London: “Here We Go Again” Afternoon Tea Bus

London sightseeing gets a musical makeover on this ABBA afternoon tea bus, where you ride through central London with finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, tea, and a glass of prosecco or soft drink. The bus takes in landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye, the Shard, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace while ABBA songs play.

I like the smart pairing of tea and sightseeing: you can take a break from London’s pavements without giving up the city views. I also like the friendly, party-ready service. Host Odun was singled out for keeping the mood going, while the driver handled London traffic carefully. The main drawback is that the route depends on traffic and road closures, and the ABBA playlist may not include every song you hope to hear.

Key points to know before you book

• Pink double-decker setting: Meet a pink striped bus marked The English Tea Bus at Golden Tours Stop 1.
• A real afternoon tea spread: Expect finger sandwiches, fresh scones, fine teas, cupcakes, and other sweet treats.
• London landmarks from the road: The route passes Waterloo, Westminster, London Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Shard, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace.
• ABBA sing-along atmosphere: The experience is designed for shared fun, not quiet formal tea.
• Good service can shape the day: Host Odun received special praise for keeping the group involved and cheerful.
• Plan around practical limits: There are no toilets on board, tables may be shared, and special diets must be requested at least 72 hours ahead.

A London bus ride with an ABBA soundtrack

This is not a sedate hotel afternoon tea with a view of one landmark. It is a moving show, meal, and sightseeing ride rolled into 90 minutes. The pink bus gives the experience its look, while ABBA supplies the theme and the sing-along energy.

I would choose this for a birthday, a family outing with older children, or an afternoon when you want London sightseeing to feel playful. It works best if you enjoy being part of a group. If you want a silent meal, a carefully staged tea service, or time to stop for photographs, this is probably the wrong format.

The tour is in English, and the driver handles the road while the host and service team manage the tea and music. The strongest service detail available is the mention of Odun, who kept the party spirit alive during one outing. That matters here because the host is not just delivering food. The host helps turn a bus full of strangers into a shared event.

Meeting the pink bus at Golden Tours Stop 1

You meet at Golden Tours Stop 1. Look for the pink striped bus with the large The English Tea Bus sign on its side. The activity returns to this same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back to your hotel.

I would arrive with enough time to identify the correct bus and settle in. One party had trouble because an earlier driver gave unclear information about the departure, then left without explaining that another bus would follow. The situation was resolved after a call to the provider, but the lesson is simple: if the meeting point seems confusing, contact Golden Tours rather than assuming you have missed the experience.

The route and start time vary by availability, so check the selected departure carefully when booking. The ride lasts about 1.5 hours, which is long enough for a meal and city views but short enough to fit beside another London plan.

Afternoon tea with a moving view

The meal follows the familiar pattern of British afternoon tea. You can expect traditional finger sandwiches, scones, fine tea, cupcakes, sweet treats, and a glass of prosecco or a soft drink. This is a useful way to sample the custom without setting aside half an afternoon at a grand hotel.

The moving bus changes the experience. You are not sitting in one dining room looking at one fixed view. Instead, the city keeps shifting outside the windows as the meal arrives in courses or serving stages. You might be watching a landmark one moment and ordinary London streets the next. That mixture gives the ride a more casual, sightseeing-first feel.

Do not expect a private table. You may have to share, and the small number of people on one reported bus created a more open, relaxed outing. A fuller bus could feel more social and energetic, while a quieter departure could suit a family celebration or a small group better.

The food received positive attention, with one outing described as lovely and well served. Still, the price is not only paying for sandwiches and cakes. You are paying for the bus setting, the hosted music, the driving route, and the convenience of combining tea with London sights. At $79.47 per person, the value depends on how much you want that combination. If you would happily pay for a formal tea and a separate sightseeing ride, the package can make sense. If you mainly want a low-cost way to see landmarks, a regular bus or walking route will cost less.

Waterloo, Westminster, and the central London route

The ride takes you through several parts of central London, including Waterloo, Westminster, and London Bridge. These are not hop-on, hop-off stops. The bus keeps moving, and the landmarks are viewed from your seat rather than explored on foot.

Waterloo gives the route a practical London starting point, with its major transport links and position near the South Bank. From there, the city opens toward Westminster, where the views become more instantly recognizable. You may see Big Ben and the London Eye among the main sights, giving you the classic London picture without dealing with underground stations, crowded pavements, or a long walking route.

London Bridge brings another change of scene. The area connects the historic heart of the city with the modern towers near the river, including the Shard. The Tower of London is also listed among the sights along the route. These landmarks represent very different sides of London, and the bus lets you compare them in one short circuit.

The route can change because of traffic and road closures. That is normal for a road-based city tour, but it means you should not treat the published landmark list as a promise that the bus will stop beside every sight or show each one from the best angle. Think of the landmarks as part of a flowing city view.

Big Ben, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace

The most photogenic stretch may be the run through Westminster and nearby central London. Big Ben gives you the instantly recognizable clock tower view, while the London Eye adds the modern wheel shape that dominates the South Bank skyline.

You can also take in Buckingham Palace along the way. A bus view is brief, but it gives you a useful first look at the location before deciding if you want to return on foot. The same goes for the Tower of London and the Shard. The tour is best at introducing these sights and placing them in your mental map, not at replacing a proper visit.

Bring a camera, as suggested, but keep expectations sensible. London traffic, the bus windows, and the moving route can make some views quick. I would use this as a relaxed orientation ride and save detailed photographs for later walks.

The description refers to seeing London from the water, but the meeting point, pink double-decker bus, and road-based route make clear that this is a bus sightseeing experience. You are looking out from the bus as it passes city landmarks, not booking a boat cruise.

ABBA songs and the social side of the ride

The music is the feature that separates this from a standard tea bus. ABBA songs play as you ride, and you are encouraged to sing along with the other people on board. That creates a friendly, shared mood that can make the short route feel like an event rather than simple transport.

The theme suits devoted ABBA fans, but you do not need to know every song to take part. Still, the playlist may affect your enjoyment. One birthday outing felt that a few more widely known ABBA songs would have improved the trip. I would book this expecting a selection of top hits, not a complete concert or a guaranteed list of favorite tracks.

The experience is not official and is not endorsed by ABBA. That is worth knowing if you are looking for an authorized band event. Here, the appeal is the familiar music, pink bus, tea service, and London backdrop.

The music also changes the age range. Children aged 15 and under must be with a paying adult, and children under five are not allowed. Older children, teenagers, parents, and grandparents can all find something to enjoy, especially if the group likes singing together. Alcohol is served only to people aged 18 and over, with valid identification required.

Food choices and the 72-hour diet deadline

The menu includes standard, vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free choices. This is helpful for a mixed group, but you must plan ahead. Special dietary requests need to be made at least 72 hours before the visit.

Do not wait until you board. The operator cannot promise to change the meal on the day, so a last-minute request may leave you with the standard option. The food may also have been in contact with nuts or other allergens, meaning people with serious allergies should consider that limitation carefully before booking.

A glass of prosecco is included for adults, with a soft drink available as the alternative. Personal expenses are not included, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided. You arrange your own way to the meeting point and back afterward.

Comfort, access, and who should skip it

There are no toilets on board. I would use facilities before arriving, especially because the ride lasts 90 minutes and includes food and drinks.

Wheelchair access is limited. A wheelchair user can sit on the lower deck but must use one of the fixed-position seats. The activity is also listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users, pregnant women, and people with back problems, so check your own needs with the provider before paying.

The moving setting means you should expect some road motion while eating. One reported driver was praised for driving carefully, which is reassuring, but no bus ride through London can be perfectly smooth. If you have back trouble or find eating in a moving vehicle uncomfortable, choose a stationary afternoon tea instead.

Tables may be shared, and smoking, alcohol brought from outside, and drugs are not allowed. The included prosecco is part of the service, not an invitation to treat the bus as a private drinking party.

Is $79.47 a fair price?

At $79.47 per person, this is a special-occasion purchase rather than a budget sightseeing ticket. The price includes the 90-minute bus ride, the tea spread, a prosecco or soft drink, the hosted ABBA sing-along, and views of several major London sights.

I see the value most clearly for people who want several elements at once. You get a meal, music, and a central London route without booking separate activities. A birthday group can also appreciate the built-in celebration, especially since one outing was used for a daughter’s 21st birthday.

The value is weaker if you care mainly about landmark access. You will not get off at Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Shard, or the Tower of London. You also cannot control the route if traffic or road closures force changes. For detailed sightseeing, spend your money on individual visits and walks. For a cheerful shared experience, the price is easier to justify.

My verdict: book it for the mood, not the checklist

I would book this if you like ABBA, enjoy afternoon tea, and want a light London outing with a celebratory feel. The combination of fresh scones, small sandwiches, sweet treats, city views, and sing-along music is unusual, and the friendly host can make a real difference.

I would skip it if you need a quiet meal, guaranteed close-up views, easy wheelchair access, or a fully controlled food service. Go in expecting a moving party with sightseeing along the way, not a formal tea room or a landmark tour with stops. For the right group, especially an ABBA-loving family or birthday party, it offers a memorable way to spend 90 minutes in London.

FAQ

How long does the ABBA afternoon tea bus last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the bus depart?

You meet at Golden Tours Stop 1. Look for the pink striped bus with The English Tea Bus sign on its side.

Where does the experience finish?

The bus returns to the meeting point at the end of the activity.

What food is included?

The afternoon tea includes traditional finger sandwiches, sweet treats, fresh scones, fine teas, cupcakes, and other listed tea items.

Is a drink included?

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

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children under five are not allowed.

Can I request a special diet?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options are available. You must submit dietary or allergy requests at least 72 hours before the visit.

Are there toilets on the bus?

No. There are no toilets on board.

Can wheelchair users join?

Wheelchair users can sit on the lower deck in a fixed-position seat, but the activity is also listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users. Confirm the arrangements with the provider before booking.