Is Bustronome London the best way to see the UK Capital? With 6 gourmet courses and a bus with a panoramic roof, it might be. Bustronome is a unique dinner tour concept that arrived in London earlier this year after opening in Paris a few years ago. I went on the Bustronome Paris tour in winter 2016 with my mom, and we had an amazing time (which you can read about here), so I was so excited to see that this experience expanded into a new city!
I was gifted this experience by the lovely people at Bustronome London, but all views are my own.
What is Bustronome London?
Bustronome London takes the “food tour” concept to a new, luxurious level. Bustronome offers tours of the city in a high-end double-decker bus with a panoramic rooftop. Right now, Bustronome London offers lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner tours through some of the city’s most iconic sites. When you arrive onboard, you’ll head upstairs to your seat – all tables are on the upper level, so everyone gets a great view. Throughout the tour, you’ll have courses served by the lovely staff while touring London. Bustronome uses an interesting audio pen system to educate guests about the sites they’re passing. Your menu doubles as an interactive map, so you can tap your pen to the site of your choice and then put it to your ear to listen to information about the site. If you want to learn a lot on your tour, you can listen to every site, but if you want to just enjoy your meal and take in the sites, you don’t have to use it- it’s totally up to you!
One of the great things about the Bustronome London concept is the ability to explore the city no matter the weather. London weather can be fairly unpredictable, so it’s nice to have the chance to see the sites through the panoramic windows without dealing with the rain or wind. When I went on my dinner tour, it was raining, so I got to enjoy sites like the Tower Bridge and London Eye from the comfort of the luxe (climate controlled) bus.
As I said, Bustronome London offers 3 types of tours: lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Lunch is 4 courses, and it lasts 2 hours and costs 65 GBP per person (85 GBP with the wine pairing). Afternoon tea is about two hours long and costs 60 GBP per person (72 GBP with the wine pairing). The dinner tour lasts around 3 hours and costs 105 GBP per person (135 with the wine pairing). There are lower rates for children for each option.
Make sure to make reservations on the Bustronome website if you want to go! Right now, you can get 20% off when you mention you came from Elizabeth Everywhere!
My Bustronome London Review
I went on the Bustronome London dinner tour last Sunday, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a six-course dinner with wine pairings, and all of the dishes and wines were delicious. I had high expectations after experiencing the Paris tour a few years ago, and I think they’ve perfectly executed the concept here in London, too. As I said above, this tour was a perfect way to explore London on a cold, rainy night.
Now let’s get to the fun part- the food. When we first arrived, we received a little amuse bouche- some sort of pate on a cracker. The first course came soon after, and it featured an artichoke carpaccio dressed like a salad. The second course was a king prawn served on a bed of vegetables, followed by the third course- “fish and chips revisited,” a delicate interpretation of the classic British dish. The fourth course was a delicious roasted duck, and the fifth course featured a British cheddar with a fig. Finally, for dessert, we had a “deconstructed lemon pie,” which was a refreshing end to the meal. (Note: Bustronome also has vegan and halal options, just let them know about your dietary restrictions when you book!)
Is Bustronome London Worth It?
Bustronome has created an interesting concept and executed it beautifully. Although the experience is a little pricey, I think it’s worth it if you’re looking for a unique experience while traveling in London, and it would be a great date night idea for anyone living in the UK capital.
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