Afternoon Tea FAQ

Guests can book the afternoon tea online here.

All Afternoon Tea bookings must be made at least 48 hours in advance.

Each reservation is for a two-hour sitting.

Tables will be held for a maximum of 15 minutes after the booked time. After this period, the table may be released, and the booking treated as a no-show, subject to the venues discretion.

Cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance of your booking will not incur any charge. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance, or failure to attend your booking (no-show), will incur a charge of £12.50 per person, processed automatically via the card details held on file through Stripe. In the event of normal attendance, no charge will be taken. In the event of cancellation by the venue, no charge will be taken. 

Yes, any form of mobility aid can be accommodated within the Arboretum, and can be reached via our lift.

Please note that the Afternoon Tea at the John Hope Gateway is a stand-alone reservation and is not linked to any other ticket, experience, or product within the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Guests wishing to attend the Christmas at the Botanics light trail following their Afternoon Tea booking must book tickets separately.

If the Garden or Christmas at the Botanics light trail is cancelled due to adverse weather, but the John Hope Gateway remains open, the Afternoon Tea booking remains valid and the standard cancellation policy applies.

Guests who have a 2pm reservation for Afternoon tea and a 4:15pm or 4:30pm booking for Christmas at the Botanics will be able to stay in the Arboretum while the Garden closes and sets up for the light trail. Christmas at the Botanics tickets will then be scanned for entrance onto the trail once it opens. 

Yes, amendments can be made to the booking via the email confirmation.

Tables will be held for a maximum of 15 minutes after the booked time. After this period, the table may be released, and the booking treated as a no-show, subject to the venue's discretion.