Edinburgh

Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience

Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience aboard a 1966 Routemaster Bus
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Knowing the best spots for a quintessential British experience in Edinburgh can be tricky. Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea on a vintage Routemaster bus tour, and cruise past city landmarks including Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace as you sample fresh scones, sandwiches, and tea. Choose a departure time to suit your schedule, and capture stylish snaps on board the classic vehicle.
  • Choose a departure time that suits your schedule
  • Enjoy views of Edinburgh in any weather on board a vintage bus
  • Get a taste of British tradition with included afternoon tea service
  • Benefit from unlimited tea or coffee to accompany your sweet treats

What's Included

  • Handmade Sandwich selections
  • Home baked warm scone with cream, jam and strawberry garnish
  • Selection of Petit Fours
  • Sumptuous cupcakes
  • Coffee and/or Tea
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Souvenir drinks cup

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Saint Andrew Square
    St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2, UK

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • We do not offer live or recorded guide commentary on our buses. We are a dining Experience whilst touring Edinburgh or Glasgow.
  • Red Bus Bistro Bookings are only valid for the date and time stated.
  • Patrons should expect to share a table especially on our busier weekend tours. If patrons would rather not share a table we can try and accommodate them on a quieter tour.
  • Patrons are requested to arrive 10–15 minutes before departure at St Andrews Square Edinburgh EH2 2AD. Unfortunately we cannot wait for late comers as we only have a limited time on stand. Refunds will not be offered to latecomers.
  • We offer gluten free or vegetarian options. Our Products may contain nuts. Please specify requirements upon reservation.
  • No tickets are issued for the tour.
  • Your Surname is passed to the Bus Manager prior to your tour, this will be requested upon arrival at the bus, you can print this email out purely for your own information.
  • Please be prepared to redeem any Gift Voucher you may have used for payment to the bus on the day of the tour.
  • If you have booked using an Itison voucher, we may ask to see your voucher on your phone.
  • Children have to be 5 years and older to be allowed onboard Red Bus Bistro children aged 5 to 9 years old are charged at £20 pounds and children aged 10 and over are charged as full paying adult.
  • Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult
  • There may be occasions where the tour has to be cancelled without advance notice, in the event of a cancellation patrons will be refunded in full or transferred onto another tour date.
  • If the tour is cancelled after the first half an hours commencement, we will then offer availability on another tour.
  • Smoking is not permitted on the Bus at any time.
  • Red Bus Bistro does not take any responsibility for the loss, damage or theft of personal belongings while on the Bus.
  • Conditions of carriage are subject to legislation set out by the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981; all details can be given by the Red Bus Bistro head office.
  • We would like to point out that we operate Vintage Routemaster Buses, and although we keep our vehicles in the best possible maintenance condition there will be times that unforeseen maintenance issues may arise and result in a disruption to the tours, or cancellation; however we will endeavour to do everything in our power to avoid any disruption.
  • Red Bus Bistro Company reserves the right to refuse carriage of patrons who are intoxicated, or displaying threatening or abusive behaviour, no refunds will be given under these circumstances. We also ask that a reasonable standard of behaviour is adhered to while on the tour, as there are other passengers to consider.
  • Red Bus Bistro is not responsible for any damage caused by breaking the rules.
  • RED BUS BISTRO COMPANY LIMITED ACCESS POLICIES
  • It is not the policy of Red Bus Bistro Company Ltd to discriminate in any way against employees or passengers regarding disability, gender, race, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.
  • Red Bus Bistro’s Bus was registered in 1966; it consists of Drivers Cab, upper deck, lower deck, and will always have at least 4 staff on board. The bus seats 12 downstairs and 28 upstairs; unfortunately due to the age and design of the Bus we cannot accommodate wheelchair passengers. Red Bus Bistro can reserve seating in advance for the lower deck for those with mobility concerns. As per above, patrons should otherwise be prepared to share a table, where the patrons would rather be seated alone we can try and accommodate them on a quieter tour however not guaranteed,
  • There is no toilet on board.
  • The tour will last between 70-90 minutes dependant on conditions, in which time our patrons will be served with an Afternoon Tea or Gin Tour. For private hire all requests are considered.
  • Red Bus Bistro Company Limited will go out of its way to cater for as diverse and audience as possible within the physical confines of the bus, and will follow the DDA Legislation guidelines at all times.
  • All information gained from Patrons will never be given to any third parties; Red Bus Bistro Company Limited is responsible for all online transactions.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Sara_S
Loved, loved, loved this tour! Pleasant staff, scrumptious food and drinks, fun music, and interesting drive around town. Would highly recommend this tour.

Reviews

4.5
1,002 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,002 reviews
What a Fun Tour - Scottish Tea while touring Edinburgh
Bonnie_M, May 2024
We were so surprised at how cute this Red Bus Tour was! We sat on the second level with tea, Prosecco, tea sandwiches & desserts while touring Edinburgh. We thought it would be just a Scottish Tea in a hotel, but this bus tour was delightful with a great crew. Such fun!
Response from Host, May 2024
Hi and thank you for taking time to leave us feedback from your time onboard with us . It is Wonderful to read that you enjoyed everything onboard and the staff looked after you well to provide an enjoyable experience 😊
It’s not a tour - it’s lunch on a bus
Leigh_F, May 2024
It was not abundantly clear to me that this was NOT A TOUR. This is a meal while you ride around on a bus. The people were lovely and did point out a few attractions but it was mostly just a ride around town while you eat. The food was displayed beautifully but it was average at best. It also didn’t seem like the set up was appropriate for the bumpiness of the ride. I lost a few food items along the way and had to hold on to my glass the entire time which was distracting. On a good note, I loved having my own private seat as a solo traveler and did not have to make small talk or share with strangers. The staff were all very kind and attentive as well. My biggest complaint is the heat! Where my seat was, I was cooking in the sun and the air on the bus didn’t circulate there. I was in a sweater and just roasting. It was hard to eat when I was dripping with sweat and very uncomfortable :(
Response from Host, May 2024
Hello thank you for taking the time to leave us a review . We are not sure if you read up on our tours before you booked with us because as you advise we are not a guided tour we are a unique dining experience and we advertise this on all our booking platforms . The food provide is part of the overall experience you pay for and we are sorry you did not feel that the amount provided for one person was adequate this is personal preference and we provide a bigger portion than you would receive for an Afternoon tea in many other places . As you note you where a single traveller and did not select to have a specific seat or to not table share and we strive not table share where possible as this was a quieter tour you where upgraded to our front seats with no extra charged applied we thought this would be a nice surprise . The very friendly crew are on hand to help Unfortuneatley the sun in Scotland is very rare and coming through the window is outwith our control and again we do advised on our platforms as the buses are over 60 years old they can be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer and we advise to be aware of this they are not equipped like modern day buses to accommodate for air con also as they are vintage buses and go over the old cobbles of Edinburgh we do advise it can be a little bumpy but again we are not a modern bus so limited in what we can do . The crew could have moved your seating to the lower deck if you had advised your discomfort to them . we are sorry our product due to personal preference was not to your liking we do advise our customers to check the terms and conditions before booking as all points raised above are available to read before making the decision to book
Fun and quirky
Maxine_M, Apr 2024
TEA ON A VINTAGE DOUBLE DECKER BUS !!! HOW COOL. TEA ON A BUS ROLLING THROUGH EDINBURGH!!!! INSANE FUN !!! You can have a stuffy TEA or you can have a FUN Quirky TEA. This was the best way to top off our visit. The food was really good as well !!!
Response from Host, May 2024
Hello Maxine thank you for taking the time to leave us a review we value your feedback . It is great to read you enjoyed our unique experience and trip around Edinburgh we will pass this over to all the Red Bus Bistro team
NOPE
Deborah_H, Apr 2024
Really awful experience with this tour company... over something trivial and easily rectified... don't bother... save your money and have real tea at the hotel.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hello Deborah there is limited information on the review that we can make a response to which would mean we followed things up at our end but you where unhappy with the outcome hence the cryptic review , If you wish to email us direct we will be happy to discuss this further
Amazing experience
Jill_S, Mar 2024
The whole experience was absolutely amazing. The food was incredible and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. So glad I found this on the Internet, it was worth every penny. There was absolutely nothing to complain about (apart from the weather) and I would recommend it without hesitation.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Hello and thank you for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review . It is wonderful to read you had a great time onboard and the crew made it a special day out for you. I hope we can welcome you back onboard in the future and when the weather is nicer
Amazing Tea Experience
Sara_S, Mar 2024
Loved, loved, loved this tour! Pleasant staff, scrumptious food and drinks, fun music, and interesting drive around town. Would highly recommend this tour.
Not worth the Money and if you’re Vegan don’t book it!
Adam_H, Jan 2024
Really overpriced for what you got, it’s over £80.00p for Two People, you don’t really get much Food if you’re Vegan! They really shouldn’t say they can cater for Vegans if they then give you non-vegan food! The cream was real cows Milk Cream, they didn’t know if the Prosecco was Vegan or not, they had no Vegan Butter/Margarine so that meant the Scones were dry, without anything other than a bit of Jam! They also had a couple of small savoury tarts that we thought was Vegan yet everybody else had them! The Window where constantly steamed up and not that clean so couldn’t really see much, there’s a really badly told prerecorded story that should come with a trigger warning for People that have lost a Child! The Music was fun but too loud, other than having the food it honestly just felt like you was on the Buss commuting to Work, they didn’t seem to care about how small and un Vegan our Vegan Afternoon Tea was! It was also very cold no heating and ceiling was dripping probably condensation, they also wipe down the tables while we was still sitting down at them. So many great Afternoon Teas available for less Money and more value
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Hello Adam thank you for taking the time to leave a review we have taken onboard points raised and would like to look into the points raised further and discuss this direct with you if you are able to email us direct we will have management look into this with immediate effect we apologise the experience was not as expected and we hope for the opportunity to communicate and investigate
Thumbs down
Susan_K, Dec 2023
It was not much fun. The experience was not worth the cost. There was no heat and the windows were foggy. The bus needs a deep cleaning
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Hello thank you for taking the time to leave a review the buses are cleaned each morning and then after every tour and then again at the end of the day . All buses are off road on a Monday for a full Deep clean also so we are unsure why you felt that is needs a deep clean if you would like to send us over an email with further information we will happily look into this for you . We do advise as the buses are vintage route masters they can be warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter we do heat the buses prior to boarding but for health and safety we can not have the heaters on when the bus is moving we do provide blankets for customers onboard also . Unfortuneatley the windows and weather are outwith our control we can not open the windows as the bus would be to cold . Crew will happily come to tables and assist to clean window for you
Nothing stood out more...
Lily_M, Dec 2023
Nothing stood out more than anything else. The whole experience was great and staff very friendly and helpful
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review we are so happy you enjoyed the full experience and the staff looked after you well we will pass this great feedback onto the all the team
More of a disco on a bus than afternoon tea
Lynne_S, Nov 2023
For us this was totally unforgettable in a bad way. If you want a party bus full of noise and loud music this is for you. I thought it would be a nice relaxed afternoon tea with sightseeing. Quality of catering was no more than passable. Have done other city afternoon tea bus trips that were excellent, sadly not this one
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Hello Lynne we are aware we have spoke outwith this platform and have actioned all the points raised with clarification an each point , such as there was no reasoning given to what the issue was with the food and no opportunity for the crew to assist with this as it was not raised with them onboard . We also informed you we do advise we can play music onboard and the level of music is personal preference again had you spoke with our very helpful crew they would have adjusted the volume for you . We do urge passengers if any issues onboard to speak with crew in the first instance as we are limited to what we can fix once the tour is complete . We appreciate that through personal preference you have not found our tour experience to your liking
Royal screw up
Sara_H, Nov 2023
Trip was cancelled but no one texted or called me with the reschedule so I was supposed to get a refund but the next day I am informed that they had rescheduled the tour on the 22nd and they would be callining me to see if that was ok. No one ever called or texted and I had not rescheduled the tour from the 21st to the 22nd. Their right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. Very disappointing.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Hello thank you for taking the time to leave us a review as we have now spoken and advised as this was an international number we where unable to reach you by phone we did send a message through the booking forum you used which you did not check until you spoke with our team on the day of the tour and we found a resolve for this
Fun times
April_H, Nov 2023
It was my mams 80 th birthday and they made a gin cocktail for mam she loved it - if you are looking for something different and fun this is for you
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Hello special birthday wishes to you mum it is wonderful to read she enjoyed her birthday and gin pot with us here at Red Bus Bistro . We will pass this great feedback onto all the crew who made this a special experience
Entertaining
Katherine_H, Nov 2023
We really enjoyed our tour. We could not see much out the windows but the food was good food, great music choices.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Hello we are so pleased to read you really enjoyed the tour . We will look into the windows issue for you and pass this over to the crew supervisor for review . We thank you for taking the time to leave us a review 😊
Great afternoon tea
Marion_S, Oct 2023
It was a birthday gift for my mother in law it was very enjoyable she had a great day.If I could recommend anything it would be stemless prosecco glasses as the roads in Edinburgh are not the best.Thankyou
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your time onboard with us . We are so happy to read you enjoyed the birthday celebrations with us .we have adapted the tables to hold our thermos cups however our prosecco glasses we have trialed many options and the work around we have found that works best is to advise passengers its best to hold the glass when bus is moving but we take on your feedback and will pass this to the crew supervisor
Well, …….
Cindy_J, Oct 2023
Cancelled with no explanation and no offer of a refund. Very unprofessional. I’d like to be credited.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello Cindy We operate vintage Route Master Buses, and although we keep our vehicles in the best possible maintenance condition, there will be times that unforeseen maintenance issues may arise and result in a disruption to the tours, or cancellation . Every single customer was contacted directly with a full explanation and many passengers where very understanding this issue was outwith our control as we cant predict a mechanical failure many passengers rebooked and those who couldn't where fully refunded immediately within an hour of the cancellation
The food really was...
Kerstin_D, Oct 2023
The food really was delicious, the staff was very friendly, the bus driver knows a lot about the old bus which would be interesting to include in the commenation. Commentating the sights could be witho more details and quantity.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello thank you for taking the time to leave us a review . We are so pleased to read the staff provided a good time onboard and that you enjoyed the food . Thank you for the feedback on the commentary suggestions we will pass this onto the crew management for review .
Great singalong
Dawn_L, Oct 2023
The staff were outstanding & made the tour very interesting, funny & memorable nothing was a problem.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello thank you for taking the time to leave a review its wonderful to read that you really enjoyed the tour and the staff provided a great day and you left with fun memory's . we hope to welcome you back onboard soon 😊
Fun high tea
Peggy_D, Oct 2023
Fun way to start our stay in Edinburgh.Great food & service. All the staff were warm & welcoming. Fun & different. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello and thank you for the review and the recommendation 😊. . We are pleased to read that your trip to Edinburgh started of great and you enjoyed the trip with us onboard we will pass this onto all the team .
Good experience
Katelynn_M, Oct 2023
A fun experience! The folks working were nice, the treats were good, but it didn’t feel that clean. The plates that had goodies had a couple hairs on them like they weren’t wiped down. There were crumbs in between seat cushions, and the table was a bit sticky. You do get to take some fun pictures on the red bus. Again, cute experience. However, don’t anticipate a super clean one.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review of your time onboard . All buses have recently been refurbished they are off road on a Monday for deep Clean and then cleaned daily before tour and in-between tours . We would like to look into this further if you could email us at info@redbusbistro.co.uk with you tour details we can send this over to the crew supervisor for review .
Really good crew on the...
Lee_M, Oct 2023
Really good crew on the bus! So lovely! Food was really nice, and the sights made it worthwhile. My mum really enjoyed it too.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello thank you very much for taking the time to leave us a review it is wonderful to read you both had a great time onboard , we will pass this great feedback onto the team 😊
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From $55.62

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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