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The Snowman afternoon tea bus London review (2025): A fun festive ride through the city

Step aboard for festive treats, cosy vibes and dazzling London lights, says Hannah Cornish. Find out why this is a must-do London Christmas experience.
Hannah Cornish
Written by Hannah Cornish 01 January 2025 - Last edited 01 July 2026
A festive bus table with a tiered stand of Christmas-themed treats, including snowman-shaped truffles and cupcakes, next to a person holding a glass of yellow drink.
Enjoy sweet and savoury treats and spot iconic festive Christmas lights onboard the Snowman afternoon tea bus tour. Image courtesy of Hannah Cornish.

Looking for a magical way to celebrate Christmas in London? Step aboard this festive afternoon tea bus tour and discover the city’s iconic Christmas lights in style with sweet and savoury Christmas treats!

Read on for The Snowman afternoon tea bus review.

At a glance: The Snowman afternoon tea bus tour ☃️
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  • Dates: 22 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
  • Starting points: The tour departs from two main locations: London Eye and Aldwych
  • Duration: Approx. 60 minutes (traffic depending)
  • Ages: Suitable for guests aged 5+

Book tickets for The Snowman afternoon tea bus tour.

The Snowman afternoon tea bus tour: A festive treat you must experience

If there’s something you need to know about me, it’s that I love a Christmas afternoon tea experience, so when this festive special was launched, I knew I had to try it for myself.

Ceiling decoration inside the bus featuring an illustration of The Snowman and a boy flying, surrounded by white garlands and snowflake ornaments.

On an unseasonably warm and rainy November evening, we headed down to the London Eye departure spot. Let me tell you now that the magic begins before you even step inside! The bus is wrapped in The Snowman branding (making it impossible to miss) and once onboard, you’re greeted by a pure winter wonderland scene: think twinkling lights, tinsel, festive bows adorning the interior of the bus – and even a Snowman-themed ceiling.

The atmosphere onboard is warm and inviting, with classic Christmas tunes playing softly in the background.

Settling in for tasty treats and Christmas cheer

We found our seats on the top deck and settled in for the evening. The table is beautifully set out with branded napkins and crackers, ready for a three-tier afternoon tea feast.

A close-up of a dessert tier featuring coconut snowman-shaped treats, chocolate brownies, and mince pies dusted with powdered sugar.

Expect a mix of soft, flavoursome sandwiches to start; my personal favourite was the turkey and cranberry festive wrap with cream cheese, dried cranberries and crunchy salad – like Christmas wrapped up in a few bites! Indulgent sweet treats followed, including gooey chocolate brownies, soft muffins topped with icing and mini mince pies with a dusting of icing sugar. And of course, no Christmas afternoon tea is complete without warm scones served with clotted cream and Tiptree jam – my favourite.

Top tip: Fancy something extra special? Pre-order the Snowball cocktail to enjoy alongside the afternoon tea – it’s creamy, refreshing and the perfect festive sip.

Two scones topped with clotted cream and strawberry jam on a star-patterned napkin, next to a blue souvenir cup labelled “The Snowman Afternoon Tea Bus”

Unlimited hot drinks, including hot chocolate and a variety of teas, are served throughout the experience in a Snowman thermal cup, which you can take home as a souvenir.

The clever table setup keeps everything secure, so you can relax, enjoy the ride and snap lots of photos without worrying about spills.

Don’t worry if you can’t manage to eat all your afternoon tea during the experience – there’s the option to take treats away in a box to enjoy later.

See London’s Christmas lights from the best seat in town

View through a bus window of Regent Street at night, showcasing illuminated angel-shaped Christmas lights and decorated shopfronts with glowing displays.

It’s a magical experience watching London sparkle outside the window as you tuck into the afternoon tea. The route takes you past some of the city’s most famous festive displays, including Oxford Street and Regent Street. You also get a glimpse of Trafalgar Square and its bustling Christmas market.

Top tip: For the best views, we recommend booking tickets to sit on the top deck – it’s the ultimate way to see the lights while staying warm and dry, even on a rainy day.

A busy London street at night with festive Christmas lights, including cascading blue lights and glowing shopfronts, viewed from a bus.

Iconic Christmas songs and carols played throughout the journey, and guests could be heard humming along to the tunes. I may or may not have joined in on WHAM’s Last Christmas encore…

The experience feels wonderfully unhurried. It’s a unique way to combine sightseeing with indulgence, and the cosy atmosphere makes it perfect for families, friends or a festive date.

The bus drops you off where you began the tour (in this case the London Eye) so it was easy to carry on our journey afterwards. We came away from the evening feeling super festive and Christmassy – despite the damp conditions outside.

Make your Christmas in London sparkle

A festive afternoon tea setup on a bus table featuring tiered stands with sandwiches, scones, cupcakes, and Christmas-themed decorations, with two people sat at the table wearing paper crowns.

This experience felt like more than just an afternoon tea – it was a magical Christmas adventure through some of London’s most iconic streets. With delicious food, warming drinks, festive music and the backdrop of dazzling Christmas lights, it’s an experience you’re sure to treasure long after the last mince pie.

Don’t let this festive treat melt away – book your tickets for The Snowman afternoon tea bus tour today.