The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea
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London, England
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy a classic British afternoon tea without worrying about reservations on this guided Kensington Palace experience. View the palace from the exterior, and stroll through gardens created by Prince Albert while learning about the history of Britain’s tea time tradition. Then, sit down to a traditional spread of sandwiches, cakes, and scones while hearing stories about the royal family and palace life.
- Upgrade to add on entry to the palace
- Hear stories you might otherwise miss out on
- Get the royal treatment—snacks, tea, and Kensington Gardens stroll included
- Avoid getting lost with a guide to escort you from Queensway Station
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Unlike some tours where tables are shared, this high tea includes a private table.
Sample Menu
Starter
A Selection of Sandwiches
Finger Cut Sandwiches according to season
Main
Scones with Clotted Cream & Strawberry Jam
Dessert
A Selection of Cakes
Indulge in Queen Victoria's passion for delicious Palace Cakes, including her favourite , Victoria Sponge
What's Included
- Tea at the Orangery - next to the Palace on private table
- A walk in the gardens with a knowledgeable guide
- The 1000 year history of Hyde Park and its Royal Owners
- Traditional Afternoon Tea of freshly made sandwiches, scones & cakes. Vegan/Veg no Gluten on request
- Entry to Kensington Palace (unless selected at check out)
- Gratuities
- Private transportation
- Alcoholic BeveragesAvailable at extra cost at the venue
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Queensway stationLondon W2 4RW, UK
IMPORTANT: DO NOT GO TO THE PALACE. WE DO NOT MEET THERE We meet outside of Queensway Underground Station - There is only 1 Entrance (Next to Chinese Restaurant) - Please wait outside the station (next to the red phone box) https://goo.gl/maps/cA82XF8W9V8qNrJ48
End point
- Kensington PalaceKensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, UK
After the experience you can walk back to Queensway Station or Kensington High St in 10 minutes where buses, trains and taxis are available
Itinerary
Meet your guide in central London, and stroll together toward Kensington Gardens, which sits on the west side of Hyde Park.
Explore the footpaths that wind around these manicured lawns, hearing the history of Hyde Park from around 1066 to the present day.
After taking in the Italian Gardens and the Round Pond, listen to tidbits about the British Royal Family, and head to the pavilion for a classic high tea of sandwiches, cakes, and hot tea.
Your experience ends here, meaning you can linger as you like.
Explore the footpaths that wind around these manicured lawns, hearing the history of Hyde Park from around 1066 to the present day.
After taking in the Italian Gardens and the Round Pond, listen to tidbits about the British Royal Family, and head to the pavilion for a classic high tea of sandwiches, cakes, and hot tea.
Your experience ends here, meaning you can linger as you like.
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Not recommended for those that find walking difficult
- Some park surfaces are uneven and there are steps
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 980 reviews
Penny_F, May 2026
I paid for the palace tour and did not get it! They sub contracted with another tour group who did not give me my tickets and I still have not received a refund from Viator! I had to purchase three more tickets to get into the palace!
Barb_D, May 2026
Portia was excellent and was very helpful to my sister-in-law when she left her purse in an Uber. She is very considerate informative!
Samuel_W, May 2026
Tour guide was excellent. He knew we have mobility issues so he amended the tour to facilitate our needs
Melanie_B, May 2026
We had a great time on the Kensington Gardens and afternoon tea excursion with Doug. He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging throughout the entire tour. The pace of the tour was relaxed and perfect. Loved the tea service!
Julia_M, May 2026
The tea was delicious and lovely - everything we had hoped for in our first English high tea.
The setting was beautiful and the waitstaff were very friendly and attentive.
Anne_F, May 2026
Our guide was outstanding - local historian, storyteller and very informative. Despite the few raindrops it was an excellent tour of Kensington Park only outdone by the High Tea in the Orangery!! I enjoyed the entire day and never felt rushed. After the tea, I loved having the opportunity to wander thru the castle. It was a 10 out of 10.
Marie_S, May 2026
The tour was great and the guide the tea was average I enjoyed seeing the Palace and grounds I was very interested in the Palace
Linda_D, May 2026
Paul was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable. Kept a good pace. Spoke clearly and loud enough for us to hear. It was a wonderful experience. I would recommend anyone.
Ross_G, May 2026
A great tour with a fabulous guide who was a breath of fresh air with his witty sense of humour. We loved it and what a way to end with the great high tea at Kensington Palace
Valerie_S, May 2026
Our guide Doug was fantastic! He provided a great combination of exploring Hyde Park, learning the history of Kensington Palace and enjoying high tea.
Brianna_M, May 2026
Paul was a wonderful guide! We had an amazing time, and my family keeps talking about how wonderful the experience was!
Daryl_E, May 2026
Very beautiful and guide was engaging and funny while giving the group a history lesson .
The pace good for a senior citizen with bad hips
Richard_S, May 2026
The guide was friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. The Kensington Gardens were gorgeous, but not quite what I expected. The gardens were quite crowded that day with joggers, bikers, and dogs. Altogether, it was a nice experience. I think that it would be helpful to let future participants know that the tour entails a little over an hour of walking.
Alfred_C, May 2026
Prior to the tour there were multiple email and text message communications regarding the meeting location and time of our tour. When we met our tour guide, we were informed that the tour was going to need to be cut short due to an event scheduled at the palace. Viator should have communicated this us in advance and we should not have learned this at the time of meeting our guide. Our group felt that the tour was lacking in detail, and that it was limited in information about the gardens, and palace. Too much emphasis was placed on maintaining a tight schedule, which in reality at the end of our afternoon tea was not really justified. We could have held the original schedule and still have been able to see everything as originally planned. Viator should have communicated this information a few days in advance once it was known that events at the palace had changed, so that we could make a determination if we were still willing to go on the tour.
Denise_M, May 2026
Paul, our tour guide, was excellent! His comments were knowledgeable and sprinkled with humor. He was very aware of the mobility issues ofcsome of the tour members an adjusted his pace accordingly. He slso made sure to speak to each of the participants individually. But, be aware, you can only tip in cash. We wanted to give him a tip for a great tour but we were cashless! So hopefully , there can be some mechanism that you could Venmo to tip.
Megan_S, May 2026
Absolutely fabulous! Doug was very friendly and had great information and insights to share during our walk and high tea was so elegant and fun in the beautiful Orangery!! Pricey, but worth it!
Brittany_R, May 2026
A must-do when in London! Our guide Doug did an excellent job. He was charismatic, knowledgeable, and funny. The high tea experience was very memorable, and the place was quite elegant.
GinaMarie_D, Apr 2026
Had a wonderful stroll through Hyde Park with our guide Paul. Very informative and very pleasant to chat with. Highly recommend High Tea at Kensington Palace..
RoseEllen_G, Apr 2026
The tour was great. Beautiful walk through the park on the way to the palace and tea was wonderful. We did the entry to Kensington Palace after the tea. Plenty of time to see the palace before it closed for the day.
Tracy_R, Apr 2026
What a fun tour guide Doug was! Love the history of Victoria Park. The tea location was beautiful. I recommend this tour.
Gail_P, Apr 2026
Doug was a knowledgeable and pleasant tour guide. It was like touring the grounds with a friend. He was kind about taking pictures and explaining what was served during tea. Highlight of my trip!
Deb_S, Mar 2026
Our guide was wonderful and customised the tour to us! High Tea was lovely and the Palace tour is well worth it
Joyce_B, Mar 2026
Our guide, Doug, was one of the best we’ve had on trips we have booked on Viator. We were introduced to the park, and the friendly swans,. We also saw the lovely tribute to Princess Diana. The High tea was in the Orangerie and was absolutely gorgeous. High tea was an event not to be missed and we weren’t rushed. Kensington Palace did not disappoint either! Great tour and guide!
Douglas_H, Mar 2026
You can book directly for tea at the Orangerie… or take this delightful tour of the garden and learn the history of what you’re looking at, followed by tea! Highly reco the tour approach, which gives you great insights into the park and gardens.
Julie_M, Mar 2026
The High Tea was elegant and lovely! Doug, our guide gave a fascinating history of the customs of high tea and tea in general.
Janelle_M, Mar 2026
Knowledgeable guide. Great outdoor activity with kids. Lovely first time high tea experience. We did not do the palace tour but if no kids, probably would have booked that too.
Samantha_J, Mar 2026
From the start the meeting place was very clear. Our guide was prompt and very knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed learning all of the history about Kensington and the Royal Family.
The tea was lovely and the staff was very kind.
Delilah_H, Feb 2026
It was an enjoyable tour, I don't feel like the description before booking is accurate enough. The main focus of this tour is the walk through Kensigton Gardens. I was chatting with another person on the tour and they agreed they didn't even realize there was a portion where we walked through the gardens. The tea felt very rushed, which was my main reason for booking this tour. The tea was absolutely amazing, but if you booked the portion where you were doing the self guided tour of Kensigton Palace, you were rushed through tea to go to the palace. So as great as each piece was, the highlight of the tour was the most rushed piece.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your review and concerns. We describe the tour as a Walking Tour with Tea at the Palace. We allow an hour for tea but this can be extended if required as there is no time limit on the table. The Palace Ticket is timed to allow up to 90 minutes for the tea service but Palace staff are flexible should you require more time. We are sorry you felt rushed as our goal is to provide a leisurely experience.
RoseMarie_P, Feb 2026
Paul was awesome. Even though it was cold and raining he made it very enjoyable and informative. A wealth of history..
Toni_P, Feb 2026
On a rainy day in February, it was a lovely, relaxing, and educational experience. I learned a lot from my guide Barbara. She was very knowledgeable and even provided information to help make the rest of my trip easier. Barbara was an excellent tour guide and I enjoyed my time with her. The orangey was a beautiful tea room and the server was very attentive. The vanilla chai tea was perfect on a rainy day.
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