The Rubens at The Palace on Buckingham Palace Road in London serves one of the most sophisticated afternoon tea experiences in the city. The historic hotel, overlooking The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, exudes a luxurious British experience for families and couples alike with warm English hospitality and heritage.
The Tea
In traditional royal fashion, afternoon tea is exquisitely styled in their palace lounge at overlooks The Royal Mews. The gated entrance of The Royal Mews is where the royal family enter Buckingham Palace.
Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at The Palace has a reputation as one of the best tea experiences in London. In addition to their traditional afternoon tea, they also offer a wide range of tea menus including: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and halal.
Afternoon Tea at The Rubens includes the following menu options:
- Royal Afternoon Tea
- Champagne Afternoon Tea
- Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea
- Royal Afternoon Tea in the Park
- Prince & Princess Afternoon Tea (for children under 12)
The Menu
Chef Sarah Houghting is at the helm of pastry kitchen at The Rubens.
The experience begins with the tea selection. The featured tea is by P.M. David Silva & Sons. The company was originally established in 1945 during the Plantation Raj in Ceylon’s famous Dimbula Valley. Today, this family company serves handpicked and ethically sourced teas.
Their delicious afternoon tea features mouth-watering pastries that were influenced by the House of Windsor, especially Her Majesty the Queen. The tea selections also include pairing notes.
Notable teas include The Royal Jubilee Tea, The Rubens Tea, Planters’ Earl Grey, and Invarness Tea Estate- Ceylon. There is also a selection of herbal teas, a flowering tea, green tea, and white tea.
A selection of finger sandwiches includes Coronation Chicken & Toasted Almonds, Roasted Pepper & Sundried Tomato Hummus, and Cucumber & Cream Cheese on Brown Bread.
The second tier is the plain, and honey and white chocolate scones. The scones are served with homemade seasonal fruit preserve & clotted cream.
Unique to The Rubens is their nod to Royal Family favorites. Particular treats are noted as tributes or favorites of members of the British Royal Family.
The top tier is a plate of artfully crafted pastries. These include a choice of a seasonal éclair by the pastry chef (a homage to Prince Charles’ sustainable farming), a Royal Macaron (ode to the late Prince Phillip who loved a good apple dessert), and a seasonal glazed fruit-shaped mousse wih compote (a tribute to Her Majesty, The Queen’s orchard at Windsor Castle).
In addition, a rose and raspberry bread pudding cream with a lemon sponge tart was a delightful favorite for the late Princess Diana.
A Brief Overview of The Rubens at The Palace
The Rubens at The Palace is a five-star historic hotel that features individually appointed rooms and suites. The Rubens is also known for curating extraordinary travel experiences for their guests. Experiences include masterclasses, food and drink tastings, private tours, and much more.
In addition to their unforgettable Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea experience, The Rubens at The Palace offers many different experiences for guests of all ages. Perhaps you may wish to pair your tea experience with a gin tasting paired with live music, whiskey tasting, or champagne tasting.
Dine like royalty at their award-winning English Grill, feast on traditional cuisine at their AA Rosette-awarded Curry Room or enjoy sushi and sashimi in their intimate Leopard Bar. This is just a small selection of the dining experiences that await their guests.
Children will surely have the most memorable time when staying at The Rubens at The Palace. In addition to the specially curated Prince & Princess Afternoon Tea, there are a wide variety of on-site, tailor-made experiences. Above, a young guest is learning how to decorate their own biscuits and cupcakes. Children participating in this activity will receive a ‘Master Chef in the Art of Pastry’ certificate and badge upon completion.
On Christmas Day, Santa stops by to bring children a gift from the North Pole, paired with plenty of fun activities. These include making Christmas cards and crackers during their arts and crafts sessions.
Notable Points of Interest Nearby
In addition to Buckingham Palace, The Rubens at the Palace in London is near the following notable points of interest:
- St James’s Park
- Westminster Abbey
- Imperial War Museums
- Victoria Station
- Eccleston Yards
Hours & Reservations
Afternoon tea hours are Monday-Friday from 12-5pm, and Saturdays from 12-6pm.
Click here to learn more and make your reservation.
