Booking choice: The Royal High Tea, from $169 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
"Royal afternoon tea" is used loosely in London. Some venues are royal, some are near royal places, and some just borrow the theme. The four below are bookable, rated and easy to compare.
The quick answer
For a genuinely royal setting, choose afternoon tea at Kensington Palace's Orangery, on the Royal High Tea tour or booked direct. For a royal-themed hotel tea near Buckingham Palace, The Rubens at the Palace. For a cosy hotel opposite Kensington Gardens, The Milestone. For sightseeing with scones, the afternoon tea bus.
How do London's royal teas compare?
Only the Kensington Palace tea is served on royal palace grounds; the others are hotels and a bus.
| Tea | Setting | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal High Tea, Kensington | The Orangery, beside the palace | $169 | 4.6 (1,060) |
| The Rubens at the Palace | Hotel opposite the Royal Mews | $111 | 4.5 (259) |
| The Milestone Hotel | Hotel facing Kensington Gardens | $115 | 4.5 (87) |
| Afternoon tea bus | Vintage double-decker | $66 | 4.2 (875) |
The only one on royal ground: check dates for the Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace.
Check dates for the Royal High TeaKensington Palace: the real royal setting
Afternoon tea in Queen Anne's 1704 Orangery, after a guided walk through Kensington Gardens.
The Royal High Tea rates 4.6 from 1,060 reviews. You can also book the Orangery directly from £55; see tour vs booking direct.
The Rubens at the Palace: royal views by Buckingham Palace
A classic hotel afternoon tea opposite the Royal Mews, a few minutes from Buckingham Palace.
From $111 with 259 reviews. Pair it with the Changing of the Guard for a royal day without a park walk.
The Milestone: a cosy tea opposite Kensington Gardens
A townhouse hotel across the road from the gardens, with a traditional tea in panelled rooms.
From $115. A good choice if you want to be in Kensington without the guided walk.
Prefer a hotel lounge? The Milestone faces Kensington Gardens.
Explore afternoon tea at The MilestoneThe afternoon tea bus: sightseeing and scones
Tea on the upper deck of a vintage bus, past Big Ben, Westminster and Piccadilly.
From $66, rated 4.2 from 875 reviews. More fun than formal, and great with children.
Can you combine the Changing of the Guard with tea?
Yes: one tour combines the Changing of the Guard, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace and an optional tea at the Orangery.
It runs about five and a half hours and is from $93; tea is included only on the tea option.
Want the whole royal day? Guards, Hyde Park and the palace in one tour.
Explore the Changing of the Guard dayWhich should you choose?
Pick by setting: palace grounds, a royal-adjacent hotel, a Kensington hotel or a moving bus.
- A genuinely royal setting: the Orangery at Kensington Palace.
- Near Buckingham Palace: The Rubens.
- Quiet and cosy: The Milestone.
- Sightseeing and fun: the afternoon tea bus.
- A special occasion: the private royal high tea.
Decided on the palace? Check dates for the Royal High Tea.
Check dates for the Royal High TeaFrequently asked questions
Does Buckingham Palace serve afternoon tea?
Buckingham Palace has no year-round public tea room; the royal teas near it are served at hotels such as The Rubens. Kensington Palace's Orangery serves tea year round.
Which royal afternoon tea is best for first-timers?
The Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace, because it adds a guide and the stories to a genuinely royal setting.
Which is the cheapest?
The afternoon tea bus, from $66; the Orangery direct from £55 is the cheapest royal-setting option.
Ready to book
Choose your tea
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace
- Guided walk from Queensway station: Italian Gardens, Peter Pan, Round Pond, Diana's stories
- Full afternoon tea at the Orangery: sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, cakes, tea
- Private table (not shared with strangers); small group of up to 12
Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace
A hotel tea with a royal theme, no walk
