London: Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

Royal manners, served with tea. Afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace gives you a polished taste of British tradition in the hotel’s Palace Lounge, with ornate surroundings, delicate sandwiches, warm scones, pastries, and a wide choice of tea. I especially like the carefully designed savoury menu and the chance to add Champagne for a more festive occasion.

The homemade seasonal preserves, lemon curd, and clotted cream make the scones a real part of the experience, not a token side dish. I also like the selection from P.M. David Silva & Sons, which includes black, green, white, and herbal teas. The main drawback is value: at about $111 per person, this is a special-occasion treat, and one report found the price hard to justify when extra drinks were offered at the table.

The setting is the heart of the experience. You have 90 minutes to enjoy the Palace Lounge and its aristocratic feel, with service that has been praised as attentive and pleasant. Dress carefully, though: sportswear, flip-flops, shorts, and ripped clothing are not accepted.

Key points to know before booking

• The Palace Lounge supplies the royal atmosphere: This is as much about the hotel setting as the food.
• The menu covers all the classic stages: You get finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, preserves, lemon curd, clotted cream, and decorative pastries.
• The tea selection is unusually broad: Choose from black, green, white, or herbal teas from P.M. David Silva & Sons.
• Champagne depends on the option you book: It is included only with the Champagne-inclusive choice.
• The price suits a celebration more than a casual snack: At $111 per person, you are paying for the setting, service, and presentation as well as the food.
• Dress is part of the experience: Tailored, smart clothing is expected, and the dress code is enforced.

Arriving at The Rubens at the Palace

The meeting point is simple. Enter The Rubens at the Palace and show your voucher at the hotel. Transportation is not included, so you arrange your own way there and should allow enough time to arrive dressed and settled before the tea begins.

The hotel setting gives this experience its first bit of theater. The Palace Lounge is designed for an old-fashioned British tea ritual, and the atmosphere has been described as opulent, with one booking party comparing it to feeling like a princess. You are not simply stopping for cake in a café. You are taking part in a formal hotel tradition where the room, the service, and the table presentation all matter.

That setting makes this a good choice for a birthday, anniversary, afternoon break during a London sightseeing day, or a parent-child treat. It also works well if you want one deliberately elegant activity rather than another rushed meal between attractions.

The dress code deserves attention. Avoid sandals or flip-flops, shorts, sportswear, and ripped clothing. Men should wear something tailored or smart, while anyone visiting can safely choose neat, polished clothing. The policy says that people who do not follow the dress rules may not be admitted to the restaurants and bars, so this is not the place to arrive in sightseeing clothes after a long day outdoors.

Bring a passport or ID card, as this is listed among the required items. The host or greeter speaks English, and the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Ninety minutes in the Palace Lounge

The tea lasts about 1.5 hours. That is enough time to enjoy the courses without turning the meal into an all-day event, but it is not an open-ended sitting. I would treat the scheduled time as a reason to arrive promptly, especially if you want to enjoy the tea, photograph the presentation, and add Champagne without feeling hurried.

The pace follows the familiar afternoon tea pattern. You settle in, select your tea, and work through savoury sandwiches before moving to scones and sweets. The structure matters because afternoon tea is meant to be a slow meal, not a buffet. You can talk, admire the room, and take your time with each small portion.

Tea comes with the standard booking. Coffee is also included, giving non-tea drinkers a reasonable alternative, though tea is clearly the main event. Champagne is included only if you choose the appropriate option when booking. Additional food and drinks are not included, so check the package carefully before assuming a second glass or another beverage is part of the price.

One practical point is worth keeping in mind: the food menu is a sample and may change. The overall format should remain the same, but particular cakes, fillings, or seasonal preserves can vary.

The savoury tier: five small sandwiches

The savoury course has more character than a basic cucumber-and-egg tea. The sample menu includes five sandwiches, each on a different style of bread, which helps keep the first course varied.

The Scottish smoked salmon sandwich combines salmon with caviar and chive cream cheese on cape seed loaf. It is the most overtly luxurious bite on the plate, with the caviar adding a clear celebratory touch. If you enjoy seafood, this is likely to be one of the memorable pieces. If you do not eat fish, make sure the provider knows in advance.

Roast beef sirloin comes with wild rocket and horseradish cream on beetroot bread. The horseradish gives this sandwich a sharper edge than the softer cream cheese and chicken fillings. It also adds a traditional British note, pairing roast beef with a familiar pungent condiment.

The chicken sandwich includes grain mustard mayonnaise and toasted almonds on white bread. This is a more familiar combination, but the mustard and almonds provide contrast. The menu also includes Barber’s cheddar with plum tomato on onion bread, a vegetarian option with a savory, slightly more robust flavor.

The final sandwich is cucumber with mint crème fraîche on Norfolk crunch. It is the lightest and most delicate of the set, offering the clean, cooling taste most people expect from classic afternoon tea.

The five sandwiches give you a useful spread of flavors: seafood, beef, chicken, cheese, and cucumber. Still, the portions are intentionally small. You should arrive ready for a light meal with several courses, not expecting a large lunch built around sandwiches alone.

Dietary requests are possible, but you need to provide them at least 48 hours before your booking. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free afternoon teas are specifically listed among the requests the provider can handle. Do not wait until you sit down, since last-minute changes may not be possible.

Warm scones with clotted cream and preserves

The scone course is where the experience settles into classic British territory. The sample menu lists plain, fruit, and cheese scones, served with homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream.

The plain scone is the traditional base for cream and preserve. The fruit version gives you extra sweetness, while the cheese scone changes the direction of the course and works better as a savoury bite. Having three styles listed makes this more interesting than a plate of identical scones.

The homemade seasonal preserve and lemon curd are important details. They give you two different ways to finish the scone: sweet fruit flavor from the preserve or bright citrus from the curd. Clotted cream supplies the rich, cool contrast that makes the course feel distinctly British.

The menu does not specify whether the cream should go on before the preserve, so you can avoid that old regional argument and simply eat the combination you prefer. The useful point is to try each topping separately first, then mix them. That lets you notice the difference between the preserve, lemon curd, and cream rather than treating them as one sweet spread.

Freshly baked scones are one of the strongest reasons to choose this experience over a quick pastry stop. They turn the meal into a proper afternoon tea, and the homemade accompaniments make the middle course feel considered rather than decorative.

Pastries inspired by fruit, chocolate, and citrus

The sweet course is more elaborate than a single slice of cake. The sample menu includes four distinct pastries, each with its own flavor profile and texture.

The Crown Hukambi chocolate is paired with hazelnut praline and chocolate sablé. This is the richest option, built for anyone who likes deep chocolate and nutty sweetness. The crisp sablé should add some texture to the softer chocolate and praline elements.

The blackberry éclair combines blackberry chiboust with blackberry fruit glaze. It is a fruit-forward pastry rather than a plain cream éclair, with the berry appearing in both the filling and glaze. That gives the sweet course a more seasonal feel.

Rhubarb and vanilla comes as vanilla sponge, rhubarb jelly, and Opalys crémeux. Rhubarb brings a tart note to balance the vanilla and cream, making this a useful choice if you find heavily sweet pastries tiring.

The citrus meringue tart includes almond cream, candied lemon, and lime zest. The almond gives the tart a soft, nutty base, while the candied lemon and lime zest sharpen the finish. Of the listed sweets, this should provide the freshest contrast to the chocolate and cream-based pastries.

These are small, polished desserts, so presentation is part of their appeal. They are designed for tasting several flavors rather than choosing one large cake. I would save room for this course, even if the sandwiches and scones seem modest at first.

As with the savoury menu, the exact pastries may change. You should expect the hotel to preserve the same general balance of chocolate, fruit, cream, and citrus, but not necessarily the exact names or ingredients shown here.

Choosing your tea, or adding Champagne

The tea list comes from P.M. David Silva & Sons and includes black, green, white, and herbal varieties. That range lets you match the drink to the food rather than accepting one standard tea for the whole sitting.

A black tea is the classic partner for sandwiches, scones, and clotted cream. A green or white tea may suit you better if you prefer something lighter, while herbal tea gives you a caffeine-free option. The information does not specify individual tea names, so you should ask the staff what is available on the day.

Coffee is included too, which is useful if someone in your party does not drink tea. Still, the tea service is a central part of the experience, and choosing a tea thoughtfully will make the meal feel more complete.

Champagne changes the tone. It is not included with every booking, so check the selected option before paying. The extra sparkle may be worthwhile for a birthday or anniversary, but it also pushes the total cost higher. If you are watching your budget, the standard tea already includes the main food and tea or coffee.

One practical caution: additional drinks may be offered after you sit down, and those extras are not included. Ask about the price before accepting water, wine, or another beverage. That simple question protects you from an unexpected addition to an already costly meal.

Is $111 per person a fair price?

At $111 per person, this is expensive compared with an ordinary café afternoon tea. The price makes more sense if you care about the hotel setting, formal service, food presentation, and the sense of occasion.

The value is not only in the number of sandwiches or pastries. You are paying for 90 minutes in a luxury hotel lounge, a traditional multi-course service, a broad tea choice, homemade accompaniments, and the chance to add Champagne. People who described the experience as excellent focused especially on the atmosphere, food, and attentive service.

Still, I would not call it a bargain. The portions are delicate, and additional drinks cost extra. If you want the cheapest way to try scones and tea in London, this is not the right pick. If you want a polished setting for a special memory, the price becomes easier to accept.

The strongest value comes when you use the experience as an event. Plan it as the centerpiece of an afternoon rather than a snack squeezed into a busy schedule. You will appreciate the room and service more if you have time to enjoy them.

The overall rating is 4.6 from 70 reviews, with especially strong praise for the opulent setting, delicious sandwiches and cakes, tea, and attentive service. One four-star assessment found the food and atmosphere good but questioned the price and repeated offers of extra drinks. That is a useful warning: the experience is widely enjoyed, but not every person will find the cost fully balanced by the food alone.

Who will enjoy this afternoon tea most?

I would recommend it first to couples, families, and anyone marking a special occasion. The royal styling and formal lounge make it feel more memorable than an everyday meal, and the Champagne option gives you an easy way to mark an important date.

It also suits first-time London visitors who want a recognizable British custom in a grand hotel. You get the familiar elements of afternoon tea in one sitting: finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, preserves, pastries, and tea.

Food-focused visitors should like the variety in the sample menu, especially the smoked salmon with caviar, roast beef with horseradish cream, blackberry éclair, rhubarb and vanilla, and citrus meringue tart. The experience is also a good fit for anyone who prefers a calm indoor activity over a packed sightseeing schedule.

I would be more cautious if you want a large, filling meal, have a very tight budget, or dislike formal dress. You may also want to choose another option if your main goal is a casual café atmosphere. This tea is intentionally polished and traditional.

Booking details worth remembering

The experience lasts 1.5 hours, and you need to check availability for the starting time. The host or greeter speaks English, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

Free cancellation is available up to two days before the scheduled booking for a full refund. Dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free requests, should be sent to the activity provider at least 48 hours in advance.

The booking is operated by Evan Evans Tours. Bring your voucher for entry, along with a passport or ID card. Since transportation is not included, you are responsible for reaching The Rubens at the Palace.

Should you book The Rubens afternoon tea?

Book it if you want a luxury London occasion, not simply a cup of tea and a pastry. The Palace Lounge, formal dress code, multi-course menu, homemade scones, broad tea list, and optional Champagne create a clear sense of ceremony.

Skip it if $111 feels too high for a light meal or if you would rather spend your afternoon in a casual setting. For the right person, the setting and service justify much of the cost. For a budget-minded eater, the price may remain difficult to balance, especially once extra drinks enter the bill.

My practical advice is to book the standard tea unless Champagne is central to your plans, arrive in smart clothing, send dietary requests two days ahead, and treat the 90 minutes as a planned London experience. That is when The Rubens at the Palace makes the strongest case for its price.

FAQ

Where does the afternoon tea take place?

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

How long does the afternoon tea last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours.

What food is included?

The afternoon tea includes delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, clotted cream, and an assortment of pastries.

Is tea included in the price?

Yes. Tea or coffee is included, with a selection of black, green, white, and herbal teas from P.M. David Silva & Sons.

Is Champagne included?

Champagne is included only if you select the Champagne-inclusive booking option.

Can I request a vegetarian afternoon tea?

Yes, vegetarian afternoon tea requests are listed as available. You should inform the provider at least 48 hours before your booking.

Can I request vegan, halal, or gluten-free food?

Yes, vegan, halal, and gluten-free afternoon teas are listed among the dietary options. Notify the activity provider at least 48 hours in advance.

Is there a dress code?

Yes. Sportswear, flip-flops, sandals, shorts, and ripped clothing are not allowed. Smart, tailored clothing is expected.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to two days in advance for a full refund.

Do I need to arrange transportation?

Yes. Transportation is not included. You should make your own way to The Rubens at the Palace and show your voucher when entering.