Big sights, easy pace, great tea. This Royal London tour is a smart way to see the Westminster and Buckingham Palace areas in one morning, then switch gears to afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace. I like how the group coach route saves you from a long walk between major landmarks, and I love that the tea is the real highlight, with sandwiches, pastries, and proper scones with clotted cream.

One thing to watch is the Changing of the Guard schedule. It runs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and if your day does not match, you will see the Changing of the Guard at Horse Guards Parade instead.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Blue Badge guide plus audio headsets: You get live commentary and clearer listening without craning your neck.
• Coach route that strings together London classics: Westminster, Parliament, Downing Street, Whitehall, and Trafalgar Square are all in one day block.
• A timed Buckingham Palace stop: Admission to Buckingham Palace is not included, but the Changing of the Guard ceremony is part of the experience.
• Afternoon tea is built in and timed after the tour: Your coach portion finishes around 12:00, then the tea starts right after.
• Family-friendly and practical: The experience is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and the group max is 52 people.

Royal London Tour Value: $175 and where it actually pays off

For $175.14 per person, you are not just paying for a bus ride. You are paying for a day structure that would be annoying to assemble on your own: a set morning route, a live Blue Badge guide, and built-in time for the sights that are spread out across central London.

The value also comes from reducing effort. The Westminster to Whitehall to Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace area is famous, but it is also spread out. Doing it solo means lots of walking, lots of crossing busy streets, and lots of time spent figuring out where to stand for the best photos. With this tour, you keep moving by coach, so your time becomes more useful.

The other part of the value is the afternoon tea. The Rubens at the Palace is positioned right near the royal action, so your meal is paired with a sense of place. You get a set experience, not a vague suggestion to find tea somewhere later.

Start at Victoria Coach Station, then use the coach like a local

Your day begins at Victoria Coach Station (164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP) with a 9:00 am start. The tour ends at The Rubens at the Palace (39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS), and that venue is about a 5 minute walk to Victoria Station.

This is one of those London setups that works well if you have limited time. You get a group experience covering multiple landmark areas without spending your morning in transit between scattered points.

You also get onboard extras that make a real difference when you are riding around town:

• Wi-Fi and USB charging on the coach
• Personal audio headsets so you can hear your Blue Badge guide clearly
• A superior coach, which matters when you are using it for hours

One more detail worth noting: it uses a mobile ticket, so you can keep everything on your phone and avoid print hassles.

Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, seeing the spine of government and royalty

Your route includes stops around Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster, and the Great Bell clock area commonly called Big Ben. This is where London’s religious and political power sit side by side, and your guide’s job is to help you connect the dots fast.

Westminster Abbey: coronations and royal burials nearby

Westminster Abbey is formally the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster. It is a major Gothic abbey church, known as a traditional place of coronations and as a burial site for English and later British monarchs.

Even if you do not go inside, seeing it as part of a guided route helps you understand what you are looking at. It stops being just another big church and becomes a landmark with specific meaning: the kind of place where state ceremonies and royal history physically overlap.

Big Ben, now Elizabeth Tower

At the Palace of Westminster you will also see Big Ben, the nickname for the clock bell at the north end of the complex. The tower’s official name is Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

If you love trivia, this stop is made for you. The nickname is everywhere, but knowing the official name gives you extra context without slowing you down.

Palace of Westminster: House of Commons and House of Lords

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. That makes this part of the trip feel oddly real. You are looking at spaces tied directly to how the UK government works, not just a set of pretty buildings.

Parliament, 10 Downing Street, Whitehall, and Trafalgar Square in one morning

After Westminster, the tour keeps rolling through the streets that tourists and locals associate with power, policy, and national storylines.

10 Downing Street: the prime minister’s address

10 Downing Street is the official residence and executive office linked to the prime minister. The tour’s value here is in the quick framing. You get an explanation of why this address matters, which makes a quick roadside view feel more substantial than a photo alone.

Whitehall: the thoroughfare toward Parliament Square

You will also pass through Whitehall, a central London road and area running south from Trafalgar Square toward Parliament Square. It is useful as a visual connector: once you learn what Whitehall is in relation to the rest of the route, your map brain starts working again.

Trafalgar Square: why the name means something

At Trafalgar Square, you learn that the square was established around the former Charing Cross area and named for the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars.

This is one of those stops where the guide turns a familiar setting into a meaning-filled one. If you have only a day or two in London, these quick “what to notice” moments help you enjoy the sights more, even with limited time.

Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, timing matters

The tour includes a Buckingham Palace stop and a Changing of the Guard ceremony.

You get 40 minutes for the Buckingham Palace portion, then 40 minutes for the Changing of the Guard. Admission to Buckingham Palace is not included, but the ceremony stop is part of the experience and is designed to be the key royal performance moment for your morning.

Changing of the Guard schedule and what happens if it does not match

Changing of the Guard has resumed, and it currently takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. If your tour date is not one of those days, you will see the Changing of the Guard at Horse Guards Parade instead.

This is the main drawback to plan around if you are chasing a specific kind of royal pageantry. Still, the tour has built in a workaround, so you are not left completely empty-handed.

What I like about the way this is handled

I like that this is treated like a planned event, not a random “maybe we can catch it” situation. A timed viewing window helps you avoid the common London headache of arriving at a great location with no schedule clarity.

And because it is part of a larger coach route, it fits nicely if you are on a flying visit and want your morning to feel packed but not chaotic.

The Rubens at the Palace afternoon tea: what you can expect

Your afternoon tea is included at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel, and it runs about 4 hours. The tea is an independent visit that takes place straight after the Royal London portion. Practically, your coach day ends around 12:00 pm, and then you shift from sightseeing mode to a seated meal.

Why the setting makes the tea feel special

The Rubens tea experience happens in the Palace Lounge, described as bright and open with panoramic views of The Queen’s stables. You can watch the comings and goings of royal carriages while you eat, which turns afternoon tea into more than just food. It becomes a front-row seat to royal neighborhood energy.

What is on the afternoon tea menu

The tea experience includes a selection of:

• Traditional sandwiches
• Fresh-made pastries
• Traditional scones with clotted cream and fruit preserve

One of the best signals you are in the right place is in the reviews you have available here. People highlighted the finger sandwiches as fantastic, and they specifically praised the scones and pastries. Another review called out the excellent service, and one person brought their girls, describing it as a memory-making experience.

So if your goal is afternoon tea that feels like it takes itself seriously, this is aligned with what the venue is delivering.

Drinks and the one thing not included

Champagne is not included, though one review praised house cocktails at the venue. That means you might want to look at the drink menu once you are there, especially if you like a small upgrade to your tea time.

Pace, group size, and comfort: will this day feel rushed?

This tour runs for about 7 hours total. You are seeing several major sites, and you should expect a “see it, learn it, photograph it, move on” rhythm rather than slow museum-style wandering.

That can be ideal, especially for people who:

• Want a guided overview of central London landmarks
• Have limited time and need efficiency
• Prefer not to manage transit and meeting points on their own

The group is capped at 52 travelers, which is big enough to feel social but not so large that you lose the sense of structure.

Also worth mentioning: the experience is wheelchair and stroller accessible, which makes it easier for families and anyone traveling with mobility needs.

Practical tips for a smoother day

A few real-world pointers make a difference on a route like this:

• Bring a camera or phone charger because you will be snapping landmarks like Westminster Abbey, the Elizabeth Tower area, and the Buckingham Palace front view.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Even though you ride by coach, you still have walking time inside viewpoints and from meeting areas to viewing points.
• Dress for London weather. A light layer helps because you may be standing outside for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
• If you care about the exact ceremony format, double-check the day match for Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. If it is not one of those, Horse Guards Parade is the plan.

On the tea side:

• If you have dietary needs, inform the operator at least 48 hours in advance. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options are mentioned as available when requested in time.
• If you want drinks beyond tea, you might want to review what is on offer before you order, since champagne is not included.

Who should book this Royal London tour with Rubens afternoon tea?

Book it if you want:

• A single morning that connects Westminster, Parliament, Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace
• A sit-down afternoon at a major London afternoon tea address, with scones and pastries that people praise
• A guide-led experience with Blue Badge expertise and headsets so you do not miss the explanations

Skip it if:

• You want to spend hours inside buildings or museums. This tour is set up for landmark coverage and guided highlights, not deep interior exploration.
• Your priority is total flexibility with no fixed schedule. The Changing of the Guard timing is predictable, but it is still a ceremony schedule.

Should you book this tour or plan it solo?

I would book this when you have limited time and want a confident plan. The mix of coach efficiency, a live Blue Badge guide, and then afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace makes it a very practical use of a day.

If you are the kind of person who enjoys piecing together London routes yourself, a solo plan could work. But you would need to recreate the same structure: guided context for Westminster and Parliament, a reliable Changing of the Guard plan, and a high-quality afternoon tea that is ready when you are done sightseeing.

Given the praised focus on great scones, pastries, sandwiches, and service, this is one of the safer bets for people who want the London classics plus a memorable meal.

FAQ

What is the price per person?

The price is listed as $175.14 per person.

How long does the Royal London part take?

The tour duration is listed as about 7 hours. The Royal London portion finishes at 12:00 pm.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UK, and it ends at The Rubens at the Palace, 39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS, UK.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

Is afternoon tea included, and where is it?

Yes. Afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel is included, and it takes place straight after the Royal London tour.

What is included in the tour besides the coach and tea?

Included features are an expert live Blue Badge guide, superior coach, Wi-Fi and USB charging on board, personal audio headset, and afternoon tea.

What is not included?

Not included items are hotel pick-up and drop-off, and champagne.

When does the Changing of the Guard take place?

It currently takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at Buckingham Palace. If it is not available on your date, the Changing of the Guard at Horse Guards Parade is included instead.

Is dietary accommodation available?

Yes. You should inform the provider of allergies and dietary requirements at least 48 hours in advance, including vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free requests for the afternoon tea.

Is the experience wheelchair and stroller accessible?

Yes, the experience is listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible.