this menu gives you three versions: plain, fruit, and cheese. They come with homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream.

That combination lets you choose your own style. The plain and fruit scones suit the classic sweet approach, with preserve and clotted cream. The cheese scone gives the course a more savoury turn and can break up the sweetness.

The homemade seasonal preserve is a useful detail. It makes the plate feel less like a standard prepackaged hotel service, even though the setting is formal. The lemon curd adds a sharp note, which is welcome beside rich cream and warm baked dough.

I would save room for all three types if you can. The meal lasts about 1.5 hours, so there is no need to attack the stand at once. Afternoon tea works best when you treat it as a series of small courses rather than one large plate.

Pastries with a distinctly modern touch

The sweet course is more ambitious than a simple Victoria sponge and a few iced cakes. The sample selection includes a Crown Hukambi chocolate with hazelnut praline and chocolate sablé, a blackberry éclair, and a blackberry chiboust with blackberry fruit glaze.

There is also rhubarb and vanilla, made with vanilla sponge, rhubarb jelly, and Opalys crémeux. The citrus meringue tart contains almond cream, candied lemon, and lime zest.

These desserts bring different levels of sweetness and acidity. Blackberry and rhubarb add fruitiness, while chocolate and hazelnut make the plate richer. Lemon and lime help keep the final bites from becoming too sugary.

The precise pastries can change, so you should not book expecting one specific cake. Still, the sample menu shows a pastry program with careful textures and flavours rather than a generic tray of miniature desserts.

The sweet course is also part of the visual appeal. A booking at The Rubens is meant to feel polished, and the pastry selection helps create that sense of ceremony. If your ideal afternoon tea is mainly tea and plain scones, you may find some of these desserts more elaborate than necessary. If you enjoy trying small, carefully made sweets, this is one of the stronger parts of the experience.

Choosing tea from P.M. David Silva & Sons

Tea and coffee are included. The tea menu covers black, green, white, and herbal varieties from P.M. David Silva & Sons.

That range gives you room to match the drink to the food. A black tea can handle the roast beef, cheese, cream, and chocolate. A green or white tea may suit the lighter sandwiches and fruit-based desserts. Herbal tea is useful if you want a gentler finish after a filling meal.

I like that the tea choice is not treated as an afterthought. Afternoon tea depends on pacing, and a good cup gives you something to return to between courses. You can use the 1.5-hour sitting to try one style with the savoury food and another with dessert, depending on what is available.

Coffee is included too, which is helpful if tea is not your drink. Still, tea is clearly the main event here, and the experience makes the most sense for someone who enjoys the ritual of choosing, sipping, and taking time over a meal.

Is the Champagne option worth the extra cost?

Champagne is available, but only if you select the inclusive option when booking. It is not part of the basic afternoon tea package.

I would consider it for a celebration, especially if the royal styling of the room is the reason you chose The Rubens in the first place. A glass of Champagne can make the occasion feel more complete and may suit a birthday or anniversary better than ordering ordinary drinks separately.

For a regular London sightseeing day, the standard tea may be the better value. The food and tea already provide the central experience, and the price is high enough without adding extras. Check exactly which option you select, since additional food and drinks are not included in the basic package.

One useful point from the dining experience is that extra drinks may be suggested during the meal. You can simply decide in advance what you want included and keep an eye on anything added to the bill.

What the $111 price really buys you

At $111 per person, this is not an inexpensive way to eat. You are paying for more than bread, cake, and tea. The cost includes the hotel environment, formal service, presentation, time at the table, and the sense of occasion attached to a royal-themed London setting.

The food itself is substantial enough to replace a light lunch for many people. You receive several sandwiches, three kinds of scones, cream and preserves, multiple pastries, and tea or coffee. If you normally eat a large lunch and then book afternoon tea, you may find the amount of food excessive.

The price feels easier to justify when you are marking a special event. It is harder to justify if you are simply looking for an everyday snack. One booking described the food and service as very good but still considered the experience a little expensive, which is a fair warning.

The strongest value comes from the complete package. You get the room, the service, the food, and the traditional format in one sitting. If you care only about the scones, a less formal café will cost much less. If you want a polished hotel afternoon in an aristocratic setting, the price may fit your plans.

Who will enjoy this afternoon tea most?

This experience suits you if you want a classic British ritual with a formal setting. It is a good match for couples celebrating an occasion, parents and adult children, or anyone who wants to add a refined break to a London itinerary.

It also works for people who enjoy small portions with lots of variety. The menu moves from fish and roast beef to cucumber, cheese, chocolate, berries, rhubarb, and citrus. You do not need to choose one main dish, and the range keeps the meal interesting.

You may want to choose another option if you dislike rich pastries, have a strict budget, or prefer a casual atmosphere. The dress code is also stricter than at an ordinary café. Sandals and flip-flops are specifically not allowed, and sportswear, ripped clothing, and non-tailored shorts are not suitable.

Dietary needs can be handled if you tell the provider at least 48 hours before the booking. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free afternoon teas can be requested. Do not wait until you arrive, since the kitchen needs advance notice.

Timing, access, and practical planning

The sitting lasts 1.5 hours. That is long enough for a relaxed meal but short enough to fit around sightseeing, shopping, or a theatre plan. I would avoid scheduling a major attraction immediately afterward if you want to enjoy the tea without watching the clock.

The activity is wheelchair accessible. The host or greeter speaks English, and the experience itself is conducted in English.

Free cancellation is available up to two days before the booking for a full refund. That gives you some flexibility if your London plans change, but check the exact cutoff when you reserve.

No transportation is provided. You show your voucher at the hotel, so plan your route separately and account for London traffic and delays. The supplied information does not give a group size, so you should not assume this is a private dining experience.

The menu can change. Think of the listed dishes as a guide to the style and quality of food rather than a fixed promise. That is especially important if you have your heart set on one particular pastry.

Should you book The Rubens afternoon tea?

Book it if you want the setting as much as the food. The Palace Lounge, polished service, carefully made sandwiches, generous scones, and detailed pastries create a memorable British afternoon. The royal atmosphere is the feature most likely to stay with you.

Skip it if $111 feels uncomfortable or if you are looking for the best food value in London. The price is a premium for the surroundings and occasion, not just for the ingredients. For a celebration, I think the setting can justify the splurge. For a casual break, it is harder to make the numbers work.

Choose the Champagne option only when the celebration matters more than keeping costs down. Otherwise, the standard tea gives you the essential experience: savoury sandwiches, plain, fruit, and cheese scones, clotted cream, preserves, pastries, and a broad tea selection.

FAQ

Where does the afternoon tea take place?

It takes place in the Palace Lounge at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel.

How long does the experience last?

The afternoon tea lasts 1.5 hours.

What food is included?

The meal includes an assortment of finger sandwiches, freshly baked plain, fruit, and cheese scones, homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, clotted cream, and delicate pastries.

Are tea and coffee included?

Yes. Tea and coffee are included, with black, green, white, and herbal teas available from P.M. David Silva & Sons.

Is Champagne included?

Champagne is included only if you select the Champagne-inclusive booking option.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes, requests for vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free afternoon tea can be made. You should inform the activity provider at least 48 hours before the scheduled booking.

What should I wear?

Wear smart clothing. Sportswear, flip-flops, sandals, ripped clothing, and non-tailored shorts are not allowed, and you may be refused entry if you do not follow the dress code.