Afternoon tea is one of Britain’s most iconic traditions, but it’s no less charming when it’s in Irish. In Dublin, you can board a vintage bus from the 1960s and join a sightseeing tour of Ireland’s charming capital. The experience was absolutely my cup of tea! Vintage Tea Trips was started by Karen and the buses are named after her grandmothers and great aunt. Pauline, Kitty and Jean are the names of the three buses run by Vintage Tea Trips. Here you are invited on board for a tasty afternoon tea and great entertainment.
The story of Afternoon Tea
The buses are restored double-decker buses that were previously used to transport travelers around London. All three have their own history and personality – and add an extra touch to your trip. Afternoon tea was introduced by the Duchess of Bedford in the 1840s. At that time, it was common to eat only two meals; an early breakfast and a late dinner. Since the Duchess was often hungry in the middle of the day, she started asking for a light snack. The meal consisted of bread with butter, biscuits and cakes. In addition, she was served a cup of Darjeeling tea. Eventually, she started inviting friends for afternoon tea, which quickly evolved into a social and elegant multi-course ceremony. The custom was particularly popular with society women, who began hosting tea parties. In the 1870s, the middle class also became aware of afternoon tea. The custom spread to teahouses and hotels, making afternoon tea more accessible.
Welcome on board
The Vintage Tea Trips tour starts at Stephen Court where you are welcomed on board by a smiling guide, Adam. He studied drama at UT Dublin and is a skilled and hilarious storyteller. The way he conveys stories and anecdotes is truly entertaining. He says he doesn’t like to be the center of attention, but that’s hard to believe when he has the microphone in his hand. Ella and Rachel, both with big smiles and Irish hospitality, make sure guests get the drink they want. There seems to be only one rule on board: Never take the lid off your drink! It’s easy to see why this rule has been introduced. The buses are in top condition, but there are some bumps and jolts along the way.
Come hungry!
Seats on the bus are allocated according to the order of booking. The first-come, first-served principle applies and those who are the first to book will be placed on the top floor of the bus. You can also book VIP seats, which are the four front seats on the bus on the top floor. On the small tables, a traditional afternoon tea meal is ready. It consists of a variety of small dishes and desserts served on a three-tiered stand. The tray is tempting and it doesn’t take long for the guests to help themselves. Some (myself included) can’t wait for the drinks to be served. Here, too, there is a wide selection of tea and coffee as well as cocoa and juice. According to tradition, the tray should be built up in the correct order.
The bottom tray has sandwiches and salty food. The middle dish is for scones and then desserts and cookies on top.
Don’t despair about the lack of scones when you sit down. They are served piping fresh along the way!
Afternoon tea is served with the following:
Finger sandwiches: Small sandwiches with fillings such as cucumber and cream cheese, egg and cress, smoked salmon and ham with mustard. A typical tea sandwich has the crust cut away, and the size is roughly equivalent to half a slice of bread.
Scones: Served with clotted cream and jam. Clotted cream is a cream made by slowly heating fatty milk and then allowing it to cool for an extended period of time.
Cakes and biscuits: A selection of cakes, tarts and petit fours for dessert. The sweets should be small so that they can be enjoyed in a mouthful.
The dishes are adapted to your eating habits and there is no problem with tasty dishes for vegetarians, vegans or those with gluten allergies.
Sightseeing with Vintage Tea Trips
The bus rolls out into the streets of Dublin and it’s time to start eating.
The tour lasts between 70-80 minutes and is a semi-guided tour. The hosts share their favorite stories and tell us about the places we pass along the way. No need to worry about long and boring history lessons here. Everything is shared in a fun and entertaining way.
The afternoon tea adventure starts at Stephens Green and passes famous locations such as Guinness, Phoenix Park, O’Connell Street, Georgian Dublin and Christchurch Cathedral.
If you want to experience Dublin in a unique, fun and tasty way, Vintage Tea Trip is an excellent choice!
Good to know about Vintage Tea Trips
- The tours run Thursday to Monday, with up to six departures per day.
- You should book well in advance as tickets are in high demand and sell out quickly.
- Alcohol is not served on board.
- Since the buses are from the 1960s, they are unfortunately not wheelchair-friendly.
- There are no toilets on board. Toilets are available outside Stephen’s Green Shopping Center.
- Each bus can take up to 38 guests.
- The bus leaves at the scheduled time – it won’t wait for you, so make sure you’re out in plenty of time.
- You get to keep the teacup, which can be used in the microwave and dishwasher.
A warm and tasty thank you to Vintage Tea Trips for inviting me. There are no requirements from the suppliers for posts or promotion on social media. Opinions and images are, as always, my own.
