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The Royal Deck Tearoom aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia

Experience Tripadvisor's No. 1 UK Attraction 2023 and while on board visit the stunning Royal Deck Tearoom. A fabulous extension to the five-star Britannia experience, the Tearoom has stunning waterfront views and waiter service.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023 Please note Britannia will be closed 11-23 March and 25-28 June due to the construction work and redevelopment of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.  

Please check the Britannia website for full opening times and prices.

Aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, the Royal Deck was previously where the Royal Family enjoyed drinks receptions, sumptuous buffets, or played deck games.

Now you can treat yourself with speciality teas or coffees in the spectacular surroundings of the Royal Deck Tearoom  during your visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia. Choose from our menu of soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones, all made on board. Treat yourself to a glass of bubbly as you admire the stunning waterfront views!

Discover the heart and soul of this very special Royal residence with an audio tour  of The Royal Yacht Britannia, available in over 30 different languages. Visitor centre, Gift Shop , Tearoom and free parking at Ocean Terminal.

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• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Lift or stairlift
• Wheelchair access throughout
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• Access guide

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• Vegan Meals Available

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Royal Yacht Britannia – tickets, prices, discounts, afternoon tea, what to see

Royal Yacht Britannia used to be Queen Elizabeth’s Palace on Water and is now Scotland’s most popular tourist attraction. 

Known by many names such as Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia, Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht ,  HMY Britannia, etc., this Yacht was in the Queen’s service for 44 years and sailed more than a million miles worldwide. 

It is a perfect opportunity to see how the British Queen lived when traveling with other Kings and Queens, World leaders, and celebrities. 

This article shares everything you must know before booking your tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia tour.

Top Royal Yacht Britannia Tickets

# Royal Yacht Britannia tickets # Royal Edinburgh ticket

Table of contents

What to expect at yacht britannia, royal yacht britannia prices, royal edinburgh ticket, where is the royal yacht britannia, royal yacht britannia entrance, royal yacht britannia opening times, are the britannia tours timed, are the royal britannia tours guided, how long does a tour of britannia yacht take, royal britannia discounts, royal yacht britannia audio guide, royal deck tea room timings, 1. the state drawing room, 2. the verandah deck, 3. the sun lounge, 4. the state dining room, the engine room, the laundry, admiral’s cabin.

Here is a quick video on what visitors can expect inside Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia.

Your Royal Britannia tour starts from the Visitor Centre, on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, where you get the historical background about the Royal Family and Yachtsmen.

You then pick up the audio guide, which is part of the entry ticket, and board Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht and explore five fascinating decks.

Highlights on the Yacht’s Royal side are the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room, and The Queen’s Bedroom.

On the ship’s operational side, you get to see the Crew’s Quarters, the Engine Room, the laundry, etc.

More than 95% of the exhibits you will see during your tour are original and are taken on loan from The Royal Collection.

If you prefer, you can also visit the Royal Deck Tea Room.

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Royal Yacht Britannia tickets

This entry ticket gets you complete access to the Royal ship that’s now berthed in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith.

Visitors can explore all five decks at a leisurely pace even as they take in the public and private lives of the British Royal Family.

This ticket also includes the complimentary audio guide. 

Adult ticket (18+ years): 18.50 pounds Child ticket (5 to 17 years): 9.25 Pounds  Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children): 50 Pounds Infant ticket (under 5 years): Free entry

This combo is known as the 48-hour Royal Edinburgh Ticket and is a real money saver. 

If you are visiting Edinburgh for the first time, we highly recommend this Royal attractions combo. 

This ticket gets you to access three of the best attractions in the city:

• Royal Yacht Britannia
• Edinburgh Castle
• Palace of Holyroodhouse

And to top it all, you also get unlimited travel for 48 hours on three of Edinburgh’s hop-on-hop-off bus tours. 

Address:  Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, United Kingdom. Get Directions

The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, just 2 miles from the City Centre.

Britannia’s Visitor Centre is on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, just 15 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh City Centre.

Ocean Terminal is soon going to be  re-branded  as Porta. 

There are many ways to get to the Royal Yacht. 

If you are coming by train, you must get down at  Edinburgh Waverley .

From outside the station, you can take a taxi to cover the 3.7 kms (2.3 miles) to Ocean Terminal. 

From the Waverly station, you can also take bus No. 22 and 34.

You must board the buses at  Princess Street (Stop PN) , and after 24 minutes and 27 stops, get down at  Ocean Terminal (Stop OF) .

There is a bus from the Station, every 15 minutes.

Lothian Bus services  run three buses – Bus No. 11, 22, and 35 – from Edinburgh City Centre to Ocean Terminal. 

You can purchase tickets on the bus by presenting the correct change or from the  Lothian Buses app .

A single journey on a Lothian Bus costs 1.70 Pounds. 

If you use Satnav, use the postcode EH6 6JJ. 

Else, open Google Maps to get  directions to Ocean Terminal .

If you prefer a taxi, we recommend  Uber ,  Central Taxis , or  City Cabs .

Car Parking

Royal Yacht Britannia offers free parking at Ocean Terminal.

Blue Car Park on Level E is closest to the tourist attraction’s Visitor Centre. 

This part of the Park also has spaces for Blue Badge holders. 

If you reach by foot, taxi, or bus, access to Royal Britannia is from the Ocean Terminal Shopping Center’s main entrance on the ground floor. 

You must take a lift to the 2nd floor of Ocean Terminal and walk towards the building’s East end.

You will first spot Debenhams and then HMY Britannia’s Visitor Center entrance.  Even though you can book tickets at the venue (the ticket desk is to the left of the visitor center entrance), it is better to  buy them online , much in advance, to avoid last-minute disappointment. 

During the peak months of April to October, Royal Yacht Britannia opens at 9.30 am, and the last entry is at 4.30 pm. 

The rest of the year, the Royal Yacht opens at 10 am, and the last entry is allowed till 3.30 pm. 

The last admission on 24 December is at 2.30 pm, and on 31 December it is at 3 pm. 

Royal Yacht Britannia is closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Royal Yacht Britannia tour

The Royal Yacht Britannia   tours are a perfect way to feel like a celebrity for a few hours. 

In this section, we share a few things you must know before you book your tour of the Royal ship. 

No, tours of HMY Britannia don’t start at a stipulated time. 

When you book your tickets, you only select the ‘date.’ 

On the day of your visit, reach the Royal ship between their opening hours to start exploring.

Her Majesty’s Yacht doesn’t offer guided tours. 

However, every ticket comes with an audio guide to walk around and tour the ship yourself.

Kids get their own version of the audio guide. 

You need at least two hours to explore Royal Yacht Britannia to satisfaction. 

However, if you plan to visit the Royal Deck Tea Room, you must factor in another 30 to 60 minutes. 

Visits during July and August tend to take longer because of the crowd. 

Kids up to four years get the maximum discounts at Britannia, Edinburgh – they get in for free. 

On the adult ticket price of 17 Pounds, children aged 5 to 17 years get almost 50% discount and pay only 8.75 Pounds.

Seniors who are 60+ and students with valid educational ID cards get a 2 Pound reduction on the full ticket.

People in the Armed Forces (with valid ID) can also claim the reduced price of 8.75 Pounds. 

However, this Armed Forces discount is available only at the Britannia ticket office.

Every Britannia Yacht entry ticket comes with a complimentary audio guide.

While receiving the audio guides at the Handset Desk, you can ask for straps to wear the audio guides around the neck. Headphones are also available.

Kids can opt for the children’s version of the audio guide.

The audio tour is available in 30 languages; English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Russian, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Korean, Japanese, Urdu, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Thai, Turkish, Cantonese, Punjabi, Portuguese-Brazilian, Welsh, Romanian and Gaelic. 

Besides the audio guide, visitor guides are also available through the tour route to help if you have questions.

Royal Yacht Britannia afternoon tea

The Royal Deck Tea Room is on board Britannia and tables are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

It is a perfect restaurant to enjoy freshly prepared food and stunning views of the harbor. 

The menu includes specialty coffees, cocktails, tasty soups, sandwiches, cakes, scones, etc.  Download Menu

The Royal Deck Tea Room has 35 tables and can seat 133 people.

During the peak months of April to October, the Royal Deck Team Room opens at 11 am, and the last admission is at 3.30 pm. 

January to March: Opens at 11 am, last admission at 3.30 pm

November to December: Opens at 10.30 pm, last admission at 3.45 pm

Royal Yacht Britannia interiors

Many tourists wonder what’s inside the Royal Yacht before they book their tickets. 

Some out of curiosity and some to know if a visit to Royal Yacht Britannia is worth it. 

We list below some of the highlights of this Palace on water. 

State Apartments

The State Apartments are the collection of rooms where the Royals lived or entertained their guests. 

The Royal family relaxed in the State Drawing Room whenever they traveled together. 

It also acted as a reception room for up to 250 guests. 

The Verandah Deck was a private space for the Royals, where they could sunbathe or enjoy quoits or deck hockey. 

This area of the ship also had a collapsible swimming pool for the Royal Family to splash around if they wanted.

The Sun Lounge was one of the Queen’s favorite rooms onboard HMY Brittania. 

The beautiful teak-lined room was a designated family room and offered a lot of privacy from the rest of the ship.

This massive dining room onboard Britannia has played host to the world’s most influential people, such as Nelson Mandela, Sir Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, etc. 

With its white paneled walls adorned with gifts received during State visits, this room represents ultimate luxury. 

The Engine Room is a testament to British marine engineering skills because, until the ship got decommissioned in 1997, everything was working fine. 

This room is full of gleaming brass, chrome, and white enamel with the ‘heavy stuff’ under the hood pumping 12,000 horsepower, which would help Britannia and her four-bladed propellers to a maximum of 22.5 knots.  

Eight men operated the Engine Room, Boiler Room, and associated machinery rooms.

The 240 Officers and Yachtsmen on board Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia sometimes had to change their uniforms up to six times a day. 

This is why it was the only ship in the Royal Navy to have a laundry service permanently on board. 

The laundry machines, dryers, and steam presses on the ship worked non-stop, and sometimes the temperature even went up to 48 degrees Celcius (118 degrees Fahrenheit)

The Admiral was responsible for Royal Yacht Britannia’s safe functioning and commanded the 19 officers and 220 Yachtsmen who operated the ship.

He worked, entertained, and often ate (he couldn’t join the other officers in their mess unless invited) in the Admiral’s Cabin. Image: Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk  

The Bridge was HMY Britannia’s center of command and control on all her journeys. 

From here, the officers reporting into the Admiral navigated, passed orders, recorded the logbooks, etc.

Back then, all Royal Navy ships had a Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute shop, known as the NAAFI. 

The crew members and the officers would shop for their daily needs, such as toothpaste, shaving creams, magazines, etc. in this shop. 

Sources # Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk # Architecturaldigest.com # Wikipedia.org # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Urvashi Goyal

She is a city fanatic who loves exploring different cities, understanding their culture, meeting people, and discovering hidden gems. She likes to holiday in offbeat places that mainstream tourists are yet to discover. When on holiday, she avoids crowded tourist traps. Favourite cities: Bern, Los Angeles, and San Francisco

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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Afternoon Tea on HMRY - Royal Yacht Britannia

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Afternoon Tea on HMRY

This was worth the time & money ! Actually very reasonably priced at about £11pp . There is an audio guide for this tour . Really interesting to see all of the Royals living quarters etc on board . A lot of history on this tour & afternoon tea in the cafe was lovely

Wonderful to see you describe your Britannia experience as being excellent value for time and money. I am glad you had such a great time and the Royal Deck Tea Room was a highlight for you too. Thank you for your review.

It is not an easy task to transform a Royal Yacht into a visitor attraction but whoever is responsible for producing and maintaining the Royal Yacht Exhibition deserves, in our view, our thanks and congratulations. It is magnificent, and the fact that it is a commercial enterprise does not tarnish the reputation of something that was once a national icon.

Ann, very sincere thanks and appreciation for your kind comments about the work our Charitable Trust does to maintain Britannia in keeping with her traditional role and presenting her to the public as befits her status as a national icon. Just like when Britannia was in service, we have a dedicated crew of staff who do everything that they can to look after her, and help ensure all who come aboard have a great experience.

Quite huge yatch in the cool waters lures a traveller. Theres two super malls around and a great place to spend your one day.

I am glad you had such a great day out at Britannia and enjoyed discovering Leith too. The area does have some fantastic restaurants and there is a good range of shops, and even a cinema, at Ocean Terminal shopping centre. Many thanks for visiting while you were in Edinburgh.

Visited Brittania with my two children, 9 and 5. They loved Brittania, especially my princess obsessed daughter. Neither have great attention span but the children's audio tour kept them interested for longer than the adult one kept my interest. All staff fantastic and friendly. Tea room lovely, given you pay £2 for hot drink in many soulless places paying £3 with lovely courteous service and fab views more than worth it. We used Tesco clubcard vouchers so only cost us about £6.00 to get in and think we went at a quiet time, Sunday late November which probably helped make it eel like a very personal experience. Thank you

It is wonderful to hear that you felt like Royalty aboard Britannia, Richard. The team will be delighted to read your comments as we are all passionate about ensuring our visitors have only an exceptional experience on board. Glad to hear your children loved having their own version of the audio handset too – it is great for keeping them entertained. Many thanks for visiting and posting your review.

This was my first visit to Britannia,but certainly not my last.It was a birthday treat for my husband , our family came along too, I thoroughly recommend a visit, even our grandson who is eighteen months enjoyed himself.The hand held device which you could start and stop explained every room individually.make sure you don't miss the Naafi shop, where they sell fudge made on the yacht. Don't want to say too much and spoil the experience , but overall this attraction is definitely worth a visit.

Thank you for your kind comments, Rita, and what a wonderful birthday treat for your husband. I am glad you enjoyed sampling the fudge from the NAAFI – it is delicious and made on board Britannia. Hope to see you all back again soon.

I think it is a great day out and extremely good value! I will certainly visit again bringing the rest of my family

Wonderful to see you describe your day out at Britannia as being great value for money. We look forward to welcoming you all back on board again soon.

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Afternoon Tea on Britannia - Royal Yacht Britannia

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Afternoon Tea on Britannia

A wonderful glimpse into how our Queen traveled and lives. Don't miss this opertunitly to see all over Britannia and have Earl grey tea and Dundee cake. The portions are great and the taste excellent. We traveled on the hop on hop off bus taken from Waverley Bridge bus stop where you buy the tickets.

Many thanks for visiting Britannia. We are so pleased to learn that you had such a wonderful tour. Our Tea Room team will be delighted by your kind words! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 90 minute tour. The trust which handles the yacht has done a wonderful job. You can buy tickets there for less than on line and we had no issues. You are provided with an audio devise that is exceptionally well done, aligned to each point of the tour with wonderful insights. The layout is done with I assume cutouts for large windows so that the entire ship can be bored in detail. Parking is free. It is attached to a mall, which confused us a bit. The ship is accessed by the fourth level. Don't miss this. There is only one on the planet and the tour is so well done!

We are very glad that you thoroughly enjoyed your tour of Britannia. As you mention, our Visitor Centre is located on the second floor of Ocean Terminal. This has allowed us to turn Britannia into a highly accessible attraction for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. Thank you for your review and kind recommendation.

Must see! He self guided tour was extremely easy to follow, and it took about 1.5hrs at a leisurely pace. It can be slightly crowded in some areas, but that's the nature of being on a boat. There are restrooms on the yacht and a lift available to go between floors of the tour. There is also a tea room on board for refreshments as well as a sweet shop with fresh fudge!

Thank you for visiting and for telling others that Britannia is a must-see attraction. As you mention, we make our own Britannia fudge on board in our NAAFI; we hope that you tried a sample. Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

Visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia was a brilliant day trip for our family group. There was a good selection of languages available for audio guides, which ensured everyone in our group could enjoy the amusing stories and anecdotes about daily life on the royal yacht. We enjoyed the selection of excellent cakes at the yacht cafe.

Thank you for visiting Britannia. We are delighted to learn that you had such a brilliant day on board with your family. As you mention, we offer a complimentary audio guide which is available in 30 different languages. Many thanks for your five-star review.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is a must do tour in Edinburgh it is very well organised with your own handset to explain every part of the ship as you go around it . It makes you realize how privileged the royal family was to be on a floating palace with over 400 crew to wait on them hand and foot, the difference between their living conditions and the crew is astounding .While on the ship treat yourself to a tea and scone in the ships restaurant , it's a nice experience and not badly priced for the service you get .

We are delighted to learn that you enjoyed the tour and found it to be very well organised. As you mention, the Crew’s Quarters were indeed cramped however, very fondly of their time on board. Thank you for your review.

We decided to check out the Royal Yacht more out of just looking for more to do than anything else, but well worth the time. It's a beautiful ship and a real taste of what the Royals are used to. The ship is of course no longer used by the Queen, and we were told she is very disappointed at no longer having it's use, but who wouldn't be. take the time while in Scotland to visit, and be sure to stop in to the tea room, this was the only good cup of coffee we had while in Britain.

It’s wonderful to learn that you enjoyed both your tour and visit to our Royal Deck Tea Room. As you mention, The Queen was very fond of Britannia and described it as the one place where she could truly relax. Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

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Food and Drink

11 places to try afternoon tea in edinburgh: hotels, cafes & castles.

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Looking for a delightful afternoon tea in Edinburgh? This unique foodie experience is loved by locals, visitors, and royalty alike, who often replace lunch with trays of cakes, scones, and sandwiches! Many of Edinburgh’s hotels offer afternoon tea packages in opulent settings, and there are a handful of Instagram-worthy cafes that serve afternoon tea platters too.

On a budget? We’ll show you where to find the cheapest afternoon teas in Edinburgh, which don’t skimp on service or quality.

Hotels With Afternoon Tea In Edinburgh

Palm court at the balmoral in the city centre.

No stranger to the top hotel lists in Edinburgh, an afternoon tea at The Balmoral’s Palm Court is a big foodie bucket list.

Palm Court is the room across from the main entrance of The Balmoral, next to the reception desk.

This airy room has its huge glass dome to thank for its ambiance and palm trees for its name.

A chandler hangs from the roof, and champagne afternoon tea packages are on offer.

There is a harp which sits on the balcony.

The menu consists of a variety of teas, including loose-leaf and infusions, and the meal kicks off with a fresh, cold soup.

Fresh scones, cakes, and classic and contemporary sandwiches are also included.

Can’t finish it all? Guests can take food home via a gift plate.

This is an award-winning Edinburgh afternoon tea experience.

Prices start at £60 per person.

Why not make it an overnight stay in a suite with Edinburgh Castle views and a swim at The Balmoral Spa?

The Balmoral features in many of our accommodation guides, including the best hotels with indoor pools, parking, and dog-friendly accommodation .

Read our Balmoral Hotel review. We stayed in room 314, A Deluxe Castle View Room.

The Dome, George Street

Afternoon tea at The Dome is a sought-after location, so if you are planning to impress someone special, do not hesitate to book this delicious experience.

One of the best-decorated places in Edinburgh at Christmas , The Dome never lets punters down come November when they deck their exterior in lights and interior in dazzling decorations.

At the Georgian Tea Room, expect splendour and grandeur.

The classic menu includes sandwiches, savouries, scones, and cakes, and you can “add a little sparkle” with a glass or bottle of champagne.

The Dome also offers a vegan afternoon tea menu.

Prices start at £29.50 per person.

Afternoon Tea At Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh

Did you know that The Waldorf Caledonian is located on what used to be the old Caledonian Railway?

The luxury afternoon tea here is on the right track for an eventful day out.

Served at Peacock Alley, which is located within the lobby lounge, the indulgent afternoon tea session is served daily and includes pastries such as orange and blackberry domes and rose jelly Elderflower and rhubarb tarts!

Afternoon teas at The Waldorf start at £50 per person.

Why not create a staycation at The Waldorf and enjoy Castle views and Guerlain spa treatment?

The Waldorf is in the West End of Edinburgh, where there are plenty of bars and restaurants to dine at.

The historic Dean Village is very close by.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh (@waedinburgh)

Cafes and Restaurants With Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh

Mimi’s bakehouse.

Mimi’s Bakehouse is a popular cafe located throughout Edinburgh, and two of its locations, Leith and Corstorphine, offer afternoon tea menus.

Mimi’s afternoon tea stands include freshly made sandwiches, sausage rolls, plain and fruit scones served with homemade jam, and Cornish clotted cream.

Plus, a selection of fresh cakes such as carrot cake, meringue, and tray bakes.

The drinks menu features Edinburgh’s Eteaket Tea.

Staff can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, GF, and picky eaters – it is worth calling to speak to the Leith branch directly to put in requests.

Prices start from £25 per person, making Mimi’s one of the more affordable afternoon teas in Edinburgh.

Dare you to try to leave without buying more tray bakes!

Afternoon Tea At Harvey Nichols, St Andrew’s Square

A classic afternoon tea can be enjoyed at the upmarket shopping mall, Harvey Nichols .

Served with Edinburgh’s skyline in view, the session includes sandwiches, quiche, cakes, and scones.

Prices start at £25 per person.

The Forth Floor and Window Room both feature in our guide to Edinburgh’s best rooftops .

The Colonnades at the Signet Library, Old Town

Edinburgh’s finest afternoon tea can be devoured at the Signet Library .

Located in the shadows of St Giles’ Cathedral on  Parliament Square in the Royal Mile, the Signet afternoon tea is one of the most luxurious in Edinburgh.

The popular wedding venue opens its doors Thursday through to Sunday for delectable afternoon teas created by the resident head chef, Craig and sous chef, Aung.

The drinks menu includes a range of soft drinks, alcoholic options, and, of course, tea, such as the Signet variation.

The first round of food is a small soup served in a cup.

The next is the savoury trays, where dainty pastries, sandwiches, and soufflé are presented on three silver trays.

The next is the dessert tray, which is packed with warm scones, chocolate puddings, fruit cakes, and colourful macaroons.

Finally, a cold fruit sorbet is served to cleanse the palate.

Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and fussy eater adaptations are available upon request.

Notify the booking team at least 48 hours before.

A unique thing to do in Edinburgh’s Old Town !

Prices start at £60 per person, and while this is one of the more expensive afternoon teas in Edinburgh, it is worth every penny as each mouthful is a burst of flavour and the team is very accommodating.

Fun trivia: The Signet library was used as an Outlander filming location and features the inside of the Governor’s mansion in Jamaica. 

Romanes & Paterson, Princes Street

Romanes & Paterson is a traditional 19th-century shop on Princes Street and a secret afternoon tea spot discovered by Ev Ed writer Nicole .

You’d easily walk past this hidden gem above a Scotland shop. Head to the third floor for the tea rooms with views over Princes Street Gardens .

Expect tartan carpets, tourists, and whisky tea.

Afternoon teas start from £18 per person.

Afternoon Tea At Edinburgh Castle

If you plan to visit Edinburgh Castle during your trip, you can also book an afternoon tea at the Queen Anne Tea Room.

Prices start from £42 per person.

You can also enjoy afternoon tea at The Café at the Palace of Holyroodhouse (9) and the Royal Deck Tea Room at the Royal Yacht Britannia (10). Read our HMY Britannia review .

You may also like our weekend guide to Edinburgh .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Edinburgh Castle (@edinburghcastle)

Holy Cow Lounge

Holy Cow Lounge (1 Dundee St) is located in the West End of Edinburgh, 5 5-minute walk from Lothian Road and 10 minutes from Haymarket Train Station.

The bright and airy cafe is located on the first floor of the striking Edinburgh Printmakers; the space is delightful.

There are domes outside in the garden for private dining.

Holy Cow Lounge’s platter is vegan and gluten-free while retaining taste and texture.

Portions are huge and feature scones with jam and yoghurt, ‘normal’ sized sandwiches, wraps, and cakes.

All of these are cooked from scratch using dairy-free and gluten-free ingredients.

You don’t have to be vegan or gluten-free to enjoy this Edinburgh afternoon tea.

However, you do need lots of space in your belly to finish it, or you can take a doggy bag home!

Tea is included in the package, but you can branch out and add a different beverage, like the photogenic blue latte, if you wish.

Holy Cow Lounge is not to be confused with Holy Cow (34 Elder St), which is located at the other end of Edinburgh’s City Centre.

They are the same brand at different locations, and the Lounge is the only venue that serves afternoon teas.

Prices start at £35.

Prestonfield House

Dine on the patio or in the gothic drapes of Prestonfiend House’s Rhubarb Restaurant, which features in the UK’s Married At First Sight.

Three trays of cakes, rock scones, and sandwiches are presented with an extensive tea menu.

The menu also includes melt-in-your-mouth haggis bonbons and tasty sausage rolls.

There is also a vegetarian menu if you don’t eat meat.

Prices start at £45 per person.

Definitely check out the grand loos, painted in pink with an animal print seat if you need to sleep off your food coma.

Prestonfield House is surrounded by green space and is home to two peacocks that roam free and highland cows in a field.

A taxi from Waverley Train Station costs around £8, and the walk is approx 40 minutes.

Prestonfield House features in our most romantic hotels in Edinburgh guide .

Cheap Afternoon Teas in Edinburgh

If you are looking for a budget-friendly afternoon tea there are a couple of ways to do this.

Check out discount websites such as Itison, Groupon, or 5pm for decent afternoon tea deals.

For example, you can book afternoon tea at the Mercure Hotel for £14 for two people instead of £15 per person.

Another option is to sign up for hotel and restaurant newsletters and follow them on social media so you don’t miss an offer.

About Afternoon Teas

So, who started afternoon teas?

Legend has it that Anna Maria Stanhope, 7th Duchess of Bedford, felt a pang of hanger come over between lunch and dinner, which she described as “having that sinking feeling .” The solution? Tucking into tea and cakes in her dressing room around 4pm.

She invited friends to join her, which caught the attention of Queen Victoria, who adopted the afternoon tea experience quicker than you can say that cake’s scone…

What’s the Difference Between Afternoon Tea and High Tea?

High tea is an afternoon tea with the addition of a main meal such as steak pie.

Less popular in restaurants now, high teas were one of the highlights of my childhood!

Other Foodie Guides on Ev Ed

• Foods you can’t miss when visiting Edinburgh
• The restaurants, by type, we love
• Where to eat brunch in Edinburgh
• Food and drink delivered to your door
• The most romantic restaurants
• Edinburgh beer gardens & map
• Craft beer crawl for beer fans

Essential Edinburgh Information 

Food & drink in Edinburgh Best time to visit Edinburgh Things to do in Edinburgh How much does Edinburgh cost? Free 7-day Scotland itinerary

Plan Your Trip To Edinburgh 

Book accommodation at Booking.com Reserve a skip the line pass or guided tour at GetYourGuide Save money with this Edinburgh Pass

Owner of Everything Edinburgh, the friendly resource for visitors and locals. Gemma adores Edinburgh's cafes, pub crawls, live gigs, and city tours. She still mourns the death of Espionage nightclub.

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The Foodie Travel Guide> Things to do in Edinburgh> Afternoon Tea Royal Yacht Britannia

Take Afternoon Tea on the Deck of The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith

by The Foodie Travel Guide | Jan 15, 2019

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland

Treat yourself to a royal Afternoon Tea on her majesty’s yacht Britannia, the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II. The ship’s a grand old lady now, having sailed over 1,000,000 miles around the world.

How to Find The Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

The Foodie Travel Guide

Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures. 

Tour the Royal Yacht Britannia

• One of the UK’s top tourist attractions
• Enjoy views of the Firth of Forth
• Take Afternoon Tea
• Taste home-made fudge in the NAAFI sweet shop
• Explore Leith’s bar and restaurants

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The spirit of the sea

Welcome aboard fingal.

A luxury floating hotel permanently berthed on Edinburgh’s vibrant waterfront.

A hotel with all the glamour and style of a superyacht but with an old-world elegance that is completely unique.

A five-star experience

Step aboard and discover something completely different. Awarded AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, five-star (AA) hotel and a world-class destination with unique luxury cabins and decks for stargazing and Champagne.

The magnificent Skerryvore Suite, with a separate sitting room and private decking area for watching the sun go down.

Food & Drink

The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar has a relaxed, luxurious feel and vast floor to ceiling windows.

Serving breakfast, Afternoon Tea, dinner and spectacular cocktails.

Awarded 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence.

Exclusively Yours

Fingal is the perfect venue for exclusive use events, weddings, private functions, product launches and corporate celebrations.

Our elegant Ballroom, with two grand sweeping staircases, can seat up to 60 people for dinner.

This enchanting room also features a removable skylight and raised gallery for music and entertainment.

Sustainability

Our crew are on a journey to ensure that sustainability is front of mind, making both big and small improvements wherever possible. 

AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and  2 AA Rosettes

Please join our mailing list below to be kept up to date with news and offers. 

• Royal Deck Tearoom
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• Annual Pass
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• What's On
• Private Events
• Private Dining
• Drinks Reception
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• Explore Britannia
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• Gift Vouchers

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Tel: 0131 555 5566 Email us: [email protected]

Britannia will be closed 11-23 March and 25-28 June due to the redevelopment of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre

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Planning a visit in 2024?

Due to the  upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 11 - 23 March and 25 - 28 June. As part of this redevelopment, Britannia will also be gaining a new Visitor Centre and Gift Shop which will involve us operating out of temporary accommodation whilst these new facilities are being created. Our temporary Gift Shop is now open on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. 

STEP ABOARD FOR A GREAT DAY OUT

A Royal residence for over 40 years, The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. Now  Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023 , you can discover across five decks stories of life at sea for both the Royal Family and the 220 Royal Yachtsmen who served on board. Our five-star visitor attraction is located in Leith, just two miles from Edinburgh's city centre.

What will I see?

• Britannia’s five decks with your  free audio guide
• Feel like the captain of the ship in the Bridge
• Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments
• See Queen Elizabeth II's favourite room
• Discover below decks in the Crew’s Quarters
• Admire a tour highlight, the gleaming Engine Room
• Take in the Royal Sailing Exhibition
• Enjoy soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones in the  Royal Deck Tearoom
• Admire the stunning waterfront views from the Best UK Attraction (Tripadvisor)

Opening Times

*Due to upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 11 - 23 March and 25 - 28 June. The Royal Yacht Britannia is closed on 1 January and 25 December. The last admission to the Royal Yacht on 24 December is 2:30pm.

Tickets & Prices

** Armed Forces, student and carer tickets are only available at the ticket desk. They cannot be pre-booked, but are available to buy on the day of visit.

  See our FAQ page for further details.

Getting Here

Looking for directions? Find out how to find Britannia via tram, bus or car.

Our Hotel, Fingal

Our sister ship, Fingal , is Scotland’s only luxury floating hotel and is a world-class experience from the moment you step aboard. Awarded AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, the 22 luxurious cabins are inspired by its rich maritime heritage and are an indulgent experience like no other.

Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023

We are delighted to be Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023 and a Best of the Best award winner.  Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel.

HM The King's visit

On 3 July 2023, His Majesty King Charles III attended a reception on board The Royal Yacht Britannia for the Association of Royal Yachtsmen to commemorate 25 years  since Britannia arrived in Leith.

Stay at our five-star 22-cabin luxury floating hotel, Fingal.

Sustainability

At Britannia, we are committed to ensuring that we have environmentally sensitive policies and best practice procedures throughout all aspects of our business.

Visiting Britannia

Due to upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 11 - 23 March and 25-28 June.

Click on the Visit page  for all you need to know before you visit.

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

Fingal Hotel

Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal.  Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. 

AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

Learn more: fingal.co.uk