where does the big bus tour start in london

• Select Language
• Select Currency
• Australian Dollar
• Canadian Dollar
• Chinese Yuan (CNY)
• British Pound (GBP)
• Indian Rupees (INR)
• Japanese Yen (JPY)
• Malaysian Ringgit
• Newzealand Dollar
• Singapore Dollar

• +4 More Images
• Adult Adult (16+) - +
• Child Child (4-15) - +
• Family Family 2 Adults, 2 Children - +

Big Bus London: Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour

Activity schedule, key highlights.

• Inclusions & Exclusions

24 or 48 hours (take your pick!) Evening tour: 2 hours Walking tours: 1.5 hours

Hop-on, Hop-off: 8:30am to 5pm, every 20-60 min (depending on the routes) Panoramic evening tour: 7:30pm River cruise: 10am to 5:50pm, every 15 minutes in summertime, and every 30-40 minutes in winter Walking tours:

• Royal Walk: 10am
• Hidden Gems of the City of London Walk: 4pm
• Hidden Gems of Westminster Walk: 1pm

London hop-on, hop-off tour: You can hop on to the bus from any of the stops. The first stop is Green Park Underground .  Evening tour: Hop on at the London Eye (Stop 11). River cruise: Board at the Tower of London to sail to Westminster, or board at Westminster to sail to the Tower of London. Walking tours:

• Royal Walk: Stop 7
• Hidden Gems of the City of London Walk: Stop 14
• Hidden Gems of Westminster Walk: Stop 10

You can hop off at any of the stops

• Enjoy marathon London sightseeing with 24 hours or 48 hours hop-on, hop-off tour covering top attractions
• Plan your perfect London itinerary with the flexibility to hop on and off as many times as you like
• Enjoy a River Thames cruise with every ticket
• Book the Panoramic Evening Tour and see London illuminated and magical after sunset
• See top London attractions including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey
• Stops at Harrods, South Kensington Museums, Kensington Palace & Gardens, Notting Hill & Paddington
• Both printed and smartphone vouchers accepted!

Explore London with a Big Bus hop-on, hop-off ticket. Travel around and experience unrestricted views of the city on-board the top-deck of an open-top, double-decker bus. This London hop-on, hop-off tour has 3 comprehensive routes and strategically located stops covering all the best-loved London landmarks and attractions. Customize your own itinerary and discover London at your own leisurely pace.

Discover central London on the Red route , West London on the Blue route , and hop on the London Green Link route , connecting King's Cross and St. Pancras stations with Covent Garden, where you'll be able to easily join our Red Route and Blue Route bus tours.

Enjoy pre-recorded commentary in multiple languages and immerse yourself in the history of London.

List of attractions covered:

• Eros Statue
• St James Park
• St Mary le Strand
• H.M.S. Belfast
• Buckingham Palace
• Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

You can choose from three hop-on, hop-off ticket options:

Discover Ticket:

• 24 hours Hop-On, Hop-Off
• River cruise one way

Essential ticket:

• 48 hours Hop-On, Hop-Off
• Guided walking tours

Explore ticket:

• London evening tour

London Evening Tour: See London illuminated and magical as the sun begins to set on a panoramic bus tour that showcases significant landmarks and top attractions. Enjoy entertaining pre-recorded commentary in English as you pass attractions like the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye.

Walking tours:

• Royal Walk: Experience London's iconic royal pageantry, including the Changing of the Guard on days it is scheduled.
• Hidden Gems of the City of London Walk: Immerse yourself in the history and modern architecture of the City of London.
• Hidden Gems of Westminster Walk: Discover the City of Westminster, including Parliament, Big Ben, Horseguards and more.

Please check the Useful Downloads section for the updated route map.

• 24 or 48 hours Hop-On, Hop-Off tour
• Recorded commentary in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish
• River Cruise - One way
• Evening tour (with Explore ticket)

Useful downloads

• Cruise timetable

Please note

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

Validity:  14 days from or before the date chosen at the time of booking

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

London is a functioning city and weather, traffic and events may occasionally cause disruption.

Timings and stops are subject to change. The updated map will be available on the buses.

The family ticket includes 4 persons - 2 adults and 2 children.

To collect your river cruise pass, please present your booking confirmation to a Big Bus Tours staff member first.

Customer Reviews

Theresa goulder.

My Mum and I really enjoyed our trip around London. We used the Big Bus app to keep tabs of where we were, although it would have been useful if there had been paper maps available on the bus itself. It took us a while to realise where we could access the audio which we'd been looking for, but neither of us had suitable headsets so we had to forego the commentary which was a shame. That said, we really enjoyed the trip and would consider booking it again at another time of year...with appropriate headsets!

Deepa Chhagan

Was greatful the sun was and was able to sit on the top.

Jo Anne Provencio

Fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

travel inspiration from guidebook

LONDON CALLING : Top London Attractions to Experience in England’s Capital in 2023

London – the dynamic and lively capital of England welcomes you! From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, this bustling metropolis has no… The post LONDON CALLING : Top London Attractions to Experience in England’s Capital in 2023 appeared first on The Guidebook - isango! .

The Best Way to Capture London – Take a Thames River Cruise

Ride the Thames Tide The post The Best Way to Capture London – Take a Thames River Cruise appeared first on The Guidebook - isango! .

Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Top Royal Tours to Take

Hooray, it’s a celebration day! The post Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Top Royal Tours to Take appeared first on The Guidebook - isango! .

Get the latest offers and inspiration

Sign up to our newsletter and get the best isango! has to offer

• Enter a valid email
• Enter the characters shown below Captcha not matching

Terms of Use

• Booking terms & conditions
• Picture credits

Get in touch

Haven't found what you're looking for?

Try a more specific search (e.g Add city or destination name)

You have signed up successfully.

Please stay tuned on your email for exciting offers.

Sign Up Login Login Or Sign Up

Sign up to create and view bookings Login to create and view bookings

• Enter full name
• E-Mail ID Already Exists User does not exist Enter a valid email
• Please enter password Enter valid password(at least 6 characters)
• Remember me Forgot Password
• I wish to receive top deals and travel inspiration
• By signing up you agree to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Forgot Password

• Enter your email address and we will send an email with a link to reset your password.
• Continue Login

Email sent successfully.

Big Bus London Tours: Hop on Hop off Stops to Make

By: Author Kristi

If you are planning a visit to London you really should do one of the Big Bus London Tours. The bus will take you throughout London and the Burroughs to see all the best attractions.

The key is to make sure that you know the differences between the different lines.

Each will take you to a different part of the city and allow you to see certain important landmarks and sites.

If you are wondering what you will get the chance to see, we have a guide to taking a Big Bus London tour.

Guide to the Big Bus London Tours

Your trip on a Big Bus Tour of London has a few advantages. First of all, you will get a map of London with all of the sites highlighted so you plan out your day around the city.

There are 3 for the Big Bus Tour: Red, Blue & Green. You will want to pay attention to the different lines because they take you to different places and often overlap the same place but in a different order (or direction).

Some lines have a live tour guide (Red), while others are simply audio (earphones are provided).

All Big Bus Tour buses offer free wifi which is a big benefit when you are travelling abroad!

While you can purchase your Big Bus Tickets outside the bus stop area, you will save a ton of money if you purchase them in advance.

Big Bus London starting points for each tour are as follows:

Blue Route: Stop #1: Baker Street Red Route: Stop #26: Green Park Underground Station Green Link: Stop #49: Woburn (Northbound) Night Tour: Stop #9/15: London Eye

Big Bus London Stops to Make on the Red Line

My favorite of the three lines to take on the Big Bus London Tour is the Red Line. You will get to see the most famous landmarks while on this section of the London Bus Tour. While you will see more than the following on the tour, these are the London Hop on Hop off Stops you should pay attention to:

Hyde Park Corner Stop

Wellington Arch

Wellington Arch once served as the entrance to Buckingham Palace. Later, it became a victory arch when Wellington defeated Napoleon.

The top is crowned with the largest bronze sculpture in Europe, the Angel of Peace descending on a four-horsed chariot of War.

While you can view it from below (or the bus) for free if you would like to walk to the top & see the panoramic view of London there is a small cost.

This is just a sampling of the Big Bus London Hop on Hop off stops to make.

Trafalgar Square Stop

National Gallery

Art lovers will not want to miss this Big Bus London Hop on Hop off stop. You will get to see everything from preliminary drawings by Da Vinci to works by other prominent artists like Van Gogh and Michaelangelo.

You could easily spend an entire day exploring the National Gallery, but if you don’t have that kind of time, be sure to make sure that you see these 30 paintings .

St Paul’s Cathedral Stop

St. Paul’s Cathedral

While the outside of this Cathedral is beautiful, the real joy is found on the inside. Bask in the majestic interior and learn about its fascinating history. Be sure not to miss walking up to the dome where you will have amazing views of London.

Plan to spend 1-2 hours at this stop.

St. Paul’s opens at 8:30 am and the last time to enter for a tour is 4:30 pm.

The price of admission includes entry to the Cathedral floor, the crypt, and the three galleries in the dome. Admission also includes multimedia guides and guided tours.

Globe Theater

Just across the Millennium Bridge is the reconstructed Globe Theater.

Here you will be able to see a replica of Shakespeare’s Theater along with various exhibits.

It is worth taking the time to explore the permanent exhibits inside even if you don’t have time to take the full Globe Theater tour .

Tower of London Stop

Tower of London

The Tower of London is a sight to behold and you will certainly get a feel for its enormity when you see it from the London Big Bus Tour.

Take time to get off at the stop to tour the entire complex.

With an admission ticket, you can tour the fortress, palace and prison while learning about its important history.

You can also buy a combination ticket that allows you to tour the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels (which is a separate ticketed entry).

Tower Bridge

While just seeing the bridge is exciting, you should also consider stopping here and taking the tour.

Touring the Tower Bridge Exhibition gives you a chance to learn about the bridge’s history, including how it was built.

You will also get to see impressive views of London and can stand on a glass bottom platform giving a new perspective of the bridge!

The Tower Bridge Exhibit opens at 9:30 am and the last time to enter for a tour is 17:00 pm.

Temple Underground Station Stop

Cleopatra’s Needle

If you love Egyptian art, one of the Big Bus London Hop on Hop off stops to make is to see Cleopatra’s Needle. The Obelisk brought to London from Alexandria, Egypt sits on the bank of Themes River called the “Victoria Embankment”.

The history of Cleopatra’s Needle is that it belonged to Pharaoh Thotmes III and dates back to 1460 BC, making it almost 3,500 years old.

On each side of the obelisk are hieroglyphics that date from different parts of Egyptian history and at the top of the obelisk you can see a sphinx making offerings to the Gods of Heliopolis.

There is an interesting story concerning the journey of Cleopatra’s Needle from Alexandria to Egypt. You will find it on plaques that surround the obelisk.

You will also find two bronze Sphinxes in Victoria Embankment, but they are reproductions from the Victorian era and are NOT Egyptian.

Buckingham Palace Stop

Buckingham Palace is open to visitors during the summer, but even if you aren’t planning on going on a tour of Her Majesty’s residence, you should take time to get off the Big Bus Tour to see it close up.

While in the area, you can walk through Green Park, The Queen Victoria Memorial & take a look at the Palace gates.

If you choose to visit Buckingham Palace, you should know that only parts of it are open and tourable throughout certain times of the year.

Tickets to Buckingham Palace include a visit to the State Rooms and free entry into the Prince of Wales Exhibition.

Nova Complex Stop

Westminster Abbey

Those wanting to see where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married will want to make sure to get off at this stop so that they can experience Westminster Abbey.

The history of the church doesn’t limit itself to weddings. Beginning with William the Conqueror, every British sovereign has been crowned in Westminster Abbey (with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII).

And if that wasn’t enough to make you want to tour the interior of this amazing UNESCO site, the abbey also has tombs and memorials of famous British subjects like Sir Isaac Newton, Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Browning and many more.

Big Bus London: Stops to Make on the Blue Line

The Blue Line of the London Big Bus tour takes you toward the western part of the city. If you want to go to Kensington Palace, this is the line to take. Here are the London Hop on Hop off Stops to make:

South Kensington Museums Stop

Victoria & Albert Museum

This museum is more of a showcase of pieces of art than a true art or history museum. You will find a little bit of everything and that is really what makes it worth checking out.

Don’t miss seeing the Jewelry collection which is one of the largest in the world.

Like all museums in London, admission to V&A museum is FREE!

Kensington Palace Stop

Kensington Palace & Gardens 

While you won’t be able to see the Royal residence when touring the grounds of the home of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, you can see the State Rooms and all public areas of the palace and gardens.

Queen Victoria, born in 1819, grew up at Kensington Palace. You will find the history of her life and marriage to Albert on display in part of the palace.

Not to be missed is the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibition, where you will find the iconic outfits and ball gowns she wore during her life.

Big Bus London: Stops to Make on the Green Line

St. pancras station stop.

British Library

This is no normal library. The British Library is the second largest national library in the world in terms of how many pieces it contains (it is second only to the US Library of Congress).

While you can’t possibly see everything here, be sure to stop in the Treasures of the British Library Gallery to see some of the world’s most important books, manuscripts and documents.

You will find such items as DaVinci’s notebook; handwritten music from Beethoven, Shakespeare’s first folio; among other precious books and manuscripts.

British Museum (Southbound) Stop

British Museum

This FREE museum is one of the best in England and is one of the best London Hop on Hop off Stops to Make. You will remember this museum from the movie Night in the Museum: Secret of the Tomb .

There is just so much to see in this museum that I couldn’t possibly list them all. To give you an idea of some of what you can experience, here is a list of what you can expect to see in one hour .

Museums are FREE

British Museum (Northbound) Stop

Churchill War Rooms

You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy going through the bunker where Churchill made some of the most important decisions concerning WWII.

What makes this a neat experience is that it is exactly as it was when Japan surrendered.

You will be able to see the map room where Churchill and his men spent countless hours planning, the rooms where people slept and the telephone room where important calls were made.

Overall, we are huge fans of Big Bus Hop on Hop off Tours and usually take them in any city where they are available. We find them a great way to get an overview of the city and make getting from one site to the next pretty effortless.

The one thing you will want to make sure of is that when you do hop off to walk around you look for the Big Bus Tour bus system sign to re-board.

There are several different bus tour groups available and you don’t want to be waiting for the wrong one!

Have you taken a Big Bus London Tours? What was your experience?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Thursday 12th of October 2017

Hey, It's actually a great idea of planning a bus tour to London and I am also Planning a trip with my family to London so but i didn't know about booking a bus tour of London. I just planned we walk around the city but now after reading your blog I think It's actually very tiresome so I decided to Plan a bus tour. sounds fun.

Saturday 7th of October 2017

Amazing, isn't it! Have been in London for 1 year, wonderful memories. Thanks for making them alive.

Sunday 6th of August 2017

While I was in London we walked around all time and after 3 days we wore exhausted!! ?? Next time I will follow your advice to take a tour bus!! Its seems much easier and fun.

Saturday 5th of August 2017

This looks like so much fun! The only tour I took in London was along the lines of a ghosts/mysteries walking tour. It was a lot of fun, but because we were walking, it certainly didn't cover this kind of ground. I'd love to go back and try one of these big bus tours, probably with either the actual guide or an audio guide to help me out with the backgrounds and the details. Very cool! Pinned!

Ooooh, a ghost tour sounds amazing. I bet it was really cool knowing the history of London is so vast.

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Hop-On-Hop-Off London Bus Tours

Our tour guides do their best to show you as many landmarks as possible in London, but some of the most popular attractions are spread out pretty far apart.

Most guides will recommend taking the tube from one point to the next, but hop-on hop-off tours are another option to consider as well.

In addition to including helpful details about each of the hop-on hop-off bus tours available in London, we will also include some tips and advice from locals and travelers who use our Facebook Group.

• Companies + Routes
• Night Bus Tours
• Discounts & Deals
• Pros and Cons
• Tips From Locals
• Other London Bus Tours
• Things to Do in London

Disclosure:  We think you should consider  our free tours , but we have also provided other options. While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the  full text .

HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS

This section will cover each of the 3 main London bus tour companies that allow you to jump off and explore each stop at your leisure.

We will provide details about ticket types, hours, prices, and other important factors.

And again, you also might consider our free, hop-on-hop-off tour on the public bus 11 route, which comes with GPS-enabled audio.

We actually recommend using these bus tours to get an idea for which attractions you'd like to visit, and then checking to see if one of our free London walking tours includes those locations.

Big Bus Tours

Big Bus London considers itself the premiere hop-on-hop-off tour bus company and the reviews appear to agree.

This company offers 3 routes with 38 bus stops.

The purchase of all tickets also includes a free Thames River cruise, which you could from Westminster Pier or London Tower Pier.

Each type of ticket also includes 3 guided walking tours .

• Changing of the Guard Walking Tour
• Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
• City of London Past to Present Walking Tour

You will also enjoy free wifi onboard, as well as a booklet filled with vouchers for various London attractions.  

All ticket types, with the exception of the Classic Ticket, also include the Big Bus night tour.

You can also combine a Big Bus ticket with several popular attractions for a combo discount .

Ticket Prices (with a 10% online discount)

Discover Ticket (24 Hours)

• Adult – £40.50
• Child – £31.50
• Family – £128.25
• Includes free cruise on the Thames.

Purchase tickets or learn more .

NOTE: A 1-day ticket is included for free with the London Explorer Pass and the London Sightseeing Pass .

Essential Ticket (48 Hours)

• Adult – £49.50
• Child – £40.50
• Family – £159.75
• Includes a free cruise on the Thames.
• Includes free guided walking tours.

Explore Ticket (48 Hours)

• Adult – £58.50
• Child – £49.50
• Family – £191.25
• Includes a free cruise along the Thames.
• Includes the night bus tour for free.

TIP: If you want to save an extra 5% , consider using Tiqets !

NOTE: There is sometimes a multi-day ticket for a few pounds more that allows you to use your ticket on non-consecutive days.

Times: 8:10 am - 7:00 pm. Tours run every 10-20 minutes. Big Bus also offers a night tour .

Where to Purchase Tickets

Purchase tickets here . Tickets are cheaper when purchased online in advance.

Or you could get them from Central Departure Points.

These points are Marble Arch, Green Park, Victoria Station, Baker Street, and Trafalgar Square. Onsite tickets are a bit more expensive.

Commentary Languages and Type

Each ticket entitles you to an audio guide.

Recorded commentary in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, and English.

Red Route (2 hrs 30 min):

The best of London covers Central London, from Green Park to Victoria Station, including Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Covent Garden, Big Ben, Mayfair, London Bridge, and much more.

The Big Bus red route starts from the Green Park Underground station next to the Ritz (first stop at 08:30 and last stop at 16:00)

Click on the map for a larger view

Blue Route (1 hrs 15 min):

As above, plus Kensington Gardens, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Paddington, Notting Hill, Regents Park, and more.

The Big Bus blue route starts from 144 Regent Street (TfL Bus Stop "V", near the corner with Beak Street)

Green Route (1 hr 10 min):

Temple Church, The Mall, St James’s Park, British Museum, Kings Cross, Churchill Museum, Downing Street, National Portrait Gallery, and much more.

The Big Bus green route starts from

Holiday Routes

For the holidays, Big Bus offers a special route at night which will take you around London to see all of the best Christmas lights and displays.

They also have a Christmas Day bus tour , which might not seem like a big deal at first, but it's worth noting that none of the public buses will be running on this day.

In other words, you can expect far less traffic on Christmas day, and that might make the experience much more enjoyable.

Of course, a lot of places will also be closed on Christmas, and this route doesn't allow you to hop on or off at your own leisure.

Even so, if you're interested in seeing the city without too much traffic, this could be the best time to do it!

Reviews of Big Bus Tours London

With a 4 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, Big Bus Tours has received quite a few respectable reviews from its customers.

Most passengers felt like this was a great way to learn about London and see many significant landmarks.

Unhappy reviews tend to increase during the early summer season as buses become more crowded, so be sure to temper your expectations.

The TootBus Sightseeing Tour

The TootBus Sightseeing Tour, also known as the Original London Sightseeing Tour company is almost identical to Big Bus Tours and their reviews are about equal.

As their name hints, they are the original hop-on-hop-off London sightseeing bus tour.

The Original Tour also offers opportunities to combine a bus ticket with tickets to popular attractions to save on both. 

Extras: 24-hour and 48-hour tickets include a free river cruise, 3 free walking tours, and a booklet filled with vouchers for various London attractions (not for The Original Tour).

Also for children, a free activity pack is included.

The 3 free walking tours are: Changing of the Guard, Rock N Roll London, and Jack the Ripper.

Original London also offers a nighttime bus tour as well as a bus tour specifically for families .

Ticket Prices (with 15% discount)

24-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price

• Adult – £29.75
• Child – £17.00
• Family – £90.00

48-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price

• Adult – £34.85
• Child – £21.25
• Family – £107.00

72-Hour Ticket Price

• Adult – £39.95
• Child – £25.50
• Family – £124.00
• Purchase tickets or learn more . (Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance)

Yellow Route

• Buses run every 20-35 minutes.
• Buses run every 15-30 minutes.
• Daily: 9 am - 4 pm
• Buses run every 20-30 minutes.

Yellow Route   – The Original Tour (T1 and T2)

• Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, The Shard, Tower Bridge and Leicester Square.National Gallery, and more.
• T1 – Live commentary in English.  T2 – Recorded commentary in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Mandarin. PLUS special commentary specifically for children.
• First bus: 8:30 am. Frequency: every 5-20 mins.

Blue Route – The Royal Borough Route (T4)

• Harrods, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Design Museum, and more. 
• Multilingual commentary.
• First bus:  8:30 am. Frequency: Every 15-20 mins.

Orange Route   – The British Museum Tour  (T5)

• British Museum, British Library, Chinatown, Shaftesbury Avenue, and more.
• First bus: 8:35 am. Frequency: Every 20-30 mins.

NOTE: This route is not currently available and we don't know when they will bring it back.

Reviews of Toot Bus London

Much like their competition, The Original London Sightseeing Tour has received a 4 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor.

Reviews for their hop-on-hop-off bus tours are mostly positive, but they have had some unhappy customers from time to time.

Some guests complained that they didn’t learn a lot and the trip took too long, but many others were pleasantly surprised by everything they experienced.

Several visitors were very impressed by their drivers and the additional walking tours that they offer for free.

City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-off Tours

This is one of the most popular bus tour companies in the world, and they offer a very similar level of service to their competitors.

City Sightseeing currently offers both a 24-hour and 48-hour ticket. Each ticket includes at least one additional activity, including free walking tours, cruises, and more.

There are a total of 25 stops spread across two routes.

The red route will take you to some of the most notable sites in London,

Here are the prices you can expect to pay for each ticket:

24-Hour Ticket

• £37/Adults | £22/Children
• £96/Family (2 Adults, 2 Children)
• 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
• Self-Guided Royal London Tour.

24-Hour Ticket + Cruise

• £42/Adults | £25/Children
• £109/Family (2 Adults, 2 Children)
• Thames River Cruise.

48-Hour Ticket + Cruise

• £49/Adults | £29/Children
• £127/Family (2 Adults, 2 Children)
• 48-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
• 6 Self-Guided London Tours.

City Sightseeing London Routes

City Sightseeing offers pretty much the same red and green route provided by Big Bus Tours.

The red route starts from the London Eye, Belvedere Road, Stand 3788, and follows a route that covers mostly Westminster and the City of London.

The green route also starts from the London Eye and travels north to sites such as Woburn Place and Southampton Row.

There aren't many differences to note, as they both follow pretty much the same path.

If you want to get a better idea of where the bus will take you, use the following map for more information.

The Thames River cruise, the blue route, starts from Westminster Pier, across from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and has just one stop ending at Tower Pier, near the Tower of London .

You might have noticed that City Sightseeing offers better pricing than some of its competitors, but it should be noted that the quality of service might not be as great.

According to TripAdvisor, this company currently has a 3 out of 5 rating, which isn't terrible, but it's also not very good.

While some guests enjoyed their experience, others were disappointed with the amount of information given and the regularity of service.

Keep these factors in mind before deciding which ticket to buy.

Golden Tours

24-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Ticket Price

• Adult – £41
• Child – £25
• Includes boat ride

48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Ticket Price

• Adult – £47
• Child – £28

72-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Ticket Price

• Adult – £54
• Child – £34
• Includes boat ride.

Purchase tickets or learn more . (Full refund up to 24 hours in advance)

NOTE: The 24-hour ticket is included for free with the London Explorer Pass .

Commentary Languages and Type: Live commentary in English. Recorded commentary in German, French, Spanish, Italian Japanese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Route Duration: 1 – 3 hours

Extras: FREE riverboat cruise.

• Red Route – Standard Route – Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace.
• Yellow Route – Standard Route plus Kensington --- Harrods, V&A Museum, Royal Albert Hall, etc.
• 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Buses run every 10-20 minutes.

Although this service is worth mentioning, it’s important to note that Golden Tours has only been given a 3 ½ out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, but 4 out of 5 stars on Get Your Guide ( see the reviews ).

Reviews for their hop-on-hop-off bus tour are very mixed, and several customers have concluded that the service was not very good.

Some guests complained about their bus driver while others were displeased with how infrequently the buses ran.

Those who enjoyed their trip felt that it was a great value which made it a lot easier to explore London. 

LONDON NIGHT BUS TOURS

Many of the above-mentioned bus tour companies offer night bus tours, and we will detail those services below.

Most of these are not hop-on-hop-off tours, but they do take place in the same open-top double-decker buses that are used during the day.

Be sure to also check out our post on night tours of London for walking, bike, boat, and Segway tours.

There is also a Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes night bus tour.

London By Night

A double-decker bus tour of London after the sun goes down.

The tour route takes visitors through the most famous sites in London, all lit up, including the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, Harrods, and more!

This company has received an overall 4 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Get Your Guide ( see the reviews ).

An overwhelming majority of reviewers were very pleased with their service, some going so far as to say that this was an excellent experience.

Although they have been given a few negative reviews, none of them indicate any serious issues with the tour bus.

Ticket Prices

• Adult – £29
• Child – £16
• Family – £78
• Under 5 – FREE
• Purchase tickets here . (Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance)
• 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:15, 21:45, 22:15 in Summer (Apr-Sept).
• 19:30, 21:20 in Winter (Oct-Mar)
• Tours last around 1 hr 15 min.

Location: Tours begin from Green Park Underground Station next to the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly.

View the route map .

Commentary Type and Language: Live commentary in English.

This night tour will take you past notable and historic sites such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye after the sun sets.

The tour is offered three times per night and you can start the tour at one of three different stops. Hotel return service is provided at the end of your outing.

Pre-recorded commentary is available in 12 languages, as it is on their hop-on-hop-off bus tours.

• Adult – £31.50
• Child – £22.50
• Family – £96.75
• From the London Eye: 7:30 pm, 8 pm, 8:30 pm
• From Victoria: 7:45 pm, 8:15 pm, 8:45 pm
• From the Marble Arch: 8 pm, 8:30 pm, 9 pm

This night bus tour is only available for a limited time from April – September.

That said, you can purchase tickets ahead of time and use them on any day within 6 months of purchase.

The TootBus Night Tour (formerly the Original London Night Tour)

This company offers its yellow route as a night tour, and it includes a variety of popular landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and more.

Unlike other companies, this is essentially just an extension of their hop-on-hop-off bus tour during the day, but the night bus tickets are only valid after 6:30 pm.

Think of it as a discount ticket for the end of the day.

That said, this night bus tour does not include any of the additional activities that you can get with other services provided by the Original London Sightseeing Tour.

Regardless, being able to hop on and off at your own leisure will make this a much better option for anyone who wants to get some good pictures after the sun goes down.

• Adult – £23.80
• Child – £13.60
• Family – £72.00
• March - April: 7:30 pm
• May: 8:00 pm
• June - August: 8:30 pm
• September: 7:30 pm
• October: 7:00 pm
• November: 5:30 pm
• The tour lasts for up to 2 ½ hours

Toot Bus's night tour starts from Coventry Street, London W1D 6BH.

In addition to offering the opportunity to jump off and explore at your leisure, this is also the most affordable night bus tour in London and it’s available year-round!

Toot Bus also offers a bus tour specifically for families .

DISCOUNTS AND DEALS

The following section will cover all of the different ways you can save money on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

We include information about tourist passes, combo packages, and more.

Tourist Attraction Passes

Most of the tourist attraction discount passes available to you in London include free tickets to at least one hop-on-hop-off bus tour, but not all of these services are the same.

Each of these tourist passes includes a variety of attractions for one flat price, allowing you to save up to 55% depending on the card that you choose.

They can also save you time by allowing you to skip the ticket queue at select tours and attractions. 

With that in mind, this section will provide a breakdown of which bus tour is offered by each tourist pass.

Big Bus Tours (24-hour ticket)

• London City Turbo Pass
• London Sightseeing Pass

Golden Tours (24-hour ticket)

• London Pass
• London Explorer Pass

Make sure to read our full post about which London City Pass is best for you for more details about how to use these services.

Combo Packages

All the 3 major hop-on-hop-off companies offer tickets that combine various durations of their bus tickets with popular attractions in London.

The TootBus Sightseeing Tour (formerly the Original London Sightseeing Tour)

This company offers a combo deal that includes both their hop-on, hop-off bus tour and a cruise on the river Thames.

If you're interested in both of these activities, this is a great way to save money on tickets by paying one flat price instead of paying for tickets individually.

Prices (with 15% discount)

• 24 Hour Tickets: £35.70/Adults | £20.40/Children
• 48 Hour Tickets: £41.65/Adults | £24.65/Children

This service currently offers a variety of combo packages, and they also work with Madame Tussauds to provide discounts through a special London attraction package.

The following deals are available directly from Big Bus Tours:

• £81/Adults | £67/Kids
• £105/Adults | £92/Kids
• £83/Adults | £69/Kids
• £73/Adults | £48/Kids

Purchase combo packages or learn more .

Much like its competitors, this company also offers a plethora of different combo deals which include their hop-on-hop-off bus tour and at least one additional attraction.

Here are the deals they currently have available:

• £66/Adults | £50/Kids
• £66/Adults | £35/Kids
• £64/Adults | £49/Kids
• £59/Adults | £32/Kids
• £46/Adults | £24/Kids
• £58/Adults | £40/Kids
• £101/Adults | £79/Kids
• £104/Adults | £69/Kids
• £58/Adults | £43/Kids

While some of these combo packages are excellent deals, you may want to compare prices for a few of them to the Madame Tussauds Attraction Package and other combination discounts.

PROS AND CONS OF A LONDON HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS TOUR

If you’re looking for a great way to see all the major sites in London, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour can be a great option.

That said, there are a few things you may want to consider before purchasing tickets.

Here are a few reasons you may want to think about taking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour in London.

Commentary in Several Languages

These bus tours typically include recorded commentary about the most historic and notable landmarks in the city.

The audio guide is often offered in at least 5-10 different languages.

Jump Off and Explore

In addition to the tour itself, you’ll also have the opportunity to jump off at any stop you want and take a closer look for yourself.

You can set your own pace for exploration. Once you’re done looking around, just hop back on and resume your guided trip!

Great Overview of the City

This is a great way for visitors to become more familiar with the city and where everything is located.

Each hop-on-hop-off bus tour includes a map that can make it even easier to find your way around town.

Additional Services

Depending on which type of ticket you purchase, you could also enjoy free walking tours, cruises, night tours, and other things to do.

This is a great way to save money on activities you may already be considering.

Reasonable Prices

Considering that you’ll receive transportation, a tour, live and recorded commentary, a map, and even additional activities, the ticket prices are pretty reasonable at an average price of £35-£50 per person.

TIP : We have a section on  discounts and deals below so you don't have to pay full price!

Although a hop-on-hop-off bus tour can be very useful for most travelers, there are some reasons that you may want to consider another service.

Simplistic Commentary

It’s nice that these tours typically include both live and recorded commentary about the city.

But, they don’t usually go into a lot of detail about all of the landmarks and historic locations you will see.

If you want more in-depth commentary, consider complementing a bus tour with one of our walking tours.

Or, consider our public bus hop-on-hop-off route.

In addition to audio on the bus, we also have clips for walking around at select stops ( learn more here ).

Not Very Efficient

Whether you don’t have a lot of time in London or you just want to save some time, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour isn’t very efficient.

This service is more about taking your time and exploring each location of interest.

Visitors who want a quicker, more efficient experience should consider a different kind of London bus tour.

No Assigned Seat

While you can get an assigned seat on other bus tours and assure that you’ll always have a place to sit, there is no such guarantee on these hop-on-hop-off bus tours.

All seats are first-come, first-served.

If you want to make sure you’ve got a good seat with great views of the city, another type of London bus tour will probably suit you better.

Tips From Locals and Travelers

Alright, enough trying to sell you on hop-on hop-off bus tours.

Here are some of the thoughts and opinions of both locals and travelers from our London Travel Tips group on Facebook who have taken these tours in London.

Megan recommends a pretty good idea, which is to use your first circuit on the bus to note locations you'd like to visit.

Then, on your second trip around, use the hop-on hop-off bus to get to each of the attractions you want to see in closer detail!

Thomas notes that they always do the hop-on hop-off tours in every city they visit just to get an overview of the area, and that is definitely one of the better uses of these services.

Here's another excellent suggestion.

Whether or not you're trying to save money, it's worth noting that you can technically see all the major attractions included on a hop-on hop-off bus tour by using the TFL buses instead.

As a matter of fact, you can actually see a lot more this way, but it does require more effort to figure out the bus routes you'll want to take.

Most locals recommend lines 9 and 15 if you want to follow basically the same route as hop-on hop-off tours.

Richard here actually used to work on the hop-on hop-off buses, so he's got a lot of experience with the services.

He advises to avoid Golden Tours, and from other comments we have seen, it seems that this company does have issues providing these tours.

He also notes that you can easily find which route a bus offers by looking at the colour coded signs on the windows.

If you're wondering whether or not you need to purchase tickets in advance, it'll be nice to know that you can just walk right up to the bus and purchase tickets directly from the driver/guide.

The only real reason to buy tickets ahead of time is to save money, and that's why we offer so many discount opportunities in this post!

For more helpful advice, make sure to check our London Travel Tips group on Facebook.

RELATED POSTS: 

• Where to Store Your Luggage
• London Bus Tours
• London Walking Tours
• Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
• What to Do in London

And much, much more

About the author.

North America

United kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Day in London

Make The Most Of A Day In London!

Big Bus Tours

Experience the best of London’s iconic sights with Big Bus Tours. Hop on and off our double-decker buses as you explore the city’s famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the majestic Big Ben. Enjoy informative live commentary, panoramic views, and flexible routes that let you discover London at your own pace. Make the most of your visit with Big Bus Tours and create unforgettable memories of this vibrant city. Book your tour today and embark on a London adventure like no other.

Visitors can choose from a variety of passes in London to help them make the most of their vacation. The London Pass comprises a hop-on, hop-off bus tour and provides free admission to more than 80 of the city’s finest attractions. The Sightseeing Pass offers a versatile option with the option of three, four, five, or seven attractions, while the Merlin Attractions Pass grants entry to well-known destinations including the London Eye and Madame Tussauds . Big Bus Tours offers a hop-on, hop-off service with live commentary and panoramic views for people who want to experience the city by bus. And finally, for those on a tight budget, the Big City Saver pass provides savings on restaurants, shops, and activities. Visitors to London are guaranteed to discover the best pass for their needs among the several that are offered.

Are you arranging a trip to London and seeking an easy way to visit the famous sites and attractions of the city? Huge Bus Tours London is your only option. Big Bus Tours London is the ideal method to experience the city at your own pace and convenience because of its hop-on, hop-off service, educational audio commentary, extensive route, and over 40 stops. Big Bus Tours London’s adaptability is one of its best features. You can board and exit the bus as often as you like with the hop-on, hop-off service, giving you the freedom to explore the city at your own leisure and convenience. This is particularly helpful if you wish to spend more time at particular sights or attractions.

Top Highlights

• Flexibility: You may explore the city at your own leisure and convenience with the hop-on, hop-off service.
• Informational commentary: The multilingual audio commentary offers fascinating background information on the places of interest.
• Extensive route: stopping at over 40 locations along the way, including well-known sites like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye.
• Scenic views: The open-top bus offers beautiful views of the city and its well-known sites and attractions.
• Ticket options: Big Bus Tours London provides a range of ticket choices to accommodate diverse interests, schedules, and spending limits.
• Family-friendly: To keep youngsters involved and entertained during the tour, Big Bus Tours London provides special children’s commentary and activity booklets.
• Discounts and promotions: Big Bus Tours London frequently provides discounts and promotions, such as complimentary walking tours, river cruises, and attraction tickets when a bus tour ticket is purchased.
• Expert tour guides: The guided walking tours offered by Big Bus Tours London are led by knowledgeable tour guides who share their insider knowledge and the history of the city’s landmarks and attractions.
• Night tours: Big Bus Tours London provides night excursions that highlight the city’s lit landmarks and attractions and offer a fresh and unusual viewpoint on the area.

Further Details

Big Bus Tours London’s educational audio commentary, which is offered in a variety of languages, is another feature. The trip is both educational and entertaining due to the commentary’s intriguing facts and history about the sights and attractions. As you explore, you can unwind, sit back, and discover the city’s rich history and culture.

Another noteworthy aspect of Large Bus Tours London is its broad route. Famous attractions including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye are among the tour’s more than 40 stops. It is a convenient and effective way to see the city because you can see all the important monuments and attractions on one tour.

The beautiful cityscapes that can be seen from the open-top bus are another feature of Big Bus Tours London. The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and St. Paul’s Cathedral are just a few of the famous monuments and landmarks in the city that can be seen from a different angle. The open-top bus offers sweeping views of the city, making it an excellent opportunity to take pictures and remember the experience.

Last but not least, Big Bus Tours London provides a variety of ticket choices to accommodate diverse interests, schedules, and spending levels. Big Bus Tours London has a ticket option for you whether you’re interested in a traditional tour, a night tour, or a combination of the two. Depending on how long you wish to spend exploring the city, you can select a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day ticket.

There are numerous different reasons to purchase a ticket for Big Bus Tours London in addition to the highlights stated above. For instance, the vehicles are wheelchair accessible, which greatly benefits those with impairments who wish to do the tour. Children can stay entertained and involved during the tour by using the activity materials and unique children’s commentary provided by Big Bus Tours London.

With the purchase of a bus tour ticket, the trip frequently also includes free walking tours, river cruises, and attraction tickets as part of its promotions and discounts. You may also take part in escorted walking tours, which are conducted by knowledgeable experts who share insider information and the background of the city’s landmarks and attractions.

In conclusion, Big Bus Tours London is the best option if you’re planning a vacation to London and want an easy and flexible approach to experience the city’s famous sites and attractions. You can see all the key monuments and attractions at your own time and convenience thanks to the hop-on, hop-off service, informative audio commentary, extensive itinerary, and picturesque views. Make the most of the numerous ticket choices and discounts that Big Bus Tours London provides to get the best value for your money.

Privacy Overview

• Skip to content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Tips For Family Trips

Start planning your dream trip today

Tips for Taking a Big Bus Tour in London

England / October 4, 2019 by Allison / 3 Comments This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links.

Planning a trip to London? I used to scoff at Big Bus tours because they are “touristy.” However, I've now tried Big Bus in London and Washington D.C. and have decided that they are actually a fun, low-stress way to see a new city. 

My family used Big Bus as transportation and tour on our first full day in London. It was easy to use, and we saw more of the city that day than any other day of our trip. My kids (ages 11 and 14) loved riding in the open upper deck, and never complained about taking a break from all the walking we did on other days of our trip.

Here's are my tips for making the most of your Big Bus Tour in London.

What is a Big Bus Tour?

Big Bus tours are private double-decker buses that drive through the most visited and well-known sections of London. Every bus has a live tour guide or recorded narration that tells you more about what you're seeing. 

You can get off the bus anytime to spend more time at any of the attractions along the way. There are 40+ stops between 4 routes. When you're done, climb on the next Big Bus that comes by and continue your tour. Your wait will probably be 15 minutes or less.

All-Day Transportation

Big Bus is an activity and a full-day's transportation rolled into one. The bus will stop near most major activities in London. You can ride the bus, see the sights, and hop off for activities anytime you want. When you're finished, hop back on the next Big Bus that comes by. Buses should arrive every few minutes. 

You can start and end your day at any Big Bus stop. We arrived with our passes, and they were activated as we boarded. We chose a beginning and end point within walking distance of our hotel.

Related: My Review of Travelodge London-Covent Garden

Which Route is Best?

Stick with the Red Tour if this is your first trip to London and you only have one day on Big Bus.

The Red Tour is the Central London route, which will take you past London's most famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London and more. This is the only route with a live tour guide.

Big Bus has four routes to choose from – red, blue, orange and green. You can switch to any route any time, and back again at no extra cost. 

We planned to spend 2-3 hours just riding without hopping off, and imagined that we might transfer to the blue or orange route to see more of the city. It turned out that the Red Tour, with stops at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, took the whole day.

See all the routes and plan your day at https://www.bigbustours.com/london .

Keep Activities Short

Aim for smaller museums or landmarks that will not take more than an hour or so – and not too many of them – on your Big Bus day. This will give you time to see more of London on the bus. 

We stopped at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London on our Big Bus day. From a transportation perspective, these were good choices for us because they weren't very close to our hotel or other activities on our itinerary. On the other hand, the Tower of London is a major activity that can easily take 2-3 hours (or more) if you love history.

If you know you'll want to spend a lot of time at a single activity or neighborhood, do that on a different day. You'll get the most for your money if you use Big Bus to see more places.

Related: Tips for Visiting the Tower of London

Save Time to Ride

You may want to spend some time just riding the bus, without hopping off at all. This is what we did after we finished at the Tower of London in the afternoon.

We passed neighborhoods and landmarks that I'd heard about, but might never have seen without Big Bus. The recorded narration or live guide filled in the details. It was a great way to become more familiar with a new city.

If you just take the Red Route without hopping off, a round trip will take about 2 hours 20 minutes.

Dress for the Weather

Climbing to the open-air upper deck on your Big Bus will be a no-brainer for most families. It has the best unobstructed views. Dress for the weather so that rain or cold won't drive you into the sheltered lower deck too easily.

Related: Packing Tips from our London Trip

Expect Heavy Traffic

Be careful about scheduling other activities on your Big Bus day. We had evening tickets to Les Miserables in the West End and figured that we had plenty of time to take Big Bus from the Tower of London to Leicester Square. However, afternoon traffic was so slow that we had to settle for a grab-and-go dinner to arrive at the theatre in time. 

Slow traffic means you have time to take photos and soak up the scenery while someone else worries about driving. However, the Underground will be more efficient if you need to get somewhere quickly.

Related: How to Get Theatre Tickets in London

Ways to Save

The current price for the 1-day Classic Ticket is £39 per adult if you buy in London when you board the bus. There are several easy ways to save money on your Big Bus ticket. 

Buy Online – You'll save a few pounds on each pass when you buy in advance through the official website. Learn more at www.bigbustours.com/london .

The London Pass – One full day on Big Bus is included with The London Pass. This bundle-and-save pass also includes popular activities like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Churchill War Rooms and many more. Learn more about The London Pass at londonpass.com .

Upgrade your ticket  – It only costs an extra £5-10 to add a second or third day to your Big Bus ticket. If you love the low-stress Big Bus experience, this option is a good way to see London for as little as £15 per day. 

Related: My Review of The London Pass for Families

Every member of my family loved our Big Bus Tour in London and we recommend it. We saw a lot more of the city than we could have seen on foot or on the Underground. The tour guide/recorded narration was informative. We didn't need to spend any other money on transportation that day, and never worried about getting lost. 

I hope that our experience helps your family make the most of your time and money in London.

Happy travels!

Disclosure: My family received complimentary 2-Day London Passes for the purpose of review. Big Bus is included in The London Pass. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for Sharing!

Reader Interactions

John Phillips

June 30, 2020 at 8:37 am

Hi Allison Thank you for the very informative review which includes lots of good points.

I’ve travelled around London on a tourist bus but with another company called Megasightseeing. Their 2 hour non stop tour was also excellent but at a fraction of the price of Big Bus & the other tour bus companies that operate in London.

Perhaps you might want to check them out when you are next in town.

Liz Entwistle

October 22, 2021 at 4:33 am

Which is the nearest stop on the red bus tour to Euston station? & how far from Euston is it

October 22, 2021 at 4:09 pm

Hi! Let me start by clarifying that I don’t live in London or know the Big Bus route well. But using Google Maps and the official Big Bus Tours website, I was able to figure out that unfortunately, Euston Station is not very close to a stop on the Red Tour. You’re not too far if you ride a couple of stops via the Underground.

I got an address near Euston Station (the British Library) on Google Maps and then typed it into the official Big Bus site here: https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/find-a-bus-stop-london . From there, I was able to see the location in relation to the Big Bus routes. It’s a handy tool and it was fun to find it. Thanks!

Have a question or comment? Add it here. Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

We have received your request correctly.

You will receive an email with a summary of your bookings.

Can't find it? Leave us your email and we'll send you a summary of your bookings.

Share it straight to social media with your campaign ID and name

London Bus Tour: Big Bus

• 7.90 / 10 1,223 reviews | 25,901 travellers The big bus trip was on time and the taped tour was informative. The drivers were very helpful with additional information. We enjoyed seeing the entire city, and loved the boat trip, as well. Highly recommend it to get oriented in any large city. 10 Josephine
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service starts

The Big Bus London Bus Tour is the perfect way to see the British capital's main sights. You can hop on and off at any of the stops & explore the incredible city of London at your own pace.

Routes, Stops + Timetables

The London Big Bus tourist bus has 3 different routes. You'll journey around London on board an open-top double-decker bus, taking in the incredible sites of one of the most visited cities in the world with a fantastic audio guide. The 48-hour London bus tour tickets also include a boat trip on the River Thames and a night bus tour if you desire.

Come and admire some of the most popular stops along the routes, such as London Bridge, London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster.

In addition, you'll have an audio guide so you can learn lots of fun facts about London's history, monuments and much more.

You can check out the bus's routes and list of stops here .

Below you can see the details of each of the bus lines on this London Bus Tour:

• Red Line : The most complete route, lasting a total of 2 hours and 20 minutes, passes by the major sites in London. It runs daily from 8:40 am to 5:10 pm, every 20 to 30 minutes.
• Blue Line : This route passes through the museum quarter south of Hyde Park and takes you to the Tower of London in East London. You'll see world-famous spots such as Buckingham Palace, Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Kensington Palace, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Notting Hill, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. This route lasts 3 hours 20 minutes and runs daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm, with buses every 20 to 30 minutes.
• Night Tour : Departs from London Eye (stop 11) at 7:30 pm. The night tour is non-stop and lasts 2 hours and is included in the '48-hour ticket + night tour' option. ​

Please keep in mind that these schedules are flexible and may vary.

The cruise down the River Thames between Westminster and the Tower of London is included with each ticket. The boats run daily between 10 am and 5 pm, every 15 minutes during summer and every 40 minutes during winter.

The boats depart from the following points:

• Tower Bridge Dock (near stop 16 on the sightseeing bus)
• Westminster Dock (near stop 18 on the sightseeing bus)

London walking tours

The 48-hour London Bus Tour tickets also include a guided walking tour of London. These 1.5-hour tours run daily. You can choose one of the following options:

• Royal Sites Tour: starts at 10   am at stop 7 (Trafalgar Square)
• City of London Tour : starts at 4 pm at stop 14 (St Pauls Cathedral)
• Westminster Undiscovered Side Tour: starts at 1 pm at Stop 10 (Whitehall)

How does it work?

The London Bus Tour ticket is valid for 24 or 48 hours from the time it's first used. During this time, you can hop on and off the buses as many times as you like. Although a start date is requested when booking, you can activate this ticket at any point within six months from this chosen date.

Activities in London

Fancy exploring some of the sites you'll see from the bus? Purchase your tickets to the London Eye , the Tower of London , St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminister Abbey .

More Information

1 day - 2 days.

The activity takes place with recorded commentary in English.

Unlimited use of the Big Bus London buses during the selected time

Headphones for each person

River Thames boat cruise

Night bus tour (depending on selection)

London walking tour in English (depending on selection)

When to book?

You can book up to the start time, as long as there are places remaining. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Varies according to the attraction included.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• No printing of documentation required.

Big Bus Tours Gbp Show more

Corporate name: Big Bus Tours Ltd

Not permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Q - Can you take luggage on the bus?

A - Yes, you can bring cabin sized bags and backpacks on the bus.

Q - What happens in poor weather conditions?

A - Depending on the weather conditions, in certain circumstances, the open-top bus may be modified to a bus with a roof to protect passengers.

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

You may also be interested in.

London to Stonehenge: Tickets & Transport

Warner Bros. London Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter

Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford Day Trip

Login to add activities to your favorites and access them from any device

This site is reCAPTCHA protected and Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Log in to rate the opinions of other travelers

Best Sightseeing Bus Tours in London Compared

After many years organising our friends’ and relatives’ trips to London, one of the questions we have answered many times is: “which one of the different London bus tours is the best” and if they are worth the money.

First of all, I have to say that I highly recommend buying tickets for one of the London sightseeing tours, especially if it’s your first trip to the British capital. It is an easy way to get around the city; making sure you see London’s most important landmarks .

The open-top buses add something special to the experience of visiting London. You still get a feeling of the city, and it’s the best way to get pictures of London’s iconic buildings and attractions. In this article, we will show you the routes that follow all the different London sightseeing bus tours.

London Bus Tours Deals

GET 10% OFF AT BIG BUS TOURS

Another good point to remember is that you can sometimes buy combined tickets for a sightseeing bus tour in London + one of London’s most important attractions, and this is one of the best ways to get more for your money. Most of the  London Attraction Passes include one of the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tours in London.

Sightseeing Bus Tours in London Compared

There are currently 4 main bus companies that offer hop-on hop-off bus tours in London: Big Bus Tours , TOOT Bus , Golden Tours and City Sightseeing .

Sightseeing Bus Tours in London: What’s included

• FREE RIVER CRUISE : One of the things I would recommend doing when you visit London, so definitely important to keep in mind if you can get it included with your sightseeing bus tour tickets.
• GUIDED WALKING TOUR
• RECORDED / LIVE COMMENTARY (recorded commentary available in different languages)
• FREE HEADPHONES
• FREE PONCHO if it rains

The timetables are usually quite similar, normally starting between 8.00 am and 9.00 am and ending at around 5.30 pm or 6.00 pm.

PLAN TRIP TOP TIP : When buying tickets for the different sightseeing bus tours in London, keep in mind that all companies will have different prices depending on whether you buy the tickets online or if you do it on the day in the street or at one of the stops. Online tickets usually are 10 or 15% cheaper, and you don´t usually have to choose a specific day which makes it more accessible.

Sightseeing Bus Tours in London: Price Comparison

We have updated the fares below in February 2023, with the prices from each bus tour provider in London as they appear on their official websites. These prices are for ONLINE TICKETS, which are normally around 10% cheaper than on-street tickets.

* Children under 5 do not need a ticket. Children aged 5 to 15 need a child ticket. A Family ticket is valid for 2 adults + 2 children (aged 5 – 15).

London bus tour deals : Remember that you can use our promo code “ PLANTRIP10 ” to get an additional 10% discount if you buy tickets from Big Bus Official Website . 

Big Bus Tours

Big Bus Tours started touring the streets of London more than 25 years ago, with only 2 buses in London. Nowadays, they are one of the biggest sightseeing bus tours companies in the world, and currently have more than 400 sightseeing buses in more than 26 cities. So, with all this experience, it’s no surprise that Big Bus Tours is one of the most important sightseeing bus tour companies in London.

Their buses are burgundy and cream and say BIG BUS LONDON on the side, so they are easily recognisable. The Big Bus Tours Sightseeing hop on hop off-bus tour is also included in the London Pass .

Their buses have free Wi-Fi on board, and most have USB chargers if you wish to charge your mobile phone during the tour.

Available routes : Big Bus Tours has three different sightseeing day bus routes and one Night Tour.

• The Classic Tour (Red Route):  The classic tour is one of the main routes that will take you through London’s most important landmarks, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Marble Arch, Oxford Street, and Tower of London, Tower Bridge…
• The Blue Route: The blue route is one of the main routes that will take you through London’s most important landmarks, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Marble Arch, Oxford Street, Tower of London, Tower Bridge…
• The Green Link: Connects Trafalgar Square with the British Museum and King’s Cross – St Pancras

⇒ See Big Bus London Route Map

Number of stops:  Big Bus Tours has more than 50 stops across their 3 different day bus routes into account. You can hop on and hop off at every one of these stops.

Included with your ticket:  Every ticket includes a free river cruise, except the Night Tour Ticket. The Classic ticket includes a one way ticket for the river cruise. Premium and Deluxe tickets include a hop-on hop-off river cruise, from Westminster to Greenwich, which is perfect for exploring Greenwich . The classic, premium and deluxe tickets also include a free walking tour.

Types of tickets:  There are tickets for adults, children (5 – 15 years old) and family tickets  (2 adults + 2 children). Children under 5 free. And there are 3 types of tickets:

• Classic: 1 day (this ticket is valid for one calendar day, not 24 hours). This ticket includes a one-way river cruise along the Thames from Westminster Pier (near Big Ben) to the Tower of London, or vice versa. This ticket also includes a free guided walking tour.
• Premium: 2 days (this ticket is valid for two calendar days, not 48 hours). This ticket includes a hop-on hop-off river cruise along the Thames, with stops at Westminster Pier, the Tower of London and Greenwich. This ticket also includes a free guided walking tour and the Night Tour.
• Deluxe: 3 days (this ticket is valid for three calendar days, not 72 hours). This ticket includes a hop-on hop-off river cruise along the Thames, with stops at Westminster Pier, the Tower of London and Greenwich. This ticket also includes a free guided walking tour and the Night Tour.
• Night tour only: This ticket is valid for one-night tour only, which isn’t a hop on hop off bus tour. This ticket does not include the river cruise or the free guided walking tour. This night tour is available during the summer months only.

Validity of tickets: Tickets online are 10% cheaper than buying them on the street. When you buy tickets online they will be valid for 6 months,  so you don’t need to choose a specific day for your tour.

Combo tickets: You can also buy combined tickets for the Big Bus Tours HO-HO Sightseeing Bus Tour in London with tickets to one of London’s Top Attractions. This is a great way of saving money. You can find out more about this here: Big Bus Tours London Detailed Information .

Promo Code: Use our exclusive promo code “PLANTRIP10” when you buy your tickets online to get an extra 10% discount, so this is a 20% discount when compared to on-street prices.

It will be easy for you to recognize their buses in London, as they usually have a UK flag on the side of the bus.

Available routes :  The Original Tour has five different bus routes in London:

• Original Tour (Yellow Route): This is the main route which will take you through London´s most important landmarks, including Hyde Park, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, etc.
• Royal Borough Tour (Blue Route): The blue route covers the district of Kensington, where you’ll find some of London’s most famous museums as well as the well-known department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
• British Museum Tour (Orange Route): This route will take you through London’s famous West End, including Chinatown all the way to the British Museum and King’s Cross.
• Capital Connector (Black Route): From Marble Arch to Madame Tussauds and Regent’s Park.
• Capital Connector (Purple Route): From Marble Arch to Notting Hill and Bayswater. Useful if your hotel is in this area of London.

⇒ See The TOOT Bus London Route Map

Number of stops: The Original Tour has more than 70 stops when you take their different bus routes into account. You can hop on and hop off at every one of these stops.

Included with your ticket: Tickets include a free river cruise + 3 walking tours (including a Changing of the Guard walking tour) except the City Sampler Ticket.

Available tickets:  There are tickets for adults, children (5 – 15 years old) and family tickets  (2 adults + 2 children). Children under 5 free. And there are 3 types of tickets:

• City Sampler: This ticket is valid for the hop-on hop-off bus tour for one day, not 24 hours, and it doesn’t include the free river cruise or the free guided walks.
• 24 hours: This ticket is valid for 24 hours and includes a free hop-on hop off river cruise between Westminster Pier (near Big Ben) and Tower Pier (near the Tower of London) and free guided walks.
• 48 hours: This ticket is valid for 48 hours and it includes a free hop-on hop off river cruise between Westminster Pier (near Big Ben), and Tower Pier (near the Tower of London), plus   an extension to Greenwich and free guided walks.
• 72 hours:  This ticket is valid for 72 hours, including a hop on hop off free river cruise between Westminster Pier (near Big Ben), and Tower Pier (near the Tower of London), plus   an extension to Greenwich, valid for 72 hours and free guided walks.

Golden Tours

Available routes : There are three different sightseeing bus routes in London:

• The Essential Tour (Blue route): This route covers all the main sights in central London and it includes live commentary in English.
• The Classic Tour (Red route): This route covers all the main sights in central London and London’s Museum Quarter in Kensington.
• The Grand Tour (Orange route): This route will mainly take you to Madame Tussauds and King’s Cross.
• The Pick-Up/Drop-Off Route (Yellow route): This route travels from the popular hotel districts to Central London in the mornings.

⇒ Golden Tours Route Map

Number of stops: Over 60 stops on 3 different bus routes. You can hop on and hop off at every one of these stops.

Available tickets:  There are tickets for adults, children (5 – 15 years old) and family tickets  (2 adults + 2 children). Children under 5 free. And there are 3 types of tickets:

• London Introduction: 3-hour open-top sightseeing bus tour of London’s most remarkable landmarks. This is not a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour, and it does not include the free river cruise or free guided walking tours.
• One Day: Ticket valid for one calendar day to use the Hop on Hop off sightseeing bus tour. This ticket does not include a free river cruise or guided walking tours.
• 24 hours: Ticket valid for 24 hours. This ticket includes a free hop-on hop-off river cruise, from Westminster pier (near Big Ben) to St Katharine’s pier (near the Tower of London) and a free walking tour.
• 48 hours:  Ticket valid for 48 hours. This ticket includes a free hop-on hop-off river cruise, from Westminster pier (near Big Ben) to St Katharine’s pier (near the Tower of London) and free walking tours.

What else is included with the tickets: Free Hop on hop off River Cruise + voucher valid for two days for one of their guided walking tours. The walking tours available are The Beatles walking tour or Royal Walking tour.

City Sightseeing London

City Sightseeing has also been operating in London for years, but their service is now supplied by TOOT Bus, so their routes are the same.

Their buses are very colourful, but they are mainly red with colourful pictures of London landmarks, making them very easy to identify.

One of the main differences when we compare City Sightseeing to other sightseeing bus tours in London, is that some of their buses have a removable cover for their upper deck, which can be put on to cover the bus if it´s raining.

Available routes :  City Sightseeing buses follow the same routes as TOOT Bus.

• Yellow Route: This is the main route which will take you through London´s most important landmarks, including Hyde Park, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, etc.

⇒ See City Sightseeing London Route Map

Number of stops: City Sightseeing has more than 70 stops when you take their 3 different bus routes into account. You can hop on and hop off at every one of these stops.

Available tickets: There are tickets for adults, children (5 – 15 years old) and family tickets  (2 adults + 2 children). Children under 5 free. And there are 2 types of tickets:

• 24 hours: This ticket gives you 24 hour access to any of the hop on hop off sightseeing routes in London + a 24 hour access the the free hop on hop off river cruise.
• 48 hours:  This ticket gives you 48 hour access to any of the hop on hop off sightseeing routes in London + 48 hour access the the free hop on hop off river cruise.

What else is included with the tickets:   Free River Cruise + 3 free walking guided tours (changing of the guard; Jack the ripper; rock ‘n’ roll walking tour)

Comparison Sightseeing Bus Tours in London: Summary

Are sightseeing bus tours in london worth it.

If it´s your first time in London I personally think that it´s definitely worth thinking about going on one of the sightseeing bus tours available. It´s definitely the easy way to see London´s most important attractions and you also have the opportunity of hopping on and off at different stops during the day.

As there are different companies that offer this service, we have done all the hard work for you here. Here you will find a brief explanation of what each one of the different companies that offer hop on hop off sightseeing bus tours in London includes in their ticket and we have also compared their fares for you.

There are 4 main companies that operate open top hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours in London, and we are going to compare what they each offer as well as their prices in this article, hopefully allowing you to make an informed decision if you decide to buy tickets for one of the sightseeing bus tours in London.

Other Bus Tours in London

⇒ Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Tour

⇒ Vintage Bus Ghost Tour

Related Posts

Changing of the guard in london: dates 2024, the best black taxi tours in london, best musicals in london in 2024, thames river cruises in london: options, offers and available routes.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.