Sophie Orman

After hearing that my teenage daughter had never experienced a proper British afternoon tea, I was shocked to say the least! I soon made it my mission to scope out a delicious yet different afternoon tea for us to experience and enjoy together.

Within seconds of scrolling through the Kidadl app, I quickly found the B Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour and was immediately intrigued. A traditional afternoon tea... on a Routemaster bus? I mean, that’s taking meals on wheels to the next level!

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B Bakery offer plenty of themed experiences throughout the year, along with their year-round Afternoon Tea Bus Tour and Traditional Afternoon Tea at B Bakery Covent Garden. As it was Christmas I decided to opt for the Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - I was feeling merry and thought this was the perfect treat to start the festivities.

It was as simple as choosing a time slot on the Kidadl app, turning up in our Christmas jumpers (not compulsory but certainly added to the Christmassy feel!)

and with hungry bellies!

I chose the evening slot, of course, because what better way to experience the Christmas lights than at night! Not to mention, some of London’s most incredible landmarks lit up at night.

So, already humming the tune of ‘Last Christmas’, my daughter and I waited in anticipation at Victoria Station in London, gloves and scarves in hand.

It was a rainy and cold evening but this just made the bus feel that much more cosy and warm - what better way to get out of the cold than to hop on a Routemaster bus for afternoon tea?

And after a few minutes, the incredible vintage, red bus arrived and we were invited to hop on board. We simply showed our booking confirmation from Kidadl and were then kindly escorted up to the top deck!

I would definitely recommend getting there early so you can secure those all-important seats on the upper deck - London is great from down below but it’s even better from a height.

There was so much festive goodness to look at, I couldn’t help but stop on the stairs and snap a few pictures!

From brightly coloured, cosy fairy lights to the London memorabilia plastered on the sides of the bus - it felt magical as soon as I stepped on board.

After soaking up the festive and fabulous atmosphere, we took our seats and were greeted with a tray of delicious-looking sandwiches. An extra bonus was the fact that they catered for my gluten intolerance which meant that I didn’t miss out on any of the treats!

The staff were very attentive and really helped spread the Christmas spirit!

We were soon on our merry way and seeing London from an entirely new perspective.

Not only did we pass some of London’s most iconic attractions but an informative and engaging commentary accompanied our tour - perfect for any out of towners who have limited time and want to experience two experiences in one. An afternoon tea complete with a round tour of London!

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caption="" photo_credit="" title="xmas-food"]

Christmas music still playing in the background, after the sandwiches followed cakes, pastries, scones and of course - tea!

A personal highlight of the tour for me was the fact that we each got gifted a special B Bakery travel mug which we could use throughout the ride to avoid our tea spilling and we also got to take it home - my daughter still uses hers to this day!

Each pastry and cake was beautifully themed and decorated, the attention to detail was excellent - it felt like a real treat.

And despite our best efforts, we couldn’t finish all of the sweet treats but they were more than happy to box them up so we could take them home and continue the festivities there!

From start to finish, the B Bakery Bus Tour was extraordinary. Time really does fly when you’re having fun - an hour and a half felt like two minutes.

It must have been the only time I've actually wanted there to be traffic in London! My teenage daughter also thoroughly enjoyed the experience and got some top Instagram content! I would definitely recommend the tour for anyone over the age of six, out-of-towners, grandparents, Londoners and anyone looking for an enjoyable, exquisite and festive experience!

Don’t miss out on this waterfully exciting London summer day out! The London Museum of Water & Steam has loads of exciting exhibits and interactive elements, making it perfect for young children who love to keep busy.

We at Kidadl believe this fascinating museum is one of the best days out in London, so here are 6 reasons why we think it should be first on your list of things to do this summer. Steam, shout and prepare to get splashed!

1. Huge savings when you book through Kidadl

First things first, you can get a massive 43% saving when you book your tickets through Kidadl, which means you can experience all the fun for just a fraction of the price.

You already get a lot for your money as it's a super affordable museum to begin with, but when you're saving up to 43% on a family ticket, it's even better!

Oh, and under 5s go free, so what more could you need?

2. Enormous engines

For all those future engineers and anyone who's mad for machines, this museum is spectacular, with a collection of engines dating back over a hundred years. Home to the world's most extensive collection of Cornish engines and the worlds biggest cylinder steam engine, it's definitely worth a visit.

You can even take a ride on some of the trains on specific dates too!

3. Splash or be splashed!

Prepare to get wet in the spectacular Splash Zone! This brand new outdoor play zone is for the whole family to enjoy.

Your little ones can splash around the waterwheel in the courtyard and test out all of the museum's new water features, including pumps, gears, buckets, wheels and pipes. It's the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer's day.

4. Chill out at Birdie’s Kitchen

Get comfy at Birdie's Kitchen, the museum's family-friendly restaurant. Selling snacks from sandwiches to cakes, from ice lollies to soups, this cute café is the perfect pit stop while you're at the museum, whether you need a mid-museum break or want to relax at the end of your stay before you head home.

Come and chill out on the funky sofas and let your little ones keep busy on the play tables.

5. Go exploring in the garden

Go exploring in the museum's vast garden, which contains a vegetable patch, beautiful water feature and the Hammersmith beam, which was once part of a famous Cornish engine! This garden is absolutely perfect for picnicking in the summer - why not pack some food and enjoy it outdoors while the sun is shining.

If you've got any little animal lovers, keep your eyes peeled as you might be able to spot some frogs leaping around in the pond!

6. Take a step back in time

This excellent museum dates all the way back to the 1820s! During this time the Grand Junction Water Works Company opened a new water station in Chelsea pumping water from the Thames.

However, years later they were forced to relocate to Kew Bridge, and the engines you can see today have had a home there since then. Come along and learn more about London's water history, and about how these engines have stayed alive in this location for almost two hundred years.

Why not take a ride on a steam-powered engine around the museum? You'll feel like you've stepped into a history book!