Now accepting reservations  ·  Old Town San Diego  ·  Private bookings available for groups of 8 or more

San Diego  ·  Old Town  ·  Est. 2025

The Finishing
Tour

Curtsy. Sip. Repeat.

Consider this your finishing. Not school — tour. Step into the 1880s for 90 minutes of Victorian etiquette, afternoon tea, and a great deal of barely suppressed laughter. You will leave considerably more refined than you arrived.

Reserve Your Seat — $79 See the Programme
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90 min Immersive Experience
8–16 Guests Per Session
$79 Per Person, All Inclusive
Old Town San Diego, CA

About the Experience

A Victorian Education.
A Proper Good Time.

In the 1880s, a well-bred lady was expected to know exactly how to enter a room, greet a stranger, manage her bustle, and pour tea — all without betraying a single crack in her composure.

Today, you are going to learn how she did it.

The Finishing Tour is an immersive, interactive experience set in the world of the Gilded Age. Your costumed Victorian hostess guides you through the social rituals, customs, and finely observed manners of the 1880s — while you enjoy a proper Afternoon Tea service. It is equal parts history lesson and delightful performance. You will leave knowing things you never knew you did not know. We call that being finished.

The Programme

What One Learns

Proper Introductions
There is a strict order to who meets whom first — and getting it wrong was a social catastrophe. Attend to find out why.
The Art of the Greeting
Handshake or curtsy? Nod or bow? The answer depended entirely on who was standing in front of you. The rules may surprise you.
Walking & the Bustle
Gliding, not striding. There is a very specific technique involved — and it is considerably funnier than it sounds.
The Tea Table
Seating, napkins, utensils — each governed by rules you almost certainly do not know. You will leave with no excuse for ignorance.
The Art of Pouring
The correct pour is only the beginning. There is a debate that has divided England for a century — and we shall settle it today.
Agreeable Conversation
Victorian women were trained in the art of talking about everything and nothing simultaneously. The rules of what could — and could not — be said are rather revealing.
The Pinky Myth
You have been holding your teacup incorrectly. We will say no more. Attend and find out the truth.
The Graceful Departure
Leaving well is its own art form. There is a golden rule, and breaking it was considered unforgivable. You will leave knowing it.
Afternoon Tea is Included
Finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, petit fours, and a curated selection of fine teas — served throughout the experience, as a Victorian hostess would have served them.

The Guest List

Who Attends

The Finishing Tour receives all manner of guests — provided they arrive with a willingness to learn and an appreciation for a well-poured cup of tea.

🎂
Birthday Celebrations
Give her an afternoon she will speak of for years. Not merely attend — remember.
💐
Mother & Daughter
History, elegance, and a remarkable quantity of shared laughter across generations.
👰
Bachelorette Parties
The civilised alternative. Hats optional. Highly recommended. No bar required.
🌸
A Girls' Afternoon
No occasion necessary. One occasionally requires an excuse to behave elegantly.
💼
Corporate Events
Etiquette has professional value, and this is a rather pleasant way to acquire it.
✈️
San Diego Visitors
A uniquely memorable afternoon that, one must admit, no other city quite replicates.

The Particulars

Details

DurationApproximately 90 minutes
Group Size8–16 guests per session
IncludedFull Afternoon Tea service — finger sandwiches, scones, sweets, and a selection of fine teas
DressCome as you are, or arrive in period attire. Both are warmly received.
DietaryMost dietary requirements accommodated — please note restrictions upon booking.
LocationOld Town San Diego — full address provided upon booking confirmation
Telephone619.313.0001
Cancellation24-hour notice required. No refunds within 24 hours of the experience; however, we endeavour to resell your place and shall refund accordingly if successful.

Reserve Your Place

$79
per person  ·  afternoon tea included

Sessions are kept intimate — 8 to 16 guests — to ensure the experience remains personal, engaged, and properly theatrical. Seats are limited and do sell out.

Book Your Seat

Arranging a private session for a birthday, bachelorette, bridal shower, or corporate event? Telephone us or write to us and we shall make the arrangements.

What Our Guests Say

From the Guest Book

★★★★★
"I have been holding my teacup incorrectly for forty-three years. I am newly devastated and considerably more refined."
First to arrive, last to leave
★★★★★
"The best bachelorette afternoon I have ever planned, and I have planned rather a lot of them. Hats highly recommended."
Organised on behalf of the bride
★★★★★
"My daughter and I left knowing things we cannot unknow. We are already making a reservation for my sister."
Mother of three, grandmother of one opinion

We are newly open and gathering our guest book. These are illustrative of the spirit of the experience — real reviews to follow shortly.

From the Archives

The Etiquette Column

Dispatches on Victorian manners, tea customs, and the finer points of Gilded Age propriety. One endeavours to inform.

The Etiquette Column
High Tea vs Afternoon Tea: The Class Distinction Most People Get Completely Wrong

Most people believe high tea is grander than afternoon tea. They have it entirely backwards. The true distinction is one of social class, furniture, and a rather illuminating misunderstanding that has persisted for over a century.

July 1, 2026
The Etiquette Column
The Pinky Finger Myth: What Victorian Etiquette Actually Said About Your Teacup

The extended pinky is the most persistent myth in tea culture — and entirely wrong. Not a single Victorian etiquette authority advocates for it. Here is what they actually said.

July 1, 2026
Read the Etiquette Column

Part of the Family

From the team behind
Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours

The Finishing Tour is brought to you by the creators of San Diego's highest-rated ghost tour — a team that has spent years bringing the city's history to life through costumed performance, historical accuracy, and a complete refusal to be boring.

If you enjoy an evening of dark history and rather a lot of theatrical suspense, we invite you to join us after dark as well.

Visit Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours →
Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours

Questions

Frequently Asked

What precisely occurs during The Finishing Tour?
Over approximately 90 minutes, your costumed Victorian hostess guides your group through the social customs and etiquette of the 1880s — proper introductions, table manners, the art of tea service, and the rules of polite conversation. Throughout, you enjoy a full Afternoon Tea service: finger sandwiches, scones, sweets, and a selection of fine teas.
Is prior knowledge of the Victorian era required?
Not at all. In fact, arriving without preconceptions makes the revelations considerably more delightful. The experience is designed for first-timers and history enthusiasts alike.
What is included in the $79 ticket?
Everything. The guided experience, the full Afternoon Tea service — finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, petit fours, and a selection of teas — and enough newfound knowledge to gently correct everyone at your next dinner party.
Is this exclusively for ladies?
Absolutely not — though most of our guests happen to be. Gentlemen are equally welcome and, if we are honest, have at least as much to learn about Victorian propriety. Perhaps more.
Must one dress for the occasion?
One is not required to. However, many guests arrive in period attire and find the atmosphere rewards the effort considerably. Fancy hats are warmly encouraged. Come as you are — you will fit right in either way.
May I arrange a private session for my group?
Yes — and it is a most agreeable option for birthdays, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, corporate events, and other special occasions. Telephone us at 619.313.0001 or write to us to arrange a private booking for groups of 8 or more.
What is the cancellation policy?
We require 24 hours' notice to cancel. Cancellations within 24 hours of the experience are not eligible for refund; however, we endeavour to resell your place and shall provide a refund for any seats successfully filled.
Are dietary restrictions accommodated?
Most dietary requirements can be accommodated. Please note any restrictions at the time of booking and we will make every reasonable effort to oblige.

One Last Thing

Ready to mind
your manners?

Seats are limited to keep the experience personal. One would not wish to miss one's place at the table.

Reserve Your Seat — $79/person