Welcome to Belfast Tea Bus. While our afternoon tea experience might be a new addition to the streets of Belfast, the people behind it have been welcoming visitors to the city for more than 25 years.
Belfast Tea Bus is part of Diamond Leisure Transport Ltd, a family-run tourism and transport company based here in Belfast. Over the years, we've welcomed more than one million passengers across our sightseeing tours, introducing visitors from around the world to Belfast, the Causeway Coast and some of Northern Ireland's best-known attractions.
You may already know us through our Belfast Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing tours or our popular Giant's Causeway tours from Belfast. These are just some of the experiences we operate, and they've given us a great understanding of what visitors expect when they come to Northern Ireland. From our drivers and local guides to the team working behind the scenes, we're fortunate to have some brilliant people who know Belfast inside out and take real pride in what they do.
The Donnelly family, who are behind the business, also have longstanding interests in Belfast's hospitality industry. With years of experience in both tourism and hospitality, bringing the two together felt like a natural next step. We already knew how to show people around the city, but we wanted to offer something a little different, something that locals could enjoy just as much as visitors.
That's how Belfast Tea Bus came about.
We loved the idea of taking traditional afternoon tea out of the hotel and bringing it onto the streets of Belfast. Rather than sitting in one place, our guests could enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes and freshly brewed tea while travelling past some of the city's most famous landmarks. We wanted the experience to feel relaxed and welcoming, with great views, good company and plenty of Belfast character along the way.
Turning that idea into a proper sightseeing experience took a fair bit of planning. There was much more to consider than simply fitting tables and chairs onto a bus. Everything from seating arrangements and onboard service to passenger comfort, accessibility and the practicalities of serving afternoon tea while travelling had to be carefully thought through.
One decision we made early on was to use modern, reliable and comfortable double-decker buses rather than the older, traditional-style vehicles often associated with afternoon tea tours. Having operated sightseeing buses for so many years, we know how important comfort and reliability are to the overall experience.
Accessibility was another priority, which is why our Tea Bus features an easy-access wheelchair ramp and a dedicated wheelchair-accessible seat onboard. We wanted to make this experience available to as many people as practically possible, without compromising on comfort or the quality of the tour.
Our Belfast Tea Bus now operates seven days a week, taking guests on a journey through Belfast City Centre, Titanic Quarter and Queen's Quarter. Each tour lasts approximately 75–90 minutes and includes a live local guide sharing the history, landmarks and stories that have shaped our city, along with a healthy dose of Belfast humour. It's a chance to discover Belfast, enjoy a lovely afternoon tea and perhaps learn a few things about the city that you didn't know before.
After more than 25 years in tourism, one thing hasn't changed. We never take it for granted when someone chooses to spend their time and money with us. Whether you're visiting Belfast for the first time, celebrating a birthday, catching up with friends or you're a local looking for something a little different, we want you to leave having genuinely enjoyed your time onboard.
We're proud of our Belfast roots, the business we've built over the years and the people who have helped make it what it is today. Belfast Tea Bus is the latest chapter in that story, bringing together our experience in sightseeing and hospitality to offer something new in a city we know and love.
If you have any questions about our tours, seating, dietary requirements or special occasions, please get in touch. Our team will be happy to help and make sure you have all the information you need before joining us.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about Belfast Tea Bus. We look forward to welcoming you onboard.
Questions ?
Please do get in touch via the link below, we would be delighted to help!
