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Buckingham, St James Palace & Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace

4.9 (108 reviews) 2 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

108 reviews

4.9

Tea in the Summer — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Buckingham, St James Palace & Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

See Three Palaces & experience the magnificence of London’s royal quarter with a walk around its most stunning monuments followed by an authentic afternoon tea in Royal surroundings in the company of a knowledgeable guide.

Get to the heart of aristocratic London, exploring the quiet corners & higgledy-piggledy streets of St James’ & its Tudor palace - where the King was proclaimed monarch.

On Changing of the Guard mornings, witness the inspection of the Old Guard at St James before following the band to Buckingham Palace. Stroll to Wellington Arch & hop onto an iconic red bus for a short ride to the Royal Albert Hall.

Step into beautiful Kensington Gardens & hear of a 1000 years of history, See Princess Diana's Statue & stroll through manicured parkland to the 300 year old Tea Room established by Queen Anne. Enjoy a full Afternoon Tea of delicious sandwiches, scones & cakes with a selection of teas. Dietary preferences are catered for, & a children's tea provided for youngsters.

Private and Luxury High Tea Historical Tours Walking Tours Small Group Excellent Quality Likely To Sell Out Additional fees

At a glance

Duration: 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 10 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Top Tasting Tours

Ages: Children (2–11 years) · Adults (12–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Entrance to the State Rooms (if selected at check out)
Included: Knowledgeable Guide and Royal history walk
Included: The history of tea drinking in England
Included: Small Group, maximum of 10, typically 4-6 guests
Included: A Private Table exclusively for you at Tea
Included: Afternoon Tea of Sandwiches, Scones & Cakes. (NB: Child Tea is typically for 11 yrs & younger)

Not included

Not included: No entrance to Palaces / Walking tour (unless selected at check out)
Not included: Bus fare - please bring a Contactless Card or Oyster Card
Not included: Alcoholic beverages: Can be purchased during the tea service

Itinerary

Green Park

10 min

Formally known as Upper St James Park, Green Park is the starting point of the tour. We will head away from the crowds to discover quiet spots and discreet passageways that lead away from the regular tours.
St. James's

10 min

St James is the main aristocratic quarter of London where the landed gentry and political classes mingled in chocolate houses and taverns that became prestigious clubs in the seventeenth century. You will stroll through little used back streets with their fascinating history
Spencer House

5 min

Spencer House at the end of the small street. Built between 1756-1766 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) it is London’s finest surviving eighteenth-century town house.
The Mall

5 min

St James Palace remains the official London royal palace and is not regularly open to visitors, but the public can attend Sunday services at the Chapel Royal and the Queen's Chapel.
Clarence House

5 min

The house was built between 1825 and 1827 to a design by John Nash. It was commissioned by the Duke of Clarence, who in 1830 became King William IV of the United Kingdom (reigned 1830–1837). He lived there in preference to the adjacent St James's Palace, an ancient Tudor building which he found too cramped
St. James's Palace

5 min

St James is the main aristocratic quarter of London where the landed gentry and political classes mingled in chocolate houses and taverns that became prestigious clubs in the seventeenth century. You will stroll through little used back streets with their fascinating history
Buckingham Palace

5 min

In the Middle Ages, the site of the future palace formed part of the Manor of Ebury (also called Eia). The marshy ground was watered by the river Tyburn, which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the palace. Where the river was fordable (at Cow Ford), the village of Eye Cross grew. Ownership of the site changed hands many times; owners included Edward the Confessor and his queen consort Edith of Wessex in late Saxon times, and, after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror. William gave the site to Geoffrey de Mandeville, who bequeathed it to the monks of Westminster Abbey.
Wellington Arch

5 min

Cross to the Wellington Arch (Decimus Burton) 1828. 4 horse chariot with a figure of peace (1912) Central Passage was reserved for royalty.
Bomber Command Memorial

5 min

The Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial is a memorial commemorating the crews of RAF Bomber Command who embarked on missions during the Second World War. The memorial, on the south side of Piccadilly, facing Hyde Park Corner, was built to mark the sacrifice of 55,573 aircrew from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia, Poland and other allied countries, as well as civilians of all nations killed during raids.
Stop 10

5 min

The house was originally built in red brick by Robert Adam between 1771 and 1778 for Lord Apsley, the Lord Chancellor, who gave the house its name. Some Adam interiors survive: the Piccadilly Drawing Room with its apsidal end and Adam fireplace, and the Portico Room, behind the giant Corinthian portico added by Wellington.
Royal Albert Hall

5 min

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres have appeared on its stage.
Albert Memorial

5 min

The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens is one of London's most ornate monuments. It commemorates the death of Prince Albert, who died of typhoid in 1861.
Kensington Palace

5 min

George II was blind in one eye and hard of hearing. In Kensington Palace, 25 October, 1760 he rose as usual at 6:00 am, drank a cup of hot chocolate, and went to his close stool alone. After a few minutes, his valet heard a loud crash and entered the room to find the king on the floor. The king was lifted into his bed, and Princess Amelia was sent for; before she reached him, he was dead. At the age of nearly 77 he had lived longer than any of his English or British predecessors. A post-mortem revealed that the king had died as the result of a thoracic aortic dissection. He was succeeded by his grandson George III, and buried on 11 November in Westminster Abbey. He left instructions for the sides of his and his wife's coffins to be removed so that their remains could mingle. He is the most recent monarch to be buried in Westminster Abbey.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

We are meeting at the Park Gate between Ritz Hotel and the Station Entrance where the Black Gates are. Under the porch of Green Park Station Street Level.

Nearest Underground: Green Park

End point

We will end the tour at the Orangery where we are hosting the High Tea.

Using your ticket

Hi There

We are really looking forward to welcoming you & showing you around.

Please check the option you have booked. If the booking says "with Palace Entry". You will need a Palace Ticket. if your booking is "without Palace Entry". There is no further action to take.

For tours "with Palace Entry"

Please send an email to [email protected] to receive your Palace Entry Ticket. This must be shown to gain Palace Entry after the walk and Afternoon Tea. We regret we are unable to provide refunds for lost Tickets.

Please note we meet at Green Park Station and not the Palace.

Important:

On the day of your booking, please arrive 10 mins before the experience starts, this is a regular tour and you will be joined by other guests.

For the respect of all guests, we will leave on time and we do not take on latecomers

Meeting Point Only

Green Park Station W1J 9DZ

Next to the Entrance of the Park between the Ritz and Green Park Station by the Black Iron Gates. From the Station take the South Side Exit and the Gates are 5 yards from the top of the steps on the right.

The tour will commence on time, so please do not be late!

A few friendly reminders, this is a walking tour so comfortable shoes are a must. We take a London Bus after the walk so you will need a credit/debit card for the journey (current cost £1.70, about $2).

Please contact us if you have any queries or questions.

Gratuities

..All Food and Beverage Service includes Service Charge.

.. The tour itself does not include any gratuities and are entirely discretionary.

Risk Warning:

Please speak to your guide prior to the tour about your allergies or food intolerances or send us an email to [email protected]

We won’t be able to answer our phones once the tour has started it is essential that you arrive 10 minutes before the start and unfortunately, we will not be able to provide a refund due to lateness or delay.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We offer Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan & Halal on prior request
Not suitable for those with walking difficulty, we walk for about 60 mins

Options

Private Option - No Pal Entry

With Private Guide: This option does not include entry to the Palace itself. This can be booked on the official website hrp.org.uk
Tour & Tea -no Entry to Palace
Tour & Tea with Ken Pal Ticket

Palace Entry after Tea: This option is for the whole tour, afternoon tea & Entry to the Palace after tea. We recommend 90 min to see the State Rooms
Private Tour & Ken Pal Ticket

Palace Entry After Tea: After Tea your ticket gives access to Kensington Palace state rooms for a self guided tour.
Tour & Tea with Bubbles

Glsss of Bubbles no Pal Entry