best open bus tour london

Top Sight Tours Group

Open Top London Bus Tour with Live Guide

Tour start time: daily from 10am to 5pm, start every 1 hour, what we will see & where we will be.

This is an open top bus tour through most iconic landmarks of London with live guide ( on selected departures, subject to availability) . Sit back and relax as our well-ventilated bus reconnects you with the city. The tour lasts between 1.5 hours and 2 hours (subject to traffic on the day).

The bus glides past Central London with most iconic landmarks such as London Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, London Eye, .

The buses will be running at reduced capacity and tickets will be sold in specific time slots to avoid overcrowding.

Know before you go

What’s included :

• Professional live guide on selected departures (s ubject to availability)
• Audio guides available in 11 languages
• Reduced capacity and allocated time slots to avoid over crowding

What’s exlcuded :

• Entrances to any attraction

Please bring with you

• Bottled water

Please note :

• Not hop-on hop-off bus tour
• Buses will be cleaned thoroughly after every tour.

Where we meet

London Eye Tourist Stop, Belvedere Road

Once you have booked, we will send you a confirmation email with all the details of how, where and who to meet on the day of your tour.

Tour Highlights

• A fully ventilated open top bus tour of London
• See London’s most iconic landmarks
• Great history lesson for all ages
• Live English-speaking guide
• Audio guide available 

Notable sights :

• London Tower Bridge
• Houses of Parliament
• Buckingham Palace
• Westminster Abbey
• Trafalgar Square
• Piccadilly Circus
• London Eye 

Similar London Tours

British royalty tour private walking tour.

Experience over 20 London royal landmarks with a private guide and learn all about the British Monar ...

Climb The O2 Arena & Best of Westminster Tour

See over 20 of London's top landmarks in Westminster, then head over to the O2 for a thrilling climb ...

J K Rowling & Wizard Walking Tour & Visit Tower Bridge

Visit different Harry Potter-related sites and see buildings that inspired the books by JK Rowling o ...

London 30+ Top Sights Tour & Kensington Palace Entry

Join an expert guide to see the best of the Westminster & London Bridge areas, then enter famous Ken ...

Best of London Walking Tour with Tower of London & Tower Bridge!

Discover over 30 world-famous London landmarks then head inside the iconic Tower of London and Tower ...

Top Westminster Walking Tour with Tower of London & Tower Bridge!

Join an fun local guide to see 20+ of London's famous landmarks, then explore inside Tower of London ...

Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace

Experience the original Royal English Tea with traditional sandwiches, cakes & scones in the grounds ...

St Pauls Cathedral & See Over 30 Top London Sights – Private Tour

See over 30 London sights with an awesome private guide, then enter the incredible St Paul's Cathedr ...

Go Up The Shard & London Landmark Walking Tour (Private)

See over 30 top London sights with a private guide, then get the best view in the city from the top ...

Explore Tower Bridge & London’s Best Landmarks Tour (Private)

Explore 30+ top London landmarks with a private guide and go inside the iconic Tower Bridge! ...

Private Westminster Tour & Visit Westminster Abbey & Churchill War Rooms

See over 20 of London's most iconic sights and visit Westminster Abbey & Churchill War Rooms ...

Visit Kew Gardens & 3 Hour Westminster Private Walking Tour

See over 15 of London's most iconic sights in a 3-hour private walking tour, then explore the stunni ...

Westminster Private Walking Tour & Visit The Tower of London

See Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & 20+ other top sights before entering the infamous Tower of London! ...

Westminster Private Walking Tour & London Eye Ticket

See the top Westminster sights on a fun private 3-hour London walking tour, then enjoy a ride on the ...

Westminster 3-Hour Private Walking Tour & Visit Churchill War Rooms

See 20+ of London's most iconic sights in a private 3-hour tour, then enter the incredible Churchill ...

Visit Kensington Palace & 3 Hour Westminster Walking Tour (Private)

Explore the famous landmarks of Westminster with a private guide, then visit Kensington Palace - off ...

The Shard Viewing Gallery & Westminster Private Walking Tour

Join us on a fun 3 hour private walking tour and see the top 20 Attractions in Westminster, and go u ...

St Pauls Cathedral & Westminster Private Walking Tour

Enter London's famous cathedral after seeing the Westminster Area with a private guide - see Bucking ...

Sherlock Holmes Museum & Westminster Walking Tour (Private Tour)

Explore the iconic sights of Westminster with your own private guide, then immerse yourself in the w ...

Explore Tower Bridge & Westminster Private Walking Tour

Go inside the iconic Tower Bridge after seeing 20+ top Westminster sights with your own private guid ...

Thames River Cruise & Westminster 3-Hour Private Tour

Take a cruise along the River Thames after exploring the top sights of Westminster with your own per ...

London Private Tour: Changing of the Guard & Westminster Abbey

Join a 3-hour historic walking tour to explore over 20 of London’s iconic landmarks, followed by a ...

Full Royal Private Tour: Royal London & Buckingham Palace Entry

Discover over 15 top attractions in Royal London with a personalized walking tour, followed by an ex ...

Westminster Walking Tour & London Dungeon Entry (Private Tour)

Delve into London's creepiest attraction after enjoying the iconic sights of London's Westminster wi ...

Wonderful Westminster & Windsor (Walking Tour & Visit Windsor Castle) Private Tour

Discover London's most famous sights on a top-rated private 3-hour Westminster Walking Tour, then tr ...

London Private Tour: Buckingham Palace & Big Ben & Westminster Abbey

See over 20 of London’s most iconic sights on a private historic walking tour, then enter Westmins ...

Private Tour : 3 Amazing London Art Galleries 1 tour 1 guide

See the best of the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery & Tate Modern in one incredible tour ...

London : 2 Day Tour. See & Do Everything !

This is the ultimate 2-day tour of London. Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Harry Potter & Jack T ...

The Houses of Parliament & London Main Sights Tour

One of the most complete London Walking Tours. You will see everything and then visit the home of Br ...

Visit The Houses of Parliament & 3 Hour Private Westminster Walking Tour

See the iconic sights of London's Westminster with your own private guide, then explore the famous H ...

Visit Kew Gardens & 3 Hour Westminster Walking Tour

You will see 20+ of London’s most iconic sights a 3-hour historic walking tour, then visit the stu ...

Visit St Paul’s Cathedral & Westminster Walking Tour

Step inside Britain's most famous cathedral - the magnificent St Paul's - and explore the best sight ...

The Shard Viewing Gallery & Westminster Walking Tour

Get the best (and highest!) view in London from The Shard after exploring the top sights of Westmins ...

Paddington Bear Walking Tour of London

Join this fun walking tour to explore the streets of London and follow in Paddington's pawprints! ...

London: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & Westminster Abbey

See Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the other top sights of Westminster, then enter the incredible W ...

Charles Dickens Museum Entrance Ticket

Discover the incredible story of Charles Dickens' life while you roam around his vintage home in Lon ...

Sherlock Holmes Museum & Westminster Highlights Walking Tour

Discover the iconic sights of Westminster with a fun London guide, then step into the world of Brita ...

The London Top Sights Tour. Kids Free!

See 30+ London landmarks on one incredible walking tour, and learn the history, culture, and legends ...

Amazing London: See The Top 30 Landmarks

Join the best walking tour in London, see 30 Top Landmarks & learn their history from a fun local gu ...

Explore Tower Bridge & Westminster Walking Tour

Explore the famous sights of Westminster with a fun local guide before entering the magnificent Towe ...

Inside Buckingham Palace & Westminster Highlights Walking Tour

Step into world-famous Buckingham Palace after seeing the very best of Westminster with an entertain ...

Westminster 3-hour Walking Tour & London Dungeon Entry

The authentic british food tour.

Discover two of the most loved areas of London, offering the most delicious and best variety of food ...

Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace

Wimbledon lawn tennis museum entrance ticket.

Visit the largest tennis museum in the world to explore the rich history of The Championships, and s ...

The Foundling Museum Entrance Ticket

The Foundling Museum, one of London's most interesting museums, includes art collection and 18th-cen ...

Royal Albert Hall Tour Entrance Ticket

Discover Britain's most famous and spectacular performance venue - the Royal Albert Hall. Includes a ...

Chelsea Physic Garden Entrance Ticket

Chelsea Physic Garden is a botanical gem, nestled in the heart of London, England, since 1673. ...

Westminster Walking Tour & Visit The Tower of London

Discover 20+ top sights of London in Westminster, then enter the famous Tower of London for some inc ...

Westminster Walking Tour & London Eye Ticket

See the top Westminster Sights on a fun 3-hour London walking tour, then enjoy a ride on the London ...

Westminster 3 Hour Private Walking Tour & Westminster Abbey

We will see over 20 of London’s most iconic sights in this historic walking tour! After the walkin ...

London Tour with Changing of the Guard & Westminster Abbey

Visit over 20 of London’s most iconic sights in a 3-hour historic walking tour, then enter Westmin ...

Visit The Houses of Parliament & 3 Hour Westminster Walking Tour

See the iconic sights of London's Westminster with a fun local guide, then explore the famous Houses ...

Wonderful Westminster & Windsor (Walking Tour & Visit Windsor Castle)

Discover London's most famous sights on a fun 3-hour Westminster Walking Tour, then travel to the am ...

Wimbledon Tennis & Westminster Landmarks Walking Tour

See the top sights of Westminster in 3 hours before visiting the iconic Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club! ...

Visit The Clink Prison & Westminster Highlights Walking Tour

This is a fun 3 hour walking tour where you will visit the UKs oldest Prison : The Clink! ...

3 hour Westminster Sights Tour & Go On-Board HMS Belfast

This is a fun 3 walking tour of London where you will go on board a WW2 Battleship that saw action i ...

Top London Sights Tour with Westminster Abbey and The Churchill War Rooms

We will see more than 20 of London's most iconic sights and visit two of London’s most iconic attr ...

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter with return transportation & 3 Hour Westminster Tour

Enjoy a walking tour of Westminster & Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potte ...

See Over 30 Top London Sights! Fun Local Guide!!

This is a fun London walking tour where you will see the top 30 London Attractions & hear about thei ...

London’s Amazing Palaces & Parliament Walking Tour

This is a guided London walking tour of Westminster. You will see the main Top London Attractions in ...

Eat 8 English Foods & See 30+ London Sights Walking Tour!

See the top 30 London landmarks then head to Borough Market to enjoy the best of British food! ...

Full Royal Tour: Royal London & Buckingham Palace Tour

Visit Buckingham Palace See 15+ Royal London Sights. Fun local guide ...

J K Rowling & Wizard Walking Tour

A J K Rowling & Wizard Walking Tour of London through some magical streets. Children (15 and under) ...

British Royalty 3 Hour Walking Tour!

We will see 10+ most iconic sights of The British Monarchy in a 3 hour walking tour, with a chance t ...

The Crown British Royalty Walking Tour

Join us as we show you the British Royalty sights that are well known and featured on the series on ...

British Royalty Walking Tour (Including The Changing Of The Guard)

This tour is focused on the most famous Royal Family in the world : The British Monarchy ...

Lights & Sights Of London: 30+ London Top Sights At Dusk!

An evening walking tour of London's lights - the best way to see London at night! The London's light ...

Castles & Bridges Southbank Tour

A fun Southbank walking tour. You'll see the main landmarks in the London Bridge & Southbank area in ...

Londons Palaces, Parliament and Wizard Walking Tour

See 20 of London's most iconic sights and more than 10 movie set locations of Harry Potter movies in ...

Jack The Ripper Tour : Solve The Crime

We will take you on a walking tour through the dark and narrow streets of Jack the Rippers's famous ...

See 40+ London Sights – Fun Local Guide

Want to see every major sight in London? This is the tour for you! See the top 40 Landmarks in Londo ...

Visit the 3 Best London Art Galleries with a Fun Local Guide!

Visit the 3 Best London Art Galleries with a Fun Local Guide! Tate Modern, National Gallery & Portra ...

Wizard Walking Tour (Film Location) & River Cruise

Wizard walking tour & castle – the tower of london.

See a variety of Harry Potter-related locations that inspired JK Rowling and many filming location s ...

Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour & Visit Churchill War Rooms

We will see 20 of London's most iconic sights in a 3-hour historic walking tour! After the walking t ...

Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour & Westminster Abbey

Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarc ...

Ride the London Eye (Skip The Line) & See 30+ London Top Sights

This is a fun 5 walking tour of London where you will go for a spin on the London Eye and also see t ...

The Tower of London & See 30+ London Top Sights

This is a fun 5 hour walking tour of London where you will see the top 30 London Sights and visit Th ...

London WW2 Day Out: Churchill War Rooms & HMS Belfast

See 20+ Top London Sights and delve into Word War 2 history at the Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfa ...

Jack The Ripper Walking Tour & Ripper Museum Entry

Combination Tour of entering the Jack The Ripper Museum plus a walking tour through the various loca ...

Westminster Walking Tour, River Cruise & Go Up The Shard

Combination Tour of the 20 Top London Sights and entrance Tickets onto a Thames River Cruise and The ...

Westminster Tour, River Cruise & Tower of London Entry

Combination Tour of 20+ London Sights and Tickets into the Tower of London plus the River Cruise dow ...

Westminster Abbey Entrance Ticket

Visit the 700 year old Westminster Abbey! ...

Tower of London Entrance Ticket

Visit the Tower of London and enter its Museum! ...

St. Paul’s Cathedral Entrance Ticket

Visit St Pauls! One of Londons most iconic Cathedrals! ...

Houses of Parliament (Westminster) Tour

Take a peak into the Houses of Parliament to see the inside of one of most important buildings for d ...

Churchill WW2 War Rooms Entrance Ticket

Delve into the Churchill War Rooms and see the underground headquarters of the British High Command ...

Buckingham Palace Entry Tickets

You will visit the famous Buckingham Palace. Royal Residence for the Queen! ...

Go Up The Shard & See 30+ London Top Sights

See the top 30 London Landmarks with a fun local guide, then go up the Shard for epic views across t ...

The Shard Viewing Gallery : Entrance Ticket

Enjoy the view from London's tallest Skyscraper, The Shard. ...

Visit Tower Bridge & See 30+ London Top Sights

See the 30+ Top sights of London on a 5 hour Walking Tour, then enter Tower Bridge. Join us on our L ...

Thames River Cruise & Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour

Discover the top sights of London from land and water! A guided walking tour of Westminster & amazin ...

Visit St Pauls & See 30+ London Top Sights

This is a fun 5 London walking tour where you will visit St Pauls Cathedral after your tour. You wil ...

Go On-Board HMS Belfast & See 30+ London Top Sights

This is a fun 5 walking tour of London where you will go on board a WW2 Battleship that saw action i ...

The London Dungeon & See 30+ London Top Sights

This is a fun 5 walking tour of London where you will go on down into the scariest place in the capi ...

Visit The Clink Prison & 30+ London Sights Tour

This is a fun 5 hour walking tour where you will visit the UKs oldest Prison : The Clink! ...

Jack The Ripper Museum & See 30+ London Top Sights Tour

A 5-hour London walking tour to see the top 30+ London attractions followed by entry to the Jack the ...

Sherlock Holmes Museum & 30+ London Top Sights

Visit kew gardens & see 30+ london top sights.

This is a fun 5 hour walking tour of London where you will see the top 30 London Sights and visit th ...

London Panorama Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide

Home > Tours > London Panorama Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide

Reconnect with London on this 90min open top bus tour. Drive past all the greatest London landmarks including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament in our well ventilated open top buses, with a live English-speaking guide*

• Panoramic tour of London’s most remarkable regions and landmarks
• E-tickets accepted on all hop on hop off services!
• View such iconic structures as Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge
• See celebrated areas of London including Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly
• Enjoy the insights and fascinating facts with a live English, or multilingual audio guided tour
• A great introduction to the history of London for the kids
• Free cancellations available on this tour**
• Audio guides available in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Indian, Japanese and Arabic.
• Open top bus tour around London
• A professional live guide*
• Audio guides available in 11 languages
• Reduced capacity and allocated time slots to avoid over crowding
• This is not a Hop-On Hop-Off tour
• Entrances to any attraction
• No refreshments will be provided

When would you like to go?

Unavailable, please select:, options selected:, optional extras, price breakdown:, you may also like.

Sherlock: The Official Live Game

Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & Whisky

SEA LIFE Birmingham & LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham

Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour

Your browser does not support iframes

THE 10 BEST Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, England

Hop-on hop-off tours in london.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

2. City Sightseeing London Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

3. Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye option

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

5. Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

6. Big Bus London Open-Top Evening Tour

7. London: Harry Potter Walking Tour + Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

8. The Big Day out - London Eye Ticket, London Hop-on Hop-Off Tour & River Cruise

9. IFS Cloud Cable Car and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Hop On Hop Off Pass

10. London Discovery by Day and by Night Hop-On Hop-off Tours

11. Tower of London with London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

12. London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

13. Ride of Routemaster and See London

14. London Tootbus Discovery Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

15. London Tour Hop-on Hop-off Bus optional Thames River cruise

16. London Christmas Day 1 Day Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

17. London Eye Fast-Track Ticket with Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

18. London by Night Tootbus Sightseeing Bus Tour

19. 7 Day Winter Tour of England and Scotland starting from London

20. London for 5 Days with Stay in English Families Home

21. Full Day London Pick & Mix Customized Tour

22. 7 Day Tour Exploring England and Scotland starting from London

23. full day london pick & mix customized tour, what travellers are saying.

• Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise
• City Sightseeing London Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
• Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye option
• Thames 24 Hour Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise
• Golden Tours London Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour
• Vox City International Ltd
• Big Bus Tours
• Tootbus London
• Happy Tourist Pvt Ltd
• Booking Agency London
• Thames River Sightseeing
• City Cruises
• Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Liudmila Saburova Russian Guide In England

Posted on 11th September 2023 Categories London Travel Tips

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

Best Bus Tours in London

Love This? Save and Share!

Looking for the best bus tours in London? Don’t miss this insider’s guide. 

London is a historic city packed with legendary landmarks, monuments, and attractions. The only problem with that is there’s almost too much to see and do! 

That’s why guided bus tours are by far the best way to see a city if you are just here for a whistle stop. And as cities go, London has some of the best.

Whilst there is a ‘bus-load’ of traditional tours that concentrate on simply exemplifying London’s highlights, there are some that serve up the city with a twist. 

Why not admire Buckingham Palace as you indulge in afternoon tea? Or drive through Leicester Square as a genuine West End performer serenades you? 

Whether you want to see the historic side of the city or the futuristic side, you’ll find the experience for you on this list of the best London sightseeing bus tours.

The Best London Bus Tours

Big bus tour.

First up is the classic hop-on-hop-off London bus option. Almost every major city around the world has one of these, and we have to say, London’s is undoubtedly one of the best. With your one or two-day ticket, the open-top Big Bus Tour takes you to all of the bucket-list landmarks throughout the city on a two-hour round trip.

Starting at Marble Arch, it transports you to Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Covent Garden, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, and finally Victoria where you can reach Buckingham Palace.

Along the way, expect quality commentary from your audio guide on the significance of the streets and buildings you pass.

By the end of your Big Bus Tour, you’ll feel like London is your second home.

Best for: seeing the city’s highlights at your own pace

Price:  Classic ticket (one-day)  £19.50 per adult and £14.50 per child Premium ticket (two-day): £44.10 per adult and £35.10 per child

Check Dates and Availability

Ghost Bus Tour

Although London today is a fun and exciting place to be, that wasn’t always the case. You see, it has a somewhat gruesome and gruelling history. Think torture, execution, and mass burials. Spooky, right? With a dollop of horror mixed with a splash of comedy, The Ghost Bus Tour London takes you on a heart-racing loop of the city’s top sights to reveal their tumultuous past.

Once you board the retro Routemaster bus, you’ll be greeted by a costumed guide who tells theatrical horror stories throughout the 75-minute tour about the legends of the London landmarks.

Along the way, you will pass Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Shard, and the London Eye. There’s nowhere else in the city that will let you into London’s darkest secrets about the torture techniques used in the Tower of London, the mass burial in Cross Bones Graveyard, and much more.

Best for: a unique insight into mediaeval London Price: £28 per adult and £19 per child

Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

You haven’t really experienced England without indulging in the ritual of afternoon tea – and what better way to do so than on a private afternoon tea tour bus around London?

Board the 1960s retro Routemaster bus, complete with stylish houndstooth seats, to join Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour .

On the 90 minute journey, you will get to see all of London’s highlights including Big Ben, the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and much more. However, you may just be too busy sipping tea and devouring the delicious sandwiches, pastries, and cakes to notice!

After all, the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and lemon tarts are to-die-for. 

Luckily, an audio guide provides fascinating commentary on the sights you pass, making sure you don’t miss a thing. You can even swap your tea for a glass of sparkly to see the city in style.

Best for: experiencing British culture

Price: £45 per adult and £35 per child

London Christmas Lights by Night Tour

If you happen to be heading into town during the festive period, the London Christmas Lights by Night Tour should definitely be on your Christmas list. Why? Well, if there is one thing better than seeing London’s biggest landmarks like Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Hyde Park, it’s seeing them illuminated by millions of alluring Christmas lights.

On this dazzling one hour and 45 mute tour, you are guaranteed to see the very best of the city’s jolly light displays. You’ll even pass by Trafalgar Square where London’s official Christmas tree, dressed head to toe in glittering lights, reaches high into the night sky.

As you are entranced by the city’s festive glow, a live guide will share their local insight into the must-see sights you’ll pass along the way, including Tower Bridge, Marble Arch, Big Ben, London Eye, and much more.

Best for: getting in the Christmas spirit

Price: £29 per adult and £16 per child

Harry Potter Bus Tour

Board your very own Knight Bus (luxury coach) and prepare to see London as you’ve never seen it before — through the eyes of the chosen one, Harry Potter . 

On this cinematic Wizards London Bus Tour tour, expect to see many of the places Harry himself saw on his adventures through the city as he fled from his enemies, fought with dementors, and boarded a train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.A guide, charged with insider info on the making of the movies, will take you to the very locations featured in the iconic Harry Potter films.

Hold onto your sorting hats because you’ll undoubtedly be mind-blown as you stop for pictures by the legendary Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Diagon Alley, The Leaky Cauldron, Millenium Bridge, and of course, Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station.

Best for: a themed tour of London

Price: £32.50 per adult and £21 per child

London Time Tour Bus

Travel through time with the genius Professor Quantum on this sensationally strange sci-fi city bus tour.

Inspired by Back to the Future, the London Time Tour Bus will take you on a fantastical one-hour journey from London’s industrial past, to its modern present, and all the way into the future on an original Routemaster bus.

Professor Quantum will have you smiling, gasping, laughing, and listening intently as he tells you stories and anecdotes along the way that promise a unique insight into the city.

Of course, he will also point out all of London’s best historic, modern, and futuristic sights including the houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, and London Eye.

Best for: an entertaining tour of London for all the family

Price: £20 per adult and £14 per child

Bustronome Gastronomic Bus Tour

Discerning tourists with a penchant for the luxurious and a palette for the delicious will find the Bustronome Gastronomic Bus Tour to their taste. It is, after all, the most refined bus tour in London.

Board their high-end double decker bus complete with panoramic views and extra sumptuous seats, and let the wait staff wine and dine you as you are chauffeured for two hours around the city’s famous sights.

While the lunch tour tempts you with its three or four-course menu featuring simmered beef shank red fruit and pistachio ganache macarons, the six-course dinner menu may just win you over. Plus, you can add a wine pairing to make your tour that bit more mouth-watering.

Best for: a luxury tour experience

Price: starting at £120 per adult and £50 per child

Wartime London Bus Tour

Having been almost completely destroyed by the Blitz, the scars of World War II can still be seen in London today — if only you know where to look. Fortunately, the Wartime London Bus Tour ’s guides have you covered.

Embark with them on a sobering three-hour journey back to this tumultuous time. Along the way, you will see buildings still damaged by shrapnel, original signs pointing to air-raid shelters, and monuments celebrating wartime heroes.

As you do, the guides will share both heart-breaking and heart-warming stories of events that unfolded in London during the Blitz. And if that doesn’t choke you up enough, wait until you hear the old news broadcasts, sound effects, and period music that accompany them.

Best of all, you will get to visit the actual wartime headquarters where Allied forces tactfully planned the German defeat, and other monumental sites.

Best for: a true insight into London’s modern history

Price: starting at £55 per adult

The Beatles Evening Bus Tour

The A Ticket to Ride tour may not be on the Beatles’ actual tour bus (we wish), but if you board it, you’ll be taken to the very spots where the band lived, recorded, hung out, and played in London.

Photo stops include the iconic Abbey Road crossing, video filming locations, the Scotch of St James Club, and even the rooftop where the band played their parting gig. After seeing Paul McCartney’s house, the Magical Mystery Tour set, and much more, it will be impossible to stop the Beatlesmania from resurfacing.

Throughout the tour, a guide will deliver fun facts, stories, and rare insights into the lives and legends of each Beatles member. And of course, what would a Beatles tour be without a few of their best songs and videos being played as you go?]

Best for: seeing the city’s alternative sights

Price: starting from £64 per person

London Night Tour 

It’d be wrong to say that London comes to life at night (it’s well and truly alive by day), but there’s certainly a charm to seeing this city lit up in all its glory. This London Night Tour will take you around the glitzy city so you can soak it all in and snap away for the perfect pic to grace your Instagram photo dump.  

This tour comes with an English-speaking guide and audio guides in eleven languages. Through the 90 minute ride you’ll pass by Big Ben with its illuminated clockface, The Houses of Parliament and skirt the River Thames where you can see all sorts of folk living London life to its fullest. 

Probably the highlight of the whole tour though: A run through the neon wonderland that is Piccadilly Circus – Never anything less than impressive by night. 

Best for: Seeing London all lit up and looking pretty 

Price: From £27 per person  

Check Rates and Availability

Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour With the London Eye

This great option combines two great London sightseeing attractions: a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and The London Eye. 

You’ll be able to jump on and off the bus tour at any point as it skirts along side the River Thames between Westminster and The Tower of London, taking in some of London’s most historic buildings. 

You’ll then have the chance to hop off the bus and onto the London Eye to take a spin on what is arguably London’s most iconic landmark (sorry Big Ben). Up there you’ll catch the city from an angle that a tour bus just can’t provide, before getting back on the bus and finishing your tour. 

The tour itself comes with audio guides and can be taken in options of one, two, and three day tickets. A ride on The London Eye is included in the price of the tour ticket. 

Best for: Truly seeing all of London

Price: From £69 per person

James Bond Bus Tour 

Want to dive into the world of Britain’s top secret agent? You can explore a hidden side of London on the James Bond Bus Tour . It’ll scoot you around London showing you all the places (real and fictional) that James Bond is associated with in the capital.

That means you’ll be taking in the real life filming locations, spotting spies at the MI6 HQ, touring the Whitehall locations that served as home for the secret agent’s offices and checking out spots that inspired Ian Flemming to write the character into being.

All this comes with a side of trivia from your tour guide who’ll be quizzing you on the films and their actors as you tour 007’s London. 

Price: From £37 per person

Practical Tips and Advice for booking a London Bus Tour 

• After you’ve toured the city bus, you will have a better idea of which places you want to take a closer look at on a London walking tour, which you can check out here .
• If the bus tours don’t take you to the places you want to go, why not try a DIY bus tour and simply board the public buses to your personal must-see destinations
• Be sure to book ahead to guarantee a spot on the tour of your choice as they often fill up fast
• Get a seat on the open deck for the best views of London’s landmarks

Which London Bus Tour is Best?

It may be because we haven’t had lunch yet, but our favourite has to be the Ghost Bus Tour – if only for the heady combination of lols and sleepless nights.

Looking for More London Tour Guides?

Check these out…

• 20+ Cool London Walking Tours to Help You Discover a Different Side of the City
• Want to Visit the Houses of Parliament on a Tour? Here’s How…
• The Best London Gin Distilleries for Tastings, Tours and Experiences
• The Ultimate Self-Guided Literary Walking Tour of London

LET'S GET SOCIAL!

London x London is the insider’s guide to discovering the best of London.

We delve into the cool, interesting and quirky spots that make London such a dynamic city, telling you the best things to do, eat and drink along the way. 

Tired of the same old dull suggestions? Want to know where to find London’s secret bars, tastiest eats and weirdest finds? We provide practical guides that help you do just that.

Find Out More

Recently Published

• Eltham Palace: Discovering South London’s Gorgeous Art Deco Secret
• Staying At: The Laslett, Notting Hill Review
• Carreras Cigarette Factory: A Curious Reminder of London’s Egyptian Art Deco Craze

15 Best Bus Tours of London Reviewed (Ultimate guide)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: March 13, 2023

Are you considering a bus tour of London? Not sure what is available or which one is the best for you? We have you covered in our complete guide to the best bus tours of London

Are you planning to visit London and want to take one of the many bus tours of the capital that are on offer? With so many to choose from you may be wondering which one is the best fit for your needs. In this article, we compare some of the best available bus tours of London to provide you with a detailed breakdown and help you pick the right one for you.

A bus tour is a perfect introduction to London and is a great way to get oriented with the city without being too tiring. One option is to walk between all the main sights, landmarks and attractions but this can be hard work if you are not used to so much walking. The Tube is another great way to get around London but as you will be underground you won’t see anything!

An added bonus on many of the available tours is the live guides or audio commentaries on board. These help you to learn about the city’s history, culture, and architecture as you travel around. Many are multilingual too.

Some of the bus tours include a free cruise too which is an added bonus if you would like to see London from the comfort of a boat. (You can find my comparison guide to the best London boat trips and cruises here !

We have included the best hop-on hop-off London bus tours, Christmas bus tours, night bus tours, afternoon tea London bus tours and even a comedy ghost-themed bus tour and a Bar Bus! Plenty of choices and I am sure you will find at least one bus tour for your London visit.

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing-Tour

Big bus open-top hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour, london panoramic bus tour, london tootbus kids tour, tootbus london discovery hop-on hop-off bus tour, london tootbus bar bus, big london ticket: london eye, big bus & thames river cruise, london by night sightseeing open-top bus tour, afternoon tea bus with panoramic tour of london, afternoon tea bus tour.

• Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus in London

Comedy Horror Show: London Ghost Bus Tour

London christmas lights tour by vintage open top bus, tootbus christmas lights tour, christmas lights bus tour, the london pass free hop-on hop-off bus, plan your visit to london, london travel guide & itinerary planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks).

🏆 Summary of the best bus tours of London

🚏 Best hop-on hop-off bus tour – Choose between the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing-Tour or the Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

👭 Best bus tour for children – London Tootbus Kids Tour

🎄 Best bus tour for Christmas lights – London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Open Top Bus

🫖 Best bus tour for afternoon tea – Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

💵 Best value bus tour – The London Pass is great value if you plan to see lots of sights as it is included for free!

*When you purchase a 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour ticket

Discover London’s most iconic sights on this hop-on hop-off city tour. An onboard audio commentary will get you up to speed on the city’s history and culture as you enjoy panoramic views.

Good to know

• First departure is at 9am the last departure at 5:10pm.
• Buses are every 30 mins
• Take the full loop over 2.5 hours (without stopping off)

Click to book the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing-Tour

See London’s famous landmarks and listen to the audio commentary (available in 5 languages) as you go. Hop off and explore at leisure before hopping back on for your next stop. This tour includes a choice of 3 tickets with the Premium and Premium Plus tickets including a panoramic evening tour and return river cruises.

• Includes 2 bus routes but one (the blue route) is seasonal so do check at booking.

Click to book the Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

Panoramic 2 hours tour of London’s famous landmarks . This is not a hop-on hop-off bus so you will need to stay on the bus for the duration of the tour.

• Multilingual audio guide in 11 languages.
• Live tour guide (English)

Click to book the London Panoramic Bus Tour

The BEST bus tour for children aged 6 – 12. Introduce them to the history of London on this 45-minute bus tour. Listen to the live kid-friendly guided commentary on this tour designed especially for them!

• Free access to the Tootbus app so you can prepare children for the visit ahead.
• Arrive early for the best seats!
• Meeting point at Charles II Street, St James’s.

Click to book the London Tootbus Kids Tour

Board the bus at one of 8 conveniently located stops in central London and enjoy the views of London’s most famous sights and landmarks as you travel around the city.

• Audio commentary on bus devices for adults and kids
• Free earphones
• Wi-fi on board the bus
• Access to app including bus tracking, points of interest, adults and kids commentary, and self-guided walking tours

Click to book the Tootbus London Discovery Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Fancy a rooftop terrace over London? Why not try the Bar Bus and enjoy the most original of them all!

• Don’t forget your ID if you look like you are under 25!

Click to book the London Tootbus Bar Bus

Enjoy the top sights and landmarks of London plus some additional extras including a free London river cruise, tickets for the London Eye and a Panoramic evening tour. *

* Premium and Premium Plus tickets only

• Recorded commentary in 5 different languages
• Free wifi on-board every bus

Click to book the Big London Ticket: London Eye, Big Bus & Thames River Cruise

Explore the city of London at night on this 90-minute bus tour. Your guide will provide historical information as you pass St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, sharing fun stories about the city along the way! This tour is perfect for families or groups of friends looking to have a great time.

• Meet at the bus stop next to the Ritz Hotel by Green Park Tube station
• Note that during the months of May, June and July for the earlier tours it may still be daylight and not entirely dark

Click to book the London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

Take a tour of the best of London whilst enjoying an afternoon tea ! Includes an assortment of savoury and sweet treats.

• Enjoy a glass of Prosecco or a soft drink
• Seating on the lower or upper deck depending on the option selected
• Contact the supplier 72 hours prior to travel to confirm your choice of menu
• Meeting point varies depending on whether you choose upper or lower deck option

Click to book the Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea whilst viewing some of London’s famous landmarks including Big Ben, the House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

• Note that there are no toilets on board.
• Submit dietary requirements when booking
• Meeting point at Victoria Coach Station

Click to book the Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus in London

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea on a traditional London bus while you tour the sights and landmarks of the city. Onboard commentary is provided.

• Note that there are no toilets on board
• Non refundable
• Meeting point at a Victoria Coach Station or 8 Northumberland Avenue

Click to book Brigit’s Bakery Afte rnoon Tea Bus in London

Enjoy the scariest tour in town on the Ghost bus! You’ll get to see all of the spooky and haunted places in town with the creepy conductor who is your guide along the way. But be warned: he might tell you some things that are better left hidden.

• Meet at Northumberland Avenue o utside the Grand Hotel
• Smoking, eating and drinks other than bottled water are not permitted on the bus.

London Comedy Horror Show: London Ghost Bus Tour

Avoid the crowds and get the best views on this wonderful open-top vintage bus tour of London’s spectacular Christmas lights including Oxford Street and Harrod’s Christmas window displays.

Enjoy the commentary by your tour guide as you enjoy the tour.

• Meet outside the Grand Hotel at 8 Northumberland Avenue
• Arrive early to choose your seat
• Don’t forget to wrap up warmly!

Click to book the London Christmas Lights Tour on a vintage London bus

Take this 45-minute bus tour of London’s festive lights and enjoy free access to the Tootbus app, Tootbus Christmas playlist and a Santa Hat.

This is a great trip for children and if they are under 5 they can even travel for free on their parent’s lap.

• Meet at 13 Coventry Street

Click to book the Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour

Avoid the festive crowds and enjoy the views on this bus tour of London’s spectacular Christmas lights including Oxford Street, Regents Street and Knightsbridge.

Enjoy an entertaining commentary by your tour guide.

• Meet your guide at Gate 0 located inside Victoria Coach Station.
• Check-in starts 15 minutes before the departure time selected.
• Arrive early to choose your seat and don’t forget to wrap up warmly!

Click to book the London Christmas Lights Bus Tour

The London Pass also includes a free 24 hour hop-on hop-ff bus ticket (plus Thames cruise) which makes this an excellent option if you are planning to visit some of London’s top attractions during your visit.

Read our guide to the London Pass to decide if this is a cost-effective option for you!

• London Travel Guide – links to everything you need to know to plan your trip
• Looking for accommodation? Read our guide to where to stay in London
• First time visitors? Read our top tips for visiting London for the first time
• How to get around London? Read our guide to using public transport in London and our guide to London’s manin trains stations.
• What to see and do – Complete London bucket list with guide to all the top sights and attractions
• How to purchase tickets for London attractions – Guide to purchasing tickets for the lost popular London attractions
• London Eye – Complete guide, tips and ticket options compared
• Visiting on a budget? Read out budget guide to London with tips to save money when visiting
• Free things to do in London – Discover 32 free things to see and do in London
• Best day trips? Read our guide to the best day trips by train and ou r guide to the best tours from London
• Love castles? Our guide to the most popular castles to visit from London

Discover The Top London Attractions in 75 minutes

The Classic Tour is a wonderful vintage double decker bus tour and sightseeing experience like no other. Hop on board our carefully restored classic 1960s double-decker Routemaster bus, for your open-top ride through the best attractions in London.  Our hand-picked, highly trained, entertaining and comedic tour guides are the best in the business and will help you experience an authentic London you may not have known. They are also very funny! You will see more, learn more and laugh more while understanding the astonishing history of the Capital, taking the photos and selfies of a lifetime, and enjoying the glorious sights of London.

Please note – choice of seats and deck are given on a first-come first-serve basis.

A Classic London Bus Experience

Experience historical London from our beautiful and iconic open-top London bus which was originally used by London Transport from the 1960s.

Finest Tour Guides in London

Our brilliant tour guides come from a variety of entertainment backgrounds and will bring you a tour like no other. Our guides really do know their history and facts about London. They will share their wealth of knowledge with you, as you pass the key landmarks. Watch and listen out for some incredible insights into the making of our Capital city.

State of The Art Audio Equipment

The buses have been fitted with state of the art enhanced technology to bring your experience into the 21 st century.

The Classic Tour Story

The Classic Tour provides a unique and entertaining tour on one of the most iconic and historic vehicles of our time - the Routemaster bus. It is seen in all the classic films with London as a back-drop, it is on all the postcards, and though they are no longer in widespread public service, with us you can still experience this thrilling, prestigious and stately ride that allows the most intimate and authentic opportunity to be experience and be part of our great city.

YOUR JOURNEY

Your journey starts at Trafalgar Square.

Departing from the absolute heart and centre of London, you will follow a carefully selected route to allow you to discovery the very best of our Capital and see the best attractions, buildings and landmarks in London. You will have constant opportunities to take some fantastic photographs and better understand the history of how and why the buildings came to symbolise our great city. Please also note, although we will always try our best, on rare occasions we may be unable to visit every landmark listed on the tour.

Find out more here

Our tours depart from Northumberland Avenue at:

Please Note: Our tours only run on certain days, please check our booking form for the latest date & time information

Please note that tour times are subject to change.

The following tickets are available when you book:

• Private Hire
• Privacy Policy
• TERMS & CONDITIONS

Connect with us

Have a query? send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

St Paul’s Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London. It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grade 1 listed building.

Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar, Spain.

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning.

Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster.

The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.7 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the fourth-tallest building in Europe and the 111th-tallest building in the world.

The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. The structure is 443 feet (135 m) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 394 feet (120 m). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London, resulting in it sometimes being confused with London Bridge, situated some 0.5 mi (0.80 km) upstream

Downing Street is a street in London, United Kingdom, known for housing the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. “Downing Street” is used as a metonym for the Government of the United Kingdom.

RELATED LINKS

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

OPEN TOP SIGHTSEEING BUSES

London tours, popular tours from london, free self-guided walks.

• Guide to hotel areas
• Bed & breakfast
• Backpacker hostels
• Airbnb London
• Central London tours
• Tours from London
• Hop-on hop-off bus tours
• Harry Potter tours
• Stonehenge tours
• Downton Abbey tours
• Windsor tours
• Cotswolds tours
• Private tours
• Ticket & pass offers
• Central London attractions
• Attractions outside London
• Harry Potter attractions
• Tower of London
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT
• London City
• London Southend
• Southampton

Comparing London's hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses

Tootbus compared with big bus + golden tours with previously asked questions.

Tootbus has routes to major sights and free cruises

London's hop-on sightseeing bus tour providers

Nowadays sightseeing tours of London are dominated by London's three hop-on, hop-off open top sightseeing operators:

1. Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour) 2. Big Bus 3. Golden Tours

If you see anybody else offering a hop-on, hop-off tour for London they are acting as an agent for one of the above.

At first inspection all three London sightseeing operators offer a very similar product. But spend an hour or so studying each service and you begin to identify the differences.

This page aims to save you that time and present the differences as concisely as possible.

The traditional guided coach tour of London is still available, but in terms of market share this is tiny compared with London's popular hop-on, hop off sightseeing buses.

Premium Tours also run a small fleet of open top vintage red London buses. These fall somewhere between the guided coach tour and the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses. The London red vintage bus tour has no hop-on, hop-off facility and is basically a guided orientation tour of London's main sights with a few photo stops and a river cruise.

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

BOOK HOP-ON BUS TICKETS   Compare 3 hop-on bus companies   Ticket differences   London Pass - Big Bus or Golden Tours   River Cruise   Money saving - Hop-on bus plus attraction   Hop-on bus price comparison table   Previously asked questions about hop-on buses  

TOOTBUS HOP-ON BUS & GUIDED WALKING TOURS

Tootbus London Discovery tickets + Vox City guided walking tours

• Choose from 24, 48 or 72-hr tickets • Audio guide in 5 languages • 2 professionally guided walking tours: The Wizard Walk - Harry Potter Walking Guided Tour & The Royals and Landmarks - Walking Guided Tour 

DISCOUNTED BIG BUS LONDON TICKETS

DISCOUNTED TICKETS COMPARED WITH BOOKING DIRECT

Choice of tickets • FREE River cruises on all tickets • 3 FREE guided walking tours on Essential & Explore tickets • Evening tours included on Explore ticket • Free Wi-Fi on board • Audio in 5 languages • London in your Pocket app access

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

Tootbus (The Original Tour) v Big Bus v Golden Tours comparison

All 3 London sightseeing tour operators are established operators in the London market. Big Bus and Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour) are owned by large corporates and Golden Tours, the relative newcomer entered the market several years ago after a long history of offering the traditional guided coach tours, which they still do.

All 3 operators offer similar packages, but more differences have opened up in recent years, see below 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.

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

River cruises are available with all three tour companies, but not all tours automatically include them; the cheaper (both 24-hr and calendar day) tours do not. If this is important to you, do check carefully before booking.

Routes and vehicles

All operators offer an open top bus experience with routes that all cover the major sights in central London.

Although they each have a different number of routes, where they visit is almost identical, with all three sightseeing tour operators almost duplicating each others routes in the very heart of London.

You can click through on the links below to study each operators route map in detail.

Tootbus are the only operator to offer the unique Kids Tour which is a non-stop tour (not hop-on, hop off) but which is cheaper and offers a commentary that is very family friendly. In addition they are also the only company to offer a 1.5-hr Bar Bus tour , again, not hop-on hop off but a memorable experience with bar on board.

Vehicles used are almost identical, all offer free Wi-Fi and audio guides providing commentary in English and at least one other language.

Tootbus route map London 2024

Big Bus Tour map London 2024

Golden Tours route map London 2024

Live guides vs audio guides

This is one area that has also 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.

Prices are similar to the 1-day tour but many people really value having a live guide if English is a language they speak fluently.

Tootbus no longer offer the range of languages it once used to; now audio is either in English or French. Big Bus have an audio guide with 5 languages. Golden Tours have the most with 11 languages.

Times and frequencies of buses

All operators start up around 8.30am and start running down the service around 5pm. Evening services are also additionally available as a separate tour with all three operators.

All three operators, even in the winter months operate frequent bus services, however of the three operators perhaps Golden Tours is slightly less frequent. You shouldn't generally have to wait more than twenty minutes however.

London's hop-on buses - differences between tickets for all 3 operators

Standard tour ticket durations

24, 48 or 72-hr durations.

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).

Tootbus call their tickets, '1-day' and '2-day' but the actual validity is 24, 48 or 72 hours.

Golden Tours offer cheaper calendar tours (which run from when you buy them to the end of the day) in addition to 24/48/72-hr tickets. The calendar day tickets do not include the river cruise.

Shorter tours/express tours (not hop on, hop off)

Both Tootbus and Golden Tours offer shorter tours, of 1.5 hrs which are different to the traditional hop on, hop off buses in that you stay on them for the duration of the tour. Tootbus call theirs as 'Bar Bus' as drinks are available on board (over 18s only). River cruises are not included with these tours.

For Golden Tours this is their only product featuring a live guide. Although much shorter therefore, the price is nearly as much as a 24-hr hop on bus tour.

Tootbus' similar offering is in the same price band but does not feature the live guide. Many people really appreciate the difference between having a live guide and an audio guide.

Evening tours (not hop on, hop off)

All three companies offer evening tours which are non-stop for around 1.5 hours. Again, Golden Tours is the only operator offering the live guide on this experience, though Tootbus have a live guide on their Kids Tour and Christmas Lights tour.

Big Bus also include a separate evening tour with their Explore ticket.

Discounted - cheapest tickets

Hop-on, hop off sightseeing tickets are freely available in London from hotels, tourist centres and on the day from the representatives of the tour companies you find around the bus stops.

Do not expect to find discount vouchers or codes, if you do find one it's the exception rather than the rule.

However, cheaper tickets can be found using our banners on this page. By booking online ahead of our hop-on, hop-off bus tour you will always save money.

Our partners Travel Compendium bring you exclusive discounts on hop on bus tours in London with Golden Tours and Big Bus.

Pre-booking tickets - flexibility and ease/cost of obtaining tickets

All three operators now require you to select your date of tour at purchase. However all 3 tours companies offer a 'flexible booking guarantee' should you need to amend your tour date at any time (Tootbus allow this up 12 months from date of purchase, Golden Tours allow a cancellation for full refund up to 24 hours before boarding, Big Bus require 72 hours to amend your booking.)

For Big Bus and Golden Tours tickets are e-tickets and are shown to the driver at your first bus stop. Here they give you a receipt which you keep for the validity of your hop-on bus tour.

Tootbus accept mobile tickets but encourage you to download your tickets on to their app, for ease of use.

Both Big Bus and Tootbus offer an app offering similar features such as:

Maps, route planning, real time bus tracking, walking directions to nearest bus stops, nearby eateries and attractions and even the secrets of must-see landmarks with audio commentaries.

With Tootbus you can also import your pass (tickets) ready to scan directly on the bus.

London Pass - choice of 2 hop on bus companies: Big Bus or Golden Tours

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.

Tootbus are not part of the London Pass scheme.

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. Tootbus (Original 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

Free river cruises

While all three tour companies have a river cruise option, not every tour comes with a river cruise automatically. The cheaper tours for example, do not feature a river cruise.

Both Big Bus and Tootbus use the same river cruise company, City Cruises , while Golden Tours use Thames River Sightseeing.

Golden Tours/Thames River Sightseeing operate a cruise between Westminster Pier and Greenwich Pier.

Tootbus and Big Bus cruises run between Westminster and Tower Pier (or Greenwich Pier for Big Bus Premium or Deluxe ticket holders).

All operators run river services approximately every 40 minutes and later services are usually available until around 6pm in the summer season from April.

The Thames Cruise should be a highlight of your day and we recommend you take advantage of the facility.

Thames river cruise ticket options by company

A complimentary one-way river cruise offered by  City Cruises  (lasting around thirty minutes) is included in your Big Bus London ticket.

Tootbus' cheaper ticket doesn't come with the river cruise included - look for it on the 'Must See London' ticket. Your one-way river cruise starts at either Westminster pier or Tower of London pier.

Golden Tours

Golden Tours' river cruise is only available on the 24-hr ticket, not the calendar day ticket. There is also another ticket option to choose 24-hrs without cruise. Cruises are also one-way.

Hop-on buses in London plus attractions - money saving

Save money buying attraction tickets & bus tour in one package

Many people opt to combine their hop-on bus tour with one or more top attractions in London, in order to save even more on entrance tickets.

Golden Tours hop-on buses plus top London attraction

At the moment Golden Tours probably offer the best range of hop-on bus tours combined with attractions.

Please see our full listing of your choices of Golden Tours hop-on bus plus top London attraction

Big Bus + top London attractions tickets - save up to 28%

Big bus + attraction through discount london.

Discount London are offering a great deal: buy your Big Bus tickets in combination with your choice of top London attraction and save up to 28% on the cost of buying tickets separately.

Attractions included are: London Eye , SEA LIFE , St Paul's Cathedral , London Dungeon , Madame Tussauds , Tower of London and London Zoo .

Please see our full listing of your choices of Big Bus plus top London attraction

Big Bus + attraction through Big Bus website

In addition, through the Big Bus official website you can also add on tickets to: Madame Tussauds , Tower of London and London Eye Fast Track .

Tootbus and add-on attraction in London

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 .

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'.

Top of the page

London's hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses - previous questions answered by Bob

At present we are unable to maintain the discuss service but you can contact us using the Contact Us link at the bottom of each page. We have decided to leave the answers here as they are useful for many of the questions we receive. If you cannot find an answer to your question, we'll be happy to hear from you.

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

• Stonehenge Tours
• London Tours
• Harry Potter
• Paris Trips
• Out of London
• Rock 'n' Roll
• Other Tours Open Top Bus Downton Abbey Lunch and Afternoon Tea Tower Of London London Eye Windsor Castle Evening Tours
• Contacts UK 020-7713-1311 US 1-800-815-4003

Your one-course meal is a choice of either Fish and Chips or Vegetarian dish available on the day. Drinks are available at additional cost. The pub is located near Victoria station.

TRIP ITINERARY

Open Top Vintage Bus Tour with Live Professional Guide

What better way to enjoy the highlights of London than from on board a Classic 1950s Route-master Bus with a live professional guide?

Enjoy great views of the capital’s iconic sights, both old and new, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge & the London Eye. The Vintage Double Decker Bus Tour includes a photo stop at Westminster Abbey, burial place of Britain’s monarchs and the host for coronations and many royal weddings since its construction in the eleventh century.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the home of the British monarchy and it was The Queen Elizabeth II’s residence in London as well as her administrative headquarters.  We stop here for a photo.

Private guided cruise on the River Thames

Finally we will take a guided private extended boat trip on the River Thames. Enjoy excellent views of The Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Shard, Shakespeare's Globe and many more from the river whilst being entertained by our tour guide. (Private cruise exclusive to Premium Tours customers operates during summer months.)

Why not upgrade to add a visit to The London Eye, The Tower of London or Fish & Chips lunch?

• Panoramic tour of London on Open top Vintage bus
• Thames River Cruise
• Photo stop outside Buckingham Palace
• Transfer and entry to the venue (when upgrade option selected)
• Professional Guide

Please note:

• Please note that this is an  open top  bus tour - please be prepared for the possibility of rain
• On rare occasions the open top bus may be changed to a closed top bus or a coach
• When the guard change does not take place, we stop instead for photos of Buckingham Palace
• Boarding starts 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time
• Transfer for all venues is available except for Madame Tussauds and Tower of London. Tour ends at each venue leaving you to explore at your leisure.

[email protected]

Copyright © Premium Tours 2024

London Bus Tour

Let the city simply take you by surprise.

London Packages: combine our hop-on hop-off visit with an attraction or a night tour

London Discovery + London By Night

Daytime hop-on hop-off bus tour + evening bus tour

• 1, 2 or 3 days
• 3 daytime bus routes
• 1 night tour
• 3 walking tours

Need inspiration to discover more of London ?

Wi-Fi on board

Audioguide in 10 languages

Family Pass

Kids special commentary

Walking tours includded

Fully accessible

11 Best London Bus Tours for Families in 2024 (ranked!)

This post contains affiliate links for which I may make a small commission to help keep the site running. You will not be charged extra for these items had you not clicked the links. Thank you for your help to keep the site running!

Ready to tour the amazing sights of London onboard a double decker bus?

You’ve come to the right place, as we’re going to explore the best 11 London bus tours for families that depart from London – all led by expert guides who want to share the beauty of this part of England and help you skip the tourist traps.

If you’re like, just cut to the chase already, then don’t worry.

The best bus tour from London is the London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise .

It has about 3,548 amazing reviews, so there’s no going wrong.

A London bus tour is an excellent way to see its attractions and landmarks with your family.

⏳ Don’t have time to read the whole list?

The best London bus tour for families is the London Tootbus Hop-on hop-off bus tour .

Click here to check prices and availability.

You can hop on and hop off at any stop and explore the various sights at your leisure.

If you want to see what your other options are, here are 10 more tours that are definitely worth your time.

So let’s get into the list of the best London bus tours for families, so you can book it already!

PS – booking in advance is highly, highly recommended, so you don’t miss out.

Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group , where I can answer more of your questions!

Easy Guide: Best London Bus Tours for Families

1. london tootbus hop on hop off bus tour and thames river cruise.

⭐️  RATING:  4 out of 5 Stars, 3,500+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

• Option to choose multiple-day hop-on hop-off pass
• Audio-commentary for adults and bespoke children’s audio-commentary
• Convenient real-time bus tracking with the Tootbus app
• Hop-on hop-off Thames River cruise ticket

Enjoy a bus tour of London without standing in line and avoiding the stress of rigid tour timings.

See London’s famous landmarks, amazing attractions, and popular monuments by comfortable, double-decker bus.

Hop on the bus at one of the many designated stops of your choosing, including London Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, or Tate Gallery.

Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the open-top deck, or grab a seat inside as your bus takes you through town.

The kids-focused audio commentary and a complementary activity pack are sure to engage your kid’s interest.

This tour offers ultimate flexibility as you can travel on any of the transport links or tour routes.

The best thing about this tour?

It comes with an added bonus!

You can hop off and take a Thames River sightseeing tour or join a fascinating city walking tour depending on your preference. You can end the tour by disembarking at any stop along the route.

2. The London Pass®: Access 80+ attractions inc. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 – 10 days | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Access to over 80 attractions
• 1-day river roamer pass
• Valid for 2 years from the date of purchase
• Digital guide with information and instructions

With so much to see in London, it’s quite difficult to accomplish it all in one day.

With The London Pass, you can choose a sightseeing credit package for up to 10 days and enjoy access to almost 80 attractions.

And the best part?

You can visit as many as you like each day!    

Redeem credits of your London Pass on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, London bike rental, Thames River Cruise, and more.

This pass includes a digital guide that’ll help you plan your itinerary to visit the best attractions of London, including the London Zoo, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and many more. 

This pass offers users flexibility and convenience as it’s valid for 2 years from the date of purchase and is only activated when you exchange credits at the included tour or attraction.

After that, the pass is valid for the remaining days, so it’s not a problem even if your travel plans change.  

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

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 day | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Wi-Fi on all open-top buses
• Free one-way River Thames boat ride
• Hop-on hop-off bus ticket
• Audio guides available in 11 languages

One of the perfect ways for first-timers to see the iconic City of London is by traveling on an open-top, wheelchair-accessible double-decker bus.

Combine the flexibility of independent travel with the ease of tour with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass.

See many attractions including Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Big Ben, then hop off to watch the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, ride the London Eye, or tour the Tower of London.

Enjoy the panoramic view from the city’s biggest skyscraper, The Shard, experience the hustle and bustle of London’s South bank area, and see the majestic Westminster Abbey.

Listen to audio commentary as you pass various monuments and learn about the history of this city.

In addition, your pass includes a free Beatles or Royal London walking tour, an optional KidZania entry ticket, or a River Thames boat cruise.  

4. Vintage London Bus Tour Including Thames Cruise with Optional London Eye

⭐️  RATING:  4.0 out of 5 Stars, 380+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Local guide
• Panoramic tour of London
• Thames River cruise
• Upgrade options include London Eye and Stonehenge

Book your tour , hop aboard a double-decker bus in Victoria, and sit back and enjoy London’s famous sights as you travel around the heart of the city.

See some of London’s top attractions like the House of Parliament, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and more.

Then hop off your bus at the River Thames and join a short sightseeing cruise. Relax and admire popular landmarks like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Eye, and Tower Bridge as you sail down this iconic river.

Join your bus tour again to visit Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of Guards.

You can also upgrade your ticket to enjoy a flight on the London Eye and see the breathtaking, 360-degree views of London.

The London Eye 4D experience after riding the glass capsule is a must as it takes you on an incredible journey across London brought to life by multisensory effects and other visual aids.

Or you can take an afternoon Stonehenge visit upgrade and see this pre-historic stone circle on board a comfortable, round-trip shuttle bus. UNESCO-listed Stonehenge.

5. London Hop On – Hop Off Bus with River Cruise

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 hour 15 minutes – 3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Complimentary headsets
• Audio commentary in 13 different languages
• Wi-Fi on board
• Free River Thames cruise with the bus tour ticket

Discover London at your own pace and see the highlights of this amazing English capital while enjoying a ride in an open-top, red double-decker bus. 

Make the most of your time in London by taking a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.

Choose the duration of your tour according to your schedule by booking a 1-day, or a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour ticket.

Enjoy unlimited travel across several routes until your ticket expires and take in the views of popular sights including Big Ben and the Tower of London.

Learn about the history of these popular attractions by listening to the audio commentary, available in 13 different languages for your convenience.

You can hop off at any of the well-placed stops to take photos or explore the building you find interesting.

You’ll also get a complimentary walking tour and a river cruise with this bus tour.

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

⭐️  RATING:  4.5 out of 5 Stars, 150+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 hour 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Unique afternoon tea experience
• Seating on the upper deck
• Glass of soft drink or Prosecco
• Friendly staff

Enjoy the wonderful views of London while sipping a delicious hot cup of tea for a unique afternoon tea experience!

Watch the hustle and bustle of the city as this 90-minute bus ride takes you through the heart of London.

Visit iconic landmarks like the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and many more.

No tea is complete without finger sandwiches, and this tour provides a wide range of homemade finger sandwiches including salmon and cream cheese to falafel and hummus and more are sure to excite your taste buds.

For people with a sweet tooth, the assortment of mini tea pastries and mouth-watering British scones served with jam and clotted cream provide the perfect dessert. 

Enjoy unobstructed views of popular tourist destinations as you pass by Buckingham Palace, the grand London residence of His Majesty, the King; the historically rich Westminster Abbey, which was originally a Benedictine monastery; the London Eye that offers breathtaking views of the city and other attractions including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and many more. 

7. City Sightseeing London Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 – 2 hours| ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Free river cruise
• Free self-guided podcast walking tour
• Green route now available as a shuttle service
• Great mix of stops

A convenient way to explore London’s top landmarks, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour allows you to experience the many facets of this versatile and lively city at your pace.

Avoid the hassle of navigating London’s underground system by simply hopping on and off a tour bus at designated stops.

Explore London on a sightseeing bus and save yourself hundreds of pounds on expensive taxi fares.

This tour offers a great mix of stops from museums to monuments to shopping areas.

Visit iconic monuments and attractions like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, Oxford Street, Tower of London, V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and The Shard. 

In addition, you can get a free self-guided walking tour pack depending on the option you choose.

Listen to an informational podcast as you walk past famous attractions and learn about their history, all for free!

8. The Big Day out – London Eye Ticket, London Hop-on Hop-Off Tour & River Cruise

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Entry ticket to London Eye
• Thames River Cruise
• Recorded commentary in 5 languages
• Complementary earphones

Experience the many attractions of London from water, sky, and the streets with this excellent-value package that allows you to leisurely explore London.

Book a hop-on hop-off bus tour valid for 24 hours and visit top sights without spending a fortune on taxi fare.  

Enjoy the amazing aerial view of the city aboard the London Eye, sail past Big Ben and the Parliament House on a Thames River cruise, and visit multiple top sights of London including Notting Hill, Grosvenor Square, Statue of Eros, St. James Park, and many more on a double-decker bus.

Make sure to reserve your time slot for the London Eye ticket in advance using the link printed on your voucher.

Also take note that your Big Day out pass includes a one-way river cruise, which runs only from Fri-Sun.

9. Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London– Lower Deck

⭐️  RATING:  4.0 out of 5 Stars, 30+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  1 hour 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Afternoon tea experience
• Seating on the lower deck
• Glass of Prosecco or soft drink
• General or vegetarian menu available

The famous tradition of enjoying high tea in London is not an experience to be missed.

And what better way to enjoy this than aboard a red, double-decker bus? Book a hop-on hop-off tour and cruise through London from West End to Charing Cross and enjoy fantastic views as you sip a delicious cup of tea.

Sample delicious cakes and finger sandwiches along with your tea, and for dessert try a classic scone with clotted cream.

Pass by top London attractions, including the vibrant Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End.

This popular junction connects Haymarket, Regent Street, Glasshouse Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Coventry Street and is a busy meeting place.

See the beautiful statues and fountain in Trafalgar Square and pass by Westminster Abbey, which boasts a rich history that’s more than a thousand years old.

No tour is complete without a visit to the London Eye or Buckingham Palace.

Visit these popular tourist attractions while being served excellent afternoon tea by a friendly and welcoming staff.

10. London Eye Fast-Track Ticket with Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Hop-on, hop-off bus ticket valid for 24 or 48 hours
• Fast-track entry ticket to the London Eye
• Thanes River Cruise

If you’re on a short visit to London, this tour offers one of the best ways to see this city and enjoy its various sightseeing experiences.

This convenient package allows you to cruise around town at your own pace.

Start with a hop-on, hop-off tour with a choice to pick from 24-, 48-, or 72-hour passes.

Then head over to the London Eye, where you can enjoy fast-track entry and panoramic views.

Other points of interest that you’ll pass on this tour include Mayfair, St. James Palace, HMS Belfast, Somerset House, Nelson’s Column, and many more.

Listen to recorded commentary as you pass by these famous attractions.

Available in 5 different languages, this commentary will help you learn more about the history of this iconic city.

You can also enjoy a river cruise with this package. However, take note that this cruise only runs from Fri-Sun.

11. Catch a Gourmet Lunch on a London Bus

• Bus tour through the heart of London
• Drinks (tea, coffee, water, and wine)
• Insider recommendations and tips from your local host

Ready to experience a unique bus tour of London?

Then check out this Catch a Gourmet Lunch on a London Bus tour.

Cruise through the heart of the city and enjoy the best view of all popular landmarks thanks to the panoramic glass roof of the bus.    

Enjoy a delicious meal made with a fusion of British and French cuisine along with drinks while cruising around on a luxury bus.

Prepared by an experienced chef, this tour offers an aesthetic and mouth-watering meal created by using different cooking techniques from around the world.

Experience fine dining on wheels while learning more about London’s historic landmarks with the help of an Audi Pen Guide.

This tour is perfect for a couple on a date or people who are on a tight schedule with lots to see.

Hey! Want to use our trusty guides to the best tours in other places across the UK? Check these out!

• 11 Best Tours of the Cotswolds from London in 2023
• 11 Best Tours of the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh in 2023
• 5 Best London Open Top Bus Tours
• 9 Best Scottish Outlander Tours
• 9 Best Ghost Tours in Oxford
• 5 Best Bath Ghost Tours
• 9 Best Bus Tours in Edinburgh
• 19 Most Unique London Tours
• 9 Best Day Trips to Oxford from London
• 7 Best Stonehenge Day Trips from London
• 7 Best Changing of the Guard Tours in London
• 11 Best Oxford Walking Tours
• 11 Best London Rock ‘n’ Roll Tours
• 11 Best London Museum Tours
• 3 Best Morse Tours in Oxford
• 11 Best London Beatles Tours
• 11 Best Walking Tours in Bath
• 13 Best Harry Potter Tours in Oxford
• 11 Best Jack the Ripper Tours in London
• 9 Best London Literary Tours
• 9 Best Street Art Tours in London
• 13 Best Evening & Night Tours of Edinburgh
• 15 Best London Pub Crawl Tours
• 11 Best London Bike Tours
• 17 Best Harry Potter Tours in London
• 17 Best London Foodie Tours
• 13 Best Ghost & Haunted Tours in Edinburgh
• 11 Best Edinburgh Walking Tours
• 11 Best Private Tours in London
• 11 Best Ghost Tours in London
• 11 Fun Tours of Royal London
• 13 Isle of Skye Tours for a Magical Time
• 13 Mysterious Tours of Loch Ness
• 7 Best James Bond Tours in London
• 7 Best Paris Tours from London
• 7 Best Stratford-upon Avon Tours from London
• 7 Best Tours of Bath from London
• 7 Best Black Cab Tours from London
• 11 Best Downton Abbey Tours in the UK
• 5 Best Graffiti Tours in London
• 9 Best London East End Tours

UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs

🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?

Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here , a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.

🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?

Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one , which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.

🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?

The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.

🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?

For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.

📳 Will my phone work in the UK?

Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.

🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?

Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink .

Heading to London? Want the best tips?

Check out my Ultimate Guide to London for Visitors. Using text, images and video, this guide is packed full of tips, tricks, safety advice, knowledge on how to get around and what to do, and more!

Moving to the UK or already an Expat?

Grab my book which covers moving to the UK, struggles I faced and that you might face too, and uplifting advice to help you along the way! Available in hard copy and on Kindle.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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

What to Do if You Only Have One Day in London

L ondon is a city with a rich history and lots to do, yet it’s so well connected that you can fit a lot in when you only have a day.

If you want to know how to fit the best things to do in London into one day, we have the perfect, family-friendly one-day itinerary for you. We’ll also give you some other ideas, just in case you have enough time to explore more.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please check out our  disclosure policy  for more details. Thank you for your support!

Must See Sights If You Only Have One Day in London

1. hop-on, hop-off bus tour.

London has many bus tour companies that will take you on several routes around the city. You can get a day tour ticket for one of three operators online , and some include a river cruise, which you will want for this itinerary.

Each of the operators has different route options. So, make sure you do your research into the landmarks you’d like to see and make sure they are on your route.

At most London landmarks, you will find tour bus representatives who will sell you tickets. So if you are unsure about the route you need, they will be able to help.

If this is your first time, and you only have a day in the city, a London bus tour is the best way to fit it all in. The most scenic routes take around three hours.

Although exploring London is great on foot when you have kids, it’s much easier to sit on an open-top bus to see the top sights. You’re likely to see Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery, and Westminster Bridge from aboard the buses.

Another great thing about these buses is that you can hop on and hop off this public transportation if you have extra time. If you’d like to stop and look around a particular landmark, you can simply jump off, explore, and then get back on the central line. Just remember, if you’ve given up a seat at the top of the bus, you’re unlikely to get another!

2. Sky Garden

After ticking off all of the major landmarks on the ground, see if you can spot them from the air. One of the top attractions in London is the Sky Garden. This 160-meter tall building is on the Thames River near The Shard. It’s one of the most beautiful places, and if you only have limited time to visit London, seeing London from the sky makes for a relaxing and perfect day.

You can walk around the garden, take in the panoramic views, and play a game of I Spy with the London skyline. If you’re planning on having lunch here, you can purchase food and drink from their cafe.

The Sky Garden has free admission, but make sure you book well in advance to avoid long lines.

3. Thames Clipper

The Thames Clippers are a fantastic way to explore the center of the city and see everything along the River Thames.

Hop on at the dock just outside the Tower of London, and sit outside on the back of the boat to watch the landmarks go by. Or, if you want something a little comfier, sit on the chairs inside where it’s less windy.

From here, you’ll spot St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament. You can hop off at the London Eye Waterloo Pier and take a walk across the river to the West End, depending on your travel time.

4. West End Show

If you’re still not tired, then the perfect place to round off a day in London is a trip to the theatre .

When it comes to child-friendly West End Theatre, the best options are Matilda, Frozen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and The Lion King. All of which are spectacular in their own right.

If you’ve got a Ronald Dahl fanatic in your family, then Matilda is a fun, dynamic show. It has colorful scenery and fantastic singing and dancing from its cast.

For the Disney fans in your family, The Lion King or Frozen are the clear options. The scripts are close to the films, with some fun modern-day references thrown in to keep them fresh.

5. The Tower of London

Once you’ve spotted all the things to see in London from the air, head back down to the ground. Here you can find out about its history and see the Crown Jewels!

You can begin your tour of the Tower of London with Yeoman Warders. These Wardens live on the grounds of the Tower and guard the Crown Jewels. They take you in and around the area for a guided tour, pointing out particular places where history was made. This is one of the most popular attractions and one of our favorite things to do in London with teens . This is why it’s a good idea to get an early start and make this your first stop.

Once you’ve seen the knight’s armor, the bloody tower, and the ravens that live on the grounds, head to the vault, where you can see the Queen’s crown.

The queue may be a little long, but it’s worth it to see them and other pieces of jewelry that belong to the royal family.

Other options for London in a Day

6. buckingham palace state rooms.

If you’re visiting in the summer, a day trip to the staterooms of the royal palace is a great option. Each year the Palace opens its doors to the public and displays a different exhibit. In the past, there has been a collection of childhood toys of the royals and their wedding attire.

7. The Science and The Natural History Museum

The Science Museum and The Natural History Museum in London are two separate museums. However because they are attached, it’s easy to visit them both. They have a lot of interactive exhibits, games, and activities for children, and like most museums in London, they both have free entry.

Take a stroll through exhibits like The Garden, a kids’ sensory paradise, Exploring Space, and the Flight Gallery in the Science Museum. See the Mammals Gallery, the Aurora Collection of over 300 diamonds, and a gigantic blue whale skeleton suspended from the Gothic ceilings at the Natural History Museum.

If you’re in London for a short visit, don’t miss these extraordinary London attractions.

The post What to Do if You Only Have One Day in London appeared first on Kids Are A Trip™ .

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of London for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Take That at London’s O2 Arena: timings, tickets and everything you need to know

‘This Life On Tour‘ is coming to London for six whole nights – and there are still tickets up for grabs

If your idea of a very nice day (or night) out is watching a veteran boyband dust off their choreography, belt out their biggest hits and sport matching all-pink suits, you’re in luck – Take That have officially returned to arenas around the UK . 

Following the release of their ninth studio album This Life, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald (sorry, no Jason or Robbie this time) have kicked off their UK and Ireland tour. Having already stopped by Sheffield, Leeds and Dublin, they’ll be  playing a very generous six nights at the O2 here in London.

Heading to one of Take That’s London shows? From the start times to a potential setlist,  here’s everything you need to know about ‘This Life On Tour’ at the O2. 

When are Take That playing London’s O2?

Take That will be putting on shows at the O2 on  Thursday April 25 , Friday April 26, Saturday April 27 , Sunday April 28 , Tuesday April 30  and Wednesday May 1 .

What time do doors open?

Doors will open at 6.30pm each night apart from on April 28, when they’ll open at 6pm. 

What time will Take That come on stage?

If it goes anything like the dates played so far, Take That fans can expect the band to take to the stage some time between 8.30pm and 9pm . Expect a slightly earlier start time on April 28, as the curfew and doors are both earlier. 

Who is supporting the band?

None other than Olly Murs. He’ll likely appear on stage around 7.25pm. 

Has the setlist been confirmed?

A setlist for the London shows hasn’t been officially confirmed but we can get an idea of what it will look like based on a recent show in Leeds. According to Setlist.fm, it went something like this: 

• Keep Your Head Up
• Days I Hate Myself
• Everything Changes
• A Million Love Songs
• I Found Heaven
• Forever Love
• Speak Without Words
• Get Ready for It
• March of the Hopeful
• The Champion
• Greatest Day
• Time and Time Again
• Relight My Fire
• One More Word
• Hold Up a Light
• Back for Good
• Never Forget
• Rule the World

Can you still get tickets to see Take That in London?

You absolutely can. According to Ticketmaster there is still some ticket availability for each night. Check for tickets here . 

The best London music festivals to book now .

Stay in the loop: sign up to our  free Time Out London newsletter  for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

• Amy Houghton Contributing writer

Share the story

An email you’ll actually love

Popular on Time Out

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Time Out Offers FAQ
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Offers
• Time Out Worldwide

Top Spectator Tips

Spectator tips that will help you make the most of your day when attending the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open.

Tip 1: Access and transfer your tickets before arriving

Be sure to access your tickets and transfer tickets to friends and family before arriving at the Renaissance Club. Your tickets will be available six weeks prior to the event, with some FAQs here to read.

Tip 2: Plan your journey and use our free shuttle bus!

Be sure to plan your journey in advance for getting to The Renaissance Club. Find out more HERE about travelling to the event by car, public transport and our free shuttle bus service that will run between Longniddry Railway Station and The Renaissance Club.

Tip 3: Bring a reusable water bottle

To stay hydrated during the day, we encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle. There will be refill water stations in the Championship Village and around the course.

Tip 4: Enjoy the Championship Village

The Championship Village is an absolute must-visit destination, offering an unforgettable experience. Immerse yourself in its lively atmosphere, boasting a plethora of food outlets, bars, exhibition stands, and an electrifying show stage for live entertainment. Don't miss the opportunity to try out on thrilling fan challenges.

Tip 5: Check out the best spots to watch

The Renaissance Club is packed with stunning vistas and there is plenty of seating that makes the most of this. Get the best out of your day by watching the action from the best seats in the hose. Click here for more information.

DP World Tour Partners

‘Dying for Sex’ Series at FX Casts Jay Duplass, Kelvin Yu (EXCLUSIVE)

By Joe Otterson

Joe Otterson

TV Reporter

• ‘Lingo’ Hosted by RuPaul Sets Season 2 Premiere Date at CBS 2 hours ago
• Jensen Ackles Joins Justin Hartley in ‘Tracker’ at CBS 22 hours ago
• Leanne Morgan to Lead Netflix Multi-Cam Comedy Series From Chuck Lorre 1 day ago

Watch Latin American Music Awards

Jay Duplass and Kelvin Yu are the latest additions to the cast of FX ‘s limited series adaptation of “Dying for Sex,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The series is based on the podcast of the same name. Duplass and Yu join previously announced series lead Michelle Williams and cast members Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, David Rasche, and Esco Jouléy.

The official description of the series states “Molly (Williams), a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, leaves her husband of 15 years and begins to explore her sexuality. She gets the courage and support to go on this adventure from her best friend (Slate), who stays by her side all the way to the very end.”

As an actor, Duplass is known for his roles in shows like “Transparent,” “The Mindy Project,” “Industry,” “The Chair,” and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Behind the camera, he and his brother, Mark, co-created the HBO series “Togetherness” alongside Steve Zissis. The brothers also co-created HBO’s “Room 104” and co-wrote and directed feature films like “Baghead” and “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” among several other collaborations.

He is repped by CAA and Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment.

Yu is a seven-time Emmy nominee for his work on the writing team of “Bob’s Burgers,” winning the award in 2017 for best animated program. He also recently created the Disney+ series “American Born Chinese.” He has appeared on shows such as “The Afterparty” and “Master of None” as well as films like “Wonder Woman 1984” and “Milk.”

He is repped by Writ Large, WME, and Yorn Levine.

Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock are writers, executive producers, and showrunners on “Dying for Sex.” Williams will produce in addition to starring. Katherine Pope, Nikki Boyer, and Leslye Headland will also executive produce along with Jen Sargent, Marshall Lewy, Aaron Hart and Hernan Lopez of Wondery Inc. 20th Television is the studio.

More From Our Brands

Aaron sorkin blames facebook for jan. 6 and he’s trying to write a ‘social network’ sequel about it, robb report’s culinary masters will be the ultimate weekend for food lovers, nfl rookie signing bonuses up 4% for biggest gain since 2020, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, the circle’s ai contestant is giving us a fascinating glimpse at our terrifying future, verify it's you, please log in.