Читать книгу London's Afternoon Teas, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition - Susan Cohen G. - Страница 16

There can hardly be a more unique way to treat yourself to afternoon tea than by combining it with a sightseeing tour around the capital. With Brigit’s Bakery, you can choose a bus ride or a cruise along the River Thames. Evocative of Swinging London, Brigit’s 1960s Red Routemaster London buses have been refurbished and decked out with comfy banquet seating and shiny white tables and garlanded with flowers, albeit artificial ones. You’ll have a uniformed driver ready to take you on an hour and a half ’s magical tour of London, whilst lovely staff serve you your afternoon tea and add interest to the event. Unless you are too engrossed in eating, you’ll have the opportunity to take in many of London’s famous landmarks, from Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and Downing Street to Piccadilly, Knightsbridge, and the Royal Albert Hall. For safety reasons, your tea can’t be served in a china cup, but you’ll get a lovely Brigit’s Bakery heatproof mug, which also serves as a souvenir of the event. The food is as fresh as a daisy and delicious, from the tiny savoury quiches, the finger sandwiches, and the mini baguettes to the exquisite patisserie, which might include a dainty fairy cake, a petit choux à la crème, a macaron, and a delicate seasonal fruit tartelette in the crispiest of pastry. As befits a traditional afternoon tea, there are warm scones, jam, and clotted cream. What a wonderful and entertaining experience this is.

As for the boat tours, on a few selected dates in the summer you can take in the sights and sounds of London as you sail along the mighty River Thames on a refurbished 1980s vintage private motor yacht. The cruise starts at 2.00pm from Butler’s Wharf Pier, near London Bridge, and lasts around two and a half hours.

It gets underway with a glass of champagne on the deck, giving you the opportunity to take in some breathtaking views of the capital. The lovely afternoon tea is served below deck in the dining room by the friendly uniformed staff.

The afternoon tea is a treat of sandwiches, mini quiches, tiny cupcakes, scones, macarons, and more. Depending on how many people are in your party, you may be sharing a table. A truly memorable event.

Bus Tours (all year)

TEL: +44 (0)20 3026 1188

EMAIL: bus@b-bakery.com

WEB: www.b-bakery.com

OPTION A: Pick-up at 8 Northumberland Avenue (near Trafalgar Square), Westminster, London WC2N 5BY

TOUR TIME DEPARTURES: daily at 12.30pm and 3.00pm

NEAREST UNDERGROUND STATIONS: Charing Cross

OPTION B: Pick-up at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, Belgravia, London SW1W 9TP (your booking confirmation will provide details of the exact gate location)

TOUR TIME DEPARTURES: daily at 12.00pm, 1.00pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, and 5.30pm

NEAREST UNDERGROUND STATIONS: Victoria

SET TEAS: traditional, gluten free, vegetarian, and halal available to pre- order when booking. Gin Lovers bus tours on selected dates.

Boat Tours (selected summer dates only)

TEL: +44 (0)20 3026 1188

EMAIL: boat@b-bakery.com

WEB: http://london.b-bakery.com/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-boat-tour

SET TEAS: traditional, gluten free, vegetarian, and halal available to pre- order when booking