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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Hop-On-Hop-Off London Bus Tours

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

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

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

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

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

HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS

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

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

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

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

Big Bus Tours

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

This company offers 3 routes with 38 bus stops.

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

Each type of ticket also includes 3 guided walking tours .

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

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

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

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

Ticket Prices (with a 10% online discount)

Discover Ticket (24 Hours)

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

Purchase tickets or learn more .

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

Essential Ticket (48 Hours)

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

Explore Ticket (48 Hours)

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

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

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

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

Where to Purchase Tickets

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

Or you could get them from Central Departure Points.

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

Commentary Languages and Type

Each ticket entitles you to an audio guide.

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

Red Route (2 hrs 30 min):

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

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

Click on the map for a larger view

Blue Route (1 hrs 15 min):

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

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

Green Route (1 hr 10 min):

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

The Big Bus green route starts from

Holiday Routes

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews of Big Bus Tours London

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

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

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

The TootBus Sightseeing Tour

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

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

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

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

Also for children, a free activity pack is included.

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

Original London also offers a nighttime bus tour as well as a bus tour specifically f o r families .

Ticket Prices (with 15% discount)

24-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price

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

48-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price

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

72-Hour Ticket Price

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

Yellow Route

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

Yellow Route   – The Original Tour (T1 and T2)

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

Blue Route – The Royal Borough Route (T4)

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

Orange Route   – The British Museum Tour  (T5)

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

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

Reviews of Toot Bus London

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

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

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

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

City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-off Tours

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

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

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

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

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

24-Hour Ticket

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

24-Hour Ticket + Cruise

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

48-Hour Ticket + Cruise

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

City Sightseeing London Routes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golden Tours

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

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

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

• Adult – £47
• Child – £28

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

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

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

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

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

Route Duration: 1 – 3 hours

Extras: FREE riverboat cruise.

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

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

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

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

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

LONDON NIGHT BUS TOURS

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

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

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

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

London By Night

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

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

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

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

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

Ticket Prices

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

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

View the route map .

Commentary Type and Language: Live commentary in English.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Toot Bus also offers a bus tour specifically for families .

DISCOUNTS AND DEALS

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

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

Tourist Attraction Passes

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

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

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

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

Big Bus Tours (24-hour ticket)

• London City Turbo Pass
• London Sightseeing Pass

Golden Tours (24-hour ticket)

• London Pass
• London Explorer Pass

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

Combo Packages

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

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

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

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

Prices (with 15% discount)

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

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

The following deals are available directly from Big Bus Tours:

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

Purchase combo packages or learn more .

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

Here are the deals they currently have available:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary in Several Languages

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

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

Jump Off and Explore

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

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

Great Overview of the City

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

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

Additional Services

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

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

Reasonable Prices

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

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

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

Simplistic Commentary

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

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

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

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

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

Not Very Efficient

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

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

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

No Assigned Seat

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

All seats are first-come, first-served.

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

Tips From Locals and Travelers

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

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

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

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

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

Here's another excellent suggestion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RELATED POSTS: 

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

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

Activity schedule, key highlights.

• Inclusions & Exclusions

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

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

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

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

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

You can hop off at any of the stops

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

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

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

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

List of attractions covered:

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

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

Discover Ticket:

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

Essential ticket:

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

Explore ticket:

• London evening tour

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

Walking tours:

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

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

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

Useful downloads

• Cruise timetable

Please note

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

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

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

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

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

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

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

Customer Reviews

Arthur dellit.

Hop on hop off bus around iconic places and cruise down the Thames was great.

Michael Hunt

Jeffrey sessler.

Walking tours were very good. Night tour was very disappointing.

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Big Bus London Tours

Big Bus London hop-on hop-off tours

Embark on a memorable journey with London’s Big Bus hop-on hop-off tours. Experience the city's rich history and vibrant culture as you explore famous landmarks, from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London. Enjoy the flexibility to hop on and off at your leisure and uncover the best of London's sights .

Why choose the Big Bus London tours?

Hop on hop off convenience

Enjoy the flexibility to explore London at your own pace with our hop-on, hop-off feature. Jump off at any of our designated stops and dive into the city's iconic attractions.

Panoramic views

Experience London's landmarks from a unique vantage point on our open-top buses. Capture breathtaking views of Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and more.

Expert guided tours

Learn about London's rich history and culture from our knowledgeable tour guides. Gain insights into each landmark's significance and uncover hidden gems along the way.

Multi-language commentary

Choose from a variety of languages for live commentary during your tour. Whether you speak English, Spanish, French, or Mandarin, our multilingual options ensure everyone can fully appreciate the experience.

Exclusive discounts and offers

Unlock special deals and discounts at select attractions with your Big Bus combo tickets. Maximize your London adventure while saving money on entrance fees and experiences.

Family-friendly experience

Our tours are designed to cater to all ages, making them perfect for families. Sit back, relax, and create lasting memories together as you explore London's top sights.

Big bus London routes, stops and maps

The Red Route/Classic Red tour travels around the best of Central London. Highlights are Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Big Ben, and St Paul’s Cathedral. 

• First stop: Green Park Underground
• Timings: 8:30am - 6pm
• Frequency: Every 10 to 20 minutes
• No. of stops: 24
• Full loop duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

The Blue Route/Big Blue tour is perfect for visitors who want to experience the best of West London, from Kensington Palace and Harrods to Notting Hill. It starts near Piccadilly and travels to the ritzy shopping areas near Park Lane, Regent Street, Oxford Circus, and Hyde Park. 

• First stop: Victoria, Nova Complex
• Timings: 8am - 6pm
• Frequency: Every 15 to 20 minutes
• No. of stops: 39
• Full loop duration: 3 hours 35 minutes

Green route

This route is primarily a transport link that connects Euston Station and King’s Cross Station to Central London. It starts at Covent Garden and has 10 stations that cover attractions like the British Museum, Russel Square, and Holborn. 

• First stop: Woburn - Northbound
• Frequency: Every 30 to 60 minutes
• No. of stops: 10
• Full loop duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

More details:

• Big bus overview and route-wise timetable
• Big bus route overview and route-wise stops and maps

Highlights of your Big Bus London tour

Route name: Red route, Blue route

Attraction timings: 11am to 6pm

Tower of London

Attraction timings: 9am to 5:30pm

SEA life aquarium

Attraction timings: 10am to 4pm

Buckingham Palace

Attraction timings: 9:30am to 6:30pm

Tower Bridge

Attraction timings: 9:30am to 6pm

Suggested London Big Bus Itineraries

If you have just one day in London then pick the Red Route of the London Big Bus Tours and explore all the top attractions in West London and Central London London.

• Start off at the Green Park Underground Station and take in the sights of West London, stopping at Mayfair. 
• Get back on the bus and stop at Trafalgar Square and enjoy the free Royal Walking Tour at 10am and explore the area around Buckingham Palace. 
• Take the Big Bus from Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London. Explore the landmark, then take the free River Cruise from the Tower of London Pier to Westminster Pier.
• After a stop for lunch, explore Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
• Finally, get back on the Big Bus and do the complete Red Route loop (1 hour 15 minutes), and get down at Covent Garden. Walk around the district and enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants.

If you have 2 days, you can explore the attractions in London at a more leisurely pace. Here is a sample itinerary to use:

Day 1 – Blue Route:  Set out from Green Park Underground and get down and explore the South Kensington Museums. Visit Kensington Palace and have lunch in the area, or at nearby Notting Hill. Get on the bus and stop at Baker Street for the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds. Stop at the London Eye to ride the London Eye, and visit the London Dungeons and SeaLife Aquarium. Finally walk down to Westminster Pier and take the free river cruise.

Day 2 – Red Route:  Start your day at Trafalgar Square for the free ‘Royal Walk’ walking tour at 10am. After the tour head to Westminster Abbey. Get on the Red Route and get off at St Paul’s Cathedral. Then head to the City Hall stop to explore the H.M.S. Belfast. Finally, cross Tower Bridge, or take the bus again and get down at the Tower of London and spend time exploring the attraction.

Big Bus London tips

• Download the Big Bus Tours app as it is a convenient way to plan your itinerary and ensure you have the bus timings and route ready at your fingertips. 
• Plan your day ahead in advance as the bus routes are in a loop and there are a few points where you can change over to other routes. Make sure you consider the timings of the attractions and the days of closing as you don’t want to waste time alighting at the wrong stops! 
• As much as possible pre-book your tickets as you can avoid spending time in the queues outside attractions. You can purchase skip-the-line tickets for London attractions here . 
• The Big Bus ticket is valid for calendar days which means it is advisable to activate your pass as early in the day as possible. You cannot use the 1-day Big Bus ticket for 24 hours over 2 days!

Big Bus London: FAQ's

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

Your ticket grants you access to all Big Bus routes, allowing you to hop on and off at any designated stop. Additionally, you'll enjoy informative commentary, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, and exclusive discounts at select attractions and restaurants.

London Big Bus hop-on hop-off bus tours run at a frequency of 10 to 30 minutes. Depending on the route. Click here for details. 

There are three Big Bus tour routes in London - the red, blue, and green link. All the routes are included in your big bus ticket. 

Yes, you will get access to audio guides available in up to 12 languages to learn more about the city.

Yes, the London Big Bus hop-on hop-off tours are accessibility-friendly for wheelchair users.

Tickets are typically valid for either 24 or 48 hours from the time of redemption, depending on the ticket type purchased.

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Tips For Family Trips

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Tips for Taking a Big Bus Tour in London

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

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

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

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

What is a Big Bus Tour?

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

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

All-Day Transportation

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

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

Related: My Review of Travelodge London-Covent Garden

Which Route is Best?

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

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

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

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

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

Keep Activities Short

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

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

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

Related: Tips for Visiting the Tower of London

Save Time to Ride

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

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

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

Dress for the Weather

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

Related: Packing Tips from our London Trip

Expect Heavy Traffic

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

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

Related: How to Get Theatre Tickets in London

Ways to Save

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

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

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

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

Related: My Review of The London Pass for Families

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

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

Happy travels!

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

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Reader Interactions

John Phillips

June 30, 2020 at 8:37 am

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

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

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

Liz Entwistle

October 22, 2021 at 4:33 am

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

October 22, 2021 at 4:09 pm

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

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

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

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Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour in London + River Cruise

Jumping on a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour in London is definitely one of the best ways to explore such a big city like London. These sightseeing bus tours are suitable for all the family, and you can just sit back and relax and let it take you to London’s most important landmarks.

One of London´s most important sightseeing bus tour is the one offered by Big Bus Tours. You can hop-on and hop-off any of their three fascinating routes, and with more than 30 stops, you won´t miss any of London´s most important must-sees.

Hop on and hop off all the times you want and wherever you want during the day and see London in one of the most effective ways, on the topless upper deck of a double decker sightseeing bus. But don’t worry if the weather isn’t great as you’ll be able to avoid the cold or rain at the front of the upper deck which is covered, just in case!

Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour in London: Advantages

There are a few reasons why we recommend a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus tour in London:

• Discover all of London´s must sees:  The streets, the famous squares, the monuments and the important attractions and the best thing is that you don´t have to worry about looking at a map and getting lost. Just enjoy the ride.
• You can hop on and off as many times as you want during the day on all the different routes, so you will spend less time on public transport during your trip. Let´s be honest, you get to see much more on the top deck of a bus than on the London Underground!
• The ticket includes a River Cruise on the Thames.
• The ticket also includes a free guided walking tour  in London (See more details below).
• Enjoy the live commentary or listen to the recorded commentary (multi-lingual if English is not your preferred choice!) and discover all the interesting things you didn´t know about London.
• You also get a free discount book  which includes discounts to other attractions and restaurants in London such as the Hard Rock Café.
• They have the largest fleet of open top buses in London , so they run a lot more frequently than other sightseeing tour buses.
• Sightseeing bus tour tickets are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase, so you do not have to redeem them on a particular day. This is great because you can do the tour any day that suits you.

Big Bus London Hop-on Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour Prices

There are 3 different ticket types for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing Bus Tour in London: Classic , Premium and Deluxe .

Each one of these tickets has 3 different prices: Adults, Children (5 – 15) and Family (2 adults + 2 children under 15).

These are the different tickets available and their respective prices:

Classic: 1 Day Ticket

With this ticket you will be able to hop-on and hop-off Big Bus sightseeing bus tour as many times as you like during one day. It also includes a one way Thames River Cruise ticket (London Eye – Tower of London) and the Guided Walking Tour .

Classic Ticket Prices: Adults: £35 Children (5 – 15): £26 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 Children): £106.60

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tours Classic Ticket

Premium: 2 Day Ticket

The Premium ticket is valid for two consecutive days . You can hop on and hop off as many times as you like on any of the big bus routes for two days. This ticket also includes a round trip ticket on a Thames River Cruise and a free Guided Walking Tour , as well as the Night Tour during the summer months.

Premium Ticket Prices: Adult ticket: £40.40 Child ticket (5 – 15): £31.40 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 Children): £124.60

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tours Premium Ticket

Deluxe: 3 Day Ticket

The Deluxe ticket is valid for three consecutive days . You can hop on and hop off as many times as you like on any of the bug bus routes for three days. This ticket also includes a round trip ticket on a Thames River Cruise and the free Guided Walking Tour , as well as the Night Tour during the summer months.

Deluxe Ticket Prices: Adult ticket: £44.90 Child ticket (5 – 15): £35.90 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 Children): £139.60

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tours Deluxe Ticket

Night Tour and Hotel Return Service

During the summer months there is also the possibility of hopping on a sightseeing bus tour to see London at night. This night tour runs until the end of September. This night tour is also included when you buy deluxe (2 day) and premium (3 day) tickets, but you can also buy tickets for the night tour only.

There are three night tours per evening that depart from the London Eye, Victoria Station and Marble Arch. The pick-up times are:

• London Eye (stop 7) at 19:30, 20:00 & 20:30
• Victoria (stop 29) at 19:45, 20:15 & 20:45
• Marble Arch (stop 4) at 20:00, 20:30 & 21:00.  From Marble Arch, which is the last stop of the tour, there is a free hotel return service that goes to Paddington, Bayswater, Notting Hill & Kensington at the end of the tour.

Night Tour only Prices: Adult ticket: £24.90 Child ticket (5 – 15): £15.00 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 Children): £64.80

Combined tickets: Big Bus Sightseeing Tour + Attraction

There is also the possibility of buying combined tickets   for Big Bus HO-HO sightseeing bus tour in London with tickets to one of London’s Top Attractions , resulting in great savings.

Once you have bought tickets, the driver or a member of staff from Big Bus Tours (at any Big Bus Tours stop) will exchange your tickets, giving you the tickets for the sightseeing bus tour as well as the tickets to your chosen attraction.

Combo tickets:  > Big Bus Tours + London Eye > Big Bus Tour + Madame Tussauds > Big Bus Tour + Tower of London > Big Bus Tour + St Paul’s Cathedral

Big Bus Tour + London Eye

This ticket includes a 1 day ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour (classic ticket) and entry to the London Eye . This ticket also includes a free river cruise and a free guided walking tour . Online tickets can be redeemed at any Big Bus Stop. You will need to use your tickets for the sightseeing bus tour and the river cruise that same day, and you will have 90 days to use your London Eye tickets.

You can buy normal entry tickets to the London Eye or fast track tickets. With fast track tickets you won’t have to queue at all.

Prices with Normal London Eye entry: Adult ticket: £64.80 Child ticket: £47.90 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children): £227.30

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour + London Eye Tickets

Prices with Fast Track London Eye entry: Adult ticket: £67.80 Child ticket: £58.80 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children): £189.00

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour + London Eye Fast-Track Tickets

Big Bus Tour + Madame Tussauds

This ticket includes a 1 day ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour (classic ticket) and entry to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum . This ticket also includes a free river cruise and a free guided walking tour .

You can redeem your tickets at any Big Bus Stop. Online tickets can be redeemed at any Big Bus Stop. You will need to use your tickets for the sightseeing bus tour and the river cruise that same day, and you will have 90 days to use your Madame Tussauds tickets.

Prices for 1 day bus tour + Madame Tussauds Adult ticket:  £65.80 Child ticket: £52.80 Family ticket: £211.40

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour + Madame Tussauds Tickets

Big Bus Tour + Tower of London

You can choose a 1, 2 or 3 day ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour (classic, premium or deluxe ticket) and entry to the Tower of London. These tickets also includes a free river cruise and a free guided walking tour .

You can redeem your tickets at any Big Bus Stop. Online tickets can be redeemed at any Big Bus Stop. You will need to use your tickets for the sightseeing bus tour and the river cruise that same day, and you will have 3 days to use your Tower of London tickets.

Prices for 1 day bus tour (Classic ticket) + Tower of London Adult ticket: £61.80 Child ticket (5 – 15): £38.90

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour Classic + Tower of London

Prices for 2 day bus tour (Premium ticket) + Tower of London Adult ticket: £67.80 Child ticket (5 – 15): £43.90

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour Premium + Tower of London

Prices for 3 day bus tour (Deluxe ticket) + Tower of London Adult ticket: £71.80 Child ticket (5 – 15): £48.90

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour Deluxe + Tower of London

Big Bus Tour + St. Paul’s Cathedral

You can choose a 1, 2 or 3 day ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour (classic, premium or deluxe ticket) and entry to St Paul’s Cathedral. These tickets also includes a free river cruise and a free guided walking tour .

Online tickets can be redeemed at any Big Bus Stop. You will need to use your tickets for the sightseeing bus tour and the river cruise that same day, and you will have 90 days to use your St Paul’s Cathedral tickets.

Prices for 1 day bus tour (Classic ticket) + St Paul’s Cathedral Adult ticket: £61.80 Child ticket (5 – 15): £38.90

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour Classic + St Paul’s Cathedral

Prices for 2 day bus tour (Premium ticket) + St Paul’s Cathedral Adult ticket: £67.80 Child ticket (5 – 15): £43.90

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour Premium + St Paul’s Cathedral

Prices for 3 day bus tour (Deluxe ticket) + St Paul’s Cathedral Adult ticket: £71.80 Child ticket (5 – 15): £48.90

⇒ Find out more: Big Bus Tour Deluxe + St Paul’s Cathedral

Routes and Timetable for London’s Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

There are 4 different routes which will take you to see London’s top landmarks. You can hop-on and hop-off of any of the routes as many times as  you like, and change routes whenever you want. This just makes sightseeing in London very easy, and it saves you having to use public transport in London to get from one place to another.

It’s also good to know that you can start your journey on the sightseeing bus tour at any bus stop, on any route, so you can start your journey at the bus stop that suits you best.

⇒ Here you will find a map with the routes and timetables: London Sightseeing Bus Tour Map .

1. Classic Red Tour

The first bus of this route departs at 8.10 am from the stop located just in front of Green Park underground station, on Piccadilly Street and there are buses approximately every 5 minutes. This route is the Classic Tour, a route that passes through 15 of the most important tourist places in London, including Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Big Ben, Covent Garden, the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral among others. The red route has a live commentary in English, and there are also recorded commentaries in several languages.

The red route takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and has several stops in common with the blue route: stops from 2 to 5, from 7 to 11 and stop 15. It also coincides with the green route at stop 9.

2. Big Blue Tour

The first bus of the blue route departs at 8.36 am from stop number 2, which is located at Hyde Park Corner, and there are buses approximately every 5 or 10 minutes. The nearest underground stop is Green Park. The blue route is a slightly longer route, and coincides in almost all the stops with the red route, but also goes round Hyde Park, passing through the South Kensington area, where the natural history museum, the science museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum are located. It also goes past Harrods and towards Regent’s Park stopping at Baker Street, where the Sherlock Holmes museum and Madame Tussauds wax museum are located. The blue route has recorded commentaries.

The blue route takes almost 3 hours and coincides with the red route at stops 2 to 5, from 7 to 11 and stop 15. It also connects with the green route at stop 9 .

3. Green Link

The green link is very short and connects the famous Trafalgar Square with King’s Cross and St Pancras underground and train stations, going past the British museum. If you are going to spend a day in London and arrive at the King’s Cross – St Pancras station, we recommend that you use the tourist bus, since you can start the route here, change at Trafalgar Square to another route and see London easily before returning to King’s Cross with the green link again if you need to.

The first bus on the green route leaves from Covent Garden at 8.20 am, where it also links to the blue and red routes.

4. Night tour: Hotel Return Service 

The purple route is the hotel return service. It covers the areas from Marble Arch to Gloucester Road, so it’s ideal if your hotel is anywhere in between – such as Paddington, Bayswater, Notting Hill or Kensington. It runs up to 2 hours later than the other routes mentioned above.

Bus stops and timetables

Here you can find a list of the bus stops from the RED and BLUE routes, and the time of departure of the first bus at each one of them. After that, buses run every 5 – 10 minutes. Guide: Red Route ( RR ), Blue Route ( BR ) and Green Link ( GL ).

⇒ See Sightseeing Bus Tour Route Map Here

1. GREEN PARK ( RR ) – Green Park Underground Station, next to the Ritz Hotel 2. HYDE PARK CORNER ( RR , BR )  – Opposite Hard Rock Cafe 3. QUEEN MOTHER GATES ( RR , BR ) – Opposite Hilton Hotel 4. MARBLE ARCH ( RR , BR ) – Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park 5. MAYFAIR ( RR , BR ) – Park Lane Big Bus Stop 6. ROYAL MEWS ( RR ) – 31 Buckingham Palace Road Bus Stop 7. LONDON EYE ( RR , BR ) – Westminster Bridge Road Bus Stop 8. WATERLOO ( RR , BR ) – York Road Bus Stop 9. COVENT GARDEN ( RR , BR , RV) – Big Bus Stop at No.1 Aldwych 10. ST PAUL´S CATHEDRAL ( RR , BR ) – 26 Ludgate Hill Bus Stop 11. TOWER OF LONDON ( RR , BR ) – 362 Tower Hill Bus Stop 12. YORK ROAD ( RR )– Westminster Bridge Road Bus Stop 14. WHITEHALL ( RR ) – Big Bus Stop opposite Horse Guards 15. TRAFALGAR SQUARE   ( RR , BR ) –  Pall Mall East Bus Stop Z 16. BAKER STREET ( RR ) – Big Bus Stop at 9 Marylebone Road 17. OXFORD STREET ( BR ) – Bus Stop RF on Regent Street 18. REGENT STREET ( BR )– Bus Stop V on Regent Street 19. PICCADILLY CIRCUS ( BR )– Bus Stop G on Regent Street 20. HAYMARKET ( BR )– Big Bus Stop at No.11 Haymarket  **The blue route after stopping at stop number 20 stops at stop 15 at Trafalgar Square, where it coincides with the red route** 21. CRAIG´S COURT ( BR ) – Bus Stop at Craig’s Court and Whitehall Corner 22. WHITEHALL ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No.61 Whitehall **The blue route after stopping at stop number 22 stops at stops number 7, 8, 9, 10 and  11 coinciding with the red route** 23. WESTMINSTER PIER ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No.30-35 Victoria Embankment 24. LAMBETH PLACE ( BR ) – Lambeth Palace Road Bus Stop 25. COLLEGE GREEN ( BR ) – Abingdon Street Bus Stop 26. TOTHILL STREET ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 43-45 Tothill Street 27. BUCKINGHAM PALACE ( BR ) – Bus Stop  at No.1 Buckingham Gate 28. RUBEN´S HOTEL ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 39 Buckingham Palace Road 29. VICTORIA ( BR ) – Bus Stop opposite The Bag of Nails Pub 30. VICTORIA STATION  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 111 Buckingham Palace Road **The blue route after stopping at stop number 30 stops at stops number 3, 4 and 5 coinciding with the red route ** 31. GREEN PARK ( BR ) – Green Park Underground Station Bus Stop **The blue route after stopping at stop number 31 stops at stop number 2 coinciding with the red route** 32. HYDE PARK CORNER ( BR ) –  Bus Stop at No. 1 Knightsbridge 33. HARRODS ( BR ) – Bus Stop at Harrods, No. 87-135 Brompton Road 34. SOUTH KENSIGNTON MUSEUMS  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 6 Thurloe Place 35. GLOUCESTER ROAD  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 128 Gloucester Road 36. KENSINGTON PALACE  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 5 Kensington High Street 37. NOTTING HILL GATE  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 14 Notting Hill Gate 38. KENSINGTON GARDENS  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 150 Bayswater Road 39. THISTLE HOTEL  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 104 Bayswater Road 40. BAYSWATER ( BR ) – Bayswater Road Bus Stop 41. PADDINGTON STATION  ( BR ) – Bus Stop at No. 25 London St 42. WOBURN ( GL ) – Bus Stop opposite Royal National Hotel 43. EUSTON STATION  ( GL ) – Bus Stop L, Upper Woburn Place 44. KING´S CROSS STATION  ( GL ) – Pancras Way Bus Stop 45. ST. PANCRAS STATION  ( GL ) – Midland Road Bus Stop 46. EUSTON ROAD ( GL ) – Bus Stop M, Upper Woburn Place 47. WOBURN (SOUTHBOUND) ( GL ) – Bus Stop J, in front of Russel Court 48. BRITISH MUSEUM (SOUTHBOUND) ( GL ) – Bus Stop X, Southampton Row 49. DUNCANNON STREET ( GL ) – Bus Stop G, Duncannon Street.

FREE River Cruise when you buy Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour tickets

A Thames River Cruise is honestly one of the best things you can  do when visiting London, this is something that I always recommend friends and family do when they come to visit us. If it’s your first time in London I can guarantee that a cruise on the Thames will leave you speechless, as you can see many famous landmarks from the river. And the best thing is: You get a free river cruise with the London hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour tickets. Boom!

The river cruise included is a one way ticket if you’re buying a one day sightseeing bus tour ticket, or a return ticket if you’re buying a 2 or 3 day bus tour ticket. The cruise runs from Westminster Pier to Tower of London. If you have a one day bus tour ticket you need to do the river cruise on that same day, but don’t worry as there is plenty of time do both, you would even have time to go on the London Eye on the same day.

Free Guided Walking Tour

You will also be able to make the most of your sightseeing bus tour tickets by joining the free walking tour that’s included in your ticket. The tour starts at the Big Bus Tours Bus Stop in Trafalgar Square at 10.20 am, and you will be able to enjoy the Changing of the Guard at 11.00 am at Buckingham Palace and learn all about St James’ Palace.

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

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travel tips

Big bus london - a complete review of the sightseeing bus for 2024.

Updated: May 4

Trying to figure out which London bus tour would suit you best is not an easy task. After reading most of the information out there, I realized that most of it is outdated, inaccurate, or written without having much knowledge about the way the tours work. 

The role of this article is to simplify the process as much as possible and give you an unbiased opinion on why opting for Big Bus could be the best option for you. I'll also highlight any downsides and elaborate on the additional tours and attractions they offer. 

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

   Summary:  

Big Bus is a global leader in the tourism world

Over 30 years of history in London 

Reliable and enjoyable

The most frequent bus schedule

Merlin Attractions partnership - discounted attraction tickets

Our top recommendation for hop-on-hop-off tours in London

            Check online for ticket deals

Table of contents

1. Why choose the Big Bus Tours ?

2. Advantages over other companies

3. Things to consider  

4. Making the most of your time during the bus tour

5. Aditional tours on offer by Big Bus  

6. Routes and Timetable  

7. Available Tickets  

8. Conclusion

1. Why choose Big Bus London ?

Big Bus has been around for a very long time, over 30 years to be more precise. The only other company that can match this, is Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour). This means that most of the routes, tours and special offers that the other companies promote, have likely been introduced and perfected by Big Bus. 

This is one of the reasons why they have gained a reputation as one of the best bus tour operators in the world, not just in London but also in the other cities where they operate.

Big Bus has been working hard over the years to maintain it's spot at the top. They simply have an incredible edge based on their experience and the other companies don't seem to catch up. 

Their superiority is often evident in traffic, with their buses consistently filled with passengers, even when other tours appear less busy.

frequent bus schedules

London Pass let's you use the bus for 1 day

one route that covers both East and West London

user friendly app

partnership with Merlin Attractions

larger buses

          Check online for ticket deals

Their tour stands out with its frequent bus schedule , meaning you'll spend less time waiting at the bus stop and more time exploring. At some of the key points like the London Eye or Marble Arch their superiority is very obvious, with buses coming every 10 minutes or less during the high season. 

Their route design is one of the best, making it super easy to follow. What's impressive is that they not only hit all the major sights but also have buses going the opposite way at crucial stops, a feature that most of the other tours don't offer. 

Pro tip : Make sure you download the Big Bus app; it's your ticket to tracking the buses and minimizing those pesky waiting times.

One of the most significant advantages of choosing Big Bus is their partnership with Merlin , the operator of London's most popular attractions. This collaboration allows you to snag an incredible deal if you plan to visit these attractions. They offer a fantastic ticket that bundles four attractions with the Big Bus Tour. You can check the offer here .

Another great advantage that comes with choosing the Big Bus is the London Pass offer. If you purchase the pass, you can use the bus tour for 1 day without paying any additional fees (make sure you start early). With the London Pass, you gain access to a wide array of attractions like the Tower of London, The Shard, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and many more. 

Big Bus London is a better choice for those staying in the Bayswater, Notting Hill, Lancaster Gate, or Paddington areas, as it provides better convenience unlike other companies that either don't have stops in these areas or offer infrequent service.

Please take note that on some days, the hop-on hop-off can work really smoothly, with buses arriving all the time, without really having to wait too long. On other days you can get stuck in bad traffic jams, there can be diversions because of roadworks, and on occasion, long waiting times at the bus stops.

3. Things to consider

Now let's talk about the downsides! No matter how good they are or how long they have been around for, there are still a lot of unforeseen circumstances that can affect your tour. We have the spectacular London weather that can almost always take you by surprise, traffic jams, and loads of events and protests. 

During one of my rides with Big Bus London for this review, I experienced an unplanned protest . Now most of the time they are planned, and you can check the service update page for the latest information, but this time it just happened. The driver was very friendly and explained clearly that the bus would go on a diversion and offered alternative routes. It might not always go so smoothly. The key is to approach the tour with an open mind. 

buses could be more crowded during busier times

higher price

expensive child tickets

all tickets include the boat ride

Buses can experience higher levels of crowding during the weekends and school holidays making it harder to get seats upstairs. Most of the time they are suplementing the number of buses that are on the road to overcome this.

Pro Tip : One of the best ways to find seats upstairs is to begin your tour at Green Park, which happens to be one of their starting points. You'll often find that they dispatch empty buses from there, ensuring you have a better chance of finding a seat and enjoying a more comfortable ride.

Big Bus may have a slightly higher price point compared to other companies. Booking online can lower the costs.

Pro tip : If you are planning to visit one of the famous London Attractions, to offset the higher price point of the Big Bus ticket, try to get a bundle ticket . For example you can get a combined ticket with the London Eye and save around 20% on each. You can find the tickets here .

Red route : If you happen to find yourself closer to the red route, it's the ideal route to start your day with as it covers all the major attractions. 

Blue route : Once you've completed the red route, if you still have time left, consider hopping on the blue route to explore the West side of London. This way you get to visit famous landmarks such as Harrods, Kensington Palace or Notting Hill. It is also worth getting off the bus to take a stroll through Hyde Park. 

Boat ride : Every Big Bus ticket includes a fantastic City Cruises boat ride. I took the cruise during sunset, and let me tell you, it was magical. I really enjoyed the guide they had, he offered a lot of great information about the sights, and he was also quite funny.  For the best experience, consider hopping off at the Tower of London and catching the cruise to Westminster.

Pro tip : If you have limited time or simply want to stay on the bus and not hop-off too much, their Blue Route covers both East and West London in a single ride . Keep in mind that the tour lasts over 3 hours!

For more tips on making the most of your day in London, check out our blog post : The best itinerary for one day in London .

5. Aditional tours on offer by Big Bus London

London Evening Tour : This tour has been around for quite a long time and it's  highly popular . It's not uncommon to see a lot of people queuing for it every day, so make sure you arrive at least 15-20 minutes before departure to get the best seats. 

The tour can be added to your hop-on hop-off ticket or it can be purchased separately.

Starting at Point 11, the London Eye Stop , the tour lasts for approximately 2 hours. Remember, it's a continuous ride without stops.

6. Routes and Timetable

Big Bus Tours offers a choice of 3 routes:

Red route is the main route, leading you to the major attractions.

Blue route explores West London, including attractions like the museums, Hyde Park, and Harrods.

Green route focuses on the British Museum and Kings Cross.

The red route tends to have the most frequent departures, followed by the blue and green routes. The best way to avoid long waiting times is to check the app or ask the members of staff for the next bus arrivals or potential delays .

Pro tip : from stop 19, next to the London Eye, you can take the red route in 2 different directions. The westbound bus goes towards Buckingham Palace while the Eastbound one goes towards the Tower of London.

7. Available Tickets

As of the time of writing, Big Bus offers a trio of ticket options to choose from:

Discover £44

Essential £54

Explore £64

The Discover ticket is the standard ticket that is valid for 24hrs and includes the boat ride. It is designed for those with a relatively limited amount of time to explore. It's a great choice when you want to make the most of your visit in a shorter timeframe 

The Essential ticket is for a 48-hour adventure. It not only includes a great boat ride but also offers three incredible walking tours led by some of Big Bus's finest guides. This ticket is perfect for those with more time on their hands.

The Explore ticket includes all the features of the Essential ticket but adds the highly sought-after night tour to the mix. This option ensures you can savor the best of London day and night.

Pro tip : If you decide to go on some of their guided tours, I especially recommend the Changing of the Guard walking tour – it not only shows you the best vantage points for the guard change but also provides invaluable context that would be hard for you to come by in other circumstances.

8. Conclusion of our Big Bus London review

We highly recommend the tour, but please approach it with an open mind. There are so many factors that cannot be influenced when doing an open tour in London. This will ensure that you will have a great time no matter what.

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

Getting tickets

Purchasing tickets online is often more cost-effective than buying from street vendors or when boarding the bus.

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