mad max minibus tours

Mad Max Tours

Review Highlights

“ Kevin knew so much about not only Stonehenge, Avebury , Lacock and Castle Combe but the surrounding country. ” in 11 reviews

“ My son still talks about Stonehenge as well as the Harry Potter homes used for filming in Lacock village. ” in 14 reviews

“ We only had a day and wanted to get a feel for the Cotswolds , luckily I had read about Mad Max Tours. ” in 9 reviews

Location & Hours

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Willowfalls

Bath BA1 7DG

United Kingdom

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Overall rating

A bit has changed since my last experience with Mad Max Tours, including a much more limited offering. There are three tours to choose from now: Tour 1 (I have not done [because I've seen them all before]): a tour of Stonehenge, a walk in Castle Combe Village, a photo stop at Cherhill White Horse, a visit to the Avebury Stone Circles, a photo stop at Silbury Hill, lunch at Lacock National Trust village. Tour 2 (I recently did): The Cotswold Villages Experience which includes very accessible and highly informative visits/walks through Castle Combe Village, Bibury & Arlington Row, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-On-The-Wold, as well as Malmesbury Abbey & Market Cross. Get ready to be absolutely immersed in the Cotswolds! While our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the area (we learned so many interesting things!) and thoughtful of bio breaks, we felt the day could have been paced better. We were rushed at Bourton-on-the-Water and Malmesbury Abbey; but, we had *far too much* time at both Stow-on-the-Wold (all fourteen of us ended up standing on the street for forty minutes or so waiting for our guide to show back up; that being said, you should absolutely take Mad Max's recommendation to get lunch at Cotswolds Baguettes and eat them near the church with the famous Yew trees!), and - maybe because our tour guide had a personal connection to it - Arlington Row, where we spent a very, very long time standing in front of people's houses. Tour 3 (I have not done): special access to Stonehenge. I do LOVE these kinds of (almost) all-inclusive tours; they take away the anxiety of needing to drive or come up with an itinerary. They also allow you to truly take in the incredible scenery from comfortable small buses that navigate lots of back roads expertly! I just found this particular tour to be a little less personal than when I first visited a few years back (and compared to our experiences with the Heart of Scotland tours out of Edinburgh) AND I'm missing the more varied selection of tours they used to offer as well.

See all photos from Steff D. for Mad Max Tours

I was staying in Bath and was hoping to check out the surrounding area, so I was delighted to find Mad Max Tours. They offer small group day tours on their sixteen seater mini buses. Book online, then make your way down to Parade Gardens. Their pick-up is in the triangular shaped concrete park along Terrace Walk/North Parade (the website says it's in front of the Abbey Hotel, but that's technically across the street from here). I actually love doing these mini bus tour day trips - such an informative, condensed, low commitment way to see the highlights of nearby. Super touristy, I know, but it's also such a unique experience as you never know who you're gonna be on the bus with. It changes the entire dynamic of the day, and sometimes how much "extra" the tour guide is willing to give you (pro tip: engage with your tour guide, pay attention when they're telling you about stuff [sometimes they drop super local's only knowledge which can help you when you've got free time off the bus], and then do/see AS MUCH AS YOU CAN when you're dropped off at a spot). I took Tour 3: Glastonbury, Wells & Cheddar Gorge. It was INCREDIBLE. We drove through Cheddar Gorge (and got to stop to take photos twice: once with the rock formations, and once with the Soay sheep who kept interrupting our drive), explored the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey (where King Arthur and Lady Guinevere are buried), climbed up the hill to the Tor (home of the fourth chakra, FYI - there's some palpable energy and magic happening here), drank out of both the White Spring and Red Spring faucets (but couldn't go inside the The White Spring Well & Temple itself as it wasn't open that day - caution, naked flames, deep water, faerie portals, uneven floor... enter at own risk... no photography allowed), walked around Wells (the smallest city in England) finding the spots Hot Fuzz was filmed, marveled at the glory of Wells Cathedral, found the perfect reflection of the cathedral from the waters of Bishop's Palace, and visited Vicar's Close (the oldest, most complete residential street in Europe). All for £42. And I would repeat that same exact tour again in a heartbeat.

Very well done. Knowledgeable and fun information. Group size is excellent and the pacing was great. I highly recommend this tour.

We LOVED this experience! From the kindness of the main office to our low-key hilarious and ultra-knowledgable tour guide to the comfy motor coach, we could not have asked for a better day trip from Bath. We will never hear the song "Solsbury Hill" again without smiling.

Look behind you at Stonehenge.

When we booked this tour, I was a little leery of getting into a van for an all-day, narrated tour of the Cotswolds - would it feel crowded? would I have to listen to tour guide babble (or dead silence) for hours? would we feel like herded sheep? - but it turned out to be none of those things. The van seats were comfortable and roomy. Our guide, Tim, was knowledgeable and personable, and struck just the right balance between telling us interesting and relevant information about the areas we were traveling through, and leaving us the space to enjoy it on our own. All that and a beautiful corner of the world to enjoy. I understand that these little towns can get pretty crowded at the height of tourist season; chilly but pleasantly empty in late March.

I went on Tour 1 to Stonehenge, Avebury, and the Cotswolds. Our driver and tour guide, Kevin, was both knowledgeable and friendly. He took really good care of us during the entire journey. I was especially impressed by the fact that he learned and remembered everyone's name during the entire day long trip. We had a slight unexpected mishap during our tour where the coach got a flat tire. Not to worry though, Kevin made sure that we all were taken to a nearby pub where lunch was purchased for us at no charge while they arranged to give us another coach to continue on our journey. I was super impressed by that level of professionalism. The tour itself is very comprehensive. You get ample time at each destination to walk around and take photos or just contemplate the scenery. Our driver also made multiple unscheduled stops at various overlooks that provided great photo opportunities. I would recommend this tour over any other one that is available to visitors in the Bath area. Lots and lots of fun!

We decided to do this tour on the evening before and, boy, was it worth it! Despite a slightly later start to the day due to unexpected traffic, we had a great time doing Tour #1 on the Mad Max list covering Stonehenge, Averbury & Cotswold Villages. If you've never been to this area (and we hadn't), it's a great way to do a bit of sampling of everything major. Kevin was a great guide, giving us enough freedom to do our own thing but also keeping to the schedule. The way Maddy (the Mad in Mad Max) had it set up - with audio talks as we were going from one place to another - was great! You get to learn a bit of the history before going to a place so you know what to look for. If we come back to the Bath area, we'll most definitely do another of the Mad Max tours!

I wish I could do another tour today. We did the tour including Stonehenge, Avebury and the Cotswolds. Our guide was, Kevin, who was entertaining, informative and extremely competent. Kevin clearly enjoys what he does and likes his tour company. I've taken a number of tours in various countries and this is one of the best I've taken. I highly recommend it.

We took the Stonehenge, Avebury and Cotswolds tour on May 24th. Kevin was our guide. We loved the scenery and the stops. The timing was good for each place. Kevin was a wonderful guide. He was knowledgeable, pleasant and entertaining. Would highly recommend this tour.

Fantastic tour and our tour guide, Kevin, was great. I did the same tour 18 years ago and was very pleased that the experience is still outstanding. Get yourself to Bath and Mad Max!

Mad Max Tours to Stonehenge, Avebury and Cotswold villages was an amazing way to see these sights and I can't say how happy I am to have done it. I usually hate canned tours, but the small group size and thoughtfully designed itinerary of Mad Max made this one head's above the rest. To me, the best part of the tour was arriving at Stonehenge 15 minutes before it opened and then being able to have almost a half hour to ourselves before the crush of tourist buses showed up and made taking a decent photo almost impossible. By the time the lines began to get long for everybody else at Stonehenge, we were already on our way to Avebury, where we were able to take our time walking the stone circle and then eat a leisurely lunch. Capping off the day at one of the Cotswold villages before returning to Bath, UK by dinner made this a stress-free enjoyable day and one that me and my son will remember for years to come.

We took the tour today and had a great time. Honestly our guide Kevin, (the retired teacher, because there are two Kevins), is manly the reason why this gets full marks. He was both funny and informative. He took the time to walk us around some of the sites and made sure to give us fun trivia about the locals and villages. He was always willing to answer questions and accommodate everyone's needs. There are a few options for tour packages and we went with Tour 1, which Rick Steves mentioned was the most popular. Our favorite sites were Stonehenge and castle Combe, which really looked like a place from a fairytale even on a rainy day. We though Avebury was a bit redundant after Stonehenge but it's still a pretty site. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes if it is raining since the walk tends to be slippery at times. The tour stops for lunch in the village of Lacock where you have a few options. We picked the Red Lion and it was a big mistake. Quite possibly the worst food we've had on our trip to England thus far. Otherwise the town is lovely and small enough to see in 15-20 minutes. In short, this tour is a great way to see a lot of English countryside that we would have missed otherwise and is quiet fun.

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Wander With Leen

Travel and Food Inspiration

Bath , Destinations · August 11, 2022

Mad Max Tours Review – Stonehenge, Cotswolds, Avebury Tour

This post is a Mad Max Tours review all about their Tour 1 option to Stonehenge.

When I asked my partner what he wanted to do on our upcoming trip to the United Kingdom, he only had one request: see Stonehenge. So, of course, I scoured the internet for Stonehenge tours from London and other options for visiting the site. The results were overwhelming, and I couldn’t decide on a tour company.

I came across Mad Max Tours’ Stonehenge tours and knew as soon as I saw the rest of the itinerary that this was the one I wanted to book. It included a stop in Lacock, which has long been on my list of places to visit.

The only issue? They were based in Bath rather than London.

So we changed our plans to spend two nights in Bath just to book a tour with Mad Max Tours.

Mad Max Tours Information

Mad Max Tours is a family-run company based in Bath, UK. They’ve been around for about 30 years and specialize in small group day tours for up to fourteen people.

All of their guides are locals with extensive knowledge of the areas they visit, as well as their history and culture.

There are three different tours to choose from, and an option to book a private tour.

Mad Max Tours Itinerary for Tour 1

We chose Tour 1, which includes stops at Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe, and photo stops at Silbury Hill and the Cherhill White Horse.

The day began at the central meeting place outside the Abbey Hotel. Andy, our guide and driver, arrived promptly at 8:20 a.m. to check in the guests. We took our seats and left for the first leg of our tour at 8:30 a.m.

Stonehenge was our first stop of the day.

Andy kept us entertained with his local knowledge, stories, and anecdotes during our scenic drive through the countryside.

We arrived at the Visitor Center as one of the first tour groups. Because tickets to Stonehenge were not included in the tour price, we paid Andy and he collected the tickets for our group. We had the opportunity to use the washroom while we waited for him.

When he returned, he led us past the lines and onto the transfer bus that took us to the actual stones.

The stones are roped off so that visitors cannot get up close and personal with them. A path loops the site, with some sections closer to the stones than others. Plaques with information and history can be found all along the path. Visitors can spread out and take photos from various angles. A little further away, there is an outlier stone.

Even though it was a rainy day, we were able to get some decent shots. After about 30 minutes, we decided to return to the visitor centre for some food.

There was no line at the cafe because it was still early in the morning. Along with our coffee and tea, we ordered a sausage roll and a bacon roll.

Afterwards, we visited the Neolithic Houses, which are located just outside the visitor and exhibition centre. Visitors can go inside the houses and get a sense of what life was like for the people who lived at the time Stonehenge was built.

TIPS: ● To avoid using up data, download the Stonehenge Audio Tour app ahead of time if you want to listen to the audioguide. ● Pack some food if you want to spend more time exploring the site, fully experiencing the exhibition with artifacts, or immersing yourself in the 360 degree visual experience.

Cherhill White Horse photo stop

Next on the itinerary, was to see the Cherhill White Horse .

Scattered throughout the British countryside are large white horses carved into hills and made out of chalk. In Wiltshire, only eight remain and the Cherhill White Horse is the second oldest from 1780.

For this viewpoint, our guide and driver, Andy, pulled up to a home on the side of the road. To our delight, there are two resident horses on the property. Andy distributed carrots to the tour guests so we could feed and pet the horses.

The two horses were lovely and gentle. This stop definitely added to the richness of seeing the Cherhill White Horse while learning about its history.

In the second photo below, you can see the tiny Cherhill White Horse on the hill behind the black and white horse.

Avebury Stone Circles and Village

While most people are familiar with Stonehenge, very few are aware of the Avebury henge and stone circles.

A bank or ditch known as a henge encircles the village of Avebury and was constructed during the Neolithic era. Within the henge is the largest stone circle in Britain, which originally had about 100 stones. Within it, there are two more more compact stone circles.

Unlike Stonehenge, Avebury is free to visit, and you can walk up to and touch the stones. They are scattered throughout the village. We only saw a small portion of the site because it is massive! The henge covers approximately 12 hectares.

Our tour guide dropped us off across the street from the Red Lion pub. We had about two hours to explore the area and the village or get some food.

Numerous walking paths lead through the various stone circle sections and alongside the henge ditch. Be warned though! You’d better watch your step because sheep graze freely and leave behind tons of droppings!

We took a quick stroll down Avebury’s High Street. There is a lovely church and charming houses with thatched roofs. A cute little souvenir shop is located across the street from these.

This street has a public restroom, but it isn’t the cleanest.

You can also visit the National Trust Museum but we chose to continue exploring the village.

I’m not sure if we simply ran out of time, or if it wasn’t in the plan for the day, but we didn’t stop at nearby Silbury Hill for a photo op. Andy pointed out the monument as we drove by, providing a brief description and history. I couldn’t take a photo because we were on the other side of the bus, but even from that vantage point, it was an impressive monument.

Lacock National Trust Village

The charming little village of Lacock was up next. Visiting Lacock Abbey was at the top of my to-do list. We made a beeline for it as soon as we arrived because it was a bit of a walk from where we were dropped off in town.

The entrance fee is £15.00 per person, which I thought was reasonable.

Lacock Abbey was built in the early 13th century as a nunnery, but has since been transformed into a lovely country house. The original cloisters, which have been preserved, are without a doubt one of the highlights.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might recognize these as Hogwarts corridor scenes on multiple occasions. Other rooms in the Abbey, including the one where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised in the first film, were also used as filming locations.

The Talbot family eventually inherited Lacock Abbey. William Henry Fox Talbot, a scientist and inventor, is the most well-known. He created the first known photographic negative by filtering light through one of the windows in the south gallery.

A mock display is on-site and can be seen while walking through the second floor gallery and room displays. The Fox Talbot Museum is located on the ground floor and explores the history of photography as well as the life of William Henry Fox Talbot.

We then walked back to the village centre. It’s a cute, charming little town. The majority of the houses date from the 18th century, but there are some older structures, including St Cyriac’s Church, which was built in the 14th century.

Lacock is a popular filming location, particularly for historical pieces, due to its preservation. Additional Harry Potter scenes were shot here, the most notable of which was the Potters’ home. Other films and television shows that have been shot here include Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and The Other Boleyn Girl.

The village has a few cute shops, but what I found most endearing was how some homeowners would leave products like produce, plants, or food jars by their front door. If you want to buy something, you would leave money through the mailbox or front door, according to the honesty system.

On the main street, there are also some pubs and restaurants. Instead of a sit-down dinner, we went to the adorable Lacock Bakery for a quick bite to maximize our time exploring the village. We picked the cheese and bacon roll and the sausage roll.

Andy then led us on a walking tour of the village, distributing photos along the way, highlighting specific filming locations from popular movies and shows. He discussed the town’s history, buildings, and architecture.

Castle Combe

The stunning little village of Castle Combe was the final stop on our Tour 1 itinerary.

Castle Combe has been dubbed the most beautiful village in the United Kingdom, and I can see why!

It’s the quintessential Cotswold village, with picturesque rows of homes and a charming little bridge that’s a popular photo location.

However, as you can see in the photo, photographing the iconic bridge and street without other people was extremely difficult. You’d have to come here super early or late in the evening to get that perfect Insta-worthy shot. When we arrived around 4 p.m., there was a steady flow of tourists coming and going.

Mad Max Tours Experience and Review

From beginning to end, we had an amazing time with Mad Max Tours.

Booking on their website and paying with PayPal was simple.

The small coach was clean and cozy. I preferred the smaller group size because it felt more personal.

Our guide Andy was fantastic. He was charming and knowledgeable, with just the right mix of stories and personal anecdotes.

The Tour 1 itinerary is expertly curated, featuring incredible historic sites and picturesque villages. The schedule is also well-planned. We were never rushed and were given plenty of time to explore on our own.

Going with Mad Max Tours was definitely the right decision, even if it meant changing our plans to spend the weekend in Bath. It was the best way to experience Stonehenge and get a taste of the Cotswolds. We would not hesitate to book any of their other tours the next time we visit Bath.

Mad Max Tours is a wonderful family-owned business that you will not regret booking with!

***We paid for this tour ourselves and were not sponsored in any way.***

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Tour Review – Mad Max Tours

As you know by now when I travel, I value unique experiences that lean towards a historical background. This is also true when I am booking tours. I don’t always choose a guided tour but sometimes the location requires it, or the tour company offers something special. Bath, England is a great place to go for a day trip! I wanted to dive deeper into more of what Bath has to offer. Keep reading for my experience with Mad Max tours.

Bath is a world UNESCO city and has a 2000-year-old history. Not only that BUT it’s located close to Cotswold, Stonehenge Glastonbury and so much more. I knew that I needed to book a longer trip and take my time exploring all that this city had to offer. 

Enter Mad Max tours ! Maddy, the owner of Mad Max tours, pours her heart and soul into these itineraries and it shows. Mad Max is a small tour company that doesn’t believe in the charter bus style tours. Instead they have a 16 person limit for each tour so I didn’t feel lost in the crowd. The company has over 25 years of experience!

All of the guides are local, very informative and funny as hell! My tour guide really made our trip, more on that later I promise! I trust this particular company because they encourage guests to explore more of the county of Wiltshire. Most companies I researched were based out of London and seemed to lack personality which, no thank you. If I am spending ALL DAY with you, I better enjoy it, otherwise it would be a complete waste. For travelers with a time limit, be sure to pick a reputable company, so you make every minute count! Now let’s dive into the tour itself so you can see what an amazing company this is.

I chose to take Tour 1 which included Stonehenge, Cotswold Villages and Avebury Stone Circles. Hands down it was the best decision the day was jammed packed, but I never felt rushed.  We started off by meeting in the City Centre and then choosing the coveted bus seats. If you’re picky like me, arrive early so you can pick the spot you like. You will be on this bus all day so get comfortable. 

Pro-tip – make sure you get some breakfast before the tour and bring snacks!

Once we all checked in, we made our way to Stonehenge and our guide kept us entertained with hilarious stories mixed in with history. As a historian I love when someone can take a boring history fact and make it interesting to listen to. I learned that certain houses in the countryside have thatch roofs. When you buy a house with thatch you can’t change it, meaning you are responsible for the maintenance, and you have to hire a specifically trained person to come out and manage it. Not only is it a dying skill but it’s VERY expensive. I will never look at another thatch roof the same!

Upon arrival at Stonehenge, you will be given a brief overview and set free to roam around and you will need to return to the bus by a certain time. I love that I didn’t feel obligated to stay with the group and could take it in at my own pace. I also appreciate that they make this our first stop, so we didn’t deal with as many crowds. Seeing Stonehenge in person is such an amazing experience and one I highly recommend. I did a full review just on seeing Stonehenge . Definitely read if you’re interested to learn about how I got lost and chased off a field by a cow. True story! 

Next, we made our way to Lacock National Trust Village, this is when things got good! As we pulled in, we were informed the town wasn’t available for its normal experience, I was a little disappointed at first. Our guide proceeded to tell us they were filming a movie…he piqued my interest. Then he drops the bomb that its  DOWNTON ABBEY ! I let out a scream from the back of the bus everyone stared but I didn’t care. I know this area is a popular filming location but had no idea that I would see it in person WHILE BEING FILMED. It was the coolest thing ever, not only is this town straight out of a fairy book, but I saw Mary and Lady Grantham and it was such an experience! They have also filmed Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice and a few others in this town as well. 

Trying to collect myself after fan-girling so hard we made our way for a photo stop, now this isn’t on the itinerary but one of my favorites. We pulled off for a rest and the driver pulled some hay out and we got to pet a beautiful horse. Now while I understand this was a rest break, I am calling it a photo-op because I mean that horse was cute, and I am a sucker for a cute animal. We then stopped for a real photo-op with another horse and no I am not lying. This one however has a longer and more interesting backstory.

 Cherhill White Horse is over 300 years old and is one of 13 white horses in Wiltshire. The chalk is naturally from the hillside beneath the horse. It’s really so stunning and makes you wonder why it was created? No worries, I did the homework for you or well I just listened to the tour guide. He said that a man named Dr. Christopher Alsop stripped away the grass to show the chalk hillside underneath. Inspired by friend and artist George Stubbs famously known for his horse paintings Alsop made it into a horse. Now he was called a mad doctor and apparently used a 18 th  century version of a megaphone to instruct them on the drawing…. yeah, I would say he was a little odd but hey, it’s a cool piece of art!

We then stopped at the Avebury stone circles and let me just say ALL THE OUTLANDER VIBES. If you read the books or watch the show you know it’s about a woman named Claire falling through standing stone circle and meeting the hot, I mean noble, James Fraser . I had no idea that there are so many circles and people still have no idea why they were built. While not as perfectly formed as Stonehenge there are way more standing rocks in Avebury. I didn’t hear any weird humming and I didn’t fall through a time hole, but none the less I was moved by the stones. They are huge and seeing a picture doesn’t do it justice. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when they went up, like seriously I can only imagine the conversations.

Hey what if we put up a bunch of stone circles and not say why…but that’s crazy man why would we do that…just to mess with people in the future…brilliant dude let’s do it!

Maybe it wouldn’t be exactly like that, but you catch my drift. It’s a fascinating piece of history and all jokes aside a very moving place to take a walk. You can feel the age of the ground and its inspiring to say the least. 

We ended our day at Castle Combe Village, and I have expected to see Snow White walking up the street with a deer. Seriously ,this place is just something out of a fairy tale. Plus, the residents name their homes and one is the Unicorn Lodge and I feel a real connection to that house. I can 100% agree with the vote for Castle Combe Village to be the prettiest village in England. Cobblestone streets with bubbling creeks and houses from a book, it’s amazing, I would move there but it’s pricey, so I will just stay a visitor for now. 

After a long day we took the bus back to Bath and I just have to say it was truly one of the best days of travel I have had!

Now that I have told you all about the tour and the company here are my thoughts. I would with no doubt in my mind recommend Mad Max tour company! The cost truly doesn’t do the tour justice. They under promise and over deliver which is what I love to see in a tour company. They truly support the community of Bath and the surrounding areas. Mad Max tours will provide you with new information, show you awesome places and treat you like royalty!

 You may be thinking I could rent a car and do it on my own, why pay? I agree and have thought that myself many times but let me tell you why a tour is a better choice. Would you know the history of the white horse on the hill, or would you even notice? What about the origin of what a thatch roofer is or about their special seal? Would you have early access to Stonehenge and knowledge without Google? Tour companies like this are worth the money because you are investing in your education as a world traveler. While you can learn as you go sometimes having a local tell you about it will embed a piece of that place. Its authentic and something really hard to replicate. 

Give Mad Max tours a shot and spend more than a day in Bath and you will not be disappointed! 

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• Most travelers can participate
• Green Route runs from 10:00am - 6:00pm, every 60 minutes. Duration - 120 minutes. First stop - Bolotnaya Square.
• Orange Route (currently suspended) runs from 10:30am - 6:30pm, every 30 minutes. Duration - 140 minutes. First stop - Museum of Cosmonautics
• Walking tour runs daily at 10:45am. Duration - 2 hours 30 minutes. Meeting point - Next to monument of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
• Boat tour operates 5th May - 20th October, from 11:30am - 6:30pm. Duration - 60 minutes. Meeting point - Zaryadye Park Pier.
• Mobile and paper vouchers are accepted for this tour.
• Vouchers can be redeemed at any of the stops along the routes.
• Vouchers are valid for 12 months
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• DebbJ 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Great way to get oriented to Moscow We started our Moscow experience with the hop on hop off. It was a great way to get orientated to the city. The additional optional tours were also good, we did the Metro tour which I highly recommend, we also paid for the Kremlin tour. The hop on hop off has three different lines all included. Only fault was the bus was sometimes full and you had to wait for the next one which was about 15 minutes (in the cold). Read more Written January 6, 2020
• UmaDelhi 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 2 days are required Very very good audio guides- the voice quality was also good and also the anecdotes of history were brilliant. Russia is truly beautiful Read more Written September 1, 2019
• BeverleyT 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Boat trip - TERRIBLE We got on the bus, but couldn’t buy a 1 day ticket. They suggested we do the 1 hour boat trip and said they would drop us to the dock. 1) they dropped us in the wrong place 2) they were lost because of the marathon Then the boat, after we finally found it: 1) stinking fumes, actually gagging 2) no commentary, in fact, no interaction unless you begged 3) offered us 2 for 1 icecreams as they had melted and refrozen as the fridge gets turned off at night Honestly, we enjoyed the afternoon in the boat but spent all of it laughing at just how awful it was!!! The worst thing in Moscow! Read more Written August 18, 2019
• niruDurbs 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Not the best value for the price The ticket is quite expensive and covers three different routes in a 24 hour period. The red route is quite exciting and takes about an hour. The bus comes every 10 to 15 minutes. However the other two routes take about two hours each and buses come every 30 to 40 minute period. If the bus is full then you have to wait at the stop for the next bus. So personally I feel that not much can be seen this way. I definitely was not impressed. However it must be noted that one can learn a lot about the history of Moscow Read more Written July 3, 2019
• IrishCueTravel 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles SLO Motion Not all their fault , but if you plan on trying this Attraction be patient! Traffic is a big problem first and foremost. But to add additional unnecessary delays; the bus stops at each site for 15 minutes at a time or More ! I gave up half way through ( 45 minutes) ; and walked back to the starting point in 10 minutes! Read more Written June 4, 2019
• michael g 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Worst hop on/hop off EVER Waited for 40 minutes in the cold rain for a bus that never came... unacceptable. Traffic is so bad that when on a bus the previos day it was barely moving. My advice-get a subway pass and a good travel guide book and do sightseeing on your own! Read more Written October 24, 2018
• Rebecca J 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Boat element was excellent We purchased a ticket online for the boat and bus for 2 days. The boat element was wonderful, we saw some amazing parts of Moscow along the river side. The bus element was very disappointing as it only started at 10am and was finished by 6:30pm. It was extremely warm when we were there and it would have been great to do the tour in the cool of the day. There was also no air conditioning in the down stairs part of the bus. They also turned away passengers at one of the stops as the bus was full and there was not another bus for 40 minutes. Read more Written September 26, 2018
• Monismith2014 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles it was very enjoyable it was very interesting seeing things we saw walking around from the bus. so much more to see. we had a lot better view of the attractions from the height of the bus.also the bus was reasonable slow which gave us time enough for photos. it stopped at sparrow hill for 10 minutes for picture taking Read more Written September 20, 2018
• fati666222 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles The best way to see Moscow We did both routes but if you have little time then only do the red route.Its very informative and it takes you to the important sights.The staff on the bus are very friendly and helpful. Read more Written August 20, 2018
• adolfo17 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles The worst hope-on hope-off service I've ever seen Diffiult to understand the route maps and stops. Staff wouldn't help either. Lengthy stops. No air conditioning. Read more Written August 4, 2018
• Peter F 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Two Routes There is a short red route which depending on the traffic takes about an hour. The route is generally around the Red Square area. The ear phones were small and sometimes the commentary did not link up with the sites you were seeing. The green bus takes you on a longer route and ours took two and a half hours due to the heavy traffic. I would not recommend this trip unless it is raining or you want to fill in time. The sights we saw were nothing outstanding with plenty of time at certain stops for photos. Also the driver stop for a bite to eat at one stop. Read more Written July 30, 2018
• Bernardo P 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Boat Trips Moscow, Russia Yesterday, I booked a boat trip with the GetYourGuide.com web page and was totally horrible, didn’t have audio guide as it shows on the picture-Nobody Talk-. The girl on the picture-light blue bag-ask for 100 Rubles for show her the QR Code while I had the Booking and PIN number cause she must see the vessel name-Didn’t say nothing and after she said board any vessel. I suggest take the trip and pay on site, avoid fake internet pages, there are many other services with a lot of entertainment, don’t take this ones. Read more Written July 14, 2018
• Kathrynowl91 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Good way to see some sites We usually do these tours when we travel. They get you round and you see the sight . The traffic is quite heavy so it is a bit slow but there is not a lot they can do about it. We only did the red route. Just a note people don’t queue here when the bus comes it’s a bit of a free for all. Read more Written July 13, 2018
• Daniyal91 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Was Ok.! Started our tour of moscow from here, We had got the 2 Day Pass with the boat ride. The route and the map was good but not well managed. The bus didn't stop at many points. Were were unaware a couple of times at what point we were and missed them. Headphones and maps were provided. Would recommend one should check out the route map before going and decide which places to stop in advance, this way one can manage and enjoy the tour more and us it more effectively.! The boat ride was Ok, a little crowded. No guide provided, just a boat ride with restaurant service Read more Written July 12, 2018
• WilliamDyer 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Poor service on boat and too many waiting times on buses For the price, you should expect at minimum English speaking tour guides with decent experience, but at least in my case that did not happen both in buses and boats. And in the boat even tough we were 90% English speaking tourist at least, the tour guide spoke 95% of the time in Russia, and only 3 sentences in English, I really counted how many times she spoke in English. And at the end she asks us if we have any questions? Of course I told her I couldn’t ask her anything since I didn’t understand 95% of what she was saying. The boat tour is not worth it, just take the bus that would be my advice. Second minus is the waiting times, in the boat they made us wait an hour before it departed, and in many stops with the buses waiting times of 20-30 minutes. I actually think I lost that day around 2 hours doing nothing. Be careful. Read more Written July 10, 2018

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

City Sightseeing Moscow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise provided by City Sightseeing Moscow

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Moscow’s best free city tour

I love Moscow – this charming metropolis, its people, its history and its unique cityscape. I would like to share my passion for this city with you. It is my job to show you the most exciting corners of this fascinating metropolis. That’s why, as a travel specialist and your private tour guide Moscow in Russia, I organize a guided free city tour Moscow – so that everyone, regardless of their budget, would be able to enjoy the insider’s view of Moscow.

You get to see what only Moscow residents know and what other tourist guides keep from you. I am a licensed travel specialist in Russia and would like you to enjoy all facets of the capital of the largest country in the world, without demanding any money from you. I’ll show you the city on my free Moscow walking tour for 1.5-hours on foot.

Everything you need to know:

• My tours take place daily by arrangement, I am the only English-speaking licensed tourist guide Moscow, who offers a free city tour.
• My 1.5-hour free tours Moscow do not cost you a cent, I also offer other great paid tours as well.
• I am an experienced local, I make the tours informative, but at the same time relaxed and not off the plane.

Free Tours Moscow – Daily

My free tours Moscow city starts on Slavonic Square (Kitay-Gorod Metro Station), passes the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible on the south side of Red Square in the 16th century and where the tsars were once crowned. Then it goes across the Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the luxury department store GUM and with a view of the Kremlin towards the historical museum. Of course, you will also learn more about the stories that once happened behind the thick walls of the Kremlin – from the Tsars and Napoleon to Stalin. Then we continue through the idyllic Alexander Garden.

An advance booking is required!

Practical information:

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price: Free Language: English

«First acquaintance with Moscow» – a 2.5-hour city tour in the center of Moscow

This Moscow city tour starts on the Theater Square, past Lubyanka Square and the KGB-building, then through Kitay Gorod district and Varvarka Street, past the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then it goes across Zarjadje Park, over Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the GUM-department store and towards the Historical Museum. We walk through the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2.5 hours Price: 17 $ Students and children: 6 $ Language: English

A 3.5-hour car/bus tour of Moscow.

This is the best tour of Moscow city as all the important sights are visited. I am your Moscow city guide who will walk you through the city explaining the charming history of the city. This tour begins with picking you up from the hotel. 3 breaks are offered for photographing.

First, we will visit the most famous riverside streets and bridges in the center of the city with the most beautiful views of the Kremlin and the Moskva River (e.g. the Kremlin embankment and the Great Stone Bridge).

The first photo break is made at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We then pass by the district with numerous museums, Prechistinka Street and the district with numerous medical areas.

We again stop at the Novodevichy Convent, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the other bank of the Moskva River to click pictures.

Then we visit “Sparrow Hills” where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city of Moscow from the observation deck. Then there are the skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Kutuzov avenue, the New Arbat, Tverskaya Street, the world-famous Bolshoi Theater, the KGB building and Varvarka Street. Here there are ample spots to click pictures.

We then drive past the Kremlin again and finally reach Red Square. We take a short tour of Red Square and say goodbye in the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 3.5 hours Price for a group: 170-200 $ (depending on the number of travelers) Language: English

Metro tour – daily

Palaces for ordinary people – that was what Stalin promised to the people when the construction of the Moscow Metro began between the World Wars. The communist dictator hadn’t promised too much. No other underground system in the world can boast such spectacular architecture – chandeliers, decorations, stucco, paintings on the walls – each station is individually designed. No wonder that Moscow residents love their metro. I will guide you through the bustle of one of the busiest subways in the world and show you the most beautiful stations Moscow city has.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: Metro tickets / the guided tour

Tour of Communist Moscow – every day

After the Communist October Revolution in 1918, Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Empire and was the center of socialist orbit for more than 70 years. This left its mark on Moscow, even if the USSR disintegrated more than a quarter of a century ago. The city streets are full of remnants of the communist regime and the Cold War. This is a walking tour where I will show you the most exciting places in Soviet Moscow: from the notorious KGB headquarters, also known as Lubyanka to the Karl Marx Monument to small hidden remains from the time of hammer and sickle. You will also learn about Stalin’s Great Terror political campaign and the system of the GULAG and how the USSR, the communist Russian republic, became modern Russia.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour

Alternative Moscow Tour – daily

Explore the unseen Moscow with your Moscow private guide and discover a range of sights during this alternative walking tour.  Away from the main tourist spots (in the central district of Kitay-Gorod), just a short walk from Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, you suddenly find yourself in one of the trendiest districts of Moscow. This place not only has trendy cafes and green squares, but here you can see the most beautiful spray works (according to Albrecht Dürer), hangout-places of the youth and hipsters, as well as learn what Moscow looked like in the 19th century. Here you will also learn exciting and even bloody stories about famous gangsters, eccentric business people and legends like the wandering preacher Rasputin, who is known in Russia either as the “holy devil” or the mad monk. To learn a little more about Moscow’s culture, this is the tour for you. On my alternative tour, you will get to know Moscow away from the tourist hotspots. This tour is of 2 hours duration and you will experience the following on the tour:

• St. John’s Hill, a quiet oasis right in the center, where time has stopped as it did in pre-Communist times
• Khokhlovka Art Center, where Russian hipsters and street artists hang out
• Samoskvorechye District where you can see beautiful streets and hear stories from old Moscow

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour / tram ticket

Kremlin tour – daily (closed on Thursday)

With its 20 towers and high walls, the Kremlin rises imposingly over Red Square. This world-famous fortress with its area of ​​28 hectares is home to over 800 years of Russian history. Described as the eighth wonder of the world, this historic fortress complex is the principal symbol of Russia that sits on the banks of the Moscow River. Today the Kremlin still harbors numerous secrets and has palaces and cathedrals, surrounded by Kremlin Wall. The current wall was constructed between the 15 th  and 16 th  centuries, but the original wall was made of wood around the year 1147. The Kremlin Wall became an important symbol of Moscow’s importance in the Russian Empire. This top tourist destination attracts millions of people every year and there are various sights to see. With my Kremlin tour, you will see the oldest square in the city in the heart of the Kremlin, the once largest cannon in the world and the scene of numerous dramas – from Ivan the Terrible and Napoleon to Stalin. You cannot miss this unique experience.

An advance booking and prepayment for tickets are required.

Time: by arrangement, daily (closed on Thursday) Duration: 2 hours Price on request Students and children: on request Language: English Included in the price: Kremlin tickets / the guided tour

Moscow pub crawl – Friday / Saturday

Experience the real nightlife of Moscow with my Moscow Pub Crawl and enjoy 4 pubs/bars plus 4 welcome shot drinks. Move from one bar to another and get to know travelers from around the world as well as the locals. Play fun adventure games and contests in addition to getting perks in the bars. Between the bars, move from one place to another on foot. The routes are organized as such that you will walk no more than 10 minutes between the bars. Visit the most exciting events, parties, concerts, and dance in the bars. Moscow Pub Crawl is a tour that you will never forget.

This tour runs every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 PM and you need to bring along your passport or an ID card, comfortable shoes, and wear smart casual clothes.

An advance booking and a small prepayment are required!

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 4 hours Price on request Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour, 4 shot drinks

1.5-hour boat trip on the Moskva River.

Taking a boat tour in Moscow on the Moskva River is a very pleasant experience. It allows you to know the city from a totally different perspective and admire the beautiful bridges. In this 1.5-hour river trip, you will sail past many beautiful sites in Moscow, so you can take the best photos to commemorate this day. The ship makes several stops on the way. The trip starts from the Ustinskiy Bridge near Sarjadje Park and ends at the Kiev train station.

On this Boat Trip, you can see sights such as: the former Imperial Education House, Sarjadje Park, the “flowing”, “floating” bridge, the most beautiful view of the Kremlin, the Great Stone Bridge, the legendary House on the Quay, the Christ the Savior Cathedral , the monument to Peter the Great on the ship, the central sports arena Luzhniki, the Sparrow Hills, 240 meters high Lomonosov University, the numerous architecturally spectacular skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Novodevichy Convent, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price on request Language: English

A military tour – riding on tanks in Stupino (Moscow region)

Russian Military is one of the largest military forces in the world formed in 1992. With my Military Tour experience what it likes to be in the Russian military, shooting guns, ride the Tank T-34 and various models of German tanks from the Second World War, as well as armored personnel carriers and vehicles. You will also shoot from the AK-47 and another combat weapon.

The tour will begin with your private tour guide Moscow in a Soviet army van accompanied with some tasty snacks and tea for a tasty start. Upon arriving, you will have to put on the army safety clothing and climb the Russian armored vehicles. The tour will take you on the noisy, smoky tank, driving through mud roads. All participants will get the chance to drive the tank which is coordinated by the Russian military.

Time: by arrangement, daily Price on request Language: English

Alexander Popov

Welcome to Russia! My name is Alexander, I was born in Moscow and I'm a passionate tour guide. I want to share my passion for Russia and my hometown with you. On my website you will find useful information to make your individual trip to Russia as interesting as possible.

Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills: Green Lungs, place to relax and meet

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