Tours/London/Royal London Tour with Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace
Viator · group up to 52 pax

Royal London Tour with Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

4.3(6)London1 hour
VIATOR4.3(3)TRIPADVISOR4.3(3)

Description

This fantastic half-day tour provides the perfect introduction to London's major landmarks. See the best bits of London in only half a day and learn all about London's history with your Expert Blue Badge Guide. Plus, watch the Changing of the Guard* at Buckingham Palace, an event steeped in tradition and ceremony. After the tour, Experience afternoon tea with a royal flair at the 5-star Rubens at the Palace hotel. • A fantastic introduction to the history of London • Enjoy a relaxing tour of London with an Expert Blue Badge Guide • See London's most iconic sights and landmarks • Afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel, overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace • Freshly-baked scones slathered with clotted cream accompanied with home-made preserves

Tour Options

Royal London Tour with Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

Itinerary

Pass by

Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and a burial site for English and, later, British monarchs.

Pass by

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England,[1] although the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower.[2] The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Pass by

The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Pass by

10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the First Lord of the Treasury, usually also the prime minister.

Pass by

Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London. The road forms the first part of the A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea. It is the main thoroughfare running south from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Square

Pass by

Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, established in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. The Square's name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar.

Admission not included40 min

Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the home of The King, the focus of national and royal celebrations as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony.

40 min

Stop to watch a ceremony that is the epitome of the pomp and pageantry for which Britain is famous for around the world.

Admission included240 min

The Rubens at the Palace Hotel is a luxurious, 5-star venue situated a stone's throw away from the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. Relax and enjoy traditional afternoon tea in the lavish Palace Lounge, a bright, open space with panoramic views of The Queen's stables. Watch the comings and goings of the royal carriages as you dine on a selection of sumptuous sandwiches, delectable, fresh-made pastries and traditional scones with clotted cream and fruit preserve.

Highlights

Wi-Fi & USB Charging On-board
Expert Live Blue Badge Guide
Superior Coach
Personal Audio Headset
Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel

What's included

Included
Wi-Fi & USB Charging On-board
Expert Live Blue Badge Guide
Superior Coach
Personal Audio Headset
Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel
Not included
Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
Champagne

Traveller Ratings

4.3
6 reviews
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4
4
0
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2
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Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • For a wheelchair user : Please inform us in advance if you intend to bring wheelchair.
  • The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace has resumed and currently takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
  • Where there is no Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace we will see the Changing of the Guard at Horse Guards Parade instead.
  • Royal London Tour Finishes: 12:00 pm, and is followed by the Afternoon Tea
  • Afternoon Tea at the Rubens at the Palace is an independent visit and takes place straight after the Royal London Tour
  • Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: Please inform us of any dietary requirements at least 48 hours in advance, including requests for vegetarian, vegan, halal or gluten-free Afternoon Teas

Reviews(6)

K
Kenny_W
June 8, 2026
Tea at Reuben's not recommended at all

Despite the details clearly said that Sunday is a day that has the guards changing, it never happened. Very disappointed. The afternoon tea at the Reuben's was particularly underwhelming. We were stuck in a tinniest table seated in a love seat which is not wide enough even for 2 slim persons. It almost felt like we were cramped inside a cage, with us facing the street and people passing by can see us. Food was not particularly attractive, taste very averafr and presentation was not elegant at all. How would anyone say that this experience is better than the afternoon tea at Harrod's. It was not even close. This one is only worth a 2 out of 10. Guess who could get at least 9 out of 10. A hint : not the one at Reuben's.

M
M9432GXjohnd
June 16, 2025
Greta service

We had the opportunity to enjoy Royal Tea at The Ruben at the Palace Hotel. It was fantastic. The food was fantastic with great care taken in all courses. The tea selection was broad and offered a couple we had have seen before. The service made the largest difference. Rebecca was amazing. She was very attentive but not intrusive. She was very pleasant and helped guide us through the tea selections as well. She was fantastic. I would recommend afternoon tea at The Ruben at the Palace Hotel.

Operator response

Dear M9432GXjohnd, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel. We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Royal Tea and appreciated the carefully prepared food and extensive tea selection. Rebecca sounds like a truly exceptional host, and we’re delighted she made such a positive impact on your visit with her attentive and pleasant service. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope you’ll have many more memorable moments with Evan Evans Tours in the future! Warm regards, Evan Evans Tours Customer Service Team

E
edmargie92
May 16, 2025
A+ experience

Kevin was very knowledgeable and made it exciting for us. The day was filled with lots of history and beautiful scenes of Downtown Abbey show

Operator response

Dear, edmargie92 Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that Kevin brought the history to life and made your day so enjoyable. It’s wonderful that you were able to take in the beautiful scenery and relive moments from Downton Abbey. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon! Warm regards, The Evan Evans Team

I
Ingrid_R
May 25, 2024
Outstanding

We had a magnificent experience at The Rubens tea room, the finger sandwiches as well as the scones and pastries were fantastic. The service was excellent; I am so glad I brought my girls to here! Making beautiful memories!

Operator response

Hello Ingrid_R Thank you so much for this lovely review, we are so happy to hear you had such a good experience with us. Guest satisfaction is our top priority. We're constantly looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

M
michelle_y
April 4, 2023
Loved the afternoon tea...

Loved the afternoon tea at Ruben's at the Palace. Would highly recommend trying it out. The house cocktails are wonderful

Operator response

Hello Michelle, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

L
Larry S
September 4, 2022
Terrible connection but the rest was good

Mixed bag! Dave and driver were good BUT the connection to the afternoon tea was a disaster. They dropped us off there and we had to walk nearly a mile to Rueben’s. I have trouble walking and that is why we selected this. Took over 30 minutes and I was whipped after trying to figure out how to get there. The restaurant gave away our table because we were late. Had a terrible time showing them we had paid thru the tour. Like it was the first time. Did not recognize our tour ticket. After we settled down the “Tea” was quite good

Operator response

Dear Larry, Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that the guide dropped you off at our office instead of the Rubens, that was an oversight from his side and we apologise for any inconvenience that caused. Our office team called the Rubens to ensure they would wait for you, so we are surprised and sorry to hear that you had issues upon arrival. If you wish to discuss your experience further, please email reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

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