London: Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

The appeal here is simple: you get a polished British afternoon tea in The Rubens at the Palace, with a menu that moves from smoked salmon and roast beef sandwiches to warm scones and small, carefully finished pastries. The Palace Lounge supplies the regal setting, while the 1.5-hour schedule keeps this from taking over your day.

I like the broad tea choice, which includes black, green, white, and herbal blends from P.M. David Silva & Sons. I also like the balance of familiar comforts and fancier bites, especially the smoked salmon with caviar, homemade preserves, lemon curd, and clotted cream. The main drawback is price: at $111 per person, this is a special-occasion treat, not a casual cup of tea, and extra drinks can push the bill higher.

Key points to know before booking

• A proper Palace Lounge setting: You take tea inside The Rubens at the Palace, where the surroundings are part of the experience.
• A 90-minute sitting: The timing gives you space to eat, choose tea, and enjoy the room without requiring a full afternoon.
• A well-rounded menu: Expect five savory sandwiches, three scone choices, and several composed desserts on the sample Royal Afternoon Tea menu.
• Fresh scones with traditional extras: Plain, fruit, and cheese scones come with seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream.
• Champagne is optional: It is included only with the Champagne-inclusive booking choice.
• Dress rules matter: Shorts, sportswear, flip-flops, sandals, and ripped clothing are not accepted.

Entering The Rubens at the Palace

You begin by showing your voucher at the entrance to The Rubens at the Palace. There is no complicated meeting point or transport arrangement to manage. You make your own way to the hotel, then settle into the Palace Lounge for the tea service.

The setting is a major part of the value. This is not a quick café stop where afternoon tea is an afterthought. The room and hotel atmosphere are intended to give the occasion a more formal British feel, with an aristocratic touch that suits a birthday, anniversary, family outing, or a first taste of London’s traditional tea culture.

You should arrive dressed for a refined hotel restaurant. Men should avoid sportswear, and everyone should leave flip-flops, ripped clothes, and non-tailored shorts at the hotel or in your suitcase. Sandals are also listed as unsuitable, so conservative smart-casual clothing is the safer choice.

The dress code is not a minor detail. If you are planning a full day of sightseeing in casual clothes, you may need time to change before tea. That extra planning is worth it because the atmosphere works best when you treat the sitting as an occasion rather than a snack between attractions.

The first tier: five carefully filled sandwiches

The savory course gives you a useful sense of the menu’s range. The sample selection includes Scottish smoked salmon with caviar and chive cream cheese on cape seed loaf, a more luxurious bite than the standard cucumber sandwich you might expect.

Roast beef sirloin comes with wild rocket and horseradish cream on beetroot bread. That combination has a clear British character, with the peppery rocket and horseradish giving the beef some bite. If you prefer a gentler sandwich, the chicken with grain mustard mayonnaise and toasted almonds on white bread offers a milder route.

The cheese sandwich is made with Barber’s cheddar and plum tomato on onion bread. It is familiar food, but the bread and sharp cheddar keep it from feeling plain. The cucumber and mint crème fraîche on Norfolk crunch provides the lightest option, with cool cucumber and mint cutting through the richer fillings.

I like that the sandwiches are not all built around the same soft white bread and mayonnaise. The breads and fillings change from bite to bite, so the first course feels designed rather than simply assembled. The portions are delicate, as they should be for afternoon tea, but you are given enough variety to make the savory section more than a formality.

The menu can change, so do not book with the expectation that every named item will appear exactly as listed. The listed dishes are a sample menu. That is especially important if one particular ingredient, such as salmon or beef, is central to your plans.

Scones with preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream

The scone course is the heart of the experience for many people, and this one gives you three types: plain, fruit, and cheese. They are served with homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream.

That combination gives you several ways to build the perfect bite. Use the preserve for a classic sweet taste, lemon curd for a sharper finish, or clotted cream for a rich, smooth topping. You can also alternate, which is the sensible approach unless you want to start a small argument about the correct order of cream and preserve.

The cheese scone is a useful change from the usual all-sweet selection. It gives the middle of the meal a savory note and helps prevent the pastry course from becoming too sugary. The seasonal preserve also means the precise flavor may vary, but it is described as homemade, which adds a more personal touch than a standard jar brought to the table.

If you arrive very hungry, keep your pace steady. Afternoon tea is served in stages, and the desserts come after the sandwiches and scones. Eating every sandwich at once may leave less room for the sweets, which are an important part of the Royal Afternoon Tea presentation.

The pastry course: chocolate, berries, citrus, and rhubarb

The dessert selection is more elaborate than a simple plate of cake. The sample menu includes The Crown Hukambi chocolate with hazelnut praline and chocolate sablé, a blackberry éclair, blackberry chiboust with blackberry fruit glaze, rhubarb and vanilla with vanilla sponge, rhubarb jelly and Opalys crémeux, and a citrus meringue tart with almond cream, candied lemon, and lime zest.

These are small pastries with several textures and flavors in each one. The chocolate option should appeal to anyone who likes a deeper, nutty finish. The blackberry items bring fruit and acidity, while the rhubarb and citrus choices keep the selection from leaning too heavily toward chocolate or cream.

I like the way the menu includes both familiar and more refined flavors. You can enjoy a classic éclair, then try something built around rhubarb jelly or lime zest. That makes the pastry course feel like part of a hotel dining experience rather than a stack of generic cakes.

Again, the exact sweets may change. Menus are subject to variation, and the provider asks you to give notice for dietary needs. If you need vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free food, contact the activity provider at least 48 hours before your booking. Do not wait until you sit down, since special preparation needs advance notice.

Choosing tea from P.M. David Silva & Sons

Tea is included, along with coffee, and you can choose from black, green, white, and herbal teas supplied by P.M. David Silva & Sons. That range matters because afternoon tea is not only about the food. The right cup can shape the entire meal.

A black tea suits the stronger sandwich and scone flavors. Green or white tea may feel lighter alongside the pastries, while an herbal choice gives you an option without the more pronounced character of traditional black tea. If you are sharing the experience, choosing different styles lets each person make the sitting their own.

The tea selection also gives the meal a more traditional rhythm. You are not simply ordering one drink at the start and forgetting about it. Taking time over the tea helps the 90-minute sitting feel relaxed rather than rushed.

Coffee is available, though tea is clearly the natural choice here. If you are booking because you want a classic British afternoon tea, I would choose one of the tea styles first and save coffee for another stop.

Adding Champagne to the afternoon

Champagne is available, but only when you choose the inclusive option while booking. It is not part of the standard afternoon tea package, and any additional food or drinks are not included.

This option makes sense for a celebration or for anyone who wants the full special-occasion feel. It also changes the price calculation, so check exactly which package you have selected before you pay. At $111 per person, you are already paying for the setting, service, food, and tea. Champagne can make the occasion feel more complete, but it is not essential to enjoying the sandwiches, scones, or pastries.

There is one useful warning from the dining experience: you may be offered extra drinks such as water or wine. You are free to decline them. If you want to keep control of the final bill, ask what is included and treat every additional drink as a separate purchase.

Is $111 per person fair value?

The price is high for a meal that lasts 1.5 hours. You can find cheaper tea services in London, so this is not the right choice if your main goal is simply to eat a scone and drink tea at the lowest possible cost.

The value comes from the combination of factors. You are paying for a hotel setting, a formal service, a wider tea selection, a menu with premium ingredients such as smoked salmon, caviar, roast beef sirloin, and hazelnut praline, plus a carefully composed pastry course. The room is part of what you are buying.

I would call it fair value for a planned celebration, especially if atmosphere matters as much as quantity. It is less convincing for a casual meal or for a family trying to keep daily sightseeing costs low. The portion style is delicate rather than hearty, and the 90-minute format is designed for a refined sitting, not a long feast.

The 4.6 rating from 70 bookings reflects a strong overall response. The most praised elements are consistent: the opulent interior, attentive service, good tea, tasty food, and the feeling of taking part in a distinctly British tradition. The less favorable point is also clear: some people find the price difficult to justify, particularly when extra drinks are added.

Who will enjoy this afternoon tea most?

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, and anyone marking a special day in London. It suits you if you want a polished hotel experience and enjoy taking your time over small portions, tea, and conversation.

It is also a good fit for someone who wants a taste of British social tradition without booking a full formal dinner. You get sandwiches, scones, pastries, and tea in one sitting, with enough ceremony to feel different from an ordinary lunch.

You may want to choose another option if you dislike dress codes, prefer large portions, or plan to spend as little as possible on food. It is also less convenient if you are wearing sightseeing clothes and have no chance to change.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, which is useful for planning. The host or greeter speaks English, and no transportation is included, so you handle your own route to the hotel.

Practical timing and booking advice

Set aside the full 1.5 hours, even though the meal itself may feel leisurely rather than long. Avoid booking it immediately before a timed attraction, since you do not want to watch the clock while the tea and pastry courses arrive.

Check availability for the start time that suits your day. The activity runs at scheduled times, and the hotel setting is best enjoyed when you are not arriving flustered from a rushed journey.

Bring a passport or ID card, as this is listed among the required items. Keep your voucher ready to show when entering the hotel.

Cancellation is flexible if your plans are uncertain. You can cancel up to two days in advance for a full refund. That gives you some protection when building a London itinerary around changing reservations.

Final call: book it for the setting, not just the food

Book this afternoon tea if you want an elegant, distinctly British occasion with a striking room, attentive service, a good tea list, and a menu that reaches well beyond basic sandwiches. The Royal Afternoon Tea works particularly well for a celebration or a first visit to London when you want one polished traditional experience.

Skip it if you are focused on bargains, want a substantial meal, or dislike formal clothing rules. At $111 per person, the Palace Lounge atmosphere must matter to you for the price to feel worthwhile. Choose the Champagne option only if it suits your occasion, give dietary requests 48 hours’ notice, and plan your clothing before you leave for sightseeing.

FAQ

How long does the afternoon tea last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the afternoon tea take place?

It takes place in the Palace Lounge at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel.

What food is included?

The afternoon tea includes delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, clotted cream, and pastries. The sample savory menu includes smoked salmon, roast beef, chicken, cheddar, and cucumber sandwiches.

Are tea and coffee included?

Yes. Tea and coffee are included. Tea choices include black, green, white, and herbal varieties from P.M. David Silva & Sons.

Is Champagne included?

Champagne is included only if you select the Champagne-inclusive option when booking. Additional food and drinks are not included.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free afternoon teas can be requested. You must inform the activity provider at least 48 hours before your scheduled booking.