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Kensington Gardens · London

Kensington Palace High Tea

A guided walk through the royal gardens, then scones, sandwiches and cakes at your own table in the Orangery beside Kensington Palace. What each tour includes, and when booking the tea yourself is smarter.

  • Private table
  • Small groups
  • Free cancellation
See the tours Where is the tea?

Independent guideTickets and experiences hand-picked by our editors.

Tours from$169per person ↓
Heads-up for 2026: the Queen's State Apartments inside Kensington Palace are closed until spring 2027 for re-presentation. The gardens walk and afternoon tea at the Orangery are not affected. Check palace opening timesChecked September 2026
What's in, what's extraPalace entry, fizz and the direct price spelled out
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation

Tickets

Choose your royal high tea

The original Royal High Tea in the centre: a small-group garden walk and afternoon tea at a private table in the Orangery. Beside it, a longer VIP version with a sparkling wine option, and the best-rated garden tour.

VIP Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace Sparkling upgrade ★ 4.63 hours81 reviewsFree cancellation

VIP Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace
Small groupFizz optionPalace option

A longer small-group version of the same walk. The entry price is the a la carte option; pick the full tea, with Pimm's or English sparkling wine, at checkout.

What's included
  • Guided small-group walk through Kensington Gardens and the palace grounds
  • Reserved table at the Orangery
  • Afternoon tea and sparkling wine only on the options that include them
  • Kensington Palace entry only if you select it at checkout
  • Not included on the a la carte option: food and drink; free cancellation to 24 hours
From$120per person Reserve
Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace Most booked ★ 4.62 hours1,060 reviewsFree cancellation

Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace
Guided walkPrivate tableOrangery

A small-group walk through Kensington Gardens with royal stories, then full afternoon tea at your own table in the Orangery. Palace entry is an optional add-on.

What's included
  • Guided walk from Queensway station: Italian Gardens, Peter Pan, Round Pond, Diana's stories
  • Full afternoon tea at the Orangery: sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, cakes, tea
  • Private table (not shared with strangers); small group of up to 12
  • Kensington Palace entry only if you select it at checkout
  • Not included: alcoholic drinks, gratuities; free cancellation up to 24 hours before
From$169per person Reserve
Kensington Gardens Tour & Royal Tea Best rated ★ 4.72 hours143 reviewsFree cancellation

Kensington Gardens Tour & Royal Tea
GardensRoyal teaPalace option

Another operator's garden walk, with the Cradle Walk to the Sunken Garden, ending in royal afternoon tea at the Orangery. The best rated of the three.

What's included
  • Guided walk through Kensington Gardens, with the Cradle Walk and Sunken Garden
  • Royal afternoon tea at the Orangery: pastries, cakes and sandwiches
  • Timed Kensington Palace entry only if you select that option
  • Meets outside the Hilton London Hyde Park, next to Queensway station
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
From$155per person Reserve

More ways to take tea like a royal

Private, palace only, hotel teas
Private Royal High Tea with Your Own Guide Just your group ★ 4.92 hours45 reviews

Private Royal High Tea with Your Own Guide

From$268Check availability → Changing of the Guard, Palace & Tea Full royal day ★ 4.65.5 hours89 reviews

Changing of the Guard, Palace & Tea

From$93Check availability → Kensington Palace Entrance Ticket Palace only ★ 3.73 hours658 reviews

Kensington Palace Entrance Ticket

From$33Check availability → Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace Near Buckingham Palace ★ 4.52 hours259 reviews

Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace

From$111Check availability → Afternoon Tea at The Milestone Hotel Kensington hotel ★ 4.51 hour 45 min87 reviews

Afternoon Tea at The Milestone Hotel

From$115Check availability →

Compare

Which tea suits which traveler

The three Kensington tours end at the same Orangery. The differences are the guide, the group size, whether palace entry and a drink are included, and how long you walk first.

ExperienceWhere the tea isBest forLengthRatingFrom
Royal High Tea at Kensington PalaceThe Orangery, Kensington PalaceStories, a garden walk and a private table2 hours★ 4.6 (1,060)$169Book
VIP Afternoon Tea at Kensington PalaceThe Orangery, Kensington PalaceA longer walk, with Pimm's or sparkling wine3 hours★ 4.6 (81)$120Book
Kensington Gardens Tour & Royal TeaThe Orangery, Kensington PalaceThe Sunken Garden and a highly rated guide2 hours★ 4.7 (143)$155Book
Private Royal High Tea with Your Own GuideThe Orangery, Kensington PalaceA private guide, sparkling wine and your own pace2 hours★ 4.9 (45)$268Book
Changing of the Guard, Palace & TeaThe Orangery (tea option)Guards, Hyde Park and the palace in one day; tea as an option5.5 hours★ 4.6 (89)$93Book
Kensington Palace Entrance TicketNo tea includedJust the palace; book tea at the Orangery yourself3 hours★ 3.7 (658)$33Book
Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the PalaceThe Rubens hotel, VictoriaA hotel tea with a royal theme, no walk2 hours★ 4.5 (259)$111Book
Afternoon Tea at The Milestone HotelThe Milestone hotel, KensingtonA cosy hotel tea across the road from the gardens1 hour 45 min★ 4.5 (87)$115Book
Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, Upper DeckOn a moving busSightseeing and tea at once1.5 hours★ 4.2 (875)$66Book

Booked directly, the Orangery lists afternoon tea from £55 per adult and £29 per child, and you do not need a palace ticket to eat there. The VIP tour's lowest price is its a la carte option, without food. Palace entry is an extra on the Kensington tours. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.

Where the tea really is

The "royal high tea" is served in the Orangery: Queen Anne's greenhouse.

Every Kensington Palace tea tour ends in the same place: the Orangery, a long white building a short walk from the palace, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1704 as Queen Anne's winter home for her orange trees. Historic Royal Palaces restored it and reopened it as a restaurant in May 2024, with 24 white Corinthian columns, tall windows and views over the gardens. It is not inside the palace's State Apartments, and no royals are involved.

The Orangery is open to everyone, and you do not need a palace ticket to eat there. That is the honest trade-off: booked directly, afternoon tea is listed from £55 per adult. The tours cost more because they add a guide, an hour of royal stories in Kensington Gardens, a reserved private table and, if you choose it, palace entry. If you only want the tea, book it yourself; if you want the day planned and explained, take the tour.

1704

The year Hawksmoor designed the Orangery for Queen Anne. Queen Victoria, born in the palace in 1819, is the reason Victoria sponge is on the stand.

The OrangeryKensington GardensSunken GardenVictoria sponge
The red-brick facade of Kensington Palace across a lawn with clipped topiary
Kensington Palace: the Orangery sits just to the north of it.
01

Is palace entry included?

Only if you add it at checkout. On its own, a palace ticket is £24.70 for adults in 2026.

02

Where do tours meet?

Outside Queensway station, not at the palace. Tea is at the end of the walk.

03

Do I need to dress up?

No. Smart casual is ideal; comfortable shoes matter more for the walk.

04

Who might skip the tour?

Anyone who only wants the tea. Book the Orangery direct and save the difference.

The tour

How a royal high tea unfolds

About two hours from the station to the last scone. This is the Royal High Tea route; the other tours are close variations.

01

Meet at Queensway

Your guide waits outside Queensway Underground station, by the red phone box. Do not go to the palace.

Start
02

Into the gardens

Walk into Kensington Gardens past the Italian Gardens and the Peter Pan statue, hearing a thousand years of park history.

First 30 minutes
03

Royal stories

Past the Round Pond to the palace, with tales of Queen Victoria, Diana and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

About an hour
04

Tea at the Orangery

Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and cakes at your own table. Stay as long as you like, or go into the palace.

The finale
A gilded grand staircase inside Kensington PalaceThe grand staircase An arched hedge walk leading to the Sunken GardenThe Cradle Walk Fountain in the Italian Gardens, Kensington GardensItalian Gardens The long red King's Gallery with paintingsThe King's Gallery The statue of Diana in the Sunken GardenDiana's statue Painted courtiers on the walls of the King's StaircaseThe King's Staircase The red-brick south front of Kensington PalaceThe palace from the gardens The ornate Cupola Room with chandeliersThe Cupola Room Queen Victoria's statue in front of Kensington PalaceQueen Victoria

Plan your visit

Plan your royal afternoon tea

Getting there, prices and options, what is on the stand and what to bring: one tab each.

  • Queensway station (Central line) is the meeting point for the Royal High Tea, VIP and private tours; arrive 10 minutes early.
  • The garden tour meets outside the Hilton London Hyde Park, 129 Bayswater Road, right next to Queensway station.
  • The palace and the Orangery are about 10 minutes' walk from Queensway or High Street Kensington station.
  • Tours end at the Orangery; afterwards buses, taxis and both stations are about 10 minutes away.
  • Booking the tea yourself? The Orangery is open daily 10 AM to 6 PM, last entry 4:30 PM, apart from private-event days.
  • Royal High Tea tour: from $169 per person, with afternoon tea; palace entry is an extra.
  • Orangery direct: afternoon tea from £55, Royal Afternoon Tea with Pimm's £64 or sparkling wine £68, children £29 (last published menu).
  • Kensington Palace ticket: £24.70 adults, £12.40 children under 16, in 2026.
  • Alcohol and gratuities are not included on the standard tour; the private tour includes sparkling wine.
  • Finger sandwiches: cucumber, egg, smoked salmon and seasonal fillings.
  • Scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam.
  • Cakes and pastries, including Victoria sponge, named after the queen who was born in the palace.
  • A choice of loose-leaf teas; gluten-free, vegan and halal on request.
  • Comfortable shoes: the walk is about an hour on park paths.
  • Smart casual clothes; there is no formal dress code.
  • A light layer and an umbrella: British weather changes quickly.
  • Your booking confirmation and any palace ticket on your phone.
  • An appetite: skip a big lunch.
On the walkItalian GardensThe ornamental fountains Prince Albert is said to have given Queen Victoria.
On the walkPeter Pan statueThe bronze of the boy who never grew up, near the Long Water.
On the walkThe Round PondThe big pond in front of the palace, with swans and wide lawns.
Free to seeSunken GardenHome of the Diana statue, seen through the hedge of the Cradle Walk.
OptionalThe palaceThe King's State Apartments and exhibitions; the Queen's Apartments reopen in 2027.
Extra costA glass of fizzPimm's or English sparkling wine, included on the private and some VIP options.

Where the day happens

Meeting point & Orangery

Queensway station to the Orangery

Start: Queensway station, London W2 4RW. Finish: the Orangery, Kensington Palace, W8 4PX

The tours start on Bayswater Road at Queensway Underground station, on the north edge of Kensington Gardens, and walk south through the park to the palace. The Orangery stands just north of Kensington Palace, facing the gardens. If you book the tea yourself, walk straight there from Queensway or High Street Kensington station: about 10 minutes from either.

  • Meet by the red phone box outside the station
  • Step-free restaurant with an accessible toilet
  • Park paths are flat; some routes are not wheelchair friendly
Get directions

Around your visit

Everything else worth knowing

Timing, the things guests wish they had known, what is nearby and the weather fine print.

  • Late spring and early summer: the gardens are at their best, and the Sunken Garden is in flower.
  • Hot days: guests report the Orangery can feel warm in a heatwave; ask for a window table.
  • Palace days: check the palace calendar, since it has been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays outside summer.
  • Book ahead: weekends and summer holidays fill first, for tours and direct Orangery tables alike.
  • Want the tea but not the walk? Book the Orangery directly; no palace ticket is needed.
  • Add palace entry at checkout if you want to go in; the tour ends a short walk from the entrance.
  • Tell the operator about allergies when you book; guests praise how well they are handled.
  • The walk takes about an hour; guests who wanted "just tea" found it long, others loved it.
  • Skip lunch: a full afternoon tea is a meal.
  • The Sunken Garden: free to view, with the Diana statue, beside the palace.
  • Diana Memorial Playground: in Kensington Gardens near the palace, a favourite with families.
  • The Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall: at the south edge of the gardens.
  • Hyde Park and the Serpentine: the park continues east of Kensington Gardens.
  • Every tour on this page cancels free up to 24 hours before on Viator.
  • Tours run in light rain; bring an umbrella, and tea itself is indoors.
  • If the Orangery is closed for an event on your date, operators may offer another date or venue: ask before you accept.
  • The Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027; the rest of the palace is open on its usual days.

Kensington Gardens

Walk the royal gardens, then pour the tea.

A small group, a storytelling guide and your own table in the Orangery.

Check availability

Guest reviews

What tea lovers say

4.6 ★★★★★
1,060 reviews · Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace
live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★

It was an incredible experience and our guide Paul was very knowledgeable and patient. The high tea was delicious and the palace itself was stunning. Would highly recommend.

Andrew P. · Royal High Tea, Sep 2026
★★★★★

The tour was perfect in terms of pace. The Orangery was an unexpected highlight. Such a beautiful building and the afternoon tea was delicious!

Eva M. · Gardens Tour & Royal Tea, Jul 2026
★★★★★

We loved our walk through Kensington Gardens. The setting in the Orangery was very nice. We sat by a window, and they opened it up to give us a fresh breeze. It was beautiful.

Lauren Y. · Royal High Tea, Sep 2026
★★★★★

We went on a very nice walk around the gardens along with an educational discussion of the history of the gardens and the palace. Our guide also sat with us for tea and explained the customs and background of high tea.

Melinda R. · Private Royal High Tea, Jun 2026
★★★★★

Started with a walk through the Kensington gardens. Then stopped for tea which was incredible: great views, great staff and even better tea and sweets! We ended up doing the tour of the palace as well.

Savannah G. · Royal High Tea, Sep 2026
★★★★★

The tour was phenomenal and our tour guide was great! The afternoon tea was great and they did a great job accommodating allergies.

Jonathan B. · VIP Afternoon Tea, Mar 2026
★★★★★

The palace tour made it special, especially touring Queen Victoria's doll house and apartments before she became queen. Diana's memorial in the sunken garden was special.

Dorothy O. · Gardens Tour & Royal Tea, Sep 2026
★★★★★

We viewed the grounds and learned the history of this Palace prior to enjoying our tea and treats. The scones were sensational.

Hannah K. · Private Royal High Tea, Jun 2026
★★★★★

This was such a sweet experience to have with my teenage daughter and my sister. I'll definitely be back next time I visit London.

Not a garden person?

Take tea on a London bus

No walking at all: scones, sandwiches and cakes on the upper deck of a vintage bus while Westminster, Big Ben and Piccadilly roll past the window.

Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, Upper Deck

Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, Upper Deck

★ 4.2 · 875 reviews · 1.5 hours

If you would rather see the sights than walk a park, this is London's playful take on tea: a vintage double-decker bus with tables on the upper deck, a stand of sandwiches, scones and cakes, a glass of Prosecco or a soft drink, and a loop past Big Ben, Westminster, Hyde Park Corner and Piccadilly.

Upper deckProsecco or soft drinkBig Ben

From$66per personReserve

The guide

Royal high tea, explained

"Royal high tea at Kensington Palace" sounds like an invitation from the palace. In practice it is something simpler and very enjoyable: a guided walk through one of London's royal parks, followed by a proper afternoon tea in a historic building next to the palace. Here is what you get, what it costs and how to choose.

What the experience is, and what it isn't

The Royal High Tea is run by a London tour company, not by the palace. You meet a guide outside Queensway station, walk into Kensington Gardens past the Italian Gardens, the Peter Pan statue and the Round Pond, and hear stories about the park, Queen Victoria, Diana and today's royals. The walk ends at the Orangery, where a table is reserved for your group. It is not a meal inside the palace's State Apartments, nobody from the royal household is present, and palace entry is only included if you add it at checkout.

Tables set for afternoon tea in a bright historic interior
Tea is served in the Orangery, reopened by Historic Royal Palaces in 2024.

What it really costs

The Royal High Tea is from $169 per person on Viator in 2026. Booked directly, the Orangery lists its afternoon tea from £55 per adult, £64 with Pimm's and £68 with English sparkling wine, and £29 for children, on its last published menu. So the tour's premium pays for the guide, the walk and the reserved private table. For many first-time visitors that is worth it: the stories are the point, and nothing needs organising. If you already know London, or only want the scones, booking yourself is cheaper.

The honest small print: the few unhappy reviews are almost all about value ("we could have booked the tea on our own") or about the walk on hot days. One older review describes the tea being moved to another venue when the palace tea room was closed. Check your date, add palace entry only if you will use it, and tell the operator about dietary needs when you book.

Which version to book

The Royal High Tea is the classic: about two hours, a small group of up to 12 and a private table. The VIP version walks for longer and offers Pimm's or sparkling wine; note that its lowest price is the a la carte option without food. The garden tour from another operator is the best rated and includes the Cradle Walk to the Sunken Garden. The private tour gives you your own guide and a glass of sparkling wine, and suits couples and special occasions.

Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam on a china plate
Scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam, the heart of the stand.

Making the most of the day

Wear comfortable shoes and skip lunch. Arrive at Queensway ten minutes early, since the tour leaves on time. If you added palace entry, go in after tea; the King's State Apartments and the exhibitions are open, while the Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027. Before you leave the gardens, look through the Cradle Walk at the Sunken Garden and Diana's statue.

A Victoria sponge cake with jam and cream filling
Victoria sponge: the cake named after the queen born in Kensington Palace.

Compare the tours

Guides

Plan it properly

Six in-depth guides for the questions people ask most before booking. See all guides.

Prices & ticketsThe Orangery direct, the tours, palace entry and extras.The OrangeryWhere the royal high tea is served, and how to book it.Tour vs booking directWhen the guide is worth it, and when it isn't.Dress codeNo formal code, but here is what works.With kidsChildren's tea, the walk, the playground and tips.London's royal teasKensington, The Rubens, The Milestone and the tea bus.

FAQ

Questions before you book

Straight answers to what visitors ask most about afternoon tea at Kensington Palace.

What is the Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace?

It is a guided small-group walk through Kensington Gardens, starting at Queensway station, that ends with a full afternoon tea at your own table in the Orangery, the 1704 restaurant building beside the palace. You hear stories about the royals, Queen Victoria and Diana on the way. Entry to the palace itself is an optional add-on. See the tours.

Can you have afternoon tea inside Kensington Palace?

Not in the State Apartments. Afternoon tea is served in the Orangery, a separate building a short walk from the palace, with views of the gardens. It is run by Historic Royal Palaces and open to the public; you do not need a palace ticket to eat there. Read the Orangery guide.

How much is afternoon tea at Kensington Palace?

Booked directly, the Orangery's afternoon tea is listed from £55 per adult and £29 per child, or £64 to £68 with Pimm's or English sparkling wine (last published menu; check current prices). The guided Royal High Tea tour is from $169 per person on Viator, which adds the guide, the walk and a reserved private table. See the price guide.

Is Kensington Palace entry included in the high tea tour?

Only if you choose it. On the Royal High Tea, the VIP and the garden tour, palace entry is an option at checkout; without it you see the palace from the outside. On its own, a palace ticket is £24.70 for adults in 2026. Note that the Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027.

Where does the Royal High Tea tour meet?

Outside Queensway Underground station (Central line), by the red phone box, not at the palace. The garden tour by another operator meets at the Hilton London Hyde Park next door. The tour ends at the Orangery, about 10 minutes' walk from Queensway or High Street Kensington station.

Is the Royal High Tea worth it?

For first-time visitors who want the stories, the walk and a guaranteed table, usually yes: it rates 4.6 from 1,060 reviews. The complaints are about value, since you can book the Orangery yourself for less, and about the walk on hot days. If you only want the tea, book it direct.

Is there a dress code for afternoon tea at Kensington Palace?

No formal one. Smart casual is ideal, and plenty of guests come in jeans. Wear comfortable shoes, because the tour includes about an hour of walking on park paths. See what to wear.

What is the difference between high tea and afternoon tea?

Traditionally, afternoon tea is the elegant mid-afternoon spread of sandwiches, scones and cakes, while high tea was a hearty evening meal eaten at the table. What you get at Kensington Palace is afternoon tea; "royal high tea" is the name the tour uses.

Can children come to the royal high tea?

Yes. The Orangery serves a children's afternoon tea (listed at £29), and families rate the tour well. The walk is about an hour, so it suits children who can manage that. Read Kensington Palace with kids.

Can I get gluten-free or vegan afternoon tea?

Yes. The Orangery offers a vegan afternoon tea, and the tour operators arrange gluten-free, vegan and halal teas on request. Add your needs to the booking notes when you reserve.

How long does the Royal High Tea take?

About two hours: roughly an hour walking through Kensington Gardens, then tea. The tour ends at the Orangery, so you can linger, see the Sunken Garden or go into the palace afterwards if you added entry.

Can I cancel the Royal High Tea?

Yes. Every tour listed here can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time on Viator.

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Royal High Tea · from $169 Gardens tour & royal tea · from $155

More: VIP tea with fizz · private royal high tea · afternoon tea bus

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