golden tours bus london

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For groups of 12 or more, you may send us an inquiry at [email protected]. Although we do not guarantee bulk deals for all our tours, there are some tours for which we can offer discounted pricing. Ordinary hop-on-hop-off bus tickets are entitled to group savings. Attractions, pass items and combo tickets aren't.

Due the nature of this type of tour and varying demand, group travellers should be aware that there is no guarantee that the group will be able to travel altogether as the available seats vary from stop to stop and depends on demand each day. The group may need to split up and/or wait for the next bus(s).

As, we cannot guarantee that the group shall be able to travel together as one group, therefore we will reduce the group size down to 4-5 smaller groups per ticket (depending upon group size).

Golden Tours: London Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

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Lowest Price Guarantee *

Select Date, Travellers and Ticket

• For 1 Day, 24, 48, or 72 hours, you may hop on and off across London.
• Take in sights such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and more.
• Savor a free Thames River boat.
• Take advantage of free cancellations for increased convenience.
• Smartphone Voucher Accepted (No need to print!)

With our Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, you can explore the city at your own leisure and experience the bustling pulse of London. Whether you choose the 72-hour ticket or the one-day pass, you will have unrestricted access to many stops across the city, which will link you to famous sites like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Get free walking tours and river cruises with educated locals to add even more value to your trip. Additionally offered are multilingual audio tours and live guides, which guarantee a unique and engaging sightseeing experience. This adaptable method of exploring London blends the attractiveness of its ancient past with the attraction of its modern lifestyle. With the added bonus of free cancellations, our excursions are the perfect way to fully see London's distinct blend of modern and tradition.

With our Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, you can enjoy unmatched flexibility and an immersive exploration of the most prominent landmarks in the city as you set out on an enthralling adventure through the heart of London. With pass choices ranging from 24 to 72 hours, you can customize your experience to fit your schedule and have plenty of time to explore London's vibrant mix of history, culture, and modernity at your own pace. Our painstakingly designed itineraries accommodate a diverse range of interests. With stops at the iconic Big Ben, the ancient Tower of London, and the magnificent London Eye, among other famous sites, the Classic Tour (Blue Route) takes you through the busy streets of Central London. The Essential Tour (Red Route), which gives a thorough rundown of all of London's must-see sights, including stops at Hyde Park, Westminster Abbey, and Covent Garden for those who are eager to see the city's core. The Museum Tour (Orange Route) is a must-do for history aficionados and cultural vultures alike, providing convenient access to London's internationally recognized museums and royal locations. Your exploration endeavors will be smooth and hassle-free thanks to our Morning and Evening Drop-off Service (Yellow and Green Routes), which guarantees simple transportation from West London to the city center. Enjoy a free riverboat ride on the Thames to complement your sightseeing experience. With this lovely addition to your ticket, you may choose to launch from Westminster or Tower Millennium Pier and get a unique perspective of London's skyline. Select from informative live commentary or captivating audio tours to provide intriguing context to your trip and learn more about London's famous sites. We also offer a complimentary walking tour, as part of our all-inclusive package. Choose between taking the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour, which will take you through the footsteps of Victorian London's most notorious person, and the Royal London Walking Tour, which will take you through the city's magnificent palaces and regal past. These knowledgeable guided tours make your trip even more memorable by providing close-up looks at London's colorful past. Our trips have a free cancellation policy that lets you cancel up to the night before departure for a full refund since we recognize how important flexibility is. Upon your initial hop-on, your ticket becomes active and is good for the duration you select, giving you unrestricted use of our services. Our service is based on accessibility; all of our buses have a lower deck that can hold one wheelchair and one fold-away stroller. Families will enjoy a family-friendly experience as children under five ride free. We also provide you access to the Golden Tours City Guide App at no extra cost, which puts comprehensive bus timetables and navigation help right at your fingertips to help you with your exploration. Our Arrival/Departure Bus tours serve as a link between London's vibrant present and its distinguished past, offering visitors more than simply an easy way to explore the city. We welcome you to discover the essence of London by fusing accessibility with a wealth of expertise, allowing you to personally see the exquisite fusion of historical grandeur and modern flare that characterizes this legendary city.

• 1 Day, 24/ 48/ 72-Hour London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
• Valid for All Routes
• Audio Guides in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic
• Live English Guide available on the Blue Route
• Complimentary Thames River Boat Tour (One Way) - with 48 and 72 hours
• Free Walking Tour (Jack The Ripper Walking Tour and/or the Coronation Walking Tour)
• Free Wi-Fi On-Board
• Entrance Fees (Unless specified)
• Hotel Transfers

Redemption Info

You can board the bus at any stop and voucher can be exchanged directly with the driver on board. Each of our stops will be clearly signposted Golden Tours Hop on Hop Off/London Tour Bus. Mobile vouchers accepted on board. You will receive a ticket in exchange for your voucher, which you must keep until the expiry date/ tour. Please check your ticket to know when it expires. After exchanging your voucher for a ticket, your voucher will no longer be valid. In loss of voucher/ticket, company is not liable for any refund. We recommend, please do the online check-in   https://www.gttickets.com/en/london/online-check-in Note: The tickets are only valid on the travel date selected date at the time of booking.  

Know Before You Go

Useful downloads, cancellation policy, other london bus tours.

Golden Tours: London Hop On, Hop Off with Westminster Abbey

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Golden tours london - in-depth review of the hop-on hop-off bus for 2024.

Updated: 2 days ago

If you're exploring London, you've probably heard of Golden Tours. They're a popular sightseeing tour operator that's been in the city for a while. They offer all sorts of tours, from hop-on hop-off bus adventures to day trips to incredible places like Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle, among many others.

DoubleDeckerLondon is reader supported. If you make a purchase through some of our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

  Summary:  

Unique route design 

Affordable  tour options

Live guides (certain tours)

Extensive array of languages

London Pass

            Check online for ticket deals

Table of contents

1. why choose golden tours, 2. advantages over other companies.

3. Things to consider  

4. Getting the most out of your bus tour experience

5. Aditional tours on offer by Golden Tours  

6. Routes and Timetable    

7. Available Tickets  

8. Conclusion  of our Golden Tours London review

Golden Tours has quite a history behind it. While they didn't start with hop-on hop-off buses back in 1984, they've gained a lot of experience in the field since then. The fact that they've lasted this long is a good sign that they're doing something right.

I found Golden Tours' aproach to the route design quite unique. While most of the other tours are running almost identical routes, their unique approach could fit some travelers better. 

You'll observe that each company strives to distinguish itself from competitors, a positive trend for us tourists as it leads to continuous improvements in the tours.

Highly rated live guides

Cheapest Family ticket

Commentary in multiple languages

London Pass holders travel for free

Check online for ticket deals

Live guides

Currently, Golden Tours stands as the primary tour bus provider offering live guides on selected blue route departures, with TopView being an exception by also offering this unique feature. According to highly positive reviews on TripAdvisor, Golden Tours is known for its exceptional live guides who provide an outstanding experience. (Remember to ask the friendly staff about their live guided bus options).

Affordable tickets

In this current market, every little helps. One thing I like about Golden Tours is that they cater to all budgets. They also have one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest family ticket out there when booked online .

Audio guides  

Golden Tours outshines its competitors, including Big Bus and Toot, by offering a more extensive array of languages for their commentary. With audio guides available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese, and Arabic, they make sure that a wider variety of international visitors can truly enjoy their London tour.

Golden Tours accepts the London Pass , allowing pass holders to utilize their services while enjoying the benefits of the pass.

The most economic choice for families, you can purchase a ticket for the whole family for around £80 .

3. Things to consider

longer waiting times

navigating the map

limited buses around Hyde Park

Longer waiting times

After observing them for a while and consulting other people's opinions, I've found that Golden Tours usually has longer waiting times than its top competitors. While there are cases when the difference is minimal, at most of the major stops, you can easily spot the distinction. You can overcome this easily by downloading their bus tracking app and planning accordingly.

In my opinion sightseeing maps should be as easy to read as possible. The last thing you want is to waste a lot of time figuring out where the bus goes, or even worse, hopping on the wrong line. I've found that Golden Tours' map can be a bit more challenging and confusing to read compared to some of its competitors. To simplify your journey, I recommend relying on their app . The easiest way to do this is to remove all other routes except the one you're currently focusing on.

Another important thing that I have noticed is that Golden Tours usually concludes its services earlier in the day in comparison to many of its competitors. Additionally, as the day progresses, you might notice a reduction in bus frequency.

You have to try the Red Route to experience the best of London! You get to see Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Madame Tussauds, King's Cross, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Piccadilly Circus and many more.

Blue Route. If you have limited time or you prefer live guides, the blue route is the ideal choice. It's all about Central London and its iconic landmarks, giving you a packed but fulfilling sightseeing adventure. Also perfect for travelers short on time!

Unlock more tips for maximizing your London adventure by checking out our blog post: The best itinerary for one day in London .

5. Aditional tours on offer by Golden Tours

London by Night

Afternoon Tea Bus : We have dedicated an entire blog post to this experience, make sure you check it here to find out more.

Windsor , Stonehenge , Bath and others

If you find yourself in Windsor or York, Golden Tours extends their open-top bus tours to these destinations.

6. Routes and Timetable

As of now, Golden Tours offers four distinct tours :

The Classic Tour (Blue Route)

The Essential Tour (Red Route)

The Museum Tour (Orange Route)

The Morning and Evening Drop-off Service (Yellow and Green Routes)

A detailed timetable for each route can be found here . Remember to always check the app for the latest updated information.

7. Available Tickets

One-day ticket

24, 48, and 72 hrs

Ultimate London Experience

Pro tip : If you're planning to book some incredible out-of-town experiences they are some of the best in the field with years of experience, and their tours are highly rated. A mong the top recommended out-of-town experiences, Golden Tours offers trips to Stonehenge , Windsor , Bath , and the highly sought-after Harry Potter Tour .

We've created a dedicated blog post just for the Harry Potter tour to give it the attention it deserves, which you can find here .

8. Conclusion of our Golden Tours London review  

Golden Tours undoubtedly adds its unique flair to the realm of London hop-on-hop-off buses. While its TripAdvisor reviews may not match those of the top two companies, you can still enjoy a fantastic experience, perhaps even better than with others.

If our Golden Tours London review captivated your interest, be sure to explore our assessment of other tours   here   and discover valuable travel tips   here .

Getting tickets

Booking online is significantly cheaper than purcharsing tickets on the bus .

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Golden Tours (Gray Line) hop-on hop-off open top bus tour

Hop-on hop-off double deck open top sightseeing bus tour with tickets for 24, 48 or 72-hours

Golden Tours London hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour

Explore London on a double-decker open-top sightseeing bus tour that allows you to hop on and off at your leisure. Choose from 24, 48, or 72-hour ticket options.

Golden Tours offers one of the three main hop-on hop-off sightseeing tours in London. In addition to the bus tour, they also provide guided coach tours from London to popular destinations like Windsor, Stonehenge, and Oxford.

For a unique experience, you can combine your Golden Tours bus ticket with a visit to the Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Golden Tours is the only tour operator that offers a fully live-guided tour on their 1.5-hour Express ticket, which is not hop-on, hop-off.

What’s included

• Unlimited travel for 24, 48, or 72 hours on the Golden Tours London sightseeing bus network, covering all major attractions in Central London.
• Enjoy a free one-way river cruise as part of your ticket.
• Join complimentary walking tours of the Coronation and/or Jack the Ripper sites.
• Experience 4 open-top sightseeing routes with recorded commentary available in 11 languages.
• Take part in a 90-minute open-top bus tour with an English-speaking guide.
• Benefit from a flexible cancellation policy allowing a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour.
• Stay connected with free Wi-Fi on all buses.

Golden Tours Ticket Options

Discover the various ticket options offered by Golden Tours for an immersive sightseeing experience in London.

Golden Tours Duration Options

Choose from flexible durations of 24, 48, or 72 hours for your Golden Tours adventure. Select the ticket that suits your itinerary and explore London at your own pace.

Golden Tours with or without River Cruise

Customize your experience by deciding whether you want to include the Thames river cruise with your Golden Tours ticket. Opt for the package that best matches your interests and preferences.

Best Price Guarantee

Enjoy peace of mind when you purchase your Golden Tours tickets directly from their website. Benefit from the best price guarantee, ensuring you get the most value for your money.

Golden Tours Advance Tickets

Secure your tickets in advance through the easy online booking system. Simply make the payment with your credit or debit card and receive an instant confirmation email with your printable ticket.

Easy Redemption Process

Join the tour at any Golden Tours bus stop by exchanging your email voucher for the physical tickets. Your adventure begins when you board the first bus, allowing you to make the most of your chosen duration.

Plan your Golden Tours experience and embark on a memorable journey through the iconic sights of London.

Golden Tours Routes and Buses

Explore London’s iconic landmarks and attractions with Golden Tours’ comprehensive bus routes. With the hop-on, hop-off ticket, you have the freedom to switch between routes as you please.

The Classic Tour (Blue Route)

Discover all the major sights in Central London, including the renowned Museum Quarter. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of the city.

The Essential Tour (Red Route)

Experience famous landmarks like Madame Tussauds, Kings Cross, Hyde Park, and Regents Park. Take in the beauty of London’s picturesque parks along this route.

The Morning and Evening Drop off Service (Yellow and Green Routes)

Designed for convenience, these routes operate in the morning and late afternoon, providing transportation from popular hotel districts to Central London.

Golden Tours Route Map

Refer to the comprehensive route map of Golden Tours to plan your sightseeing itinerary and make the most of your London adventure.

Frequencies and Operating Hours

Buses run every 5-10 minutes at major tourist points and approximately every 10-20 minutes at the outer reaches of the network. The main routes commence around 8:30 am to 9 am and gradually wind down from 5 pm.

Guides and Audio Guides

Enhance your experience with Golden Tours’ audio guides, available in 11 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Indian, Japanese, and Arabic. While live guides are not currently available, there is a dedicated 90-minute route, the Open Top London Bus Tour With Live Guide, accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of London with Golden Tours’ extensive bus routes and informative audio guides. Discover the city at your own pace and create unforgettable memories.

With Warner Bros Studio Tour

Golden Tours 4-Hour Hop-On Bus + Warner Bros Studio Tour London – Harry Potter Magic

Embark on a magical journey into the world of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Enjoy exceptional value with a 4-hour hop-on bus tour of London’s iconic sights, including round-trip transportation and entrance tickets to the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

Discover the wonders of The Great Hall, Harry’s bedroom, the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, and the enchanting Forbidden Forest.

Join us for an unforgettable adventure through the magical realm of Harry Potter!

Click the link to book your tickets

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter – what to expect

With Merlin attraction pass 

The Ultimate London Experience

Book your Tickets here

Enjoy complete flexibility with this pass. You can select a 1-day or 24-hour hop-on bus tour of London and choose three or all five of the exciting Merlin attractions.

As an added bonus, your hop-on bus pass includes a complimentary Thames river cruise.

Experience a fantastic combination of top London attractions with this incredible bundle.

River Cruise  

Free Thames river cruise with Thames River Cruising

Enjoy a complimentary river trip included in your Golden Tours hop-on, hop-off bus ticket. The river service that the Golden Tours ticket covers runs from the Westminster Pier by Big Ben to the Greenwich Pier in the east, with several stops along the way.

Cruises are for one-way only.

Frequencies are approximately every 20 minutes in the summer and every 30-40 minutes in the winter.

Note – the river cruise is not included in the one calendar day ticket.

Walking tours  

Free walking tours with Golden Tours hop on buses

Explore the dark secrets of London with a complimentary Jack The Ripper Walking Tour or embark on a majestic Coronation Walking Tour during your Golden Tours hop-on bus journey.

Uncover the haunting locations where crucial clues were found and immerse yourself in the chilling enigma of Jack The Ripper’s crimes.

Alternatively, embark on a captivating 2-hour stroll through the city, discovering the grandeur of Royal sites and gaining insights into historic and contemporary coronations. Unearth intriguing details like the favored cigarette shop of The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth’s preferred off-license store.

Add-ons to Golden Tours tours & themed tours 

In addition to the regular hop-on bus services, Golden Tours offers various other options for you to choose from.

These include:

1. Night tours

2. Christmas lights tours

3. Add-on for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

4. 90-minute non-stop open-top bus ride with a live guide providing commentary

Click on the banner below for more information.

Golden Tours also provides bundled packages that combine their top London attractions with the hop-on bus service.

Choose from:

1. Tower of London with hop-on bus

2. View from the Shard with hop-on bus

3. Westminster Abbey with hop-on bus

4. St. Paul’s Cathedral with hop-on bus

5. SEA LIFE with hop-on bus

6. The London Dungeon with hop-on bus

7. Madame Tussauds with hop-on bus

8. London Eye with hop-on bus

9. Shrek’s Adventure! London with hop-on bus

Golden Tours included with London Pass 

The London Pass is a convenient sightseeing pass that allows you entry to many of London’s main attractions. It is available for 1, 2, 3, 6, or 10-day durations.

With the London Pass, you can access over 60 popular tourist attractions in London and enjoy a river cruise on the River Thames.

Additionally, the London Pass now includes the option to use either Golden Tours or Big Bus hop-on hop-off buses for one full day, regardless of the duration of your London Pass.

Important points about the London Pass Hop-on Hop-off bus offer:

•  You can choose to ride on either Golden Tours or Big Bus hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses for one calendar day. Tootbus (Original London Tour) is not included.
•  The Hop-on Hop-off bus offer is valid for one calendar day, not for 24 hours.
•  Most people use the Hop-on Hop-off facility on the first day of their London Pass, but you can use it on any day within the validity of your London Pass.
•  The Hop-on Hop-off bus offer with the London Pass does not include walking tours and river cruises provided by the respective bus companies. However, the London Pass already includes a separate river cruise.
• -When boarding the first bus, you need to show your London Pass to the driver or tour guide who will scan it and provide you with a separate ticket for the chosen bus company. This ticket will be valid for the rest of the day. Once you start with one bus company, you cannot switch to the other company on the same day.

Golden Tours compared with Tootbus & Big Bus  

When it comes to coverage in London, all three hop-on hop-off bus operations visit the same areas and major attractions in the city.

Live Guides:

Golden Tours is the only company that offers a regular service with live guides, but this is not a hop-on-hop-off bus. Instead, it is a fixed 90-minute tour, priced similarly to the hop-on bus.

Commentaries:

All three companies use pre-recorded commentaries for their hop-on bus services, though the number of languages offered may vary. However, during special promotional periods, Tootbus sometimes provides a special service with an expert live guide. These tours operate on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed (though they run hourly).

Ticket Durations:

All operators offer tickets valid for 24 and 48 hours. Tootbus and Golden Tours also offer 72-hour tickets. Additionally, Tootbus offers a 1.5-hour Bar Bus ticket, while Golden Tours has a fully guided 1.5-hour Express ticket.

Evening Tours:

All three operators offer evening tours. Big Bus includes a separate evening tour with their Premium and Deluxe tickets. For more details, please visit their respective websites.

Walking Tours:

Golden Tours and Big Bus offer professionally guided walking tours included with selected tickets. Golden Tours offers the Jack The Ripper Walking Tour or Coronation Walking Tour. Big Bus offers three free tours with their Essential and Explore tickets: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour, City of London Walking Tour, and Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. Each tour lasts 1.5 hours. Big Bus currently offers a Royal-themed hop-on bus tour called “A Big Royal Adventure” along with a 45-minute Royal Walking Tour. Tootbus does not offer guided walking tours but provides the option to download “Tootwalk” to your phone, which includes three self-guided walks.

River Cruises:

Two different river cruise operators, City Cruises and Thames River Sightseeing, are used. Golden Tours and Tootbus offer tickets without the river cruise, making them cheaper. All Big Bus tickets include the river cruise. Please note that river cruises are one-way only.

Add-on Attractions or Alternative Tours:

Golden Tours offers a range of attractions as add-ons to the basic 4-hour hop-on bus ticket. Discount London allows you to purchase discounted bundles of Big Bus tickets and top London attractions. Through the Big Bus official website, you can also add-on tickets for Madame Tussauds, Tower of London, and London Eye Fast Track. Tootbus does not currently offer add-on attractions but provides alternative tours such as a Windsor hop-on bus tour and a popular Kids tour.

For a detailed discussion on the differences between the companies, click on the provided banner.

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Golden Tours London: Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus

Activity schedule, key highlights.

• Inclusions & Exclusions

Your bus tickets are valid for 1 day, 24, 48 or 72 hours (you can take your pick!)

River Cruise: 30 minutes.

Hop-on, Hop-off: 9am to 5pm, every 30 minutes

River Cruise: Please check USEFUL DOWNLOAD section.

You can hop on to the bus from any of the stops .

Circular Cruise Westminster boats depart from Westminster pier 

You can hop off the bus at any of the stops

Please check USEFUL DOWNLOADS.

• Discover London on a fun-filled and flexible hop-on, hop-off bus tour
• Covers major attractions including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Madame Tussauds and more
• Choose from a validity of 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours to discover the city at your own pace
• Enjoy a relaxing Thames Cruise included with the ticket
• Both printed or smartphone vouchers accepted!

Enjoy the perfect introduction to the UK’s historic capital with this action-packed London hop-on, hop-off tour!  Ride past all the key attractions covered by strategically located stops. Enjoy a multilingual audio guide and learn fascinating facts about the things you see. 

FREE River Thames Cruise: Enjoy an enthralling hop-on, hop-off River Thames boat ride and admire London’s attractions and landmarks, between Westminster and St Katherine’s Pier. Valid for 24 hours, you hop on and off as many times as you wish. The cruise is operated by Circular Cruise Westminster.

ATTRACTIONS COVERED

• Buckingham Palace 
• Tower of London
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Madame Tussauds
• London Eye.
• Tower Bridge
• Trafalgar Square
• Parliament Square
• Westminster Abbey
• St James’ Palace

…. And more!

Please check the Useful Downloads section for the route map and cruise timetable.

• 24 hour/48 hour/72 hour hop On, hop Off bus ticket
• Complimentary river cruise with 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours ticket
• Audio Guide available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic
• Free Wi-Fi on open-top buses
• Entrances to attractions, unless specified
• River Cruise with 1 Day ticket

Useful downloads

• Cruise Timetable

Please note

Voucher information: You can show your voucher on your smartphone (But if you’d rather print a copy – that’s fine too!)

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

No restroom available on board.

Each of our stops will be clearly signposted with the words Golden Tours sitting below the Transport for London bus stop logo. Each bus stop will also display its stop number.

Stops are subject to change and traffic can be disrupted on certain days. The updated map will be available on the bus.

The river cruise is not included in the 1 day bus ticket options. All 24, 48 and 72-hour ticket holders will receive a free one-way sightseeing river cruise from Westminster to Tower Bridge Quay or Greenwich, or from Greenwich to Westminster or Tower Bridge Quay. You are free to use your river cruise on any date within 7 days of the start of your hop-on hop-off bus experience.

Customer Reviews

Jo rodriguez.

Easy to purchase online and the drivers were very kind and attentive.

Frank Frick

Great overview of London to see what we wanted to visit again

David Manyara

Great routes, and excellent personal guide!

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Golden Tours

• See all photos

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

Golden Tours London Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour

Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Tour from London

Stonehenge Half-Day Tour from London with Admission

English Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London– Upper Deck

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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Golden Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Golden Tours

• See all photos

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

Golden Tours London Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour

Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Tour from London

Stonehenge Half-Day Tour from London with Admission

English Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London– Upper Deck

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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

GOLDEN TOURS (London) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Golden Tours

• See all photos

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

Golden Tours London Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour

Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Tour from London

Stonehenge Half-Day Tour from London with Admission

English Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London– Upper Deck

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.

Golden Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Golden Tours London

Golden Tours: London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Cruise

• Explore the best of London with maximum flexibility as you hop on and off unlimited times with this hop-on hop-off bus pass.
• Choose between a 1-day, 24, 48, or 72-hour pass with 4 dedicated routes and over 70 stops, available every 5 to 10 minutes.
• The 24, 48, or 72-hour passes include a free royal walking tour, Beatles London walking tour, and a boat ride on the River Thames.
• Enjoy panoramic views of London from the open-topped deck of these double-decker buses with free-wifi, a 3D treasure-hunting game, a live English-speaking guide available on the blue route, and an audio guide available in 12 different languages across all routes.
• Some of the iconic stops include St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben.
• 1 Day/24hr/48hr/72hr Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Pass
• Live English-speaking guide on the Blue Route
• Audioguide in 12 languages
• 3D Treasure Hunt Game
• One mobility impairment access seating per bus
• Complimentary walking tour (as per option selected)
• River Thames Cruise (as per option selected)
• Entrance tickets to attractions
• Additional Gratuities

Yellow Route

• The first bus is at 8:10am from opposite Hilton London Kensington, Holland Park Avenue, Bus Stop HJ, and the last bus is at 10:10pm.
• Frequency: every 20 mins.
• Popular stops: Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park.
• The first bus is at 9am from Victoria and the last bus is at 5pm (Apr to Oct) and 4:30pm (Nov to Mar)
• Frequency: Approx every 20 to 30 mins.
• Popular stops: Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge & St. Paul’s Cathedral.
• The first bus is at 10am from Hyde Park and the last bus is at 5pm.
• Popular stops: Tower of London, London Eye, Tower Bridge & London’s Museum District.

Orange Route

• The first bus is at 10am from Lambeth Palace and the last bus is at 5pm.
• Popular stops: Buckingham Palace, Paddington, Marble Arch, Madame Tussauds, Kings Cross & St. Pauls Cathedral.

Complimentary Walking Tours

Available with the 24/48/72 hour Tickets

Free Hop-on-Hop-off Thames Boat Tour – Lilac Route

• The first boat departs at 11am from Westminster Pier.
• Frequency: every 30 mins.
• Popular stops: Parliament Square & St. James’ Palace

Royal Walking Tour

• Departure Time and Day: 10:00 AM Daily (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time)
• Duration: 2 Hours
• Departure Location: Bus Stop outside The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Gate, SW1A 1AA
• Return Point: Westminster Abbey

Jack The Ripper Walking Tour

• Departure Time and Daye: 3:30 PM Daily (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time)
• Duration: 1.5 Hours
• Departure Location: Ice Cream Refreshments stand next to the Tower Hill Station exit
• Return Point: Near Liverpool Street Underground Station

Please click here and here for the detailed route map and boarding points.

• Tip: At Big Ben, visit the Prison Room which is accessible from the House of Commons and is currently occupied by the Petitions Committee.
• Facilities: Wheelchair Accessibility, Free Wi-Fi.
• The walking tours are available in English only.
• The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese & Arabic.
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Golden Tours: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour of Central London

• You can cancel these tickets up to 72 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• This is THE classic London experience – high tea and sightseeing , all rolled into a 90-minute bus tour of Central London.
• See London's popular sights out your window – Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, you name it, with plenty of Insta-worthy moments along the River Thames.
• Tuck into some tasty bites like: smoked salmon on toast and scones slathered in jam and cream. Fancy a glass of Prosecco or maybe a cuppa tea or coffee? It's all there.
• Got dietary needs? No worries! Veggie, vegan, gluten-free, they've got you covered. Plus, pick your fave spot – upper or lower deck!
• 90-min afternoon tea bus tour
• Tea menu here
• Glass of Prosecco or soft drink
• Souvenir mug
• Seating on the lower/upper deck (as per option selected)
• First bus: 11:30am from Bulleid Way.
• Second bus: 2:30pm from Bulleid Way.
• Last bus: 4:30pm from Bulleid Way.
• Popular sights: Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey

Please click here for the detailed route map.

• Safety is a priority so this experience is restricted for guests under the age of 4 years.
• Keep in mind luggage and large bags are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!
• Guests may have to share tables.
• You must contact the activity provider at least 72 hours prior to the travel date to confirm your choice of menu (general or vegetarian) or you will be served the general menu.
• Keep in mind this activity does not have a tour guide although the staff onboard will highlight points of interest and famous landmarks.
• Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
• The route is subject to change due to road closures and traffic conditions.
• Alcohol will only be served to those aged 18 and over, valid ID is required.

Golden Tours: 24-Hour/1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour of London with London Eye Tickets

• Grab a 24-hour or 1-day hop-on hop-off London pass for a whirlwind tour of the city's most famous sights.
• Choose from 3 routes and hop on and off at over 70 stops. You can even use 2 hotel transfer routes to explore the city with ease.
• But here's the real treat: your pass includes 2 exciting guided walks and the 24-hour pass offers a relaxing boat ride along the Thames River.
• Experience London from a new perspective on the open-top buses, complete with multilingual audio guides and live guides on select routes.
• Few famous stops on your route include the Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum, and Tower of London.
• 24-hour/1-day hop-on hop-off unlimited tour
• Access to London Eye
• Thames River boat ride (optional)
• Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese & Arabic
• Free walking tours
• Entrance to attractions

Classic Tour (Blue route)

• First bus: 9:30 am from London Eye
• Last bus: 5pm from London Eye
• Frequency: 30mins
• Popular stops: Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Tower of London

Essential Tour (Red route)

• First bus: 8:58am from Victoria
• Last bus: 4:28pm from Victoria
• Popular stops: Hyde Park, Regents Park, London Zoo

Museum Tour (Orange route)

• First bus: 10:22am from Hyde Park Corner
• Last bus: 6:22pm from Victoria
• Frequency: 60mins
• Popular stops: Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum

Yellow route (pick-up)

• First bus: 8:06am from Kensington Palace
• Last bus: 9:56am from Kensington Palace
• First bus: 8:05am from opposite Hilton London Kensington
• Last bus: 9:35am from opposite Hilton London Kensington

Green route (drop-off)

• First bus: 5:57pm from London Eye
• Last bus: 6:57am from London Eye
• First bus: 5:58pm from Lancaster Gate
• Last bus: 8:58am from Lancaster Gate

Thames River boat ride

Westminster Pier to Tower Pier

• First boat: 10am from Westminster Pier
• Last boat: 6pm from Westminster Pier
• Frequency: approx 40 mins
• Popular stops: London Eye

Tower Pier to Westminster Pier

• Last boat: 5:15pm from Westminster Pier

Jack the Ripper walking tour

• Starts at 3:30pm from Tower Hill station exit
• Ends at 5pm at Liverpool Street underground station

Royal walking tour

• Starts at 10am from tourist bus stop outside Queen's Gallery
• Ends at 12pm at Westminster Abbey

Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.

• Tip: If you wish to visit Visit London Eye on the same day, then drop off at stop 1 or stop 11.
• The buses are wheelchair accessible (only one wheelchair user allowed per bus).
• The 24-hour ticket is valid for 24 hours from the time you start your tour. For example, if you begin your tour at 10am, your ticket is valid until 10am the following day. However, the 1-day ticket is only valid for 1 calendar day.
• You can visit the London Eye on the same day or book during peak and off-peak seasons. Check out schedules while making a booking.
• Thame River boat rides do not operate on Dec 24, 25, and 26 and Jan 1.

London Golden Tours Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours 2024

The Golden Tours Company has been a legendary name in the travel industry in London and the UK. Started in 1984, it has decades of experience in running city tours, day trips, and open bus tours across London and the UK. They are also famous for their Hop-On Hop-Off tours .

The easily recognizable blue and white Golden Tours open-top buses can be seen across the city, stopping at over 70 bus stations near London’s major attractions and landmarks. 

The London Golden Tours are one of the best Hop-on Hop-off experiences in the city and offer over 70 stops, excellent routing, comfortable coaches, and an array of freebies and services. Golden Tours also has special partnerships with attractions in London to offer discounts on entrance tickets. 

A London Golden Tours HOHO ticket is one assured way of ensuring that you have a comfortable experience sightseeing while you save on money and time!

Why Choose London Golden Tours?

Visit Top Landmarks: The London Golden Tours Hop-on Hop-off bus routes are designed to be within close walking distance to major landmarks with more than 70 stops.

Easy to Use: One of the best ways to avoid the stress of planning your transportation in a new city is by taking the Golden Tours HOHO bus tours. Their well-planned fixed routes make it easy to plan an itinerary.

Multiple Routes: The London Golden Tours operates along the Classic Tour (Blue Route), the Essential Tour (Red Route), and morning pick-up and evening drop-off bus routes.

Audio Guides: With London Golden Tours you can save money on transportation while listening to pre-recorded commentary in 11 languages to learn about the attractions as you pass them.

Your London Golden Tour Ticket Options Explained

• Valid for 1 calendar day
• Open-top buses
• Live English-speaking Guide
• Audioguide in 11 languages

• Valid for 24 hrs
• River Thames cruise
• Complimentary walking tour

• Valid for 48 hrs

• Valid for 72 hrs

Audio guide languages are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.

Flexible Cancelation Policy: Get a full refund on canceling this ticket up to 24 hours in advance.

Discounted Ticket: Get tickets for children aged 5-15 and family tickets (for 2 adults and 2 children) at a reduced price.

London Golden Tours Timetable

• Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency: Every 20 minutes
• Loop: 3 Hours

Blue Routes

• Timing: 10 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes
• Loop: 2 Hours
• Timing: 8 AM to 10 AM
• Loop: 1.5 Hours

Green Route

• Timing: 6 PM to 10 PM
• Timing:  9 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency:  Every 30 minutes
• Duration:  Approx. 30 minutes

London Golden Tours Routes

Classic Tour (Blue Route)

The Classic Tour/Blue Route takes you to all the main Central London landmarks, including Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, the London Eye, the London Eye, Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, Madame Tussauds and many more

The first bus starts at 9:30 AM from Victoria all year round and the last bus is at 6:30 PM.

Essential Tour (Red Route)

The Essential Tour/Red Route is perfect for visitors that want to see the best of Central and North of London. It covers Hyde Park, Regents Park, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, the British Museum, and Kings Cross, as well as many of Central London, highlights like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye.

The first bus departs from Hyde Park Corner at 9 AM and the last bus is at 5:30 PM all year round. The entire loop takes approximately 3 hours to finish.

The Museum Tour (Orange Route)

Discover London's top museums such as the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum as well as the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods, and Buckingham Palace. 

The first bus departs from Hyde Park Corner at 10:22 AM and the last bus is at 5 PM all year round. The entire loop takes approximately 3 hours to finish.

The Morning Pick-Up Service (Yellow) is a way for you to conveniently travel from the hotel region of West London, including Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park, into Central London. There are two main pick-up services, one in Kensington and one in Bayswater.

In the morning, the first bus leaves Holland Park at 7:45 AM, and the last bus is at 9:30 AM.

The Evening Drop-off Service (Green) is a way for visitors to return to the hotel region of West London, including Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park, into Central London. 

In the evening the first bus leaves from Lancaster Gate at 6 PM and the last bus is at 10:15 PM.

This complimentary one-way River Tour takes you down the River Thames. It departs from Westminster Pier near The Houses of Parliament and stops at Tower Bridge Quay near The Tower of London, and at Greenwich Quay.

The first boat departs from Westminster Pier at 11 AM the last one leaves at 6:30 PM. The entire cruise takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Download Map of All Routes >

Suggested London Big Bus Itineraries

Here are some suggested Big Bus HOHO routes you can follow in London:

Choose the 1 day/24-hour ticket and opt for the complimentary river cruise. Start your day by taking the Essential Tour or the Red Route which will take you through all the iconic sights in London. You can take time and explore Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye. You can also see the British Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and the London Zoo. End the day with a cruise down the Thames and stop at the Tower of London to see its sights.

Day 1 – You should start your day by taking the Classic Tour or the Blue Route. Visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the other attraction in central London. Then head to the museum district including Victoria & Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, and Gardens.

Day 2 – Use the day to spend time on the Essential Tour or the Red Route. Head to Madame Tussauds or the Sherlock Holmes Museum and then take the long route towards British Museum. Later on, spend the afternoon at London’s attractions like the London Eye, and the SeLife Aquarium. End the day with a relaxing cruise on the Thames and watch the sunset over London’s skyline.

Day 1  – Start by going on the Classic Tour or the Blue Route which will take you to Buckingham Palace and through the museum quarter. You can visit the Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and Kensington Palace and stroll through Hyde Park to end your day.

Day 2  – Use this day to go on the complimentary River Cruise and start exploring all the sights along the Thames. Start at Westminster Abbey and the nearby Downstreet and Churchill War Museum before hopping on the boat at Westminster Pier and heading to the Tower of London. Finally, spend time at iconic landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral and go up to the observation deck at the London Eye. Don't miss the SEA LIFE Aquarium and London Dungeon.

Day 3  – Spend the last day in London by taking the Essential Tour or the Red Route. You can visit attractions like the British Museum, Regent's Park, the London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and the Sherlock Holmes Museum. End your day by heading to Oxford Circus and browsing the shops and restaurants around Oxford Street and Regent Street.

Highlights of the London Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Westminster Abbey

One of the UK’s most important religious buildings, Westminster Abbey the burial and memorial site of writers, actors, scientists, thinkers, and other famous historical significant figures.

Parliament Square

Parliament Square has some of the capital’s most iconic buildings including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and statues of famous leaders and historical figures.

Experience a breathtaking view of London from atop the 443-feet high London Eye observation wheel located near the River Thames,  for a unique perspective of London.

London Bridge

Just off the banks of River Thames, the London Bridge area is famous for its restaurants and the Tower Bridge. Often confused with the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge has stunning river views.

River Thames

Explore the beautiful River Thames on a  River Cruise . Travel under the London Bridge, see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and admire the Festival Hall and the London Eye.

Buckingham Palace

Visit the Queen’s residence at Buckingham Palace . Stroll through the vast palatial gardens and witness the Change of Guards ceremony, at this treasure trove of royal experiences.

St. Paul's Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is one of Europe’s largest cathedrals Listen to the haunting acoustics in the Whispering Gallery and soaking in the breathtaking views offered by the cathedral's galleries.

Madame Tussauds

Home to lifelike wax figures of over 250 celebrities, at  Madame Tussauds you can see the Royal Family, Benedict Cumberbatch, James Bond, and more.

London Big Bus Visitor Tips and Guidelines

• Golden Tours is the only operator which offers both variants – 1 Day and 24 Hours, be mindful of which variant you are purchasing. The 1 Day variant is valid for a calendar day, which means if you activate it on 10 AM Monday it will work only until 11:59 PM Monday. The 24 Hours variant is valid for 24 hours, which means if you activate it on 10 AM Monday it will be valid till 10 AM on Tuesday.
• Audio Guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.
• Each bus has space for one fold-away pushchair and a wheelchair on the lower deck.
• Children under 5 years of age travel free.
• Golden Tours offers a river cruise pass which is valid for 24 hours. When you plan your itinerary make sure to activate it according to when you might use it to the maximum. The best thing about the pass is that it works like a hop-on and hop-off pass, you can get on and off as many times you want.
• Make sure to pre-book tickets and check the holiday schedule for the attractions. Golden Tours has online maps that will help you plan your journey in advance.
• If you are short on time, the best way to soak in all the sights is to take a round loop of the Grand Tour or the Orange Tour. It covers all the main tourist attractions in London except for the museum quarter.
• Golden Tours HOHO has an exclusive treasure hunt app that will allow you to collect points as you travel across the city. At the end of your journey, you can redeem the points for discounts, freebies, and other gifts.
• The top deck seats are much in demand and if you are looking forward to completing a loop it is best to board the bus at the first point of departure, as you can get the seat of your choice. Also, remember that buses drive on the right side of the road and you will get better views if you seat on the right side of the bus.
• There is no predicting London weather; while there is enough covered space on the bus it is best to carry rainproof gear. Umbrellas are usually not allowed to be opened on board for the safety of other passengers.

Frequently Asked Questions About London Golden Tours

A. Golden Tours is one of the top hop-on hop-off tours in London.

A. Hop-on hop-off buses are tourist buses that allow you to board and leave whenever you like and sightsee at your own convenience.

A. You can purchase London Golden Tours hop on hop off bus tour tickets online .

A. Yes, you can buy London Golden Tours hop-on-hop-off tickets online here .

A. There are multiple hop-on hop-off bus tours, most of which begin from £28.80.

A. London Golden Tours hop-on hop-off bus tours run at a frequency of 30 to 60 minutes.

A. There are four Golden Tours tour routes in London - the red, blue, and the yellow & green links.

A. Yes, you will get access to audio guides available in up to 11 languages to learn more about the city.

A. Yes, the London Golden Tours hop-on hop-off tours are accessibility-friendly for wheelchair users.

RELATED LINKS

On this page, most popular sights, tickets & sightseeing passes, things to see and do, from our blog.

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Golden Tours (Gray Line) hop-on hop-off open top bus tour

Hop-on hop-off double deck open top sightseeing bus tour with tickets for 24, 48 or 72-hours.

Cruise around London with Golden Tours hop-on buses

Golden Tours London hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour

The Golden Tours London hop-on hop-off service is one of the three main London hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours operating in London.

Unlike the other two London hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus operators, Golden Tours also offer a broad range of guided coach tours from London to places like Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford .

Golden Tours also combine their hop-on bus tours with popular attractions in London .

Two big popular combinations right now are Hop on & hop-off bus tour with London Bridge Experience as well as Hop on & hop-off bus tour with London Transport Museum.

Golden Tours are currently the only tour operator to consistently offer a fully live-guided tour on their 1.5-hr Express ticket (not hop-on, hop off).

BOOK GOLDEN TOURS HOP-ON BUS TICKETS   What's included   About Golden Tours ticket options   Routes and buses   With London Bridge Experience   With London Transport Museum   With Merlin attraction pass   River Cruise   Walking tours   Add-ons to Golden Tours tours & themed tours   Golden Tours included with London Pass   Golden Tours compared with Tootbus & Big Bus   Hop-on buses price comparison table  

GOLDEN TOURS HOP-ON BUS LONDON TICKETS

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus London

Choice of 1-day, 24, 48 or 72-hr tickets • Free one-way Thames river cruise (if selected) • Two walking tours • Free Wi-Fi on board • Audio in 11 languages • London in your Pocket app access

Golden Tours hop on bus London - what's included in your ticket

Unlimited travel for 24, 48 or 72-hours on the Golden Tours London sightseeing bus network that visits all major attractions in Central London

Free one-way river cruise included with ticket

Free walking tours - Coronation and/or Jack the Ripper

4 open top sightseeing routes with pre-recorded commentary in 11 languages

90-min open top bus tour featuring English speaking guide

Cancellation policy - up to 24 hours beforehand to get full refund

Free Wi-Fi on all buses

Comparison table of London's hop-on bus prices 2024

What you need to know about Golden Tours London tickets

The basic format of the Golden Tours sightseeing bus is the same as for its two competitors, Big Bus London and Tootbus : a hop-on, hop-off bus service stopping at all the major tourist attractions supplemented by a one-way river cruise.

Golden Tours tickets

You can buy tickets for the Golden Tours service in 24, 48 and 72-hr durations. So, if you buy a 48-hr ticket, the ticket is valid 48 hours from the time you activate the ticket by boarding the bus.

Tickets can also either be purchased with or without the Thames river cruise.

There is a best price guarantee if you purchase direct from the Golden Tours website, see banner link above.

Golden Tours advance tickets - how it works

You pay for your tickets on the website in advance, by credit/debit card at the time of purchase.

A confirmation ticket is sent to you immediately by email which you need to print out.

You can join the tour from any Golden Tours bus stop, exchanging your email voucher for your tickets. Your tickets start from the time when you board the first bus.

Golden Tours routes and buses

Golden Tours offer 4 routes that between them cover all the major sights in London. You can switch from one to another as you please if you buy the hop-on hop-off ticket.

The Classic Tour (Blue route) : Covers all the main Central London sights and visits London’s Museum Quarter.

The Essential Tour (Red route) : Passes Madame Tussauds and Kings Cross, as well as Hyde Park and Regents Park, two of the prettiest parks in London.

The Morning and Evening Drop off Service (Yellow and Green routes) : Operating in the morning and late afternoon, this route travels from the popular hotel districts to Central London.

Golden Tours route map London 2024

Frequencies are every 5-10 minutes at the main tourist points where routes overlap and 10-20 minutes at the outer reaches of the network. The main routes start up about 8.30am to 9am and start to wind down around 5pm.

Guides and audio guides

Golden Tours offer the most languages of all the hop on bus companies on their audio guides, currently 11. These are: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Indian, Japanese and Arabic.

No live guide is available currently on any of the hop on hop off bus routes, but there is a continuous 90-min route that does have an English speaking guide, called the Open Top London Bus Tour With Live Guide.

Golden Tours 24-hr hop on bus with London Bridge Experience

Hop-on bus tour of London by Golden Tours

This incredible value London Hop on Hop off bus tour grants you the freedom and convenience to explore the city in depth in one day.

Enjoy a fabulous hop-on bus experience for a whole 24 hours, allowing you to see such London icons as the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe and spectacular Westminster Abbey, as well as, of course, the inimitable Buckingham Palace.

Thames River cruise

This 24-hr hop-on bus tour also gives you a free Thames River Cruise, where you travel from Westminster to either Tower Bridge Quay or Greenwich (or vice versa), and get to soak in panoramic views of the capital’s most iconic landmarks along the way.

Two walking tours

Plus all Golden Tours hop-on bus tours offer two different complimentary walking tours of London (currently Jack the Ripper or Coronation walking tour).

Entrance into London Bridge Experience

In addition with this fantastic package you get entry into The London Bridge Experience:

Travel back in time become part of London's gruesome history and travel back in time to an age of adventure, uncovering the dark secrets that lie beneath the world’s most famous and haunted bridge. Laugh, scream and cheer your way through 2000 years of history.

GOLDEN TOURS 24-HR HOP ON BUS PLUS LONDON BRIDGE EXPERIENCE

Combine hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour with the London Bridge Experience

• 24-hr Hop-on Hop-off London Bus Tour • Entrance to The London Bridge Experience & The London Tombs • One way Thames river cruise ticket • 2 walking tours • Audio guide in 11 languages

Golden Tours 24-hr or 1-day hop on bus with London Transport Museum

Another great offer combining a Golden Tours hop on bus tour (choose form 24-hr or 1-day) with entrance to the memorable London Transport Museum.

Entrance into the London Transport Museum

Discover spectacular exhibits showcasing the 200-year history of London’s public transport network at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

From abandoned tube stations to historic vehicles, see how London’s transport has evolved over the years.

Discover rare photos, vintage posters and old tiles from derelict stations while you hear stories of travel in Victorian times, the first railway and underground lines and how Churchill took shelter underground during the Blitz. There’s also the only surviving steam engine from the 1860s to see!

GOLDEN TOURS 24-HR HOP ON BUS PLUS LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Combine hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour with the London Transport Museum

• 24-hr Hop-on Hop-off London Bus Tour • Entrance to The London Transport Museum • One way Thames river cruise ticket • 2 walking tours • Audio guide in 11 languages

Golden Tours 1 day or 24-hr hop on bus, river cruise + Merlin attraction pass

The Ultimate London Experience

With this pass you can be fully flexible. Choose to combine a 1-day or a 24-hr hop on bus tour of London with a combination of three different Merlin attractions, or all five - it's up to you.

Plus - your hop on bus pass also comes with a FREE Thames river cruise.

A great bundle of top London attractions.

Big City Saver (aka Merlin's Magical London) pass - more details

THE ULTIMATE LONDON EXPERIENCE - WITH HOP ON BUS

HUGE SAVINGS: Buy a 3 or 5 attraction pass for top 5 London attractions plus hop-on bus & river cruise

• 1-day, 24, 48 or 72-hr hop-on bus tickets available • Thames river cruise • London Eye • Madame Tussauds London • London Dungeon • Shrek's Adventure! London • SEA LIFE London Aquarium

Adult from £106 for 3 attractions + 1-day hop-on bus. Child (age 5-15) £87

Adult from £165 for 5 attractions + 24-hr hop-on bus. Child (age 5-15) £140

Free river cruise with Golden Tours

Free Thames river cruise with Thames River Cruising

Enjoy a complimentary river trip included in your Golden Tours hop-on, hop-off bus ticket. The river service that the Golden Tours ticket covers runs from the Westminster Pier by Big Ben to the Greenwich Pier in the east, with several stops along the way.

Cruises are for one-way only.

Frequencies are approximately every 20 minutes in the summer and every 30-40 minutes in the winter.

Note - the river cruise is not included in the one calendar day ticket.

Free walking tours with Golden Tours hop on buses

Golden tours hop on buses also include a free Jack The Ripper Walking Tour and/or the Coronation Walking Tour.

The Jack the Ripper tour offers you the chance to explore the locations where vital clues were found and play detective in trying to solve this morbid mystery.

Alternatively, you can choose the Coronation walking tour: a majestic 2-hour stroll through the capital uncovering spectacular Royal sites. Learn more about coronations past and present as well as quirky facts such as where The Queen Mother bought her cigarettes and Queen Elizabeth’s favourite off-licence.

Golden Tours hop on bus alternatives and top London attractions

As well as the traditional hop-on bus services from Golden Tours, there are also a range of other services to choose from.

Options include:

• Night tours
• Christmas lights tours
• Add on The Gunpowder Plot Experience or Disney 100: The Exhibition
• 90-min non stop open top bus ride with a live guide doing the commentary

Click on the banner below for more details.

In addition to these options, Golden Tours have also bundled many of their top London attractions with a hop on bus service.

Choose from:

Tower of London with hop-on bus

Westminster Abbey with hop-on bus

St Paul's with hop-on bus

SEA LIFE with hop-on bus

The London Dungeon with hop-on bus

Madame Tussauds with hop-on bus

London Eye with hop-on bus

Shrek's Adventure! London with hop-on bus

GOLDEN TOURS HOP-ON BUS LONDON ALTERNATIVE TOURS

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus London with add-ons

• 90-min bus tour with LIVE GUIDE option • Option to add on The Gunpowder Plot Experience or Disney 100: The Exhibition • Evening tours • Christmas lights tours

London Pass - Golden Tours included (or Big Bus)

The London Pass is a flat rate sightseeing pass to many (but not all) of London's main sightseeing attractions. You can buy a London Pass for 1, 2, 3, 6 or 10 day durations

The London Pass gives you entry into more than 60 London tourist attractions and a river cruise on the River Thames.

The London Pass also now includes use of either Golden Tours or Big Bus hop-on hop-off bus for one calendar day, whatever the duration of the London Pass.

Key points of the London Pass Ho Ho bus offer

You can choose to ride on the Golden Tours  or  Big Bus hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus for one calendar day. Tootbus (Original London Tour) is not covered.

The Ho Ho bus offer is for one calendar day  not  for 24 hours.

Most people use the Ho Ho facility on the first day of their London Pass, but there is nothing stopping using it on another day when the London Pass is valid.

The Ho Ho bus offer with London Pass doesn't include the walking tours and river cruises included in the standard tickets issued by the Ho Ho companies concerned, only the bus tour (but you do get a river cruise included in the London Pass separately anyway)

You show your London Pass to the driver or tour guide of the first bus you board. They will scan your London Pass and issue you with a separate ticket for the bus company concerned valid for the rest of the day. You cannot switch to the other bus company once you have made your first journey.

London Pass more details

Golden Tours v Big Bus v Tootbus

In terms of London coverage all three Ho Ho sightseeing bus operations visit the same areas and all the main London attractions.

Live guides

This is one area that has changed in recent years. Traditionally all three companies offered live guides on at least one of their hop-on tours.

Today you will find this is no longer the case. If having a live guide is important to you there are a couple of options, but none of them are hop-on, hop-off but rather 60 or 90-minute continuous sightseeing tours.

Golden Tours have a live guide on their 90 min non-stop tour.

Tootbus have a live guide on their London Kids Tour and London Christmas Tour.

Big Bus no longer offer a live guide service on any of their tours.

Otherwise all three companies use pre-recorded commentaries for their hop-on bus services (they vary on the number of languages offered).

All operators offer tickets with 24 and 48-hr validity periods; Tootbus and Golden Tours also offer 72-hr tickets.

In addition Tootbus offer a 60-min Bar Bus ticket, while Golden Tours offer a fully guided 1.5-hr Express ticket (see above).

Evening Tours

All three operators offer evening tours. Big Bus also include a separate evening tour with their Premium and Deluxe tickets.

See websites for more details.

Walking Tours

Both Golden Tours and Big Bus offer highly regarded professionally guided walking tours included with your ticket (selected tickets only).

With Golden Tours you can choose from a Jack The Ripper Walking Tour or Coronation Walking Tour.

Big Bus offer THREE FREE TOURS with their Essential and Explore tickets: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour, City of London Walking Tour and a Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. Each tour is 1.5 hours long.

In addition Big Bus are currently offering a Royal themed hop on bus tour - 'A Big Royal Adventure'' together with a 45-min Royal Walking Tour.

Tootbus do not offer guided walking tours but instead give you the chance to download "Tootwalk" to your phone: a choice of three self-guided walks.

River cruises

Two different river cruise operators are used, City Cruises and Thames River Sightseeing.

Golden Tours and Tootbus both offer tickets which are cheaper because they do not offer the river cruise. River cruises come standard with all Big Bus tickets.

All river cruises are for one-way only.

Add-on attractions or alternative tours

Golden Tours offer a range of attractions as add-on to the basic 4-hr hop-on bus ticket .

Tootbus don't currently offer any add-on attractions but they do offer alternative tours such as an Evening Tour , Bar Bus and a very popular Kids tour .

Click through on the banner for a thorough discussion on the differences between companies.

London's hop-on buses - discussion comparison

LONDON'S OPEN TOP HOP-ON, HOP-OFF SIGHTSEEING TOUR PRICING 2024

All the hop-on bus companies have permanently discounted online prices, (compared with walk-up prices) which are between 10 - 15% off.

Prices are seasonal and variable and prices above are based on low season prices. During school holidays prices are typically higher.

To be sure you are getting the best possible price it is advisable to check our prices above against the hop-on bus companies' websites as they occasionally run sales throughout the year:

Tootbus official website

Big Bus official website

Golden Tours official website

Tootbus offer cheaper tickets, which are bus only, no river cruise. Tootbus offer this for a 24, 48 or 72-hr period and call this ticket 'London Discovery'.

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POPULAR LONDON ATTRACTIONS - ADVANCE PURCHASE AND/OR FAST TRACK TICKETS