City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise Review

We always recommend visitors to London book an afternoon tea and a river trip, so why not combine them with an afternoon tea on the river? You’ll indulge in fantastic food while enjoying incredible views. 

City Cruises offers a 90-minute afternoon tea cruise on the River Thames. It’s a great option for anyone looking for an extra special treat or for visitors celebrating a special occasion. 

City Cruises boat

The City Cruises boat is designed for river cruising. Its wide hull ensures a smooth ride, while its floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views. The windows are slightly tinted so you won’t suffer from sun glare on a summer’s day. 

The tables are comfortably spaced, so you don’t feel crammed in, and each table offers good privacy. Note that the front window tables seat only two people. The top deck is completely open and has seating, so you can enjoy 360-degree views. There are toilets on board. 

All the staff were friendly and helpful, and the waiting staff were attentive but not intrusive. Our server, Tala, made sure we always had what we needed. 

While you eat, a crew member gives live commentary on the landmarks you pass. The commentary was humorous and informative, and even though I’ve visited London countless times, I still learned new things! 

Route

City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise departs from Tower Pier at 3.30 pm with boarding at 3.15 pm.

It travels along each side of the river as far west as Westminster Bridge and the London Eye and as far east as Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe. You’ll get to travel under Tower Bridge, and I strongly recommend being on the top deck for this once-in-a-lifetime moment!

The views are fantastic, and you’ll get a unique perspective of London that you simply won’t get on foot or travelling by bus or tube. 

The journey was wonderfully relaxing, and we never felt hurried or rushed. 

The Food

I have enjoyed many afternoon teas, and I think the food on the City Cruises afternoon tea cruise was one of the best I’ve had.

We opted for the VIP package, so we began our afternoon tea with a perfectly chilled glass of champagne, sparkling water and mushroom and quail egg quiches with flawless pastry. 

Next, we had colourful sandwiches that were more interesting than the usual afternoon-tea fare. We had smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg mayonnaise and watercress, coronation chicken, and chipotle and sweetcorn. I’d never tried beetroot bread or spinach bread before, and it was very tasty. 

Sandwiches were followed by a deliciously warm, freshly baked scone with jam and clotted cream, plus four mini pastries. The mini pastries included a sweet and tangy lemon meringue, a gooey chocolate cake, a zingy mango sorbet and a pink macaron which tasted like candy floss in cake form. They were all amazing!

Guests are offered tea, filter coffee, and a selection of fruit teas. 

Gluten-free options and a standalone vegan menu include spiced avocado and baba ghanoush sandwiches, a scone, and four cakes, including orange cake and Victoria sponge. They also cater for children with a selection of cakes, a scone, and cheese and jam sandwiches. 

If you can’t finish your food, the staff will box up the leftovers for you to take away.

If you’re in London in December, our guide to Christmas afternoon tea in London has the festive menus worth booking.

The cost

Compared to what you pay in a hotel (without the views or commentary), City Cruises’ afternoon tea cruise is great value for money. 

An adult ticket costs £59pp, and a child ticket costs £49pp. You can also buy a family-of-four ticket for £ 167 (one child dines free). 

If you want the VIP package, which includes the best seats at the front of the boat, priority service, a glass of champagne and sparkling water, you will pay an extra £25pp. 

Our readers get 10% off with the code UKPLAN10 when you book the afternoon tea cruise.

You must book and travel by 31 December 2026, and the code doesn’t apply to festive cruises or special events such as Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Our opinion of the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise

We loved our experience on City Cruises afternoon tea cruise.

The food was delicious (I’m salivating writing about it!), the ambience was friendly and relaxed, and the views of the London skyline were incredible. Some of the views are far better than you get anywhere else. 

Our cruise was a very special experience, which is why we recommend it for anyone seeking an extra-special memory-making activity whilst in London. 

If you’d like to book it for your own trip, use our code UKPLAN10 for 10% off.

We were guests of City Cruises for this afternoon tea cruise. As always, our opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.