London: “Here We Go Again” Afternoon Tea Bus

London looks better with cake in front of you. This 90-minute afternoon tea bus pairs finger sandwiches, scones, sweets, and prosecco with an ABBA sing-along through central London. I like the easy mix of sightseeing and silliness, especially the views of Big Ben, the London Eye, the Shard, and the Tower of London. The main catch is that the music may include lesser-known ABBA songs, and the sandwiches may not match the quality of the cakes and tea.

I also like the friendly service. Hosts Chris and Odun earned special praise for keeping the mood light, helping with photographs, and making birthday celebrations feel personal. You should know, though, that this is a moving bus rather than a formal hotel tea, so shared tables, city traffic, heat, and a route change can all be part of the deal.

Key points to know before booking

• ABBA sing-along on a pink double-decker bus: Expect music, colored sunglasses, and a playful 1970s mood rather than a quiet tea.
• Classic London sights from the road: The route can pass Buckingham Palace, Waterloo, Westminster, London Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Shard, and the Tower of London.
• Afternoon tea is included: You receive finger sandwiches, fresh scones, sweet treats, tea, and either prosecco or a soft drink.
• The staff make the outing: Chris and Odun were singled out for warm, attentive service and help with photographs.
• Allow for practical limits: There are no toilets onboard, tables may be shared, and the bus can become hot.
• Plan dietary needs early: Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free meals are available only if requested at least 24 hours ahead.

A pink bus and a very British welcome

You meet at Golden Tours Stop 1. Look for the pink-striped bus with the large The English Tea Bus sign on its side. That visual clue matters because the meeting point can feel confusing, especially if another bus is nearby or an earlier departure has just left.

Arrive early, but do not panic if the first staff member you see seems unsure about your departure. One party was mistakenly told they had missed the last bus, then contacted the provider and learned that another bus would arrive shortly. The useful lesson is simple: if the timing looks wrong, call Golden Tours rather than assuming you have lost your booking.

Once aboard, you settle into a double-decker bus with tea service and music. The arrangement is designed for fun, not privacy. You may share a table, and the bus has fixed seating downstairs. It is worth thinking of this as a moving group party with food, not a private table for two.

The staff set the tone. Chris received especially high marks for his hosting, while Odun was praised for being kind, attentive, and willing to take as many photographs as needed. That sort of help matters on an experience built around birthdays, reunions, and group photos.

What arrives on the tea stand

The food follows the familiar afternoon tea formula: traditional finger sandwiches, fresh scones, sweet treats, cupcakes, and tea. You also receive a glass of prosecco if you are at least 18 and can show valid identification, or a soft drink instead.

The presentation has been a strong point. One account describes the food and display as fabulous, and another calls the tea tasty with plenty to eat. The portions appear to work well as a light meal during the 90-minute ride, though you should not expect a grand hotel buffet or a long, leisurely tea service.

The sandwiches are the least consistent part. One otherwise very positive account specifically wished for better sandwich quality. That is useful context: the sweet items, tea, presentation, and service seem to carry much of the meal, while the savory course may be more ordinary.

Dietary planning is important. Standard, vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free choices are offered, but you must notify the company at least 24 hours before your visit. The staff cannot adjust the meal on the day itself. Golden Tours also cannot guarantee that food has not come into contact with nuts or other allergens, so people with serious allergies should consider that limitation carefully.

The tea service is paired with city traffic. You will be eating while the bus turns, stops, and moves through central London. A careful driver was praised for handling the streets while passengers had afternoon tea, but you should still keep your cup steady and expect the occasional bump.

Waterloo, Westminster, and the London icons

The route focuses on central London rather than one fixed sightseeing circuit. Traffic and road closures can change the path, so you should treat the landmarks as likely views rather than guaranteed photo stops.

Waterloo gives the ride a useful start in the city’s south-central core. From there, the bus can take you toward Westminster, where the architecture becomes especially impressive. Big Ben is the visual star, and the London Eye provides a second unmistakable marker along the riverfront.

The sightseeing is not a stop-and-explore tour. You stay on the bus, look out from the windows, and take photographs when traffic and the view allow. That makes it a good first look at London, especially if you want to cover several famous sights without spending the afternoon walking between them.

Buckingham Palace may also appear along the route. Seeing the palace from a moving bus is very different from touring its rooms, but it adds a grand royal note to the ride. You might find this especially useful early in a London visit, when you want to get your bearings before returning to the sights that deserve more time on foot.

London Bridge and the Tower of London bring a different mood. The bus offers a broad city view rather than an inside visit to the Tower, but the route lets you connect the historic east side with Westminster and the West End area in one compact outing.

The Shard provides another strong photo subject. Its sharp profile helps you understand London’s mix of old landmarks and modern towers. You may not get a perfect view from every seat, and there is no promise of a photo stop, but the ride gives you a pleasant chance to spot major buildings while someone else handles the driving.

The supplied description refers to views from the water, but this experience is a road trip on a double-decker bus. You are not taking a boat cruise. The value here is the elevated street-level view from the bus, combined with tea and music.

When Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! meets afternoon tea

The ABBA theme is the reason to book this rather than a standard sightseeing bus. You can sing along to the group’s hits as London rolls past, and the experience encourages you to be a little silly. Colored sunglasses have appeared as part of the fun, and reusable cups have served as unexpected souvenirs.

The music is not always a perfect match for every ABBA fan. A few people wanted more of the best-known songs, while one person felt there was not as much ABBA as expected. The playlist may include tracks you do not know, so do not book this if you need a nonstop sequence of familiar chart hits.

That said, the atmosphere seems to matter as much as the playlist. The best moments are likely to come from the shared mood: singing with other passengers, enjoying tea, posing for pictures, and watching London pass by. You do not need to be an ABBA expert, but you should enjoy music-led group entertainment.

This is suitable for different ages, with one important rule: children aged 15 and under must travel with a paying adult, and children under five are not allowed. Alcohol is restricted to people aged 18 and over, with identification required. The experience is not officially connected with or endorsed by ABBA, so treat it as a themed tribute rather than an official ABBA production.

Comfort, temperature, and the limits of a moving bus

The bus setup gives you a fresh angle on London, but it also brings practical compromises. One passenger found the bus too hot. Heat can matter more than you might expect when you are seated close to other people, eating a warm meal, wearing themed accessories, and spending the full 90 minutes onboard.

There are no toilets on the bus. Use one before departure. This is one of the most important small details because the route is long enough for the lack of facilities to become inconvenient.

People with back problems and pregnant women are listed as unsuitable for the activity. The ride involves fixed seating and normal city traffic, so anyone who needs more physical comfort should choose a different afternoon tea setting.

Wheelchair access needs careful checking. Wheelchair users can sit on the lower deck, but they must occupy one of the fixed-position seats, and the activity is also listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users. Those details do not fully align, so contact Golden Tours before booking to confirm that the specific bus and seating arrangement will work for you.

Smoking, alcohol not supplied as part of the permitted service, and drugs are not allowed. Bring a camera and water. Personal expenses and hotel pickup or drop-off are not included.

Is $79 a fair price?

At $79 per person, the price is higher than buying a basic tea and taking a regular sightseeing bus separately. You are paying for the combination: a themed host, a plated tea service, a glass of prosecco or soft drink, ABBA music, and a 90-minute sightseeing route.

The value improves if you enjoy the theme. A couple or group celebrating a birthday may find the service and shared mood worth the extra cost. The birthday shout-out, help with photographs, colored sunglasses, and small souvenirs can make the outing feel more personal than a standard city tour.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a top-quality afternoon tea or serious sightseeing. The sandwich quality may disappoint, the playlist may not focus on the most famous ABBA songs, and traffic can affect both the timing and the views. You also cannot leave the bus to spend time at the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, or any other landmark.

I would compare it with the cost of an afternoon tea in a hotel, but not as a direct replacement. A hotel gives you more comfortable seating and a calmer meal. This bus gives you movement, music, city views, and a social atmosphere. Decide which part matters most to you.

Who will enjoy the Here We Go Again bus?

I would recommend it most for:

• ABBA fans who enjoy singing in a group
• Birthday groups and friends looking for a lighthearted London outing
• First-time visitors who want to see several landmarks without a long walking route
• People who prefer a planned activity with food included
• Families with children aged five and older, provided an adult accompanies anyone aged 15 or under
• Anyone who likes photos, themed accessories, and a little harmless theater

I would hesitate if you want quiet conversation, a private table, a luxury tea room, or a precise sightseeing schedule. I would also think twice if you dislike heat, have back problems, need a toilet close by, or expect every ABBA song to be a famous favorite.

The strongest part is the staff. Good hosts can turn an ordinary bus ride into a happy occasion, and Chris and Odun show how much that matters. The food is good enough to support the experience, though not so refined that it becomes the main reason to book.

Booking advice and final verdict

You can cancel for a full refund up to three days in advance. Check the available starting times, since the experience lasts 1.5 hours and operates at set departures.

Book this if you want London sightseeing with a playful soundtrack, not a formal cultural tour. You will see major landmarks, eat a recognizable British tea, and have a chance to sing along while the bus handles the city streets. The route can change, the bus may run warm, and the food has a few weak spots, but attentive staff and a cheerful theme give the outing its value.

My call: book it for a celebration or an ABBA-loving group, especially if you enjoy being part of the show. Skip it for a quiet, high-end afternoon tea or a landmark tour that depends on exact stops and long photo breaks.

FAQ

How long does the afternoon tea bus last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours.

Where do I meet the bus?

Meet at Golden Tours Stop 1. Look for the pink-striped bus with a large The English Tea Bus sign on its side.

What food is included?

You receive traditional finger sandwiches, fresh scones, sweet treats, cupcakes, and tea.

Is a drink included?

Yes. You receive a glass of prosecco or a soft drink. Prosecco is served only to people aged 18 and over, and valid identification is required.

Which London landmarks might I see?

The route may include Buckingham Palace, Waterloo, Westminster, London Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben, the Shard, and the Tower of London. The route can change because of traffic and road closures.

Is the ABBA experience officially connected with ABBA?

No. The product is not official and is not endorsed by ABBA.

Can I request a vegetarian or special-diet meal?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options are available if you notify the company at least 24 hours before the visit. Dietary requests cannot be handled on the day.

Are there toilets on the bus?

No. There are no toilets onboard.

Can children and wheelchair users take part?

Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult, and children under five are not allowed. Wheelchair users may sit on the lower deck in a fixed-position seat, but the activity is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users, so confirm the arrangement with Golden Tours before booking.