If you’re looking for a magical and unique way to celebrate the festive season, the Snowman Christmas afternoon tea bus tour in London is hard to beat. Last year, we hopped aboard Golden Tours’ Snowman-themed afternoon tea bus with our kids, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable family Christmas activities we’ve done.
With festive treats, joyful music and a route that passes some of London’s most iconic sights, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy the season together, especially if you’re searching for a family-friendly Christmas outing that feels truly special.
In this guide, I will share our honest review of The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea bus tour and tips to enjoy this magical ride as a family.
DISCLAIMER: This tour was kindly gifted to me by Golden Tours. All opinions are honest and my own. I also use affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you, and I am extremely grateful, as it helps me to run my blog.
- The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour by Golden Tours Review
- What are the Food Options?
- Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Route
- Timings of the Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tours
- Is the Snowman Afternoon Tea Tour Good for Kids?
- How to Book the Snowman Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
- FAQ's on The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
- Final Thoughts on The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour by Golden Tours Review
The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, combining festive music with afternoon tea and seeing some of London’s best sights. Perfect if you’re only in London for a short time or if you’re just looking for a Christmas treat the whole family will enjoy!
Below, I will share everything you need to know about this festive experience. Including what to expect, the food, the route, and of course, tips on how to enjoy it with kids.
What are the Food Options?
Golden Tours offers a range of menus, including standard, vegetarian, vegan, halal and even a gluten-free afternoon tea. There is also a special kids’ menu. All of the food is inspired by the Christmas snowman theme. I’ve linked the full menu options here.
Each menu includes a variant on a traditional afternoon tea: finger sandwiches and a selection of sweet treats. The treats are adorable, especially the little snowman-shaped one! You then get served a warm scone with jam and cream and a mince pie.
Everything tasted delicious, and we were very full! They gave out take-away boxes so we could enjoy the leftovers at home!
You also get a drink, with a choice of a variety of teas, coffee, hot chocolate or juice. There is also an option to upgrade to a premium drink. Of course, my kids wanted the premium hot chocolate, which came with cream, marshmallows and a candy cane. This was an extra £3. Drinks are served in a reusable snowman cup, which you get to take home with you!
Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Route
There are two starting points for this Christmas afternoon tea bus tour. We chose the London Eye pick-up, but both do a similar route.
You’ll drive past some of London’s most iconic sights, including Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
Around Christmas, London gets very busy, and indeed, some of the pavements look very crowded. Cruising around on the bus while enjoying some delicious food is a lovely way to see the sights and avoid the crowds.
See the map of the tour’s route here.
Timings of the Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tours
This is a seasonal tour which runs from November until the 4th of January. Similar tours do run year-round, but obviously, they are not Christmas-themed.
You have a choice of two departure times from The London Eye (12 noon and 4:45 pm) and three from Aldwych (12:15, 1:45 and 5 pm). It is worth double-checking the current schedule here, as it is subject to change.
We chose a 12 noon departure so the afternoon tea would replace lunch. Also, my children are typically in a better mood during the day than in the evening.
However, if you do choose to take the latter tour, you’ll also be able to see some of London’s Christmas lights as the bus goes down Regent Street and Oxford Street. We’ve already done a London Christmas Lights bus tour (full review here), and they are magical to see!
Is the Snowman Afternoon Tea Tour Good for Kids?
Golden Tour’s Snowman Afternoon Tea London bus tour is perfect for kids aged 3+. As this tour is based on the Snowman children’s book and film, it is popular with families. There were lots of children enjoying the experience, and also some couples without children.
As well as the afternoon tea, you also get given a Christmas cracker each; this was a nice touch that my children really loved.
The kids’ afternoon tea menu is very similar to the adult menu; the kids’ sandwiches are kid favourites such as cheese and Nutella, cut into the shape of snowmen. The desserts, scone and a mince pie are the same.
The tour bus has space to store small, fold-up pushchairs (strollers) but no toilets, so make sure everyone in your group has gone prior to boarding.
How to Book the Snowman Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
It’s best to book this tour online as it is popular and can sell out! Just select your departure location and preferred time. You can also choose the upper or lower deck (I highly recommend the upper). If you want to sit right at the front, select premium seats.
If you also want to see the London Christmas lights, the front seats will definitely give you the best views, but generally, the views from any seat are great.
Prices start from £39 per adult and £34 per child, which includes the afternoon tea and the snowman cup you get to take home.
I usually book through a provider such as Get Your Guide as they allow free cancellations (use MUMINTHECITY5 for 5% off bookings). I think this is particularly handy for families as you never know if someone will be unwell.
Or you can book directly with Golden Tours; they have kindly given me a discount code ALEX10, which will give you 10% off your booking.
FAQ’s on The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Yes! A Christmas afternoon tea bus tour is a lovely way to combine a traditional afternoon tea with a sightseeing tour of London’s Christmas lights. The Golden Tours Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour takes you past some of London’s best-known festive sights while you enjoy afternoon tea on board.
It’s also a great option for families, as you get to see plenty of London without having to walk between different Christmas attractions.
The Golden Tours Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour lasts approximately 90 minutes, although the exact journey time can vary depending on London traffic. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy your afternoon tea while taking in London’s Christmas lights and decorations from the comfort of the bus.
Yes, it’s recommended for children aged 2+. My children loved the Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, and it’s a lovely experience for families.
It is particularly nice if you’re looking for a Christmas activity that the whole family can enjoy together, rather than an experience aimed solely at children.
Final Thoughts on The Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
If you’re looking for a Christmas activity the whole family will enjoy, I think the Golden Tours Snowman Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is a lovely option.
We really enjoyed our experience, and I particularly liked that it combines two things that make London feel so magical at Christmas: seeing the city’s festive decorations and enjoying afternoon tea. It also means you can take in plenty of London without having to spend hours walking around in the cold, which is a definite bonus when you’re visiting with children!
For me, this is a Christmas experience that works well for the whole family rather than being focused solely on the children. You get the sightseeing, the Christmas atmosphere and the afternoon tea all in one experience.
I’d recommend booking in advance, particularly if you’re visiting London during the busier weekends in December, as Christmas experiences can fill up quickly.
Thank you for reading our review of the Snowman Christmas afternoon tea bus tour in London by Golden Tours. We hope you have a magical festive period.
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Happy Christmas,
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
When I’m not planning our next adventure, I also share timeless style inspiration and ideas for living more thoughtfully and sustainably.