Buckingham Palace Tours and Tea After with 13 Year Old?

Harrod’s is a lovely and elegant place for afternoon tea! I visited on my birthday two years ago and they even included a beautiful mini chocolate cake! I’ve been twice for afternoon tea and although it is a splurge, it’s a wonderful experience! I dressed up, but I noticed a wide variety of clothing choices from more formal to informal.

Try the afternoon tea at the Lounge at the Royal Horse Guards Hotel. Easy walk from the Palace through St James Park.

If you ewant to “walk the gardens” you need to buy a ticket that includes the garden tour for a few extra pounds. We did and recommend it. The gardens are like a walk in the woods with wildflowers and a rose garden. You never would know that you’re in the middle of London. This is a wonderful birthday treat

I know this isn't the type of tea experience you are looking for, but I wanted you to know as you exit the palace after your tour they do have a tent set up serving tea and treats. It wasn't fancy, but I sat near the edge looking out at the garden and had tea and a scone so I could say I took tea with the Queen. Also, the gift shop on your way to the exit, also on the grounds, is not to be missed. I spent at least 45 minutes in their looking at all the lovely things.

though I am aware that many places may not have tea until later afternoon

Most places will offer afternoon tea from midday onwards, it's a marketing fad rather than a tradition so it's in their interests to maximise their income potential.

I only book the Queens Gallery if it has an exhibit that I'm interested in. This year they are having a huge exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings in honor of the 500th anniversary of his death. It looks remarkable to me but may not be of interest at all to you. There is not much to see at the Queen's Gallery except the current exhibition. They do have a very nice shop and the ladies at the entrance will let you go in to the shop without a ticket.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/leonardo-da-vinci-a-life-in-drawing/the-queens-gallery-buckingham

I agree with LaurieBeth, I'd actually go for tea at the tent/marquee as you exit from the palace. It's not luxurious but my word...you are at the Palace!

I would not recommend tea in the added on area outside the palace. I don't see it being a special tea experience for the young teen. We have toured the palace several times and we do stop for tea or coffee with a scone and did so last August. Our tea and coffee were served in paper cups. Check out some of the hotel tea rooms. I would imagine the Goring or Rubens would offer a proper tea with elegant china. Tea at Harrods was not served on any special china but the food was nice. We took our tweens to the Orangery at Kensington Palace but I think it is now closed for renovations. They offered a nice tea service and the food was good.

Try to get your timed entry to the palace for the earliest possible hour (around 10:00 as I recall). You'll spend at least a couple of hours touring, the audio guide is excellent and the docents extremely helpful with any questions. Have something light on the terrace when you leave the building, then take the garden tour which gets you all the way around the garden and back to the palace. The mews if she's interested in coaches, otherwise not. The Queens Gallery if the current exhibit would interest her, otherwise not.

While they serve tea and scones and such on the terrace, it's not the "all out" tea experience you'd get at Harrods or some of the hotels, so you should look elsewhere if that's the goal. But the terrace provides a welcome pick-me-up around lunchtime. Note also that the only available (to us) bathrooms are in the garden, after you've left the palace.

hey leaves of green
check out b-bakery.com
an afternoon tea bus tour through central london seeing some famous sites. sit on top of the big red bus, enjoy the day and yes they do have vegetarian options.
aloha

After your tour of the palace you can walk across St. James Park towards Green Park tube station. Turn right and walk just past The Ritz and you'll come to The Wolseley. It's a fantastic tea in a gorgeous room. Afternoon cream tea is only 12.75 GBP and it is served with a flair! Best deal in London. You don't have to be dressed "to the nines" to go here...lots of people stop in here while shopping or running errands. It was a British businessman who told me about this place...he said it's where he and his partners go when they just want a break in the afternoon. We go now each time we're in town.

The Wolseley. It's a fantastic tea in a gorgeous room. Afternoon cream tea is only 12.75 GBP and it is served with a flair! Best deal in London.

I'd just like to add that for £12.75 it is only a cream tea which is scones and tea, no sandwiches or cakes. If you want the afternoon tea which does come with sandwiches and cakes then the price is £29.75 which I suspect is on a par with most comparable places.

Thanks all for the great suggestions!