“Here We Go Again” London Afternoon Tea Bus

Sing along while London rolls past your window. This 90-minute ABBA-themed afternoon tea bus combines a double-decker sightseeing ride with tea sandwiches, sweets, hot tea, and a glass of Prosecco for eligible adults. I like the cheerful idea, and I like that you can choose vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or standard food.

I also like the small group size, capped at 26 people, which makes it easier to chat with fellow passengers than on a large coach. The main catch is that the ABBA music may not fill the whole ride, and the recorded commentary is brief. If you want serious London history, this is not your tour.

Key points before you book

• ABBA is part of the fun, but not always the whole soundtrack: Some rides include other music before the ABBA songs begin.
• You see major London sights from a moving bus: The route takes in views of Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge.
• Afternoon tea is served on board: Expect sandwiches, desserts, hot tea, and a choice of standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu.
• The atmosphere matters more than detailed sightseeing: A recorded English audio guide points out landmarks, but there is no live guide.
• The price is about $68.06 per person: That is reasonable for a themed meal and city ride, but less attractive if you want a full meal or deep sightseeing.
• Check the bus conditions on the day: Some passengers have found the windows dirty or the interior uncomfortably warm, which can affect the views and comfort.

Starting at Bulleid Way near Victoria

The bus leaves from Golden Tours at Bulleid Way Departure Point, Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR. This is a practical central starting point, and the meeting point is near public transportation, but you still need to arrive with enough time to find the correct departure area.

The activity returns to the same meeting point. That helps if you are fitting this between other plans in central London. You do not need to arrange a hotel transfer because pickup and drop-off are not included.

The bus carries a maximum of 26 people. That is a useful number for this kind of outing. You are not joining a huge sightseeing crowd, but the experience is still social rather than private. I would choose a seat with a clear window if views matter to you, though the quality of the glass can vary.

The tour lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. That is long enough to make the tea feel like an event, but short enough to fit into a packed London day.

Tea, cake, and a glass of Prosecco

The food is the heart of the experience. You receive an afternoon tea lunch with tea sandwiches, sweets, and hot tea served during the bus ride. The menu can be standard, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, so this is more flexible than many fixed-menu sightseeing meals.

The strongest food praise goes to the desserts. They are described as tasty and enjoyable, while the sandwiches have received a more mixed response. You might find them perfectly fine for a light afternoon meal, but do not expect a grand hotel afternoon tea with elaborate service or freshly prepared restaurant dishes.

One useful detail is the souvenir-style plastic mug used for tea. It adds a playful touch and may appeal to ABBA fans who enjoy themed keepsakes. The tea is intended to be served hot, though the warm bus can make hot drinks less welcome on a particularly stuffy ride.

A glass of Prosecco is included for those aged 21 and over under the stated policy. Anyone younger than 21 receives a non-alcoholic drink instead. The Prosecco has not always been served as cold as passengers hoped, so I would treat it as a pleasant extra rather than the reason to book.

The food and drink are included in the ticket price, which makes the cost easier to judge. At $68.06 per person, you are paying for a meal, a moving sightseeing route, a themed soundtrack, and an unusual London setting. That is fair if you value the whole package. It feels less convincing if you mainly want a high-end afternoon tea or a serious guided tour.

Singing along to ABBA on a double-decker

The theme gives the ride its personality. You hear familiar ABBA songs while the bus moves through London, and the double-decker setting adds to the playful mood. If you know the music well, the trip can feel like a small celebration rather than a standard city circuit.

Still, keep your expectations in check. ABBA may not play for the full 90 minutes. On one reported ride, Adele played for the first 15 minutes before the ABBA music began, and ABBA filled only part of the journey. That will disappoint you if the main reason for booking is nonstop music.

The title suggests a strong ABBA focus, so this is an important point. The experience works best when you see the music as one ingredient alongside tea, cake, and sightseeing. If you want a continuous ABBA party, this may not deliver that exact format every time.

The social side is another plus. You can chat with other passengers, sing along, and enjoy the shared theme. The mood should suit couples, families with older children, birthday groups, and fans who prefer a light activity over a formal museum visit.

Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square

The route brings you past Westminster Abbey, one of London’s most important religious and royal buildings. It sits beside Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament, close to Big Ben, and its Gothic exterior is easy to recognize from the road.

Westminster Abbey has long been used for coronations and is formally known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster. Those facts give the sight real weight, but this tour does not take you inside. You are seeing the building as part of the bus route, not visiting the abbey as a separate attraction.

That distinction matters. If Westminster Abbey is high on your London list, allow another visit for the interior. The tea bus gives you a passing view and a short audio explanation, but it does not replace an admission ticket or a dedicated visit.

The stop is best understood as a landmark moment during the ride. Have your camera ready, listen to the English narration, and enjoy the setting without expecting a long pause for exploration.

The London Eye from the road

The London Eye is another major landmark along the route. Its glass capsules rise 135 metres above the city, giving paying riders wide views across London. On this bus experience, you do not board the wheel. You see it from the moving bus and hear it identified by the recorded commentary.

That can still be useful on a first visit. The London Eye is easy to recognize, and seeing it in context with Westminster and the river helps you understand the central London layout. You will not receive fast-track or standard London Eye admission as part of this activity.

If you want to ride the wheel, plan that separately. The tea bus gives you a city overview, not entry to the attraction. This is one reason the experience suits people who want a relaxed introduction to London rather than a full day of landmark visits.

Tower Bridge and the eastern end of the route

Tower Bridge provides a strong final landmark. Its towers and walkways used more than 11,000 tonnes of steel, and construction took eight years. The bridge has been part of London’s story for more than 135 years, and its distinctive shape is one of the city’s best photo subjects.

Again, you view it from the bus. You do not walk through the high-level walkways, see the exhibitions, or use the interactive displays inside Tower Bridge. Those require a separate visit.

The value here is the sequence. You move from Westminster to the London Eye and then toward Tower Bridge while eating and listening to music. You get a quick sense of the city’s major sights without spending the day changing trains or following a guide through crowded streets.

The drawback is time. A bus passing a landmark cannot give you the same detail as a walking tour or attraction visit. The audio guide points out historic sites, but it does not provide the layered explanation you would receive from a live guide.

What the audio guide can and cannot do

The commentary is provided in English through an audio guide. It helps identify landmarks and gives you basic context as the bus moves through town.

There is no live guide. That means nobody is on board to answer questions, change the pace, add personal stories, or explain what you are seeing in detail. If you enjoy independent sightseeing and prefer to chat with your companions, this keeps the ride simple. If you want a historian guiding every view, you will find it thin.

The lack of a live guide also explains why the tour feels more like a themed meal with sightseeing than a conventional London tour. The music, food, and bus atmosphere carry much of the experience.

Comfort, windows, and the weather factor

The condition of the bus can make or break this activity. The double-decker looks appealing and gives the tour its identity, but clear windows are essential when sightseeing from a moving vehicle.

Some passengers have found the windows dirty enough to make landmarks difficult to see. That is a serious flaw because the route depends on views. You cannot simply step off and try again when the bus moves on.

Heat is another concern. One account describes the bus as miserably hot, to the point that a younger passenger felt unwell and could not enjoy the hot tea. You cannot know the exact conditions on your date, but warm weather and hot drinks are worth considering.

I would bring water if permitted and avoid treating the tea as your only drink. Dress in light layers, especially if the forecast is warm. If you are sensitive to heat, have medical concerns, or are traveling with someone who becomes uncomfortable easily, this is a practical risk to weigh before paying.

Who will enjoy this London experience?

I would recommend the tour most strongly to people who want a fun, easy afternoon rather than detailed education. ABBA fans are the obvious audience, but you do not need to know every song to enjoy the theme.

It also suits:

• Couples looking for a light London date activity
• Families who like music and sweets
• Friends celebrating a birthday or graduation
• First-time visitors who want to see several landmarks without walking between them
• People who enjoy meeting other passengers in a small group
• Anyone seeking a break from museums and formal sightseeing

The experience is less suitable for you if you want to enter Westminster Abbey, ride the London Eye, tour Tower Bridge, or hear extensive commentary about London. It is also a poor match if you expect ABBA music from the first minute to the last.

Celebrations are possible, but the onboard recognition may be limited. A passenger who mentioned a high school graduation was disappointed when only birthdays and anniversaries were announced. I would not book this specifically for a guaranteed personal announcement.

Is $68.06 good value?

The ticket price sits in the middle of the range for a special London activity. You are not just buying transport. The cost includes the afternoon tea, a choice of dietary menus, a non-alcoholic alternative for younger passengers, an eligible glass of Prosecco, the audio guide, and the themed bus ride.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for afternoon tea and a sightseeing circuit. You also save the effort of planning a route between Westminster, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge.

The value drops if your priority is food quality. The sandwiches may be ordinary, the Prosecco may be warm, and the tea is served in a plastic souvenir mug rather than fine china. You are paying for the setting and the mood as much as the menu.

The price also feels high if you see only a few clear landmark views because of dirty windows or poor weather. I would book it for the combination of music and sightseeing, not as the cheapest way to eat or the best way to learn London history.

Booking, dietary needs, and cancellation

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience is offered in English. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation.

Choose your food preference carefully when booking. Standard, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menus are available, but Golden Tours cannot guarantee that food has not come into contact with nuts or other allergens. Anyone with a serious allergy should take that warning seriously.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The cutoff uses London local time.

Should you book the ABBA afternoon tea bus?

Book it if you want a cheerful, compact London outing with tea, cake, famous sights, and some ABBA singalong time. The best parts are the unusual double-decker setting, the social mood, the tasty desserts, and the chance to cover several central landmarks without a long walk.

Skip it if you want an in-depth tour, a polished luxury afternoon tea, or a guaranteed ABBA soundtrack throughout. For the best chance of enjoying your money, think of this as a themed afternoon tea with sightseeing attached, not a full ABBA concert or landmark tour.

FAQ

Where does the ABBA afternoon tea bus start and finish?

It starts at Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point, Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The ride lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Is a live guide included?

No. An English audio guide is included, but there is no live guide.

What food choices are available?

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

Is alcohol included?

A glass of Prosecco is included for travelers aged 21 and over under the stated policy. Anyone below 21 receives a non-alcoholic drink.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.