AD – Gifted Experience: We were invited to experience the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames in exchange for our honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
There are some ways of seeing London that never seem to lose their magic, no matter how many times you’ve visited the city. Cruising along the River Thames, afternoon tea in front of us and some of London’s most famous landmarks passing by the windows, has definitely made it onto that list for our family.
On Friday 14th August 2026, Simon and I took Lillie, Ollie and Albie aboard the Millennium Diamond for the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise from Tower Millennium Pier.
This year has been a big one for birthdays in our family. I celebrated my 50th and Lillie celebrated her 18th, so we decided to look at this as a lovely way for the two of us to round off our milestone birthday celebrations with Simon and the boys.
We also had another reason for choosing afternoon tea: our children can be very fussy eaters! Rather than committing to a formal meal where they might not like the dishes, an afternoon tea meant there would be lots of little things for everyone to pick and choose from.
It turned out to be a brilliant decision.
Getting to Tower Millennium Pier
We had already spent part of the day in London visiting the Museum of Illusions on Tottenham Court Road, so we’d driven into London and parked at Q-Park Park Lane.
From Tottenham Court Road, we took the Underground to Bank and made our way to Tower Millennium Pier.
Our cruise was due to depart at 3.30pm, with boarding beginning at 3.15pm. We had the VIP upgrade, which included priority boarding, so we were the first passengers onto the boat.
There were members of staff guiding us through each stage and showing us to our tables, which made everything feel very organised – and being the first onboard definitely added to that feeling of being treated to something special.
Our First Impressions of Millennium Diamond
The boat felt much bigger once we stepped aboard than I’d expected.
We had two tables next to one another towards the front of the boat, next to the large glass windows. There were two people seated on either side, with Albie at the end next to the window.
One surprisingly popular feature was the revolving chairs! Everyone loved being able to swivel around as we cruised along so they could look out at whatever was passing on either side of the Thames.
Our position also gave us fantastic views through all that glass.
There was one downside to sitting beside so much glass on the particular day we visited: London was in the middle of a heatwave.
It initially felt cooler when we boarded than it had outside, but once the sun streamed through the windows it became pretty warm. Thankfully, we’d come prepared with handheld fans. The temperature also changed throughout the cruise depending on whether our side of the boat was in sunshine or shade.
That’s definitely something I’d bear in mind if you’re booking during particularly hot weather – take your fans!
VIP Afternoon Tea – Starting With a Glass of Bubbles
Waiting on our tables when we arrived were two small plates of savoury tartlets.
One was similar to a mushroom quiche, while the other had curried rice and tiny hard-boiled eggs. The latter was absolutely delicious and quickly became one of Albie’s favourites.
The adults were also welcomed with a flute of Champagne, while the boys had fresh orange juice.
Sitting there together with our glasses, looking out over the Thames while the rest of the passengers gradually boarded, was probably the moment when we all realised this was going to be something a little bit special.
Once we set sail, our waiter offered us a choice of teas – though I misheard him and thought he asked if I wanted some ‘cheese’. I thought it was a very odd way to start an afternoon tea until Lillie corrected me and said “no tea” – ooops! Given the heat, we decided to give the hot drinks a miss!
Then came the part we’d all been waiting for.
What Do You Get With the City Cruises Afternoon Tea?
Our afternoon tea arrived on traditional tiered stands, with one stand for each of our tables.
On the savoury level we had a selection of finger sandwiches including:
- Chipotle
- Egg and cress
- Chicken Caesar
- Smoked salmon and cream cheese
The sweet selection included macarons, a gorgeous mango dessert, mini chocolate muffins and little lemon meringues.
At the top were the essential part of any afternoon tea as far as I’m concerned: scones with cream and jam.
Everything looked beautifully presented and tasted incredibly fresh.
The food was easily a 10/10 from me.
But What Did Our Fussy Eaters Think?
This was the real test.
Ollie probably tried the widest selection. He enjoyed the savouries and particularly liked the scones, although he isn’t much of a dessert person – I don’t know what’s wrong with him either!
Albie loved the tiny hard-boiled eggs from the savoury plate, egg and cress sandwiches, chocolate muffin, lemon meringue and scones.
Lillie is undoubtedly our hardest family member to please when it comes to food, but even she found favourites in the scones, macarons and chocolate muffins. And, naturally, the Champagne went down rather well too!
If Lillie and Albie had been designing the menu themselves, I suspect City Cruises would also have found chocolate spread sandwiches appearing somewhere on those stands.
Simon particularly enjoyed the savoury tartlets, smoked salmon sandwiches, scones and lemon meringues whilst my favourites were the egg and cress and smoked salmon sandwiches, followed by the macarons, lemon meringue and scones.
Considering we’d specifically chosen afternoon tea because we thought it would work well for our family’s different tastes, it did exactly what we’d hoped.
Cruising Along the River Thames
Of course, you’re not simply paying for afternoon tea. The backdrop is rather spectacular.
Our cruise initially travelled towards Canary Wharf before turning and heading back towards central London.
We passed sights including:
- Tower Bridge
- HMS Belfast
- The Tate Modern
- The Shard
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Canary Wharf
- The London Eye
- The Houses of Parliament in the distance
We continued beyond Waterloo Bridge towards Westminster before turning near the London Eye and making our way back to Tower Millennium Pier.
Seeing familiar London landmarks from the Thames gives you a completely different perspective.
One of my favourite moments was travelling underneath Tower Bridge. You don’t fully appreciate the sheer scale of it until you’re looking upwards from a boat passing underneath. We also learnt that it takes around 90 seconds for Tower Bridge to fully open, which none of us could quite believe.
The Commentary Wasn’t What We Expected!
There was recorded commentary during parts of our journey, but don’t expect a dry history lesson. Alongside interesting facts about the buildings and landmarks we passed were jokes and some rather cheeky rhymes. It was genuinely funny and added another element to the cruise without taking over the experience.
One story that particularly stuck with me was about Waterloo Bridge, which we were told is affectionately known as “The Ladies’ Bridge”. During the Second World War, with so many men away fighting, women played an important role in its construction, carrying out both skilled and unskilled work. Their contribution wasn’t properly recognised for many years, which made the story even more fascinating.
We were also told that Waterloo Bridge is the longest bridge in London and that, despite being constructed during such extraordinary circumstances, the project came in under budget.
It’s exactly the sort of London landmark I’ve seen countless times without ever knowing the story behind it. Hearing snippets like this as we actually sailed beneath the bridges made the sightseeing element much more interesting for all of us.
For much of the journey, though, we were simply engrossed in eating, chatting and watching London go by. Despite there being plenty of other guests onboard, it never felt particularly noisy. Looking around, everyone seemed to be doing exactly what we were doing – enjoying the moment.
What Did the Teenagers Think?
This is perhaps the biggest compliment I can give City Cruises.
The children absolutely loved it.
We had visited the Museum of Illusions earlier that day, which had already been a big hit with them. Yet afterwards, Albie said he had actually enjoyed the City Cruises experience more because it was such a cool way of seeing a side of London he’d never experienced before.
Lillie and Ollie rated the two experiences equally.
When you’re trying to find things to do in London that genuinely appeal to older children and teenagers as well as adults, I think that says quite a lot.
Ironically, despite me taking plenty of photographs and video throughout the cruise, we somehow didn’t take a family photograph until we were back on dry land.
For us, that’s almost unheard of! Perhaps it’s also a sign that we were too busy enjoying ourselves.
Is the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise Worth the Money?
This is an important question because this isn’t a cheap family activity.
Our booking confirmation showed the Afternoon Tea Cruise at £74 per person for guests aged 13+, with our VIP Afternoon Tea Savoury Twist upgrade adding £25 per person. Prices and packages can change, so I would always check the current price before booking.
For our family, I think the best way to look at it is as a special-occasion experience rather than simply something to fill 90 minutes during a day in London.
It felt particularly appropriate for us because Lillie and I had both celebrated milestone birthdays this year. Sitting with a glass of Champagne, eating afternoon tea while sailing underneath Tower Bridge with Simon and the boys felt like a wonderful way to put the finishing touch to our 50th and 18th birthday celebrations.
How much value a family gets from the food will naturally depend on what everyone eats. With three fairly fussy eaters, we probably don’t extract quite the same value from an afternoon tea as a family who would happily polish off every sandwich and cake on the stand.
But I wouldn’t judge this experience on the food alone.
You’re combining afternoon tea, excellent service and sightseeing into one experience, while getting a perspective of London you simply don’t get when you’re walking around the city.
We also met a lady onboard who had taken the Afternoon Tea Cruise with her husband in May. She had enjoyed it so much that she’d returned a few months later, this time bringing her friend for a birthday treat.
That probably sums up where I think this experience fits best: celebrating something special.
Is the VIP Upgrade Worth It?
Our VIP upgrade was £25 per person at the time of our visit.
For us, those little extras definitely elevated the experience.
Priority boarding meant we were the first people onto Millennium Diamond, and sitting with our drinks while the boat gradually filled around us gave the beginning of the cruise a lovely sense of occasion.
Would you need VIP to enjoy the Afternoon Tea Cruise? I don’t think so.
But if you’re booking it for a milestone birthday, anniversary or another celebration, I can see the appeal of spending a little extra to make the occasion feel more special.
Was There Enough Time to Eat?
For us, yes – but only just.
We never felt particularly rushed and were able to enjoy the food and sightseeing, but there isn’t masses of spare time.
Interestingly, the lady we’d spoken to who was returning for her second cruise told me that her table hadn’t managed to finish all of their afternoon tea before the cruise ended, which had disappointed her.
My advice would therefore be not to spend too long admiring those beautiful cake stands before getting stuck in!
The cruise itself lasts around 90 minutes. I say “around” because I genuinely didn’t check the time once we were onboard. We were far too caught up in the experience to be clock-watching.
What About Motion Sickness?
If the thought of eating afternoon tea on a boat makes you slightly nervous, I can offer some reassurance from our experience.
I noticed the movement when I first stepped onto the boat, but after that I didn’t give it another thought. None of the five of us experienced motion sickness during the cruise (and Simon isn’t usually good on boats).
Obviously everyone responds differently to being on the water, but Millennium Diamond felt very comfortable during our journey.
Toilets Onboard
There are toilets onboard Millennium Diamond.
Lillie and Ollie both used them and said they were clean and pleasant. The toilets they used were below deck and reached via a flight of stairs, so anyone with mobility or accessibility requirements should check the arrangements with City Cruises before booking.
What Should You Wear?
There was quite a mixture of clothing onboard.
Some guests had clearly dressed up for the occasion, while others were wearing comfortable summer daytime clothes.
City Cruises currently describes the dress code as casual, which fitted what we saw. My advice would be to wear something that makes you feel comfortable. If you’re celebrating a special occasion and want to dress up, you certainly won’t feel out of place.
My Tips for Families Booking the Afternoon Tea Cruise
Having experienced it ourselves, these are the things I’d bear in mind:
Arrive early. City Cruises recommends arriving before boarding, and if you don’t have priority boarding I’d personally rather be near the front of the queue than rushing down the pier at the last minute.
Take your camera or phone. There are photo opportunities everywhere. Just remember to take a family photograph too – unlike us!
Consider the weather. Lots of glass means wonderful views, but on an exceptionally hot sunny day it can also get warm. Our handheld fans were very welcome.
Don’t fill up beforehand. There is plenty to try, and 90 minutes passes surprisingly quickly.
Tell City Cruises about dietary requirements in advance. These should be added to your booking before travelling.
But my biggest tip?
Sit back and enjoy it.
It’s tempting to spend the entire time photographing every landmark and every cake, but some experiences are better when you actually allow yourself to be in the moment.
Would We Take Another City Cruise?
Yes, although I think I’d choose something different next time.
I’d love to experience a twilight cruise on one of those beautiful evenings when London has a spectacular sunset.
I’d also happily take a sightseeing cruise where we could spend more time on the upper deck without food, simply watching London pass by without glass between us and the view.
And there may already be another family celebration on the horizon. When my mother-in-law saw our photos and videos, she thought the Afternoon Tea Cruise looked perfect for her 80th birthday next year.
So who knows? We might find ourselves back onboard sooner than expected.
Our City Cruises Afternoon Tea Verdict
We all came away having genuinely loved this experience.
The food was fresh, beautifully presented and delicious, the staff couldn’t have been more pleasant or helpful, and travelling along the Thames gave us a completely different perspective on a city we’ve visited many times.
For families, I would particularly recommend it for those with older children and teenagers who can appreciate both the food and the sightseeing. I can also see it being wonderful for couples, groups of friends, birthdays, anniversaries and milestone celebrations.
For us, this wasn’t simply afternoon tea.
It was sitting together with Champagne and orange juice as the boat filled around us. It was discovering which cakes our fussy eaters would actually try. It was laughing at the commentary, swivelling our chairs to catch the next view and looking upwards as Millennium Diamond sailed underneath Tower Bridge.
Most importantly, it was 90 minutes when all five of us were completely absorbed in doing something together.
I would recommend the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise because it’s such a unique and fun way to enjoy delicious food while seeing London’s landmarks from a completely different perspective.
And as a final celebration of two pretty significant birthdays, it felt very special indeed.
City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise FAQs
How long is the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise?
City Cruises describes the experience as approximately 90 minutes. The current scheduled departure is at 3.30pm, with boarding from 3.15pm.
Where does the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise depart from?
The London Afternoon Tea Cruise departs from Tower Millennium Pier and returns to the same pier.
What landmarks can you see?
The exact views will depend on the cruise route, but during our experience we saw Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, Canary Wharf, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament in the distance.
Is the City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise suitable for teenagers?
Based on our experience, absolutely. Our three children thoroughly enjoyed it, and Albie even rated it above another London attraction we’d visited earlier that day.
Is there a dress code?
City Cruises currently states that casual wear is appropriate. We saw everything from people dressed for a special occasion to guests wearing comfortable summer clothes.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
City Cruises asks guests to provide dietary requirements through their booking before travelling. Check the latest menu and available dietary options directly with City Cruises when booking, as menus and options can change.
Is the Afternoon Tea Cruise good for a special occasion?
This is where I think the experience really shines. Birthdays, anniversaries, milestone celebrations and special days in London all feel particularly well suited to it. Our cruise rounded off my 50th and Lillie’s 18th birthday celebrations beautifully.