Tea and travel are a compatible combination. Adding a vintage double-decker bus and a ride through the streets of Dublin suggest a unique experience. A Dublin vintage tea tour was one of my top things to do on a visit to the Irish capital.
Things to do in Dublin
The usual sights of Dublin made it to our list. The Kilmainham Gaol, the free Sandemans Dublin Walking Tour, Guinness Storehouse, EPIC Emigration Museum, Famine Memorial on Custom House Quay, Temple Bar District, Irish Whiskey Museum Tour, Trinity College, a traditional Irish meal at Darkey Kelly’s with live music, Christ Church Cathedral, Molly Malone statue, day trips from Dublin by train… yet there was something about a Vintage Tea Tour that captured my interest.
A Vintage Tea Tour felt different. It was a way to merge two of my favourite travel experiences — vintage public transport and a food tour — on a leisurely ride around the streets of Dublin.
Vintage public transport feels nostalgic. It takes us back to an earlier era of conductors, paper tickets, and open platforms. The 1961 Routemaster bus reminded me of the earlier versions of the red double-decker buses that dominated the streets of London when I lived there in the early 1970s.
Taking the plunge
I was visiting Dublin with three women friends. One was willing to indulge my enthusiasm for the tea tour. The others had more pressing interests.
Janet and I signed up for the tour.
A Dublin vintage tea tour
Passengers boarded through the platform at the back, and we were ushered to the top deck. Awaiting us was an array of treats promising a delectable experience.
Presiding over our two-person setting was a two-tiered tray containing a sumptuous arrangement of dainty crustless finger sandwiches, pastries, scones, jam, and clotted cream. A non-slip doily kept the table setting in place.
Our host, Megan, took our drink orders. One member on the tour chose, heaven forbid, COFFEE and was met with an appropriately delivered playful admonishment. Drinks were served in souvenir screw-top insulated cups, kept secure in circular wells set into each table.
Next came a lesson in scone etiquette. Megan explained how to correctly add layers of butter, strawberry jam, and clotted cream.
Thankfully, we weren’t graded on the results of the lesson. I gave the scones top marks for taste.
With 1950s jazz music playing in the background, Megan shared information on the sights and Dublin’s intriguing history. The informative commentary was interspersed with delightful Irish humour that added to the joyful ambience of the occasion.
Our non-stop vintage tea tour lasted about 90 minutes, starting from the EPIC Emigration Museum. We passed sights that included St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the grand buildings of Georgian Dublin.
Good to know
On our tour, all passengers were seated on the upper deck. VIP Top Deck Seats are the front four seats. Adult seats are the remaining seats on both the upper and lower decks. Seats are sold on a first-booked, first-served basis, starting on the upper deck.
Currently, the tour begins in Temple Bar. It includes the Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, O’Connell Street, Georgian Dublin, and Christchurch Cathedral. However, traffic, road works, and road closures are monitored and may affect the route.
The verdict?
I loved it.The tour was a different way to experience the city and it became one of my top things to do in Dublin. The commentary was engaging and entertaining while enjoying the delights of a traditional afternoon tea.
For more information, visit Vintage Tea Trips.
If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one of the social media buttons. Is Ireland in your travel plans? If so, the following posts may be of interest:
- Don’t miss Kilmainham Gaol when visiting Dublin
- Tips on renting and driving a car in Ireland
- Visit Titanic Belfast where the legendary Titanic was designed and built
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This post is neither sponsored nor solicited, and I’ve received no rewards from the service provider. I paid the full fare for my ticket on the Vintage Tea Tour.
