“Here We Go Again” London Afternoon Tea Bus

London sightseeing gets a playful twist on this ABBA-themed afternoon tea bus, where you ride a classic double-decker while eating sandwiches, cakes, and tea. The route passes Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge, with ABBA songs mixed into the ride.

I like the easy combination of city views and a seated meal, especially if you want to see several landmarks without planning separate stops. I also like the social setup: with a maximum of 26 people, you have a chance to chat with fellow passengers while sharing tea and prosecco.

The main caution is that this is entertainment with sightseeing, not a serious history tour. The music may not be ABBA-only, and dirty windows, heat, or a less-than-perfect meal can reduce the value of the $68.06 price.

Key points to know before booking

• ABBA music is part of the fun, but not always the whole soundtrack: Some departures have included other pop music before or between ABBA songs.
• The 90-minute ride covers famous London views: You pass Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge, but attraction admission is not included.
• Afternoon tea comes with menu choices: Standard, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.
• You get an English audio guide, not a live guide: Commentary points out sights but does not provide a detailed walking-tour experience.
• The bus holds up to 26 people: This keeps the group fairly small, though the serving space is limited.
• Window condition and bus temperature matter: Ask for a comfortable seat if possible, and keep in mind that hot tea on a warm bus may not suit everyone.

What the ABBA tea bus is really like

This experience is best understood as a moving afternoon tea with a London sightseeing route. You board a traditional double-decker at Golden Tours’ Bulleid Way departure point, settle in, and receive food and drinks as the bus travels through central London.

The ABBA theme gives the ride its personality. You may find yourself singing along to familiar songs as famous sights pass outside. That combination works well for people who want something light, social, and distinctly different from a standard sightseeing coach.

The music is not guaranteed to run from start to finish. One account described the first 15 minutes as Adele before ABBA began, while another said ABBA played for only about half the ride. If the music is your main reason for booking, keep your expectations flexible. The title promises an ABBA theme, but the actual balance of songs may vary.

The audio guide provides basic commentary in English. It can point out major landmarks, but there is no live guide on board to answer questions or add personal stories. I would choose this for atmosphere and convenience, not for detailed facts about London.

Starting at Bulleid Way near Victoria

The meeting point is Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, which makes planning easier if you have another London booking afterward.

The area is near public transportation, but you should still allow enough time to find the exact departure point. A double-decker afternoon tea bus cannot wait long for late arrivals, and the experience is tied to a fixed route and serving schedule.

Once aboard, you will have a driver and a tea server rather than a tour director. That setup keeps the ride moving, but it also means the staff have to handle food, drinks, and passenger requests in a compact space. Service can feel hardworking but rushed when the bus is full.

The maximum group size is 26 people. That is smaller than a large sightseeing coach, though it is still a full dining room on wheels. You will be close to other passengers, so this works best if you enjoy a friendly shared setting rather than a quiet private meal.

Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square

The route includes Westminster Abbey, one of London’s most recognizable Gothic buildings. It sits beside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben on Parliament Square and has long been used for coronations.

From the bus, you should expect a view and an audio-guide reference rather than a visit inside. Entry to Westminster Abbey is not part of the package, so you will not have time to explore the church, its memorials, or its interior architecture during this 90-minute ride.

That limitation is important. The bus offers a quick orientation to central London, but it does not replace a proper Westminster visit. I like this part of the route for first-time visitors who want to see the area while eating, especially if they have limited time. If you want historical detail, plan a separate visit.

The location also gives the ride an early sense of place. You are not simply circling anonymous streets. You are moving through one of London’s best-known civic areas while tea service begins.

The London Eye from a moving bus

The London Eye is another major landmark included along the route. Its glass capsules rise 135 metres above the city, giving riders broad views over London.

This tea bus does not include a London Eye ticket or a ride in one of its capsules. You will see the attraction from the route, and the audio guide may identify it, but you should not expect fast-track access, standard entry, or time to queue.

That distinction matters because the sightseeing description can sound fuller than the actual schedule allows. You are getting a passing view, not an attraction visit. Still, the London Eye makes a useful visual marker during the ride, and seeing it from the road helps you understand how the central London sights fit together.

If you already plan to ride the Eye separately, this bus can provide a pleasant preview. If the Eye is your main goal, book its admission on another day or at another time.

Tower Bridge and the eastern end of the route

Tower Bridge brings another famous London landmark into the ride. The bridge took eight years to build and used more than 11,000 tonnes of steel in its towers and walkways.

Again, the bus route gives you an outside view. Admission to the bridge exhibition and walkways is not included, so you will not use the interactive displays or explore the bridge interior as part of this activity.

I like the variety of this route. Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge represent different sides of London, from royal and political landmarks to modern city views and Victorian engineering. Seeing all three in roughly an hour and a half is efficient.

The tradeoff is depth. The audio guide may offer a short introduction, but you will not have time for the kind of detailed explanation you get at Tower Bridge itself. Think of the route as a sampler that helps you decide where to return.

Afternoon tea: good for a light meal, not a grand hotel spread

The food includes afternoon tea with sandwiches, sweets, and hot tea. You can select a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu when booking.

The strongest part of the meal appears to be the desserts. The cakes and sweets have been well received, while the sandwiches can be more uneven. One account described the sandwiches as soggy, so I would not book this expecting the precision of a top London hotel tea.

The serving environment affects the meal. Food arrives on a moving bus, with limited room for the tea server to work. That can mean the presentation feels charming rather than polished. The plastic souvenir mug is a fun touch, though it will not feel as refined as fine china.

Tea is served hot, and prosecco is included for people aged 21 and older under the stated policy. The prosecco may not always be as cold as you hope, particularly on a busy or warm departure. Anyone under 21 receives a non-alcoholic drink instead.

The operator cannot guarantee that food has not come into contact with nuts or other allergens. If you have a serious allergy, the menu options alone may not provide enough protection. Ask before booking and use your own judgment.

The ABBA soundtrack and the social side

The soundtrack is the reason this tour feels different from an ordinary tea bus. Familiar ABBA songs can turn the ride into a singalong, especially when the group is in the mood to participate.

That atmosphere will appeal most to ABBA fans, families celebrating a special occasion, and friends looking for a relaxed afternoon activity. It also gives solo visitors an easy way to share a table and conversation with other people.

Still, the music policy deserves attention. ABBA may not play continuously, and some departures have included other artists. If you want a full ABBA concert experience, this is not it. If you want a themed ride where ABBA is part of the entertainment, it is a better match.

The celebration element is also informal. The host may ask if you are marking a birthday or anniversary, but announcements are not guaranteed for every occasion. I would treat that as a pleasant extra rather than something included with the booking.

Why the lack of a live guide matters

An English audio guide is included, but there is no live guide. That keeps the experience simple and lets the staff focus on driving, food, and drinks.

For some people, this is a benefit. You can listen when you want, chat during the rest of the ride, and enjoy the music without a running lecture. The format feels closer to a themed afternoon out than a traditional guided tour.

For others, it will feel thin. A recorded narrator cannot respond to questions or adjust the commentary to what you are seeing. The historic sites are pointed out, but you should not expect detailed stories about Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge.

I would pair this with a walking tour, museum visit, or independent sightseeing if you want a stronger understanding of London. The bus is a pleasant introduction, not a full lesson in the city.

Is $68.06 a fair price?

At $68.06 per person, the price covers a 90-minute ride, afternoon tea, hot drinks, an English audio guide, and prosecco for people aged 21 and older. That is reasonable if you value the themed setting, the music, and the convenience of seeing several landmarks while seated.

The value drops if you judge it as a sightseeing tour alone. The bus does not enter Westminster Abbey, ride the London Eye, or visit Tower Bridge’s exhibition. You are paying for the combined package of transport, food, music, and atmosphere.

Food quality also affects the calculation. Good desserts and a fun setting can make the cost feel worthwhile. Soggy sandwiches, warm prosecco, dirty windows, or an overheated bus can make a cheaper independent afternoon tea and self-guided sightseeing look better.

I would compare it with the cost of a normal afternoon tea plus a sightseeing ride. The ABBA theme is the part you cannot easily reproduce on your own. If that is worth paying for, the price makes sense. If you mainly want landmark commentary, there are more focused ways to spend the money.

Heat, windows, and choosing your expectations

Two practical issues can shape the experience: temperature and visibility. A warm bus can make hot tea uncomfortable, and one account described the interior as miserably hot. If you start feeling unwell, tell the tea server promptly rather than trying to push through the ride.

Window cleanliness also matters because sightseeing is part of the product. Dirty glass can make it hard to see the landmarks, particularly when the route is moving and you have only a short view of each place.

You cannot control the weather or every bus condition, but you can make a few sensible choices. Dress in layers, avoid assuming every seat has the same view, and arrive ready for a shared dining setup. If a clear view is especially important to you, this may not be as reliable as a walking route.

The ride lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes, so problems do not last all day. Still, a short experience can feel long if you are too hot or cannot see outside.

Who should book this London afternoon tea?

I would recommend the experience to:

• ABBA fans who want a themed London outing
• First-time visitors who enjoy seeing landmarks from a moving bus
• Families and friends seeking a cheerful shared activity
• People who prefer a seated sightseeing option
• Anyone interested in meeting other people over tea
• Visitors who want vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu choices

I would be more cautious if you want quiet sightseeing, detailed history, a polished fine-dining experience, or guaranteed ABBA music throughout. It is also a weaker choice for anyone with serious food allergies because cross-contact cannot be ruled out.

The activity is offered in English and most people can participate. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to and from Bulleid Way.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you see it as a fun music-and-tea outing with London views, not as a full sightseeing tour. The combination of a double-decker, afternoon tea, prosecco, and famous landmarks is unusual, and the best departures can be genuinely entertaining.

Skip it if you would be disappointed by a mixed soundtrack, passing views instead of attraction entry, or a meal that is pleasant rather than luxurious. For ABBA fans with flexible expectations, it can be a memorable way to spend 90 minutes. For serious sightseers, use the money on a focused attraction visit and an afternoon tea with better control over the food and setting.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

How long does the ABBA afternoon tea bus last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the bus depart and return?

It departs from Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR, and returns to the same meeting point.

Is the tour only about ABBA music?

No. ABBA songs are part of the theme, but the music may include other artists, and ABBA may play for only part of the ride.

Which London landmarks are included on the route?

The route includes views of Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge.

Can I enter Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge?

No. Admission to these attractions is not included. The bus passes the landmarks and provides audio commentary in English.

What food choices are available?

You can choose a standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free afternoon tea menu.

Is prosecco included for everyone?

A glass of prosecco is included for people aged 21 and older under the stated policy. People under 21 receive non-alcoholic drinks.

Is there a live tour guide?

No. The experience includes an English audio guide, but there is no live guide.

How many people can join the bus?

The maximum group size is 26 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.