Royal tea tastes like a wardrobe change. At The Rubens at the Palace, afternoon tea turns into a proper British ritual, with a setting that feels properly grand in the Palace Lounge. You sit back, work your way through savoury bites, warm scones, and elegant desserts, then choose from a serious tea list.

I especially like the way the menu mixes classic comfort with genuinely interesting flavours. The scones arrive with clotted cream and homemade preserves (plus lemon curd), and the savoury tray has multiple breads and fillings that actually feel thought-through rather than repetitive.

One thing to watch: it’s not cheap, and you may feel light pressure to add extra drinks like water or wine. If you’re on a strict food budget, you’ll want to plan your drink choices before you sit down.

Key highlights you can count on

• Palace Lounge atmosphere that feels celebratory, not cafeteria-style.
• True afternoon-tea structure: savouries, scones, then a full sweet section.
• Fresh scones with clotted cream and homemade seasonal preserve, plus lemon curd.
• A detailed savoury lineup across different breads and fillings.
• Tea selections from P.M. David Silva & Sons, including black, green, white, and herbal options.
• Champagne is optional only if you select the inclusive version.

Entering The Rubens at the Palace and settling into the Palace Lounge

The Rubens at the Palace has that specific London-hotel feel: polished, formal, and a little theatrical—in a good way. When you show up, you’ll enter the hotel and check in by presenting your voucher. After that, it’s a simple move: get seated, get comfortable, and let the tea service take over.

What makes this work as an experience is the pacing. Afternoon tea isn’t supposed to feel rushed, and here you get a full 1.5 hours to eat slowly, chat, and enjoy the mood. The host or greeter is English, and the whole setup is geared toward guests who want the classic British afternoon-tea rhythm rather than a fast snack stop.

This is also a great choice if you like the idea of dressing up a bit for your day. There’s a dress code, and the restaurant and bars won’t allow entry for guests in sportswear, flip-flops, shorts, or ripped clothing. That rule isn’t there just for show—it helps keep the room feeling like a proper occasion.

How the afternoon tea flows in 1.5 hours (your best eating order)

The service is built around the traditional sequence: savouries first, then scones, then sweets. The menu is described as a sample and can vary, but the structure holds. Here’s how I suggest you approach it so you don’t end up too full for the best parts.

Start with the savoury finger sandwiches while they’re at their best texture-wise. Take one bite from each sandwich type so you get a feel for the bread styles and fillings. Then, when the scones arrive, pause and focus—because the scone course is the centerpiece. Finish with the sweets, but don’t feel obligated to try everything in equal amounts. Choose what sounds most appealing and save a small space for the fruit-and-chocolate pairings.

Why this order matters: savouries get your appetite working, scones are warm and comforting, and the desserts can be light or very rich depending on what you pick. If you jump straight to sweets, you’ll miss how satisfying the savoury tray is. If you ignore the sweets, you’ll also miss the fun of tasting multiple pastry styles.

Also, check what your package includes. Tea/coffee comes with the experience. Champagne is included only if you selected the inclusive option, so don’t assume it’s automatic.

Savoury finger sandwiches: breads, fillings, and proper variety

The savoury part is where many afternoon teas either shine—or feel like filler. Here, the list reads like a real selection rather than a single repeating formula. You can expect multiple open-faced-style finger sandwiches on distinct breads, each with a different flavour profile and texture.

A sample Royal Afternoon Tea savoury set includes:

• Scottish smoked salmon, caviar, and chive cream cheese on cape seed loaf
• Roast beef Sirloin, wild rocket, and horseradish cream on beetroot bread
• Chicken, grain mustard mayonnaise, and toasted almonds on white bread
• Barber’s cheddar and plum tomato on onion bread
• Cucumber and mint crème fraîche on Norfolk crunch

What I like about this lineup is the balance. You get something creamy and salty (salmon and chive cream cheese), something peppery and tangy (horseradish with roast beef), crunch from toasted almonds, and a lighter, fresher bite from cucumber and mint.

If you’re the type who hates “one-note” food experiences, this is a strong reason to book. You’ll likely taste enough variety that the savouries don’t blur together.

One practical tip: since these are finger sandwiches, it’s easy to overdo just one style at first. Instead, pick one “wow” item early (salmon or roast beef tends to be the crowd-pleaser), then rotate through the others so you’re still interested by the time you reach the scones.

Scones with clotted cream, homemade preserves, and lemon curd

No afternoon tea is truly an afternoon tea without proper scones. At The Rubens, you get plain, fruit, and cheese scone options, and they’re served with a trio of toppings:

• Homemade seasonal preserve
• Lemon curd
• Clotted cream

That combination matters. Clotted cream is rich and silky, lemon curd adds sharp brightness, and the homemade preserve brings a fruit-forward sweetness that doesn’t taste generic. The “seasonal” wording also signals that the preserve isn’t meant to taste like a one-size-fits-all jar.

How to eat them (so you get the best mix):

1. Try one scone with preserve first, so you get the fruit flavour clearly.
2. Try another with lemon curd if you like contrast—sharp lemon with creamy clotted cream is a classic for a reason.
3. Use cheese scones for a savoury-leaning balance, especially if you already had hearty items like roast beef.

The biggest downside with scones is timing: if you rush through the savouries, you can end up too full to enjoy the scone course properly. So keep an eye on your pace. Think of scones as the moment you slow down and enjoy the warm, comforting centre of the meal.

The sweet tray: chocolate, blackberry, citrus, and rhubarb

The sweet section is where this afternoon tea goes from traditional to genuinely fun. The pastries in the sample menu cover different flavour families—chocolate, fruit, tart, and creamy—so you’re not stuck eating only one kind of dessert.

A sample sweet lineup includes:

• Crown Hukambi chocolate, hazelnut praline, and chocolate sablé
• Blackberry éclair
• Blackberry chiboust with blackberry fruit glaze
• Rhubarb and vanilla
• Vanilla sponge, rhubarb jelly, and opalys crémeux
• Citrus meringue tart
• Almond cream, candied lemon, and lime zest

If you like fruit desserts, the blackberry and rhubarb items are a highlight. If you prefer deeper flavours, the chocolate-and-hazelnut option is likely your anchor. And the citrus tart gives you a clean palate reset, which helps when you’re eating multiple bites back-to-back.

My practical advice: take small portions. One or two “bigger” desserts (the ones that sound richest) plus a lighter tart is usually the sweet spot. You get variety without feeling like you’ve eaten a bakery’s worth of sugar in one sitting.

Also keep expectations realistic: this is a high-quality afternoon tea, not a themed food marathon. The sweets are designed as elegant portions, so even if the tray looks impressive, you’ll likely enjoy it more if you slow down and choose thoughtfully.

Tea, coffee, and optional Champagne for the full royal moment

You’ll choose from a selection of teas from P.M. David Silva & Sons, with options that include black, green, white, and herbal. Tea matters here because it shapes how the meal tastes. A black tea tends to handle richer pastries well, while lighter teas can keep the palate feeling fresh.

Coffee is also included with the tea/coffee offering. If you’re someone who likes a coffee to end the meal, you can keep your last sip simple and avoid getting over-tea’d—especially after several sweet bites.

For the celebratory version, there’s the option of Champagne. It’s only included if you select an inclusive option, so if you’re booking independently, confirm what’s in your package. If you do choose Champagne, I suggest you treat it as part of the experience, not a substitute for taking your time with the food. The best afternoon-tea vibe is still food-first, drink-second.

One note from the experience style: the venue may try to sell extra drinks like water or wine. That’s common in high-end dining, so be ready. If you want to keep the cost steady, politely plan what you’ll have before the upsell chat begins.

Price and value: what $111 buys you, and who it’s for

At about $111 per person, this afternoon tea sits in the higher end of London tea experiences. The key question isn’t just the number—it’s whether you’re paying for atmosphere, service, and a complete meal.

Here, you do get a full spread:

• finger sandwiches with a detailed savoury variety
• fresh scone choices (plain, fruit, cheese) with clotted cream, lemon curd, and homemade seasonal preserve
• a multi-item sweet tray
• tea/coffee included
• Champagne only if you select the inclusive version

So what’s the value? You’re paying for the fact that this doesn’t feel like a rushed snack. It’s a structured, multi-course meal in a grand setting. It’s also the kind of place where service tends to matter because the room is built around the ritual.

If you love food, enjoy tea culture, and want a once-off “London in style” moment, the price can feel fair. If you’re mostly chasing a cheap meal, you’ll probably feel sticker shock, and the occasional push for additional drinks can make it sting a bit more.

A good rule: if you’re choosing a splurge experience for a special day—birthday, anniversary, or you just want to treat yourself—this fits. If you’d rather spend your money on multiple smaller food stops across London, you might prefer a less formal tea or a café with better price-to-portion ratios.

Dress code, ID, and dietary requests that keep things smooth

This is one of those experiences where a few small details matter. You should bring your passport or ID card. It’s a rule, so don’t show up empty-handed.

Then there’s the dress code. The venue won’t permit entry in sandals or flip-flops, and it also bans shorts, sportswear, and ripped clothing. Plan for neat, tailored clothing. Think “smart casual,” not gym wear.

Dietary needs are handled, but you must give notice in advance. Inform the provider 48 hours before your scheduled booking about dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free afternoon teas. If you wait too late, you may find the options limited.

The takeaway: to get the best experience, treat this like a sit-down restaurant meal with some planning. When you do, the tea service tends to run smoothly and you spend your time enjoying the food instead of worrying whether your needs will work out.

Who should book The Rubens afternoon tea (and who might skip)

I think this experience is a strong match if:

• you want a classic British activity with a real sense of occasion
• you like structured courses and eating at a calm pace
• you enjoy both savoury and sweet tasting, not just one side
• you care about atmosphere as much as food

It may be less ideal if:

• you’re very cost-sensitive and want the lowest possible price
• you don’t enjoy formal dining rules
• you hate the idea of selecting additional drinks or dealing with optional sales

If you’re traveling as a couple or making it part of a special day, it can feel like a win. The pricing and the setting naturally make it more of a treat than a casual stop.

Should you book this royal afternoon tea?

Yes, if you want a high-end afternoon tea where the food line-up is specific, not generic, and the setting helps you relax into the experience. The best sign is the way the menu balances savoury variety, scone comfort with clotted cream and homemade preserves, and a pastry tray with distinct flavour directions like blackberry, rhubarb, and citrus.

I’d book it when you’re celebrating something, when the weather makes you want a warm indoor plan, or when you want one “London looks fancy” moment that’s still grounded in actual food.

If you’d rather avoid higher prices and optional drink pressure, consider a different tea venue or keep expectations strict: you’re paying for the whole ritual, not just calories.

FAQ

How long is afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace?

The experience lasts about 1.5 hours.

Where do I meet the activity at the start?

You show your voucher upon entering The Rubens at the Palace.

What’s included in the afternoon tea package?

Afternoon tea is included, along with tea or coffee. Champagne is included only if you selected the inclusive option.

Is Champagne always part of the experience?

No. Champagne is only included if your option says it’s inclusive.

What types of scones are served?

You’ll get plain, fruit, and cheese scones, served with homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and clotted cream.

What teas are available?

You can choose from black, green, white, and herbal teas from P.M. David Silva & Sons.

Can the tea accommodate dietary requirements?

Yes, but you must inform the provider 48 hours before your booking about dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free.

What’s the dress code?

Sandals or flip-flops, shorts, sportswear, and ripped clothing aren’t allowed, and guests who don’t follow the dress code won’t be permitted entry.

What is the cancellation deadline?

You can cancel up to 2 days in advance for a full refund.