Whatโs higher than a cruise alongside the Thames within the sunshine, trying on the historic buildings lining the banks? A London afternoon tea cruise, the place you get the standard sandwiches, scones and candy treats as you go.
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So when Metropolis Cruises invited me to check out certainly one of their particular themed cruises, for this London afternoon tea cruise assessment, I used to be able to board earlier than you may say โgo me the jamโ.
As a result of whereas Iโve cruised alongside the Thames extra instances than I can depend, whether or not itโs a fast journey to Greenwich, a family-friendly cruise with my daughter, or an opportunity to indicate family and friends a few of the sights of London from the river, this was my first time having fun with afternoon tea on a Thames cruise.
London afternoon tea cruise: the necessities
Questioning what a Metropolis Cruises afternoon tea cruise includes? Right hereโs all the pieces you could know earlier than you board.
How lengthy does the afternoon tea cruise final?
Youโll spend round 90 minutes on board, cruising from the Tower of London right down to the Homes of Parliament and the London Eye earlier than turning round to journey east.
The tour virtually reaches Canary Wharf โ youโll be capable of see the skyscrapers within the Docklands โ earlier than returning again to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
What time does the cruise begin?
The cruise units sail at 3.30pm however youโll must be there earlier, in time to board at 3.15pm โ Metropolis Cruises advises arriving at the least 10 minutes earlier than boarding.
When you e book the VIP package deal, youโll get to skip the queue and board first, with seats in prime viewing place on the entrance of the boat. The cruise ends at 5pm.
What ought to I put on?
Something you want, inside purpose. The official costume code is informal, however if you wish to costume as much as have fun an event, go forward and glam up.
When youโre becoming within the afternoon tea cruise after a dayโs sightseeing and need to are available denims and trainers, thatโs advantageous too.
We noticed loads of individuals aboard in on a regular basis garments, and various in barely fancier outfits. The one factor which is suggested in opposition to is flip-flops and leisurewear (and Iโd add that you really want one thing you’ll be able to transfer across the boat comfortably in).
Is it family-friendly?
Completely. We have been removed from the one household on board, together with a child and some preschool-age youngsters.
Infants aged 0-2 years journey free (except they want a seat, during which case they do should have a ticket), whereas children aged 3-12 pay little one costs (at the moment from ยฃ36). Teenagers pay grownup costs (at the moment from ยฃ44).
Thereโs no little one menu, so everybody will get the identical meals (barring any dietary necessities โ learn on for extra).
The muffins and scones are prone to enchantment to all ages, even when your children donโt fancy the sandwiches although, and a few of the traditional afternoon choices โ reminiscent of egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and coronation rooster โ might properly get the thumbs up from youthful diners anyway.
Thereโs fruit juice and comfortable drinks on the bar menu, in addition to peppermint and fruit tea, in case your children need an uncaffeinated various.
What if we have now particular dietary necessities?
No downside. The afternoon tea could be tailor-made for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free (though itโs not attainable to have menus which can be each vegan and gluten free).
All of the desserts are vegetarian already, and when you have different necessities โ for instance, for those whoโre pescatarian โ youโll get a separate set of sandwiches with out the usual Coronation Hen. Or vegetarians can have an choice with out the smoked salmon sandwiches, whereas thereโs a wholly separate vegan menu.
Each my husband and daughter had just a few necessities to cater for, and it couldnโt have been less complicated: you simply add your dietary necessities when reserving (or afterwards in handle your reserving, so long as you give enough discover).
Is there guided commentary?
Youโll have both recorded commentary by an official information, or โ as most individuals are inclined to want โ stay commentary by one of many crew.
Though theyโre not official guides, they clearly know their stuff after years engaged on the river: I realized a few new info, plus you get all of the important data identified, and various joky asides thrown in.
You gainedโt have somebody speaking all through the cruise although both. After a short introduction to start out, we sailed from the Tower to Westminster the place the commentary began across the Homes of Parliament.
We then had the commentary again alongside the river to Tower Bridge, earlier than one other interval the place we may benefit from the views in silence, and some extra remarks on the finish.
Itโs straightforward sufficient to listen to if you wish to hear, in addition to to talk in between. Whereas there may not be fairly as a lot element as a guided cruise, itโs an excellent stability and also you gainedโt go house questioning what youโve simply seen.
Are you able to board anyplace alongside the river?
No. Not like a few of the hop-on hop-off cruise boats, youโll board at Tower Millennium Pier (proper subsequent to the Tower of London) and return there afterwards.
The boat doesnโt cease at any level through the 90-minute journey.
What amenities are there on board?
There are bogs on board, in addition to a well-stocked bar for those who fancy wine, champagne, prosecco or cocktails along with your afternoon tea (in addition to different alcoholic drinks and comfortable drinks).
It’s also possible to prebook bottles of prosecco, champagne or wine, in addition to shopping for on board, with some provides for those whoโre simply planning to have a glass or two.
Thereโs additionally a viewing platform behind the boat if you wish to go outdoors to benefit from the views. Itโs additionally attainable to smoke outdoors, though not in the primary cabin.
See extra โ watch my video on YouTube or Instagram
London afternoon tea cruise: assessment
We couldnโt have ordered a greater day for a cruise alongside the Thames if it had been an choice at reserving โ regardless of being early March, spring had (briefly) come early and there have been blue skies and solar shining alongside the river.
Strolling down the gangplank, our VIP reserving meant we skipped to the pinnacle of the queue, and have been among the many first to board after having fun with just a few views of Tower Bridge, and seagulls paddling simply off the tiny seaside by the Tower of London.
Thereโs no squabbling for tables both, all the pieces is assigned earlier than you get on โ with the VIP package deal, 4 tables had been arrange on the entrance of the boat, giving us a unbelievable view by way of the broad glass home windows.
When youโre travelling in a bunch of two, you may also improve to a desk by the aspect home windows, however even for those whoโre sitting on the central tables, you’ll be able to nonetheless stand up and wander round inside (and outdoors) to benefit from the riverside views.
Inside moments of sitting down, workers bearing sizzling water and tea baggage had come to test on our tea desire, with inexperienced tea, lemon & ginger, peppermint and tremendous fruit alongside Earl Gray, Decaf English breakfast and Metropolis Cruisesโ personal signature mix, โon a regular basis brewโ.
You get limitless tea through the cruise, and with particular person little teapots, you’ll be able to change choices part-way if you wish to attempt a pair. Thereโs additionally limitless espresso, in addition to alcoholic and comfortable drinks to purchase โ the Chapel Down glowing wine was sadly unavailable, however I consoled myself very fortunately with a glass of Prosecco.
And earlier than we knew it, we have been off, cruising west alongside the river in the direction of the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye as our three-tier cake stand was introduced out โ and a separate plate of sandwiches for my husband, to swimsuit his dietary necessities.
Egg mayonnaise on basil and spinach bread was certainly one of my favourites, a positively step up out of your common egg mayo, together with smoked salmon and cream cheese on caraway.
However in addition to the classics, together with Coronation Hen, there was a extra quirky Chipotle Sandwich, on beetroot and dill bread, whereas the vegan menu had a spiced avocado choice in addition to baba ganoush sandwich as a few of the extra uncommon options.
My 12-year-old was eyeing up the 2 larger tiers although; scones with jam and cream on the prime, and a number of little muffins and pastries within the center, together with an attention grabbing mango pebble.
Set on a shortbread-style biscuit, the shiny spherical orange mango centre made it look unexpectedly like a fried egg, however way more enjoyable to eat.
Sitting alongside was chocolate fudge cake, a vibrant pink macaron (slightly extra like a meringue than your common macaron but additionally twice the scale), and mini lemon meringue tarts which turned out to be my favorite.
And when you donโt get further meals, we didnโt even have house to complete the three tiers, not to mention the rest.
Plus, after all, whereas we have been having fun with the meals, we additionally obtained to drink within the views, passing an entire string of sights together with the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Homes of Parliament, the London Eye, the Globe Theatre, St Paulโs, Tate Fashionable, the Shard, an entire string of bridges, historic pubs and loads of transformed wharfs as we headed east in the direction of Canary Wharf.
Whereas we had loads of time to eat and chat amongst ourselves, we additionally had stay commentary from one of many members of the crew as we travelled from Westminster to Tower Bridge โ and some different sections.
Itโs not solely the main riverside sights which get picked out both โ we had tales of Shakespeare and The Anchor pub, the one river tavern to outlive since Tudor instances (admittedly rebuilt after the Nice Hearth and looking out slightly totally different at this time).
Our โinformationโ additionally identified The Monument to the Nice Hearth, its Golden Flame peeking out above the encompassing buildings and the silver dragons which nonetheless stand on the previous gates into the Metropolis of London.
We additionally heard the story behind Waterloo Bridge, and its nickname the Womenโ Bridge, a narrative I hadnโt heard earlier than. With work underway to interchange the previous bridge in 1939, as males headed to the Second World Struggle battlefields, ladies have been answerable for a lot of the work of making the brand new bridge.
And whereas a few of the tales which are sometimes instructed on the river โ that your entire workforce was feminine, and that itโs the one bridge in London which was accomplished to deadline and below finances โ is probably not 100% true, it was one of many fascinating little nuggets to remove. And obtained a smug smirk from my daughter and me!
E book your Metropolis Cruises afternoon tea cruise in London right here
Metropolis Cruises Afternoon tea cruise: The decision
All too quickly, our 90-minute journey was up and we have been cruising gently again into Tower Millennium Pier as soon as extra, feeling very full and simply as relaxed.
So how does the afternoon tea cruise measure up? An unqualified thumbs as much as the workers who have been beautiful, and if something appeared to have forgotten or wanted checking, hurried off to type issues out for us.
The identical goes for the views: we have been actually fortunate with the climate, however I feel the VIP tables are actually price the additional to have the ability to gaze out with out transferring out of your seat.
And as a stunning further to a river cruise, itโs laborious to beat. You may get a bit much less data than a selected sightseeing cruise, however I felt we had plenty of element and also you wouldnโt come away dissatisfied with that.
When youโre on the lookout for Londonโs most uncommon connoisseur afternoon tea, you’ll be able to actually discover some quirky themes and creative creations again on land, however then once more, they donโt include such good views โ and for those whoโre on the lookout for a traditional afternoon tea, this ticks loads of these bins.
Do you have to e book the London afternoon tea cruise with children? Once more, I feel it relies on your children โ when you have choosy eaters who gainedโt care in regards to the surroundings, this is likely to be one thing to place off till theyโre older, however as a household deal with, itโs a stunning choice.
In spite of everything, itโs laborious to go fallacious once youโve obtained scones, surroundings and a few fascinating info about London.
Disclosure: My household afternoon tea cruise in London was free for the needs of assessment โ all opinions are my very own. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
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