There is something about afternoon tea that makes London slow down. At The Rubens at the Palace in the Palace Lounge, you get the full British ritual—comforting finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream, and a dessert lineup that goes way beyond the usual. I love the classic, properly dressed-up setting, and I love the scone setup with homemade seasonal preserve and lemon curd. The one catch: this is a splurge at about $111 per person, so it works best when you treat it like an experience, not just a snack.

The menu is built for variety without feeling scattered. You’ll cycle through savoury bites on breads like cape seed loaf and beetroot bread, then switch into plain, fruit, and cheese scones, and finally finish with pastries that mix chocolate, blackberry, rhubarb, and citrus notes.

My other note is practical: you’re in a one-and-a-half-hour slot, so if you want lots of extra drinks or a very slow pace, you’ll need to plan for that budget and timing.

Key things to know before you go

• Palace Lounge atmosphere: It’s formal and classic, the kind of place where afternoon tea feels like part of the day’s sightseeing.
• Scones done the traditional way: Plain, fruit, and cheese with clotted cream, plus homemade seasonal preserve and lemon curd.
• A real savoury course: Multiple finger sandwiches, including Scottish smoked salmon and roast beef with horseradish cream.
• Desserts that aren’t an afterthought: Chocolate, blackberry éclair, rhubarb vanilla, and citrus meringue tart.
• Tea selection comes with variety: Choose from black, green, white, and herbal teas by P.M. David Silva & Sons.
• Champagne is only if your option includes it: It’s not automatic unless you’ve selected that inclusive package.

Entering The Rubens at the Palace: the setting does half the work

You start by showing your voucher at the venue, then you’re guided into the restaurant space where the mood is unmistakably old-school London. This is not a casual café. The Palace Lounge is designed for lingering, with an atmosphere that makes the whole tea service feel like a small ceremony.

That matters, because afternoon tea is partly about the food and partly about the pace. When the room feels like a step into another era, you don’t rush. You sit back, you look around, and you let the course changes do their thing. Even if your main goal is eating (valid), the setting helps you enjoy it more.

Also, note the front-door rules. You’ll want to dress for the restaurant experience. No sandals or flip-flops. No shorts. No sportswear. And no ripped clothing. If you’re coming straight from walking around London, plan a quick outfit adjustment before you head over.

The 1.5-hour afternoon tea flow: when to savor and when to pace

Your session is about 1.5 hours. That doesn’t sound long, but afternoon tea is paced like a proper multi-course meal.

In practice, expect the service to follow a rhythm:

• You settle in with tea/coffee right away (and champagne only if you chose that inclusive option).
• The savoury set arrives first: finger sandwiches and other bite-sized items.
• Then you move into the scones moment, where the table setup becomes the star.
• Finally, dessert comes last, when you can slow down and really taste.

The big tip is to pace yourself so you don’t arrive at dessert stuffed. Those sweets are varied—chocolate, blackberry, rhubarb, citrus—and they’re much more enjoyable when you still have room for at least a couple of bites.

Savoury finger sandwiches and pastries: the part people underestimate

Most people think afternoon tea equals scones and cake. I think the savoury course is actually where the meal shows its quality, because it requires balance and careful assembly.

On the sample Royal Afternoon Tea menu, the finger sandwiches cover a good spread of flavours and textures. You might see items like:

• Scottish smoked salmon, caviar, and chive cream cheese on cape seed loaf
• Roast beef Sirloin with wild rocket and horseradish cream on beetroot bread
• Chicken with grain mustard mayonnaise and toasted almonds on white bread
• Barber’s cheddar cheese and plum tomato on onion bread
• Cucumber and mint crème fraîche on Norfolk crunch

This kind of bread variety matters more than it sounds. It keeps the savoury course from becoming a single-note parade of white bread sandwiches. The horseradish and rocket combo, for example, brings a sharpness that cuts through the richness of cream cheese and spreads.

And you’ll also get pastries as part of the full assortment. That’s where the meal feels complete instead of one-note.

One word of advice: pick one savoury item you’re excited about, then try at least one that’s a little different. If you’re a classic comfort eater, the salmon-and-caviar style bite is the one that feels most “London” here. If you want something hearty, the roast beef with horseradish cream usually lands well.

Scones, clotted cream, and homemade preserves: the main event

If you only care about one thing, make it this. The scones are served freshly baked and you get a trio: plain, fruit, and cheese. That variety is helpful because each one pairs differently with what you add.

You’ll get:

• homemade seasonal preserve
• lemon curd
• clotted cream

Here’s the practical way I like to do it: start with a plain or fruit scone, taste it with clotted cream first so you can feel the texture and richness, then switch to preserve or lemon curd for sweetness and brightness. Lemon curd is especially useful if you’re finding the cream heavy. The acidity helps reset your palate before you move on to the next course.

Clotted cream also signals you’re getting a more traditional presentation than the quick “scone-like” versions. It’s the difference between a sweet snack and the classic British tea ritual.

Desserts at tea time: chocolate, blackberry, rhubarb, and citrus

Dessert is where afternoon tea either impresses—or feels like leftovers from a bakery counter. In this case, the sweets listed are clearly designed as a set.

On the sample menu, you might see:

• Crown Hukambi chocolate, hazelnut praline, and chocolate sablé
• Blackberry éclair
• Blackberry chiboust with blackberry fruit glaze
• Rhubarb and vanilla (plus options like rhubarb jelly and opalys crémeux)
• Citrus meringue tart
• Almond cream with candied lemon and lime zest
• Vanilla sponge with rhubarb jelly

What I like about this mix is that it avoids the “everything tastes the same” problem. Chocolate-heavy bites give you depth, blackberry brings fruit sharpness, and rhubarb adds that tang you only really get when it’s done well. Citrus meringue tart is the clean finishing note if you want something lighter near the end.

Practical strategy: don’t try to finish everything. Aim for 2–3 sweets plus a bite or two of the rest. Afternoon tea desserts are designed to be sampled, not conquered.

Tea and champagne: choosing the drink that fits your mood

Tea isn’t an afterthought here. You can choose from black, green, white, and herbal options from P.M. David Silva & Sons. That matters because the tea you choose affects how the sweets taste.

If you go heavy on chocolate desserts, consider a tea with structure (often black or a stronger blend) so the flavour stays clean. If you lean toward citrus and fruit desserts, a lighter or herbal tea can keep things from feeling too dense.

Champagne is another option. It’s only included if you select the inclusive option, so double-check that at booking. For most people, it turns the experience into a celebration meal—especially if you’re going for a milestone, a date, or a “London treat yourself” afternoon.

Either way, you’re getting tea/coffee included. So you’re not trapped into buying extra drinks just to make the meal feel complete.

Price and value: what $111 buys you (and what it doesn’t)

At around $111 per person, this isn’t bargain afternoon tea. It’s in the high-end category, and it should be judged like one.

Here’s what you are paying for:

• A classic afternoon tea spread with freshly baked scones
• A savoury lineup that goes beyond plain ham-and-cheese
• Proper traditional accompaniments (clotted cream, lemon curd, homemade seasonal preserve)
• A dessert set that’s varied, not just repetitive cake slices
• A formal setting in the Palace Lounge

What you should not expect:

• Unlimited food and extra drinks. Your basic tea service is the included package, and you may be offered additional beverage purchases while you’re there.

So the value equation is simple. If you want a special London meal in a room that feels like part of the city’s heritage, it’s a fair splurge. If you’re mostly chasing quantity or cheap calories, it will feel expensive.

A smart move is to treat it as the anchor of one good afternoon. Pair it with a nearby sightseeing plan and skip the extra snack stops before you arrive.

Dress code and what to bring: small rules that can ruin your timing

This is the kind of experience where small rules matter.

Bring:

• Passport or ID card

Don’t wear:

• sandals or flip-flops
• shorts
• sportswear
• ripped clothing

If you show up in casual gym gear, you may be turned away. So I’d rather you overthink your outfit for five minutes than lose time at the door.

Also, if you have dietary requirements, tell the provider 48 hours before your booking. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free requests are mentioned, so this is the right venue to communicate early rather than trying to solve it on the spot.

Who should book this afternoon tea—and who might skip it

This is a strong choice if you want:

• a traditional British afternoon tea experience
• an elegant setting that feels like a once-in-a-while treat
• a menu with both savoury and sweet variety
• optional champagne if you’re celebrating

It may not be the best fit if:

• you don’t enjoy formal food settings or you need a casual, walk-in vibe
• you’re hunting for the cheapest meal option
• you’re planning a very long, stop-and-start sightseeing day right before tea (because you’ll feel rushed inside a 1.5-hour window)

If you like classic rituals, this fits your style.

Should you book Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace?

I’d book it if you want your London afternoon to feel like more than eating. The service is built around the full ritual: savoury finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and a dessert set with real variety. Add the formal Palace Lounge atmosphere, and you get a meal that feels like part of the city’s culture rather than just a tourist stop.

Skip it only if you’re trying to minimize cost or you’re not up for a scheduled, restaurant-style experience. At about $111 per person, this one works best when you’re ready to pay for both food quality and the setting.

FAQ

How long is the afternoon tea experience?

It lasts about 1.5 hours.

What is included in the afternoon tea?

Afternoon tea includes freshly baked scones, finger sandwiches, pastries, plus tea/coffee.

Is champagne included?

Champagne is included only if you selected an inclusive option.

Where do I go to start the experience?

You show your voucher when entering The Rubens at the Palace.

What should I bring for entry?

Bring a passport or an ID card.

Are there rules about what I can wear?

Yes. Sandals or flip-flops, shorts, sportswear, and ripped clothing are not allowed.

Can I request a dietary option?

Yes. You need to inform the activity provider of dietary requirements 48 hours before your booking, including requests such as vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Is there a refund if my plans change?

You can cancel up to 2 days in advance for a full refund.

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