Two kinds of tea in the palace
Searches for afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament lead to two quite different things. One is the Terrace Pavilion, an event space with a standing afternoon tea for large groups. The other is the Jubilee Café, where visitors who are already inside can buy a cream tea for a few pounds.
For an individual visitor, the café is the practical choice. The Terrace Pavilion tea is priced for functions. This is an independent guide and has no link to Parliament or its caterers.
The options compared
Prices for 2026.
| Option | What it is | Price | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jubilee Cream Tea | A fruit scone with butter or clotted cream, jam, and tea or coffee | £7.00 per person | Individuals and small groups already admitted |
| Terrace Pavilion standing afternoon tea | A function of 4 hours between 12:00 and 17:00 for 140 to 200 guests | Room hire £4,000 at the full rate, minimum catering spend £3,920, plus 12.5 percent service on food and drink | Organised events |
| Palace tour | Guided or audio tour of the building | From £31 for adults in advance | Seeing the rooms |
The Terrace Pavilion figures apply from 30 March 2026. They are event totals for a whole group. Do not divide them into a price per person, and do not read them as a ticket price. Check the booking page for your tour for any tea add-on before you plan around one.
Our picks: afternoon tea in Westminster
We found no public tea in Parliament; these are teas on the river or on a bus.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Afternoon tea on a London bus tour
Afternoon tea with sweet and savoury snacks and tea, hot chocolate or coffee, plus live commentary on a 1.5-hour bus tour. It does not include any visit to Parliament.
Check availability →Afternoon tea cruise on the Thames
A 1.5-hour Thames cruise with sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, jam and cake, plus unlimited tea and coffee. This is tea on the river, not in Parliament, and extra drinks cost more.
Check availability →
Thames cruise with afternoon tea, coffee or dinner
You choose a 90-minute afternoon tea cruise, a 90-minute coffee cruise or a 2.5-hour dinner cruise. Extra drinks cost more, and there is no visit to Parliament.
Check availability →Tours of the Palace of Westminster
Guided and audio tours plus other Westminster visits you can combine with a break for tea, with live prices and availability.
Jubilee Café: hours and what to expect
The café is inside the secure area.
| Day | Hours when the House is sitting |
|---|---|
| Monday to Wednesday | 09:00 to 17:45 |
| Thursday | 10:00 to 17:30 |
| Friday and Saturday | 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Recess, Monday to Saturday | 09:30 to 17:00 |
Hours can change. Plan the café as part of a visit you have already arranged, such as a tour or a debate, and do not expect to enter the building only for coffee. The café menu has the cream tea at £7.00. It is a café product with no table service, so it is not the same as a formal afternoon tea.
Planning a tea stop
Fit it around your tour or your seat in the gallery.
Book the visit first
Choose your tour or debate date, then plan the café around it. The palace tour tickets are priced on the tickets page.
Allow for security
Arrive at least 20 minutes before a tour. Bags larger than 60 by 40 cm are not allowed and there is no cloakroom. See visitor rules.
Check the calendar
Sitting weeks and recess change the café hours. The best time page explains the pattern of the parliamentary year.
Afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament: frequently asked questions
Can I book afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament?
The Terrace Pavilion afternoon tea is priced as an event for 140 to 200 guests, so it is not a table for two. For individuals, the Jubilee Café cream tea at £7.00 is the practical choice once you are inside.
How much is the Jubilee Cream Tea?
£7.00. It includes a fruit scone, butter or clotted cream, jam, and tea or coffee.
What are the café opening hours?
When the House is sitting: Monday to Wednesday 09:00 to 17:45, Thursday 10:00 to 17:30, Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. In recess: Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:00. Hours can change.
Can I go to the café without a tour ticket?
Plan the café as part of a visit you have already arranged, for example a tour or a debate. It sits inside the security area.
What does the Terrace Pavilion event cost?
The 2026 rates are room hire of £4,000 at the full rate, a minimum catering spend of £3,920 and 12.5 percent service on food and drink, for the whole group.