Brigit's Bakery

Afternoon tea on a vintage London bus

Brigit's Bakery runs its own afternoon tea bus tours in London, serving tea on vintage Routemaster buses while they drive past the city's landmarks. It also runs a bakery and tea room in Covent Garden, private bus and room hire, and a catering and corporate events service. The About page says it was "founded in 2014 by Cedric Bloch, who envisioned a distinctive afternoon tea experience that would celebrate both his French heritage and the rich British tradition of tea," and calls itself "London's premier afternoon tea bus tour company." All tours start and end in central London, and prices on the site are in pounds.

The company says it serves "an average of 10,000 afternoon teas on our bus tours every month and 600 every Saturday across all experiences," and describes its wheelchair-adapted Routemaster as "the first ever wheelchair-friendly Routemaster Bus tour." The footer names the operating company as Brigit's Afternoon Tea Ltd. In Covent Garden, the Jungle Room hosts a Pre-Theatre Paddington Afternoon Tea, and the private hire pages offer the buses for corporate events and parties, rooms at the bakery, and even a vintage boat for an afternoon tea party cruise on the Thames.

The tours

The Classic Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour (age 5+) is the original. It leaves from Gate 0 inside Victoria Coach Station and, per the routes page, passes Whitehall, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, the V&A, the Natural History and Science Museums, the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, Notting Hill, Hyde Park, Marble Arch, Mayfair, The Ritz, Trafalgar Square and Downing Street.

The themed tours are aimed at families. The Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour (age 2+) leaves from Temple (Bus Stop N) and passes Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market and Piccadilly Circus. The Paddington tour, which the site describes as "5 to 96!", leaves from Trafalgar Square at 8 Northumberland Avenue, and the PAW Patrol London Bus Tour, with "fun missions" and sing-alongs, leaves from 10 Northumberland Avenue outside the Corinthia London Hotel. The MONOPOLY London Tea Tour, "an immersive, on-the-go version of the world's favourite board game," leaves from Temple and takes in Fleet Street, The Strand, Pall Mall and more. Seasonal specials include a Spooky Halloween tour (19 October to 1 November), a Peppa Pig Halloween tour, a Grinchmas tour, and The Cat in the Hat Afternoon Tea Bus Tour (age 4+) on "Limited dates, 14 Nov to 31 Dec 2026."

The menus are printed on the site: finger sandwiches and savories, mini cakes and tarts, and a scone with clotted cream and jam, with Traditional, Halal, Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free versions. The kitchen is "unable to cater for: nut-free, peanut-free, combination of dairy & gluten-free, combination of vegan & gluten-free and Coeliacs," and "All allergies must be emailed and confirmed by management." Alcohol is "pre-sold only," follows a Challenge 25 policy and is non-refundable.

How the day works

The FAQ is thorough. Guests should arrive 20 minutes before departure, and "The bus cannot wait for latecomers"; no refund is given for lateness. Buses leave and return to the same point, and the FAQ gives walking times to each one: Victoria Coach Station is "an 8 minute stroll" from Victoria Station, and the Temple stop is 2 minutes from the Underground. There is no toilet on most buses, but the Peppa Pig and PAW Patrol buses have a toilet and changing facilities "for children only in an emergency." Tables seat up to four, and the site warns that the original Routemaster seats are small "and we've all got a lot larger than our 1960's relations!" VIP seats at the front of the upper deck come in pairs. All staff on board are trained in first aid.

Age rules are strict. Babies are not allowed. Children must be 2 or older on the Peppa Pig and PAW Patrol tours and 5 or older on the Classic, Paddington and MONOPOLY tours, with a discounted rate for 5 to 11 year olds and "sometimes" exceptions for 4-year-olds. On access, one bus has a ramp on the lower deck that lets "one wheelchair to be fully secured and strapped in (facing forward) at Table 4," with space for two more wheelchair users who can transfer to a seat. That bus is not bookable online, so guests must use a form or call, and "our themed buses are not currently wheelchair accessible."

Booking and terms

Tours are booked online at bus.b-bakery.com, by email at bus@b-bakery.com, or by phone on 020 3026 1188 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), and "you must book in advance." The terms are firm. Individuals pay in full at booking, plus "a booking fee of £5.50 per table," and "All bookings are non refundable, however you may change the date or type of experience," with a changing fee of £22.50 per person within 2 weeks of the tour or £10 per person further out. Groups of 10 or more pay a non-refundable 50% deposit and the balance 2 weeks before. If the company cancels a tour or a bus breaks down and cannot be replaced within 60 minutes, it offers "a place on another tour, free of charge, subject to availability." Groups can hire the top or bottom deck for 20 or 12 guests, or the whole bus, and NHS workers get 20% off. The homepage advertises "up to 25% off" some tours and a September sale of 25% off weekdays and 15% off weekends.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The tour listings do not show a ticket price, and the company does not state a tour length; one guest review mentions "one and half hour of travelling around London," which is a guest's account. The refund terms are clear but strict: a booking can be moved for a fee, not refunded.

For the right family the offer is well defined: themed buses for toddlers and young children, clear departure points with walking times from the nearest stations, detailed menus with dietary versions, and an honest FAQ about toilets, seat size and access. It suits families with young fans of Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol or Paddington, visitors who want a sit-down way to see central London, and groups celebrating an occasion. It is less suited to anyone with a nut allergy or celiac disease, families with babies, or travelers who need the option of a refund.