What’s higher than a cruise alongside the Thames within the sunshine, wanting on the historic buildings lining the banks? A London afternoon tea cruise, the place you get the normal sandwiches, scones and candy treats as you go.
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So when City Cruises invited me to check out one in all their particular themed cruises, for this London afternoon tea cruise review, I used to be able to board earlier than you may say ‘pass me the jam’.
Because whereas I’ve cruised alongside the Thames extra occasions than I can rely, whether or not it’s a fast journey to Greenwich, a family-friendly cruise with my daughter, or an opportunity to indicate family and friends a few of the sights of London from the river, this was my first time having fun with afternoon tea on a Thames cruise.
London afternoon tea cruise: the necessities
Wondering what a City Cruises afternoon tea cruise includes? Here’s every part you’ll want to know earlier than you board.
How lengthy does the afternoon tea cruise final?
You’ll spend round 90 minutes on board, cruising from the Tower of London right down to the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye earlier than turning round to journey east.
The tour nearly reaches Canary Wharf – you’ll be capable to see the skyscrapers within the Docklands – earlier than returning again to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
What time does the cruise begin?
The cruise units sail at 3.30pm however you’ll must be there earlier, in time to board at 3.15pm – City Cruises advises arriving no less than 10 minutes earlier than boarding.
If you guide the VIP package deal, you’ll get to skip the queue and board first, with seats in prime viewing place on the entrance of the boat. The cruise ends at 5pm.
What ought to I put on?
Anything you want, inside cause. The official gown code is informal, however if you wish to gown as much as have fun an event, go forward and glam up.
If you’re becoming within the afternoon tea cruise after a day’s sightseeing and need to are available in denims and trainers, that’s superb too.
We noticed loads of folks aboard in on a regular basis garments, and various in barely fancier outfits. The solely factor which is suggested towards is flip-flops and leisurewear (and I’d add that you really want one thing you possibly can transfer across the boat comfortably in).
Is it family-friendly?
Absolutely. We have been removed from the one household on board, together with a child and some preschool-age kids.
Infants aged 0-2 years journey free (until they want a seat, wherein case they do must have a ticket), whereas children aged 3-12 pay baby costs (presently from £36). Teens pay grownup costs (presently from £44).
There’s no baby menu, so everybody will get the identical meals (barring any dietary necessities – learn on for extra).
The muffins and scones are prone to attraction to all ages, even when your children don’t fancy the sandwiches although, and a few of the traditional afternoon choices – corresponding to egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and coronation rooster – could properly get the thumbs up from youthful diners anyway.
There’s fruit juice and smooth drinks on the bar menu, in addition to peppermint and fruit tea, in case your children need an uncaffeinated different.
What if we’ve got particular dietary necessities?
No drawback. The afternoon tea might be tailor-made for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free (though it’s not potential to have menus which might be each vegan and gluten free).
All the desserts are vegetarian already, and in case you have different necessities – for instance, should you’re pescatarian – you’ll get a separate set of sandwiches with out the usual Coronation Chicken. Or vegetarians can have an choice with out the smoked salmon sandwiches, whereas there’s a wholly separate vegan menu.
Both my husband and daughter had a number of necessities to cater for, and it couldn’t have been less complicated: you simply add your dietary necessities when reserving (or afterwards in handle your reserving, so long as you give enough discover).
Is there guided commentary?
You’ll have both recorded commentary by an official information, or – as most individuals are likely to want – stay commentary by one of many crew.
Although they’re not official guides, they clearly know their stuff after years engaged on the river: I discovered a few new info, plus you get all of the important data identified, and various joky asides thrown in.
You received’t have somebody speaking all through the cruise although both. After a short introduction to begin, we sailed from the Tower to Westminster the place the commentary began across the Houses of Parliament.
We then had the commentary again alongside the river to Tower Bridge, earlier than one other interval the place we might benefit from the views in silence, and some extra remarks on the finish.
It’s straightforward sufficient to listen to if you wish to pay attention, in addition to to speak in between. While there won’t be fairly as a lot element as a guided cruise, it’s a great stability and also you received’t go house questioning what you’ve simply seen.
Can you board wherever alongside the river?
No. Unlike a few of the hop-on hop-off cruise boats, you’ll board at Tower Millennium Pier (proper subsequent to the Tower of London) and return there afterwards.
The boat doesn’t cease at any level in the course of the 90-minute journey.
What services are there on board?
There are bathrooms on board, in addition to a well-stocked bar should you fancy wine, champagne, prosecco or cocktails along with your afternoon tea (in addition to different alcoholic drinks and smooth drinks).
You can even prebook bottles of prosecco, champagne or wine, in addition to shopping for on board, with some provides should you’re simply planning to have a glass or two.
There’s additionally a viewing platform in the back of the boat if you wish to go exterior to benefit from the views. It’s additionally potential to smoke exterior, though not in the principle cabin.
See extra – watch my video on YouTube or Instagram
London afternoon tea cruise: review
We couldn’t have ordered a greater day for a cruise alongside the Thames if it had been an choice at reserving – regardless of being early March, spring had (briefly) come early and there have been blue skies and solar shining alongside the river.
Strolling down the gangplank, our VIP reserving meant we skipped to the pinnacle of the queue, and have been among the many first to board after having fun with a number of views of Tower Bridge, and seagulls paddling simply off the tiny seaside by the Tower of London.
There’s no squabbling for tables both, every part is assigned earlier than you get on – with the VIP package deal, 4 tables had been arrange on the entrance of the boat, giving us a incredible view by way of the vast glass home windows.
If you’re travelling in a gaggle of two, you can even improve to a desk by the facet home windows, however even should you’re sitting on the central tables, you possibly can nonetheless rise up and wander round inside (and outdoors) to benefit from the riverside views.
Within moments of sitting down, workers bearing sizzling water and tea baggage had come to verify on our tea desire, with inexperienced tea, lemon & ginger, peppermint and tremendous fruit alongside Earl Grey, Decaf English breakfast and City Cruises’ personal signature mix, ‘everyday brew’.
You get limitless tea in the course of the cruise, and with particular person little teapots, you possibly can change choices part-way if you wish to attempt a pair. There’s additionally limitless espresso, in addition to alcoholic and smooth drinks to purchase – the Chapel Down glowing wine was sadly unavailable, however I consoled myself very fortunately with a glass of Prosecco.
And earlier than we knew it, we have been off, cruising west alongside the river in the direction of the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye as our three-tier cake stand was introduced out – and a separate plate of sandwiches for my husband, to go well with his dietary necessities.
Egg mayonnaise on basil and spinach bread was one in all my favourites, a positively step up out of your common egg mayo, together with smoked salmon and cream cheese on caraway.
But in addition to the classics, together with Coronation Chicken, there was a extra quirky Chipotle Sandwich, on beetroot and dill bread, whereas the vegan menu had a spiced avocado choice in addition to baba ganoush sandwich as a few of the extra uncommon alternate options.
My 12-year-old was eyeing up the 2 greater tiers although; scones with jam and cream on the high, and a number of little muffins and pastries within the center, together with an eye catching mango pebble.
Set on a shortbread-style biscuit, the shiny spherical orange mango centre made it look unexpectedly like a fried egg, however much more enjoyable to eat.
Sitting alongside was chocolate fudge cake, a vibrant pink macaron (slightly extra like a meringue than your common macaron but additionally twice the dimensions), and mini lemon meringue tarts which turned out to be my favorite.
And when you don’t get extra meals, we didn’t even have area to complete the three tiers, not to mention anything.
Plus, in fact, whereas we have been having fun with the meals, we additionally acquired to drink within the views, passing an entire string of sights together with the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Globe Theatre, St Paul’s, Tate Modern, the Shard, an entire string of bridges, historic pubs and loads of transformed wharfs as we headed east in the direction of Canary Wharf.
While we had loads of time to eat and chat amongst ourselves, we additionally had stay commentary from one of many members of the crew as we travelled from Westminster to Tower Bridge – and some different sections.
It’s not solely the most important riverside sights which get picked out both – we had tales of Shakespeare and The Anchor pub, the one river tavern to outlive since Tudor occasions (admittedly rebuilt after the Great Fire and looking out somewhat completely different at this time).
Our ‘guide’ additionally identified The Monument to the Great Fire, its Golden Flame peeking out above the encircling buildings and the silver dragons which nonetheless stand on the outdated gates into the City of London.
We additionally heard the story behind Waterloo Bridge, and its nickname the Ladies’ Bridge, a narrative I hadn’t heard earlier than. With work underway to exchange the outdated bridge in 1939, as males headed to the Second World War battlefields, ladies have been accountable for a lot of the work of making the brand new bridge.
And whereas a few of the tales which are sometimes instructed on the river – that all the workforce was feminine, and that it’s the one bridge in London which was accomplished to deadline and underneath finances – will not be 100% true, it was one of many fascinating little nuggets to remove. And acquired a smug smirk from my daughter and me!
Book your City Cruises afternoon tea cruise in London right here
City Cruises Afternoon tea cruise: The verdict
All too quickly, our 90-minute journey was up and we have been cruising gently again into Tower Millennium Pier as soon as extra, feeling very full and simply as relaxed.
So how does the afternoon tea cruise measure up? An unqualified thumbs as much as the workers who have been beautiful, and if something appeared to have forgotten or wanted checking, hurried off to kind issues out for us.
The identical goes for the views: we have been actually fortunate with the climate, however I believe the VIP tables are actually price the additional to have the ability to gaze out with out shifting out of your seat.
And as a beautiful additional to a river cruise, it’s laborious to beat. You may get a bit much less data than a selected sightseeing cruise, however I felt we had a number of element and also you wouldn’t come away disenchanted with that.
If you’re on the lookout for London’s most uncommon connoisseur afternoon tea, you possibly can actually discover some quirky themes and ingenious creations again on land, however then once more, they don’t include such good views – and should you’re on the lookout for a traditional afternoon tea, this ticks loads of these containers.
Should you guide the London afternoon tea cruise with children? Again, I believe it is dependent upon your children – in case you have choosy eaters who received’t care in regards to the surroundings, this is likely to be one thing to place off till they’re older, however as a household deal with, it’s a beautiful choice.
After all, it’s laborious to go incorrect while you’ve acquired scones, surroundings and a few fascinating info about London.
Disclosure: My household afternoon tea cruise in London was free for the needs of review – all opinions are my very own. This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Images copyright MummyTravels
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