In the run up to Mother’s Day guest writer Veggie Eats Lnd treated her mum to Afternoon Tea with a difference on the BB Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, taking in some of the city’s best sights and foodie delights on a vintage red London bus!

Gazing up at the London Eye and freezing cold, my mother and I stood eagerly waiting to board the BB Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. In front of us was an old fashioned red London bus with little yellow bulbs lining the interior (none of that ugly strip lighting here) and staff were busily preparing for the passengers.

Right on time, one of the two enthusiastic waiting staff invited us on and we took our seats on the top deck. Our table was ready for the impending feast with our savoury treats and desserts arranged on two tiers. I had requested the vegetarian option (they also offer Halal and gluten-free afternoon teas) so our selections were separate however I could see other passengers shared their foods on long serving dishes.

The table was very pretty and delicate with fashionable mismatched plates and a cute London map printed on the white tabletop. A bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice (a great touch) sat in a drinks holder and a china cup with a rubber lid sat in another. I tried to move my plate and was pleased to see that it was stuck to the table, as were most things laying there.

The bus roared and began to move and I thought it best to dive straight in and get munching on the delights in front of me. Instead of the normal finger sandwiches offered by most afternoon tea establishments, this array featured only two (a cream cheese and cucumber and a cheese and pickle) along with a brie salad roll, a cream cheese blini and a mushroom quiche.

I very much liked the diversity of the savoury items however my mother was only commenting before the ride that she likes finger sandwiches the most at afternoon teas. However the quality of the items definitely swayed her and she appreciated that this was not a normal afternoon tea as we bumped our way towards Big Ben. Our waiter came to our table and asked us which tea we would like from a selection (these were unlimited throughout the ride). We then made our own tea on the table which was a little tricky due to the swaying motion but made for some giggles also.

Loving food as I do, to start with I found it hard to remember to look out of the window as I was too focused on the dainty food. When I did look out, the sun was setting and London was abuzz with people leaving work. I noticed a fair few staring up at us and I imagined what a funny sight we must have been for tourists.

As the tour is not guided, there was a booklet on each table with a description of the main sights to look out for and you also had the map to navigate. The waiter helpfully called out when to look at things and pointed out some interesting facts such as the amount of bathrooms in Buckingham Palace (78 if you were wondering) and made everyone laugh throughout the ride. It was a really relaxed atmosphere and I think this was mainly due to the staff and their passion for the whole affair. Also, it is a surreal experience to be eating a quiche whilst looking down on the stylish people leaving Harrods.

The sweet treats on the top layer were delicious. You could really tell that they had been made fresh in the bakery and once again the variety was great. We had chocolate biscuit with crème patisserie and berries, a chocolate macaron, a mini cupcake filled with jam, a filled sponge and a lemon meringue pie. Just writing these down is making me hungry all over again as they truly were a pleasure. My mum, being a lemon fiend, particularly liked the lemon meringue pie and I thought the cupcake looked so appealing and then had the surprise of the hidden jam. I am not sure if BB bakery change the items aboard the bus but I was very pleased we had these ones. Just when we thought we were full, the waitress brought scones to each table with clotted cream and jam and we indulged yet again.

The whole experience aboard the BB Afternoon Tea Bus Tour was a great one. If you are looking for a detailed tour of London then this is not your best bet, but the novelty factor and delicious food make this a brilliant idea for a gift.

Let’s not forget Mother’s Day (March 15th) is fast approaching and to coincide with this the BB Bakery Bus Tour are currently offering a BB Voucher for Mother’s Day.

This costs only £50 and entitles you and your mother to an Afternoon Tea in the Bus or the Bakery wherever you see fit! What better way to treat your mum than this memorable experience?

Special thanks to the BB Bakery Afternoon Bus Tour for inviting us along to sample their afternoon tea delights! 

Bus Times: 12:30 and 15:00
Website: www.bbbakery.co.uk/afternoon-tea
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BB-Bakery