London: Riverside Afternoon Tea with Champagne or Gin

Tea tastes better beside the Thames. This one-hour afternoon tea at Clipper Lounge EMB pairs classic scones, finger sandwiches, and sweet treats with either Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Champagne or a Clipper Cup gin cocktail. I like the relaxed riverside setting, and I like the choice of classic, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free sandwich platters. The main thing to consider is the short one-hour schedule, which gives you time to eat but not much time to linger.

I also like that children receive their own menu, a hot chocolate or soft drink, and a glow-in-the-dark rubber duck. That small gift gives the experience a playful family angle without turning the whole meal into a children’s event. For adults, though, the setting and drink pairing are the main attractions.

Key points at a glance

• A Thames-side setting: Clipper Lounge EMB sits on Embankment Pier, giving you views of the river and central London landmarks while you eat.
• A choice of celebratory drinks: Your adult booking includes Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Champagne or a Clipper Cup gin cocktail, with tea, coffee, or a soft drink also available.
• Several sandwich menus: Choose classic, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options, but confirm your selection at least 72 hours before the date.
• A genuine family option: Children receive sandwiches, a scone with cream and jam, sweet treats, a hot chocolate or soft drink, and a glow-in-the-dark rubber duck.
• A compact one-hour format: The experience suits a short London break, but you will need to keep an eye on the time.
• Helpful service can make the occasion special: Cheryl is specifically praised for friendly service, while a birthday child received extra attention and cake.

What this riverside afternoon tea actually is

This is an afternoon tea served at Clipper Lounge EMB, a riverside café bar at Embankment Pier. You are not signing up for a sightseeing cruise, and the information provided does not promise that the venue moves along the Thames. Think of it as a seated tea experience with a river view, not a boat tour.

That distinction matters. If you want a proper afternoon tea with a central London setting, this works well. If you are expecting the full river to roll past as you cruise toward Tower Bridge, choose a separate Thames sightseeing boat instead.

The experience lasts one hour. That is enough time for the main food and drink, especially if you arrive ready to settle in. It is less suitable if you want a long, leisurely social meal with several extra drinks.

The location is useful for sightseeing days around central London. Embankment Pier places you close to the river and its well-known landmarks, so you can combine tea with a walk along the Thames before or after. The exact meeting point is reached through the Embankment Pier exit, with the entrance marked by the location code ///catch.jaws.deep.

Arriving at Embankment Pier

The first part of the experience is simple but worth planning carefully. You need to enter through the Embankment Pier exit, rather than treating the venue like an ordinary street café. The listed entrance is wheelchair accessible, which is important for anyone checking access before booking.

I would allow enough time to find the pier entrance. A one-hour tea does not leave much room to lose ten minutes on the approach, especially if you are meeting friends or bringing children. The host or greeter speaks English, and the experience is operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

Once seated, the point of the venue becomes clear: the river is part of the meal. You can look out toward the Thames and central London landmarks while enjoying the food. It is a pleasant way to pause in the middle of a sightseeing day without leaving the city center.

The adult afternoon tea menu

The food follows the familiar afternoon tea pattern. You receive fresh scones with jam and cream, delicate finger sandwiches, sweet treats, and a choice of tea or coffee.

The scones are the heart of the meal for many people. They bring the classic cream-and-jam combination that makes afternoon tea feel like afternoon tea rather than simply a small lunch. The sandwich selection gives the meal enough savory food to balance the sweets.

Your included adult drink is either a glass of Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Champagne or a Clipper Cup gin cocktail. You can also choose a soft drink alternative. Tea or coffee is included as well, so you are not left with only an alcoholic option.

The champagne makes the experience feel like a small celebration. It suits birthdays, anniversaries, or a special stop during a London visit. The gin cocktail offers a more distinctly British choice, though the exact recipe is not specified, so you should not expect a particular gin brand or flavor profile beyond the name Clipper Cup.

Additional drinks are not included. I would keep that in mind when judging the price, especially if you want to stay longer or order more than the included serving.

Choosing the right sandwich platter

You need to select your sandwich platter when booking and confirm the menu choice at least 72 hours before the selected date. This is not a detail to leave until the last moment, particularly if several people in your group have different dietary needs.

The classic mixed platter includes:

• Roast chicken salad
• Mature Cheddar Ploughman’s
• Tuna, sweetcorn, and cucumber
• Egg mayonnaise and cress
• British ham and mature Cheddar

This is the best pick if you want a traditional mixed selection with meat, fish, cheese, and egg options.

The vegetarian platter includes mature Cheddar Ploughman’s, egg mayonnaise and cress, and Mexican bean and avocado. It offers more than a single cheese sandwich, but the range is naturally narrower than the classic platter.

The vegan platter includes Mexican bean and avocado, vegan Cheddar Ploughman’s, This Isn’t Coronation Chicken, and This Isn’t Chicken and Sweetcorn. Selecting this platter also changes the rest of the tea: you receive vegan scones and plant-based sweet treats instead of the traditional versions.

That is useful because the plant-based option is not just a sandwich substitution. The entire food selection is adjusted. If you are arranging a group booking, make sure the menu choices are clear well before the 72-hour deadline.

The gluten-free platter includes chicken salad and Cheddar Ploughman’s. The information provided does not list gluten-free versions of every sweet item, so anyone with a strict medical requirement should confirm the available food details before booking.

The children’s menu and rubber duck

The children’s menu is a thoughtful part of this experience. Young diners receive a scone with cream and jam, bite-sized sandwiches, sweet treats, and a hot chocolate or soft drink.

The standard children’s mixed platter contains plain cheese, plain ham, and tuna sweetcorn. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free children’s platters are also available using the stated menu selections.

The glow-in-the-dark rubber duck is the memorable extra. It gives children a souvenir that feels connected to the riverside setting without adding a large amount of clutter to the meal. For parents, this can be the difference between a child seeing afternoon tea as an adult activity and seeing it as something made partly for them.

The family experience can also be tailored for a birthday. A child celebrating a birthday received extra attention and cake, which suggests that it is worth mentioning a special occasion when arranging the booking. I would not treat the cake as a guaranteed inclusion, but notifying the team is sensible if you are marking a birthday.

What makes the Thames view worthwhile

London has no shortage of places serving afternoon tea. The reason to choose this one is the setting.

From Embankment Pier, you get the river as a natural backdrop rather than sitting in an enclosed hotel dining room. The view gives the meal a stronger sense of place, and it lets you combine a well-known British food tradition with central London scenery.

The pier location also works well for a break in a busy day. You can spend the morning visiting sights, then stop for tea and a drink without committing to a full evening meal. The river view changes the mood from sightseeing rush to a short period of calm.

The setting is not completely private or silent. A pier and café bar are part of a working riverside area, so I would choose this for atmosphere and views rather than hushed luxury. The experience feels more casual than a grand hotel afternoon tea, which may be a benefit if you want something less formal.

Service, timing, and the overall mood

Friendly service matters during a short meal. You have only an hour, so prompt attention helps the experience feel relaxed rather than hurried. Cheryl is specifically praised for being very friendly, and that sort of personal service can make a difference when you are celebrating or managing a family meal.

The one-hour format is both a strength and a limitation. It keeps the experience affordable and easy to fit between other plans. It also means you should not expect the slow pace of a long afternoon sitting.

I would arrive with your menu decision already settled. If you need to explain several dietary requirements at the table, or if your group wants to order extra drinks, the available time can pass quickly. Tea and coffee are included, but extra beverages cost more.

The calm riverside mood is another plus. One recent birthday visit was described as especially quiet and pleasant beside the Thames, with staff giving the child extra attention. That makes this a good choice for a small celebration rather than a loud group gathering.

Is $57 a fair price?

At $57 per person, the value depends on what you want from afternoon tea. The price includes the main food, tea or coffee, and one adult serving of champagne or a gin cocktail. It also includes the riverside setting, which is a meaningful part of the appeal.

Compared with buying a drink, sandwich, and dessert separately in central London, the package gives you a clear meal rather than a series of small purchases. You also avoid the uncertainty of choosing individual items and finding that a special drink pushes the bill higher.

The price is less attractive if you are mainly looking for a full river cruise. This experience does not describe a moving boat journey or a long sightseeing route, so do not pay for it with cruise expectations in mind.

Families should also check the total cost carefully, since children have their own paid menu and extra drinks are not included. Still, the dedicated children’s food and rubber duck add practical value for parents who want their children included rather than simply seated beside an adult tea.

The strongest value comes when you care about three things at once: the Thames setting, a celebratory drink, and a traditional afternoon tea format. If only the food matters, other cafés may offer a cheaper snack. If the setting matters, this package makes more sense.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to couples looking for a small London celebration, families who want a child-friendly tea, and visitors who need a one-hour break near the river.

It also suits anyone who wants a classic British meal without spending half a day at a formal hotel. The champagne gives it a special-occasion feel, while the gin cocktail offers a lighter, more contemporary choice.

This is less suited to you if you want a long meal, a full sightseeing cruise, or a large amount of food. The menu sounds substantial for afternoon tea, but it is not presented as a full lunch or dinner. You should also think carefully about the booking deadline if your plans are still changing.

The menu flexibility is a real advantage for mixed groups. Classic, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and children’s choices make it easier to book one shared experience instead of splitting up for different meals.

Practical details before you book

Bookings are required at least 72 hours in advance, and menu choices should be confirmed by that point. This is especially important for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free requests.

The activity is wheelchair accessible through the Embankment Pier exit. The host or greeter operates in English, and free cancellation is available up to three days before the date for a full refund.

I would save the meeting point code, ///catch.jaws.deep, before leaving your hotel. That is a small step, but it can help when you are navigating around the Thames and looking for the correct pier entrance.

The experience is offered at set starting times, so check availability before building the rest of your day around it. With only one hour at the table, arriving late would cut into the meal.

Should you book the Thames afternoon tea?

Book this if you want a compact, scenic London tea with a proper drink, flexible sandwich choices, and a family-friendly touch. The Thames view, calm setting, included champagne or gin cocktail, and thoughtful children’s menu give it more character than a basic café tea.

I would skip it if your main goal is a river cruise or a long, formal afternoon tea. For everyone else, the $57 price is reasonable when you use the setting and included drink as part of the value. Confirm your menu early, arrive through the correct pier entrance, and treat the one-hour schedule as a focused riverside pause rather than an all-afternoon event.

FAQ

Where does the afternoon tea take place?

It takes place at Clipper Lounge EMB on Embankment Pier in London, beside the River Thames.

How long does the experience last?

The afternoon tea lasts one hour.

What drink is included for adults?

You can choose a glass of Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Champagne or a Clipper Cup gin cocktail. A soft drink alternative is also available.

Are tea and coffee included?

Yes. A choice of tea or coffee is included.

What food is included?

The adult menu includes fresh scones with jam and cream, finger sandwiches, and sweet treats.

Can I request a vegetarian or vegan menu?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan sandwich platters are available. The vegan choice also includes vegan scones and plant-based sweet treats.

Is a gluten-free menu available?

Yes. A gluten-free sandwich platter is available, with chicken salad and Cheddar Ploughman’s selections.

What does the children’s menu include?

Children receive a scone with cream and jam, bite-sized sandwiches, sweet treats, and a hot chocolate or soft drink.

Do children receive a gift?

Yes. Children receive a glow-in-the-dark rubber duck.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The accessible entrance is via the Embankment Pier exit.

How far in advance must I book?

Bookings are required 72 hours in advance, and menu choices should be confirmed at least 72 hours before the selected date.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to three days in advance for a full refund.