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Afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace | Your guide to a royal experience

Imagine stepping out of the Throne Room, still picturing the gilded ceilings, and walking straight into afternoon tea in the palace gardens. That's what awaits at the Garden Café on the West Terrace, right at the end of your State Rooms tour: a keepsake tin of classic British finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, cakes and pastries, and your choice of tea or coffee, enjoyed with a view of the palace lawn. Available only during the Summer Opening, it's a uniquely royal way to close out your visit.

Why opt for an afternoon tea experience at the Buckingham Palace?

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A setting no other afternoon tea can match

At Buckingham Palace, you're not just having tea, you're having it on the West Terrace, looking out over the same 40-acre garden and lake used for royal garden parties. The food is almost secondary here — the real draw is sitting in that view, in the grounds of a working royal residence, right after walking through the State Rooms.

A keepsake tin worth holding onto

Your afternoon tea comes in a limited-edition tin, styled with the Buckingham Palace branding, that you can keep as a souvenir long after the sandwiches and scones are gone. It's less a meal and more a memento you get to eat.

Part of a bigger day, not a separate outing

Since the Garden Café only opens to State Rooms ticket holders, this isn't something you book on its own — it's the natural final stop after the interiors, and a walk through the gardens. Past the café, you'll find a gift shop and ice cream parlour before the exit, so tea becomes one part of a longer, unhurried finish to your visit.

A seasonal treat you can't get year-round

The Garden Café only opens for the few weeks the State Rooms welcome visitors each summer, so this isn't a tea you can plan for any time of year. If you're visiting London during that window, it's worth building your day around it rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace: what's included in the experience

Afternoon tea with sandwiches and pastries at the British Museum.

Your Buckingham Palace afternoon tea comes as a limited-edition keepsake tin, part souvenir, part treat, filled with a menu built around British summer flavours.

  • Finger sandwiches: Smoked salmon, pulled ham with pickle, and truffled free-range egg mayonnaise.
  • Scones: Earl Grey scones with jam and clotted cream.
  • Cakes & pastries: Lemon drizzle loaf cake, apricot Bakewell tart, and Guinness red velvet cake.
  • Your drink: Choose tea or coffee, or upgrade to English sparkling wine or a Buckingham Palace gin and tonic for a celebratory finish.

There's no need to book afternoon tea separately. Simply pre-order your tin when you buy your State Rooms tickets, then collect it at the Garden Café to enjoy at the terrace seating overlooking the palace lawn.

The Garden Café at Buckingham Palace

Once your State Rooms tour winds down, the path continues out through the gardens, past the lake, straight to the Garden Café on the West Terrace. The café is the palace's own summer spot, self-service and relaxed, with a menu built around fresh seasonal flavours rather than formal dining. Here's what's actually on it.

Coronation chicken seeded rolls

  • What is it: A seeded roll filled with coronation chicken, a dish invented for a coronation.
  • What's special about it: It’s inspired by coronation chicken, the dish created for Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation, and is served here in the grounds of the King’s residence.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels

  • What is it: A bagel filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
  • What's special about it: A lighter, fresher pick if you'd rather not go heavy before an afternoon of more sightseeing.

Lemon and thyme chicken Caesar salad

  • What is it: A Caesar salad with lemon and thyme chicken, part of the café's Garden Lunch Box range.
  • What's special about it: The more substantial option on the menu, good if the café is doubling as your lunch rather than a snack stop.

Plant Power salad with quinoa and lentils

  • What is it: A quinoa and lentil salad, the plant-based option in the Garden Lunch Box range.
  • What's special about it: A protein-rich choice that doesn't feel like an afterthought next to the meat options.

Plant-based vanilla soft serve

  • What is it: A vanilla soft serve from the café's own ice cream parlour along the garden path.
  • What's special about it: It's gluten-free and palm oil-free, so it's a treat most visitors can actually enjoy.

Ice cream sundaes

  • What is it: A sundae from the same ice cream parlour.
  • What's special about it: A bigger sweet finish than a single scoop, right at the end of your garden walk.

Strawberries and cream

  • What is it: A classic plate of strawberries and cream.
  • What's special about it: About as classic a British summer dish as it gets, and a simple way to sit with the garden view a little longer.

Iced coffees & summer drinks

  • What is it: Iced coffee and other seasonal cold drinks.
  • What's special about it: Good if you're visiting on a warm day and want something cooling rather than a hot tea or coffee.

Things to know before opting for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace

Pouring tea from a porcelain teapot into a cup on a patterned tablecloth.

The Garden Café and afternoon tea are available only during the Summer Opening of the State Rooms, typically July to September.

  • Garden Café hours:
    • July and August: 10am–7pm (takeaway only from 7pm–7:15pm)
    • September: 10am–6pm (takeaway only from 6pm–6:15pm)
  • Ice cream parlour hours:
    • July and August: 11am–7:15pm
    • September: 11am–6:15pm
  • Afternoon tea availability: Afternoon tea is served only during the summer and can sell out on busy days.
  • Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon slots often have slightly shorter queues at the café.
Young woman booking online with a banking card and smartphone.
  • Format: Afternoon tea is served in a limited-edition keepsake tin.
  • Booking: There is no need to book in advance for afternoon tea; it is offered on a first-come, first-served basis during café hours.
  • Price level: Expect a premium price compared with standard café items; check current pricing on the official site or your ticket confirmation before visiting.
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  • Afternoon tea (keepsake tin)
    • Finger sandwiches: Isle of Skye smoked salmon, pulled ham with pickle, and truffled free-range egg mayonnaise.
    • Scones: Earl Grey scones served with your choice of tea or coffee.
    • Sweet treats: Lemon drizzle loaf cake, apricot Bakewell tart, and Guinness red velvet cake.
    • Optional upgrades: English sparkling wine or a Buckingham Palace gin and tonic.
  • Garden Café (regular menu): The seasonal menu celebrates the best of the British summer with freshly prepared sandwiches, bagels, salads, iced coffees, summer drinks, and strawberries and cream.
  • Ice cream parlour: Indulgent, plant-based vanilla soft serve that is both gluten-free and palm oil-free, plus a selection of ice cream sundaes.
Hand arranging wooden blocks spelling 'Know the Rules' on yellow background
  • Location: The Garden Café is on the West Terrace, at the end of the State Rooms visitor route.
  • Access: You can reach the café only after entering the State Rooms with a valid ticket.
  • Signage: Follow signage to the West Terrace and Garden Café as you leave the State Rooms.
  • Seasonal operation: The café and afternoon tea are seasonal and open only during Summer Opening; they are not available year-round.
  • Other on-site options: No refreshment facilities are available at the Royal Mews or The King’s Gallery; the Garden Café is the main on-site option for State Rooms visitors.

Other afternoon tea experiences near Buckingham Palace

For a more traditional, sit-down afternoon tea than the lighter Garden Café offering, these nearby options combine classic sandwiches, warm scones, pastries, and tea.

The Rubens at the Palace

  • What can you expect: Finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, pastries, and a choice of dietary menus including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal options.
  • Highlight: Palace Lounge overlooking the Royal Mews, with views of the working stables and royal carriages.

The Goring

  • What can you expect: Gourmet finger sandwiches, warm plain and raisin scones, pastries, a seasonal amuse-bouche, and a wide choice of teas and drinks.
  • Highlight: Afternoon tea in The Veranda overlooking the hotel’s private garden.

The Guardsman

  • What can you expect: Afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, freshly made scones, and sweet treats; vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free versions are available.
  • Highlight: Boutique hotel setting a few minutes’ walk from Buckingham Palace.

More affordable options

The English Rose Café

  • What can you expect: Traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, sweets, and tea or coffee at a lower price point than the luxury hotels.
  • Highlight: Quaint, vintage-style café with floral decor and retro crockery, a short walk from Victoria.

Caffè Concerto

  • What can you expect: Casual afternoon tea alongside Italian-inspired dining, with sandwiches, cakes, and barista coffee in a relaxed setting.
  • Highlight: Elegant, Parisian-style café interiors with opulent chandeliers and plush seating, ideal for a more everyday treat.

Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace Afternoon Tea

Yes. The Garden Café at Buckingham Palace is on the West Terrace at the end of the State Rooms visitor route. You must have a valid State Rooms ticket to reach the café.