Booking choice: The Royal High Tea, from $169 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The confusing part of searching for "royal high tea at Kensington Palace" is that the prices range from about £55 to well over $250. They are not all the same thing. The Orangery sells afternoon tea directly, tour companies sell a guided walk with the tea included, and the palace sells its own entry ticket separately.
The Orangery prices below are from its last published menu and the palace prices from Historic Royal Palaces for 2026. Tour prices are live Viator from-prices, which move with the date and the options you pick.
The quick answer
Booked directly, the Orangery lists afternoon tea from £55 per adult, £64 with Pimm's, £68 with English sparkling wine and £29 for children. The guided Royal High Tea tour is from $169 per person and adds a garden walk, a guide and a private table. Palace entry is separate: £24.70 per adult in 2026, or an add-on at tour checkout.
How much is afternoon tea at the Orangery?
The Orangery's afternoon tea is listed from £55 per adult, rising to £64 with Pimm's and £68 with a glass of English sparkling wine; children's afternoon tea is £29.
The adult price on the menu includes an optional £1 donation to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that runs the palace. Sittings are about 90 minutes. Check the current menu when you book, because restaurant prices change more often than tour listings.
| Option | Price | What you get | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoon Tea | £55 | Sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea | The Orangery |
| Royal Afternoon Tea with Pimm's | £64 | The same, with a glass of Pimm's | The Orangery |
| Royal Afternoon Tea with sparkling wine | £68 | The same, with English sparkling wine | The Orangery |
| Children's Afternoon Tea | £29 | A smaller stand for children | The Orangery |
How much is the Royal High Tea tour?
The Royal High Tea is from $169 per person on Viator, including the guided walk through Kensington Gardens and a full afternoon tea at a private table in the Orangery.
Palace entry is an option you choose at checkout, so the final price depends on whether you want to go inside. Alcohol and gratuities are not included. The tour rates 4.6 from 1,060 reviews.
Have a date in mind? The Royal High Tea includes the walk, the guide and a private table, with free cancellation.
Check dates for the Royal High TeaWhy does the tour cost more than booking direct?
Because you are paying for a guide, about an hour of royal stories in the gardens and a reserved private table, not just the food.
The tea is the same Orangery afternoon tea either way. What the tour adds is the walk from Queensway past the Italian Gardens, the Peter Pan statue and the Round Pond, a guide who explains the park, Queen Victoria and Diana, and a table that is already booked for your group. The main complaint in reviews is exactly this gap: a few guests felt they could have booked the tea on their own. Most rate the stories as the best part.
Is Kensington Palace entry included?
Not by default. On all three Kensington tea tours, palace entry is an add-on at checkout; on its own, a ticket is £24.70 for adults and £12.40 for children under 16 in 2026.
If you want to go in, adding entry to the tour saves you arranging a timed ticket separately. The Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027, but the King's State Apartments and the exhibitions are open.
Only want the palace? Book timed entry and add the Orangery yourself afterwards.
Explore Kensington Palace ticketsWhat do the other tour options cost?
The VIP version starts at $120 for its a la carte option without food, the best-rated garden tour is from $155, and the private tour is from $268.
| Tour | From | Tea included? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal High Tea | $169 | Yes, full afternoon tea | 4.6 (1,060) |
| VIP afternoon tea | $120 | Only on the tea options | 4.6 (81) |
| Gardens tour and royal tea | $155 | Yes | 4.7 (143) |
| Private royal high tea | $268 | Yes, with sparkling wine | 4.9 (45) |
| Guard change, palace and tea | $93 | Only on the tea option | 4.6 (89) |
What costs extra on the day?
Alcoholic drinks, gratuities and palace entry, unless your option includes them.
Tips for the guide are at your discretion. At the Orangery, drinks beyond your tea are charged separately, and restaurants in London often add an optional service charge to the bill; check it before you pay twice.
Which option is the best value?
For the tea alone, booking the Orangery directly; for a first visit with stories and no planning, the Royal High Tea tour.
If you are torn, read tour vs booking direct. Families should also see Kensington Palace with kids for the children's tea.
Want the stories as well as the scones? Check dates for the Royal High Tea.
Check dates for the Royal High TeaHow far ahead should you book?
A week or two ahead for weekends and summer; less in quiet months.
The tours cancel free up to 24 hours before, so booking early costs you nothing if plans change. Direct Orangery tables also fill at peak times, and walk-ins are not guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Is afternoon tea at Kensington Palace expensive?
It is in line with other historic London venues: from £55 per adult booked directly, less than many luxury hotel teas. The guided tours cost more because they include a guide and the garden walk.
Do I pay for the tour in dollars or pounds?
Viator shows prices in your currency; the figures on this site are in US dollars. The Orangery and the palace charge in pounds.
Is there a service charge at the Orangery?
London restaurants commonly add an optional service charge; check your bill. On the tours, the tea is prepaid and guide gratuities are optional.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before on Viator.
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
Kensington Gardens Tour & Royal Tea
- Guided walk through Kensington Gardens, with the Cradle Walk and Sunken Garden
- Royal afternoon tea at the Orangery: pastries, cakes and sandwiches
- Timed Kensington Palace entry only if you select that option
Private Royal High Tea with Your Own Guide
A private guide, sparkling wine and your own pace
