Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience
Description
Join us onboard the Red Bus Bistro for either an Afternoon Tea or Gin Tea Experience. Leaving from George Street, the tour lasts approximately 90 minutes during which we visit the top attractions that Glasgow has to offer including; Provand’s Lordship, the upmarket West End, Glasgow University, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Transport Museum.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A world class art museum and a place for people to gather, to learn and to share ideas. It displays, borrow and collect artworks from around the world.
The focal point of George Square is one of the city’s most iconic and imposing buildings, the City Chambers, whose magnificence tells the story of the wealth and industrial prosperity of the Second City of the Empire. It’s one of the most beautiful civic buildings in the UK and a huge favourite amongst locals and tourists
One of Scotland's most magnificent medieval buildings, Glasgow Cathedral is the only one on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation of 1560 intact.
The Necropolis is a Victorian garden cemetery full of wonderful architecture, sculpture and fascinating stories. Adjacent to Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis was modeled on Père-Lachaise in Paris. It is estimated that something in the order of 50,000 burials have taken place here, with around 3,500 tomb
Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery has been part of Scotland and its culture for generations. The historic brewery has been producing award winning brews since 1885.
The seven-storey Tolbooth Steeple is Glasgow Cross`s most important feature and it is topped by a clock and a stone crown. This was once part of a much larger building, the Tolbooth, which provided accommodation for the Town Clerk`s office, the council hall and the city prison
This was one of the most popular attractions at the 1888 International Exhibition in Kelvingrove Park, a landmark event that attracted over 5.7m visitors.The Doulton fountain is the largest fountain ever constructed in ceramic.
The People’s Palace is set in historic Glasgow Green. It is home to a collection of objects, photographs, prints and film which give a unique view into how Glaswegians lived, worked and played in years gone by to the present day.
The Kingston Bridge is a balanced cantilever dual-span ten lane road bridge made of triple-cell segmented prestressed concrete box girders crossing the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Carrying the M8 motorway through the city centre, the Kingston Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in Europe, carrying around 150,000 vehicles every day.
The Clyde Arc is a road bridge spanning the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland, connecting Finnieston near the Clyde Auditorium and SEC with Pacific Quay and Glasgow Science Centre in Govan. A prominent feature of the bridge is its innovative curved design and the way that it crosses the river at an angle
The Finnieston Crane or Stobcross Crane is a disused giant cantilever crane in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. It is still operational, but is retained as a symbol of the city's engineering heritage. The crane was used for loading cargo, in particular steam locomotives, onto ships to be exported around the world
The SEC Armadillo is a stylish, purpose-built venue and a Glasgow landmark. It was designed by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners and when it opened in 1997 it heralded a new era for the SEC and Glasgow’s vibrant waterfront.
The SSE Hydro is a multi-purpose indoor arena located within the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland. The arena was initially named The Hydro after its main sponsor, energy company Scottish & Southern Energy subsidiary Scottish Hydro
Glasgow's first dedicated Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery in over 100 years. Visitor experience, Cafe, and Specialist Whisky Shop in the heart of Glasgow.
Riverside Museum is Glasgow's award-winning transport museum. With over 3,000 objects on display there's everything from skateboards to locomotives, paintings to prams and cars to a Stormtrooper.
Glasgow Tower is a free-standing tower located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland and forms part of the Glasgow Science Centre complex
The famous Tennent's Bar is a much-loved city centre local offering great beers, tasty food and lively banter in abundance. It's one of the last traditional pubs in Glasgow's West End.
The Hunterian Art Gallery boasts one of the most distinguished public art collections in Scotland. Its permanent displays include works ranging from Rubens and Rembrandt to the Scottish Colourists and Glasgow Boys.
The University of Glasgow has been changing the world since 1451. From Adam Smith, James Watt, and Lord Kelvin to today’s ‘world-changers’ who are working on some of the most exciting discoveries of our time, the University of Glasgow is a place where ambitious people can succeed regardless of background or circumstance.
Kelvingrove Museum opened in 1901 and is a firm favourite with local people and visitors. It has stunning architecture and a family friendly atmosphere.
An iconic Glasgow landmark at Charing Cross, the Mitchell Library is at the heart of Glasgow Libraries’ network, and contains some of the finest collections available to any public library. Materials both Scottish and international, rich in knowledge and information as well as support for new and growing businesses, The Mitchell is accessible to everyone, for research, inspiration and enjoyment
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- TERMS & CONDITIONS
- We do not offer live or recorded guide commentary on our buses. We are a dining Experience whilst touring Edinburgh or Glasgow.
- Red Bus Bistro Bookings are only valid for the date and time stated.
- Patrons should expect to share a table especially on our busier weekend tours. If patrons would rather not share a table we can try and accommodate them on a quieter tour.
- Patrons are requested to arrive 10–15 minutes before departure at Shuttle Street Glasgow Unfortunately we cannot wait for late comers as we only have a limited time on stand. Refunds will not be offered to latecomers.
- We offer gluten free or vegetarian options. Our Products may contain nuts. Please specify requirements upon reservation.
- No tickets are issued for the tour.
- Your Surname is passed to the Bus Manager prior to your tour, this will be requested upon arrival at the bus, you can print this email out purely for your own information.
- Please be prepared to redeem any Gift Voucher you may have used for payment to the bus on the day of the tour.
- If you have booked using an Itison voucher, we may ask to see your voucher on your phone.
- Children must be 3 and over to be allowed on the tour children aged 3 till 9 are charged £20 per person children 10 and over are classed as adult and charged £43.50
- Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult
- There may be occasions where the tour has to be cancelled without advance notice, in the event of a cancellation patrons will be refunded in full or transferred onto another tour date.
- If the tour is cancelled after the first half an hours commencement, we will then offer availability on another tour.
- Smoking is not permitted on the Bus at any time.
- Red Bus Bistro does not take any responsibility for the loss, damage or theft of personal belongings while on the Bus.
- Conditions of carriage are subject to legislation set out by the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981; all details can be given by the Red Bus Bistro head office.
- We would like to point out that we operate Vintage Routemaster Buses, and although we keep our vehicles in the best possible maintenance condition there will be times that unforeseen maintenance issues may arise and result in a disruption to the tours, or cancellation; however we will endeavour to do everything in our power to avoid any disruption.
- Red Bus Bistro Company reserves the right to refuse carriage of patrons who are intoxicated, or displaying threatening or abusive behaviour, no refunds will be given under these circumstances. We also ask that a reasonable standard of behaviour is adhered to while on the tour, as there are other passengers to consider.
- Red Bus Bistro is not responsible for any damage caused by breaking the rules.
- RED BUS BISTRO COMPANY LIMITED ACCESS POLICIES
- It is not the policy of Red Bus Bistro Company Ltd to discriminate in any way against employees or passengers regarding disability, gender, race, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.
- Red Bus Bistro’s Bus was registered in 1966; it consists of Drivers Cab, upper deck, lower deck, and will always have at least 4 staff on board. The bus seats 12 downstairs and 28 upstairs; unfortunately due to the age and design of the Bus we cannot accommodate wheelchair passengers. Red Bus Bistro can reserve seating in advance for the lower deck for those with mobility concerns. As per above, patrons should otherwise be prepared to share a table, where the patrons would rather be seated alone we can try and accommodate them on a quieter tour however not guaranteed,
- There is no toilet on board.
- The tour will last between 70-90 minutes dependant on conditions, in which time our patrons will be served with an Afternoon Tea or Gin Tour. For private hire all requests are considered.
- Red Bus Bistro Company Limited will go out of its way to cater for as diverse and audience as possible within the physical confines of the bus, and will follow the DDA Legislation guidelines at all times.
- All information gained from Patrons will never be given to any third parties; Red Bus Bistro Company Limited is responsible for all online transactions.
- • Full payment is required at the time of booking. Cancellations are accepted no later than 24 hours before your tour date.
Reviews(752)
No tour! Ghosted! Thru Viator
Went on the Fizz tour in glasgow on the 10 th June people stanfding as expected it rained and there were a lot of road works but hey its glasgow in june !! Thoroughly enjoyed the Red Bus experience food was good ,fizz was good even the coffee was good but the atmosphere generated by Ellen was what made it great . Shout out to George and i think it was Euan who served us , Would highly recommend it the singalong was excellent and the faces on the passers bye something to behold.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your Fizz Afternoon Tea Experience in Glasgow. It sounds like you embraced the true spirit of the tour — even with the classic Glasgow weather and roadworks! We are thrilled that you enjoyed the food, fizz, coffee, and especially the atmosphere onboard. We will be sure to pass on your lovely comments to Ellen, George, and Euan. Creating a fun and memorable experience for our guests is exactly what we aim for, and we agree that the singalong (and the reactions from people passing by!) are all part of the magic. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to welcome you onboard again soon
Good fun, nice selection of cakes. Bit mean on portion sizes for the cost: think they could stretch to a full sandwich (4 triangles) per adult and a larger glass of Prosecco. Tea and coffee serving was good. Table 1 isn’t very good as can’t sit with legs under the table and charging £25 for a bottle of Prosecco is far too much. Tour is good, staff lovely
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour, our selection of cakes, and that you found our staff lovely and welcoming. We appreciate your comments regarding the seating. Our bus retains much of the original 1966 Routemaster layout, which is a key part of its charm and vintage character. This includes features such as the love seats on the lower deck. We understand that seating preferences vary from person to person, and we're sorry that Table 1 was not as comfortable for you as you would have liked. Regarding the Prosecco, we serve a standard 175ml measure per glass. We work hard to keep our prices as reasonable as possible in the current economic climate and believe our £25 bottle offers good value compared with many similar venues and experiences, where prices can often start from £30 and above. We also appreciate your feedback on portion sizes. Customer comments are always valuable to us as we continually review our offering and look for ways to enhance the experience we provide. Thank you again for your visit, and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future.
Hi. I highly recommend the tour guide who was hilarious and made our day. The rest was sadly disappointing. The sandwiches were bland and stale. We sat at the front of the bus. There was no room to move. Very cramped. I was sitting on the outside and so was the lady opposite me. We both said one cheek on. One cheek of at the same time. We were hanging of the side of the narrow seat. I was so looking forward to the experience but it was so uncomfortable crammed in and the afternoon tea sandwiches were so disappointing.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour guide and that they helped make your day memorable. We will be sure to pass your kind comments on to them. We're sorry to hear that other aspects of the experience did not meet your expectations. Our bus retains the original 1966 Routemaster layout, which is a key part of its charm, character, and uniqueness. The front seats where you were seated are actually our premium seats and are among the most requested on the bus due to the views they offer. However, we do appreciate that comfort is subjective and that the vintage design may not suit everyone's preferences. We were also disappointed to read your comments regarding the sandwiches. All of our sandwiches are freshly prepared on the day of the tour, and maintaining the quality of our afternoon tea is extremely important to us. If there were any concerns with the food or your seating during the experience, we would always encourage guests to speak with our crew at the time. They are there to help and would have happily investigated the issue, replaced any items that were not to your satisfaction, or looked at alternative seating options where possible. Unfortunately, once the tour has concluded, it is much more difficult for us to address and resolve concerns that were not brought to our attention during the experience. We genuinely welcome feedback, as it helps us continue to improve, but we do wish we had been given the opportunity to assist you on the day. Thank you again for your comments, and we wish you all the best.
it was fun, however the lady commenting during the trip had locals sitting close to her so their jokes and comments were not understood by everyone so leaving people to question what was the topic since we were left out of the conversation.
Thank you for your feedback and for joining our Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience. We’re very pleased to hear that you had fun overall. We’re sorry to hear that parts of the commentary felt less inclusive during the trip. We always aim to create an enjoyable and engaging experience for all guests, and we appreciate you highlighting this point. Your comments have been shared with our team so we can ensure everyone feels included in the conversation and atmosphere throughout the tour. We hope to welcome you back again in the future.
Was a so so experience. The lady with the mike was very polite and staff friendly but no knowledge of the area we drove. Completely different than advertised
Thank you for your feedback. We’re pleased to hear that you found our onboard team friendly and polite. We would like to clarify that while we always aim to follow the advertised route as closely as possible, Glasgow city centre is currently experiencing multiple road closures, diversions, and ongoing infrastructure changes which can unfortunately affect the journey on the day. Our staff do their very best to adapt to these circumstances while ensuring guests still enjoy the experience safely and comfortably. We would also like to clarify that we are a unique dining experience onboard a vintage bus rather than a fully guided sightseeing tour. The experience provided was in line with the details outlined at the time of booking. We appreciate all feedback and will continue working with our team to ensure guests have the best possible experience onboard
We had the best time ever!!! Honestly couldn’t fault it!! Helen was our hostess she is absolutely hilarious and the rest of the team were fantastic. Will definitely do it again. We made unforgettable memories celebrating our friend’s birthday. Absolutely brilliant!!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear you had such a fantastic time on your Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience. Helen will be thrilled to receive your kind words – we agree, she’s brilliant at what she does and always brings great energy to the tour! We’re also so pleased to hear the rest of the team helped make your visit special. It’s fantastic that you chose to celebrate a birthday with us, and even better to know it created such memorable moments. That’s exactly what we aim for! We can’t wait to welcome you back on board again soon.
Just did this tour on Saturday,and we all had a great time,your team on the bus were brilliant.and made sure we all had a great afternoon
Thank you so much for your lovely review, and for choosing to celebrate John’s 70th birthday with us — what a fantastic occasion! We’re delighted to hear you all had a great time on board and that the team helped make the afternoon special. A huge thank you as well for sharing your wonderful photos from the day — we love seeing our guests enjoying themselves and celebrating such memorable milestones with us. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to the crew, and we hope to welcome you back on board again soon for another great afternoon with Red Bus Bistro! 🥂🚌🎉
Had a great afternoon on the Glasgow bus for afternoon tea. Helen was a great host, kept everyone entertained and made sure everyone had everything they needed throughout the trip. Would definitely recommend booking this.
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so pleased to hear you had a great afternoon on board our Glasgow Afternoon Tea Experience. Helen will be delighted to know she helped keep everyone entertained and well looked after throughout the trip. Thank you for the recommendation — it really means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon! 🚌☕🍰
We hopped on the Red Bus Bistro for a family birthday celebration, and it honestly couldn’t have been better. better If you’re looking for a mix of sightseeing and a proper laugh, this is it. ### **The Highlights:** * **The Vibe:** From the second we stepped on, the **banter** was flying. The staff are brilliant—super friendly, attentive, and they really know how to keep the energy up. * **The Tour:** It’s a fantastic way to see Glasgow’s iconic spots while relaxing with a drink. Even as locals, we saw bits of the city we usually just walk past. * **Birthday Perks:** They made the birthday feel extra special. It’s the perfect setting for a group—intimate enough to chat, but lively enough to feel like a real occasion. > **Verdict:** A "fab day" is an understatement. Great food, even better company, and the best way to tour the Dear Green Place. **Highly recommend!** >
Thank you so much for choosing the Red Bus Bistro to celebrate such a special family birthday — we’re absolutely delighted to hear it couldn’t have been better! From flying banter to brilliant vibes, it’s fantastic to know our team helped set the tone right from the moment you stepped on board. We love hearing that even locals spotted parts of Glasgow they usually walk past — the Dear Green Place always has a few surprises up its sleeve! We’re especially glad the birthday celebrations felt extra special. Our bus really is made for moments like these: great company, lots of laughs, and memories shared along the way. A huge thank you as well for sharing your wonderful photos from your time onboard — we absolutely love seeing our guests having such a great time and reliving those moments through your snaps. Thanks again for the glowing recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another fab day very soon! 🥂🚌💚
