Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Review
We absolutely love a themed afternoon tea, so we were excited to be among the first to try the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour by Brigit’s Bakery.
Our tour was scheduled for 9:45am, but the bus arrived at 10:20am. To their credit, we received a call to inform us about the delay, which I appreciated. However, with children waiting around, it did start to feel a little long — a few little ones (including mine) were definitely getting restless. There’s a small bench near the bus stop, so if you’re travelling with kids, it’s worth arriving slightly early to secure a seat just in case your tour is also running late.
Once the bus arrived though, the excitement quickly kicked in — and the adventure began.
The menu
Unfortunately, due to my nut allergy, I wasn’t able to try the main sweet treats. It’s disappointing, but I completely understand the precaution — safety always comes first. Little Miss, however, happily sampled a bit of everything and absolutely loved the marmalade sandwich shortbread cookie, which was definitely the standout treat for her.
I enjoyed some peppermint tea and tried the scones, which were delicious.
The Tour
Similar to the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus, each table on the Paddington tour features a built-in screen showing a Paddington-guided animation as you travel through London.
Paddington Bear and Mrs Bird narrate the journey, sharing fun facts about iconic landmarks along the route, including Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, making it both entertaining and educational for little explorers.
While the tour was enjoyable, I personally felt it was slightly lacking in interaction. On the Peppa Pig bus tour, there were lively sing-alongs and an onboard entertainer actively engaging the children throughout the journey. I appreciate that the Paddington experience may be aimed at a slightly older audience, but adding a little more live interaction could really elevate it. Hopefully, this is something that might be considered in future updates to the tour.
The Important Bits
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No toilets onboard, so make sure little ones go beforehand.
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Price: Adults from £45 and children from £35.
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Duration: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, although this can be longer depending on London traffic.
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Recommended age: Best suited to children aged 5+. If you’re visiting with younger children (minimum age 2), you may prefer the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour instead.
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Pick-up location: 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BY.
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Availability: The Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour runs weekly from Wednesday to Sunday.
There’s no denying it’s a premium-priced day out, but in my opinion, it’s a worthwhile one. The production quality, themed food and unique London sightseeing element make it feel special — the kind of experience that would work beautifully as a Christmas or birthday gift. I’ve always believed experiences create longer-lasting memories than material things, and this is definitely one families will look back on fondly.
If you’re comparing themed London bus tours before booking, you might also enjoy reading my full reviews of the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour and the PAW Patrol Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. Each one offers something slightly different in terms of interaction, age suitability and atmosphere, so it really comes down to your child’s favourite character and the type of experience you’re looking for.
