golden tours london pick up points

travel tips

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

Updated: 2 days ago

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

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

  Summary:  

Unique route design 

Affordable  tour options

Live guides (certain tours)

Extensive array of languages

London Pass

            Check online for ticket deals

Table of contents

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

3. Things to consider  

4. Getting the most out of your bus tour experience

5. Aditional tours on offer by Golden Tours  

6. Routes and Timetable    

7. Available Tickets  

8. Conclusion  of our Golden Tours London review

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

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

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

Highly rated live guides

Cheapest Family ticket

Commentary in multiple languages

London Pass holders travel for free

Check online for ticket deals

Live guides

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

Affordable tickets

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

Audio guides  

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

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

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

3. Things to consider

longer waiting times

navigating the map

limited buses around Hyde Park

Longer waiting times

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Aditional tours on offer by Golden Tours

London by Night

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

Windsor , Stonehenge , Bath and others

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

6. Routes and Timetable

As of now, Golden Tours offers four distinct tours :

The Classic Tour (Blue Route)

The Essential Tour (Red Route)

The Museum Tour (Orange Route)

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

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

7. Available Tickets

One-day ticket

24, 48, and 72 hrs

Ultimate London Experience

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

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

8. Conclusion of our Golden Tours London review  

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

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

Getting tickets

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

Related Posts

London Bus Tours: Tickets in Advance or On the Bus?

How to Get Tickets to the Top 10 Paid Attractions in London

5 Ways to get around London (2024)

Commentaires

TRAVEL TIPS

London on a budget

London in one day

Privacy Policy

Top 5 things to see in London

SPECIAL EXPERIENCES

Afternoon Tea Bus

Harry Potter Tour

© 2023 by Double Decker London

Golden Tours

• See all photos

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

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

Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Tour from London

Stonehenge Half-Day Tour from London with Admission

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

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

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

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

• Guided London Tours
• Christmas and New Year
• Harry Potter Tours London
• River Cruise Tours
• Afternoon Tea Tours
• London Night Bus Tours
• Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours London
• Open Top Bus Tours
• 6 Nights London Package with Stonehenge & Cotswolds
• Hotel Stay for Two with London Tour Bus & Trip to Stonehenge
• London Discovery: Hotel Stay, Panoramic Tours, and Stonehenge Adventure
• London Hotel Package for Two with Full Day London Tour and Stonehenge Trip
• All London Hotel Packages
• UK Stonehenge Tours
• Day Tours from London
• Rail Tours from London
• Shopping Tours

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

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

Golden Tours London hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour

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

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

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

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

What’s included

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

Golden Tours Ticket Options

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

Golden Tours Duration Options

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

Golden Tours with or without River Cruise

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

Best Price Guarantee

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

Golden Tours Advance Tickets

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

Easy Redemption Process

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

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

Golden Tours Routes and Buses

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

The Classic Tour (Blue Route)

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

The Essential Tour (Red Route)

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

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

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

Golden Tours Route Map

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

Frequencies and Operating Hours

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

Guides and Audio Guides

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

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

With Warner Bros Studio Tour

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

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

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

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

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

Click the link to book your tickets

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

With Merlin attraction pass 

The Ultimate London Experience

Book your Tickets here

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

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

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

River Cruise  

Free Thames river cruise with Thames River Cruising

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

Cruises are for one-way only.

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

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

Walking tours  

Free walking tours with Golden Tours hop on buses

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

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

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

Add-ons to Golden Tours tours & themed tours 

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

These include:

1. Night tours

2. Christmas lights tours

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

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

Click on the banner below for more information.

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

Choose from:

1. Tower of London with hop-on bus

2. View from the Shard with hop-on bus

3. Westminster Abbey with hop-on bus

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

5. SEA LIFE with hop-on bus

6. The London Dungeon with hop-on bus

7. Madame Tussauds with hop-on bus

8. London Eye with hop-on bus

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

Golden Tours included with London Pass 

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

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

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

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

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

Golden Tours compared with Tootbus & Big Bus  

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

Live Guides:

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

Commentaries:

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

Ticket Durations:

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

Evening Tours:

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

Walking Tours:

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

River Cruises:

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

Add-on Attractions or Alternative Tours:

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

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

• Share This Post:

Add a Comment Cancel reply

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

Recent Posts

How Long Does It Take to Tour Stonehenge Uk

How to Tour Stonehenge

Top 10 Locations in London Where Harry Potter Was Filmed

All categories.

• Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours
• London Things to do
• Harry Potter Studio Tours

Reset Password

Popular currencies

More currencies, golden tours: 24hrs london hop on hop off & westminster abbey tickets.

• Instant confirmation
• Explore London at your own pace with these hop-on hop-off bus tickets, covering 4 different routes and 70 stops, at a frequency of 1 bus every 15-30min
• You can hop on and hop off the buses as much as you like for a period of 24 hours
• Ticket includes entry to Westminster Abbey, a free HOHO boat ride and a free walking tour
• All buses feature free onboard Wi-Fi
• The bus routes include many iconic attractions, such as Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Madame Tussauds, etc., so you can stop by your favorite spots along the way
• Some routes feature English-speaking guides, while others have audioguides in 8 different languages
• Click here for detailed route map and boarding points
• 24Hr London HOHO Pass
• Entry to Westminster Abbey
• Free Wi-Fi onboard the bus
• Free walking tour of London with an expert English-speaking guide
• Free 24hr River Thames Hop-on Hop-off Boat Ride
• Live commentary in English / Audioguide in 8 languages (based on the bus and route)
• Entrances to other attractions
• Food and drinks

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Ratings & Reviews

Why you should get on board.

The Golden Tours London Hop-on Hop-off bus tour ticket gives you unlimited access to their fleet of open-topped, Wi-Fi enabled buses for a period of 24 hours. You can use those 24 hours to see all of Central London, with stops at all the major attractions such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, and much more. This gives you the freedom to explore these attractions at your own pace, hopping on and off as and when you please. What’s more, the 4 different bus routes have audioguides onboard in 8 languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese and Chinese), so you can learn more about the attractions that you will spot from the bus.

Included with the hop-on-hop-off tickets are entry tickets to Westminster Abbey, the iconic London monument where monarchs are crowned and laid to rest. With its stained-glass windows, gothic architecture and lofty facades, Westminster Abbey remains an impressive sight to this day. An audio guide will be also be provided to you, so you don’t miss any of the fascinating history of this momentous cathedral.

The Hop-on Hop-off tickets also come with a free guided walking tour of London with an expert guide. You can choose between a walking tour of the Royal Quarter, including the Change of the Guards, or a Beatles London walking tour. You can also avail of a free 24hr River Thames Hop-on Hop-off Boat Ride, where you can take in panoramic views of the capital from the waters of the Thames between Westminster and St. Katherine’s Pier. You will also learn more about the attractions and the city of London from the live commentary provided by the captain, as well as from the audio guides available for your smartphone in Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German and Italian

Know Before You Go

Please note.

Due to various events taking place as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, there will be diversions and delays to all routes.

Sat, 4 Jun:

• Red route closed stops: 56, 57, 58 & 59
• Blue route closed stops: 1, 2, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 & 32
• All other stops will be served.

Sun, 5 Jun:

• Red route closed stops: All stops closed
• Blue route closed stops: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 28, 29, 30 & 31

Click here for detailed route map and boarding points. You can join the tour from any of the 70 stops.

Note: View the updated route schedule for this winter season.

Blue Route ( The Essential Tour ):

• Popular stops on the route are Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral & more
• Frequency: Approx. every 30 min
• First bus at 8:30 AM from Haymarket and last bus is at 5:00 PM

Red Route ( The Classic Tour ):

• Popular stops on the route are the main Central London sights and London’s Museum Quarter.
• Frequency: Approx. every 15-30 min
• First bus at 8:00 AM from Kensington Road and last bus is at 6:00 PM

Orange Route ( The Grand Tour ):

• Popular stops on the route are Madame Tussauds and Kings Cross
• First bus at 8:00 AM from Marylebone Road and last bus is at 4:00 PM

Lilac Route ( The Thames Tour ): this route is currently not operating

• Popular stops on the route are London’s most iconic landmarks around the heart of the Thames, including Parliament Square and St James’s Palace.
• First bus at 8:00 AM from Park Lane and last bus is at 5:00 PM

In addition, there are yellow and green routes that provide hotel pick-up and drop off services in the morning and afternoon, respectively. Please check the timetable for more details on these routes.

Westminster Abbey Visiting Hours:

• Mon to Fri 9:30am to 3:30pm (last entry).
• Sat: 9am to 3:30pm (last entry).
• Sun: Closed for sightseeing.
• The abbey will close 30 minutes after the last entry.
• Galleries will open 30 minutes after the main opening time.

Please note:

• On Wed, 2 Mar 2023, the abbey will open at 11am.
• On Mon, 28 Mar 2023, the abbey will close early at 12:30pm (last entry at 12pm).

Planned full closures:

• 24 and 25 Dec.
• 12, 14, 21, and 29 Mar.

Free Hop-on Hop-off Boat Ride

These cruises are operated by Circular Cruise Westminster. The first boat departs from Westminster Pier at 11:00 AM. Cruise rides last 30 minutes. Boats leave every 30 minutes from:

• Westminster Pier (Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH)
• Embankment Pier (Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment, London WS2N 6NU)
• Festival Pier (Festival Pier, South Bank, London SE1 9PX)
• Bankside Pier (Bankside Pier, Bankside, London SE1 9DT)
• St Katharine’s Pier - for Tower of London - (St Katharine’s Pier, St Katharine's Way, London E1W 1LD)

Click here for detailed route map and boarding points.

Walking Tours

You can choose between the following walking tours:

The Royal Walking Tour :

• Days of Operation: Daily
• Departure Point: Golden Tours Visitor Centre - Leicester Square - 11a Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EP
• Return Point: Westminster Abbey
• Start: 10:00 AM
• Finish: 12:00 PM

The Beatles London Walking Tour :

• Departure point: Golden Tours Visitor Centre - Leicester Square - 11a Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EP
• Start: 1:00 PM
• Finish: 3:00 PM

Additional Information

Thames River Boat Ride

• Unlimited usage for 24 hours from when you first hop-on the boat
• Valid between Westminster Pier and St Katharine’s Pier only

Additional information

Westminster Abbey

• Printed tickets are required for entry.
• A security check will be carried out on all visitors.
• Services or special events may close all or part of the Abbey at short notice.
• An audio guide is included in the ticket price.

Reduced tickets

• Children between 6 and 16 years of age benefit from reduced prices.
• Children aged 5 years and under participate free of charge.

Please bring a printed copy of the voucher with you. You can board the bus from any stop included in the itinerary and show the voucher to the driver. The driver will exchange your voucher for your bus ticket.

The ticket is valid only on the date selected at the time of booking.

Why Headout?

Similar experiences you'd love.

Top things to do in London

Browse By Themes

Nearby cities to explore.

World at your tap.

We've served 25 million+ guests and we are here for you

25 million +

In the Media

24 x 7 Help Center

Golden Tours

• See all photos

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

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

Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Tour from London

Stonehenge Half-Day Tour from London with Admission

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

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

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

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

All other Pages

Golden tours.

Golden Tours is London’s leading sightseeing company, offering a wide range of tours and services across London and the UK.

Tour Operator

Golden Tours is London’s leading sightseeing company and part of the internationally renowned Gray Line Worldwide Association. Established in 1984, Golden Tours is an independent, London-grown and family-run business that offers a wide range of tours and services across London and the UK, and are passionate about providing visitors with unforgettable experiences.

Whether it’s your first visit to London or you’ve explored the city before, there are so many iconic landmarks just waiting to be discovered on the open-top hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tours. They take visitors on a journey around the heart of the Capital to sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and the London Eye. Providing the freedom, ease and opportunity for visitors to explore London at their leisure.

At the heart of Golden Tours are the luxury day excursions to iconic must-see destinations across the country including Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and Canterbury to name just a few. There is no better way to embark on an exciting adventure to places of rich British history, culture and breathtaking scenery than on a fully organised and professionally guided out-of-London day tour.

The preferred partner of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, choose from a variety of options, including return transport from London on a branded bus with the opportunity to watch one of the Harry Potter films en route to the studios.

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST LONDON NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

© 2020 Copyright by The Tourism Media Group . All rights reserved | Privacy Policy

RELATED LINKS

On this page, harry potter london, warner bros. studio tours, w.b. studio tour transfers, most popular tours, special interest tours, tours from london, hop-on hop-off bus tours, central london tours.

• 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

Golden Tours - Warner Bros. Studio - The Making of Harry Potter

How to find the golden tours office and how to board the harry potter studio bus.

What's it like going on a Golden Tours tour of the Harry Potter Studio?

Despite its name Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is not in London itself but located just outside London, in Watford, around an hour's journey each way.

At present, three tour companies offer a combination ticket with much sought after Warner Bros. Studio Tour London tickets with transfers from central London, (see menu, right) and in addition there is another tour: International Friends Warner Bros. Studio with Oxford.

The most popular tour is the Golden Tours tour; this page gives a summary of the experience with Golden Tours. We also have a separate page Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter - what to expect - which gives more detail on the Studio itself.

Book Harry Potter Studio tickets   Harry Potter shuttle tickets   Golden Tours Harry Potter tour details   Location Golden Tours office   Facilities at Golden Tours office   On board Golden Tours buses   Arrival at Studios   What will I see?   Return to Victoria or Kings Cross  

Is there any real difference between Harry Potter tour companies?

The Golden Tours Warner Bros. Studio Tour offer is very similar to that offered by Evan Evans and Premium Tours, except Golden Tours use a Harry Potter branded double decker bus (showing one of the Harry Potter movies) whilst the others use traditional touring coaches. It would be fair to say that the tours themselves are all the same once you arrive at Harry Potter, purely because that is the studio itself. Price and how you get there is the main difference along with departure locations and timings of available tours.

We partner with Travel Compendium to offer the best value tickets. These can be through Evans Evans and Golden Tours depending upon availability. If your heart is set on the Harry Potter themed coach to travel to the studio then you need to select the Golden Tours ticket, which are options 3 and 4 on their website and leave from Baker Street and Kings Cross. Evans Evans tours leave from Victoria and Russell Square.

Ticket guide prices with transport from London

• Adult tickets (16 years +) vary in price depending on season but are around £95pp on average.
• Child tickets (5 - 15 years old) are around £85pp on average.
• Children 3-4 years of age - entry to Harry Potter is free but there is an average of £40pp charge for the transport.
• Children 0-2 years of age - free entry and transport.

Tickets to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR LONDON - THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER TOURS DEPART FROM CENTRAL LONDON

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

Multiple choices of departure location including Victoria, Russell Square, Baker Street and Kings Cross.

Just select preferred option on booking page for full details.

Transport and Entrance Tickets:

Adult from £118, child 5-15 from £108

• Frequent bus departures daily • Entrance to the Warner Bros Studio Tour • Return luxury air-condioned bus with free Wi-Fi from Central London • Cheaper tickets available off-peak

Shuttle only tickets

If you have already purchased your Warner Bros. Studio Tour London tickets and are now just beginning to understand how far the Studios are from Central London you can purchase transport only tickets to the Warner Bros. Studio. Departure points are from Victoria and Baker Street in Central London.

SHUTTLE DEPARTING FROM VICTORIA & BAKER STREET - WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR LONDON - THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER

Shuttle bus transfer to Harry Potter Studios from London Victoria, Baker Street

Adult from £79 £39

• Up to 10 shuttles per day • Pick up from Victoria or Baker Street. • Return luxury air-conditioned bus transportation from London with free Wi-Fi • Bus only - purchase Harry Potter Studio tickets separately

Golden Tours Harry Potter Tour - tour details

The tour runs every day that Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is open, which is daily year round .

There are many departures each day with pick ups in London between 7.30am and 4pm returning to London around 7 hours later.

There are two different tours running with Golden Tours - one that departs from Victoria and Baker Street, and another that leaves from Kings Cross.

Our banner above uses two coach companies, Evan Evans and Golden Tours. If you specifically want a Golden Tours tour then you can either use the link above to buy from Baker Street or King's Cross, or visit the Golden Tours website to buy a ticket from Victoria.

The buses drop off at the same three points. Journey time is around one hour, depending on traffic conditions.

Where is the Golden Tours office to board the Harry Potter bus in London?

The main departure bus terminus is at the  Golden Tours Office on Buckingham Palace Road,  in a building just down the road from Victoria Train Station. Victoria is a major hub in central London and easy to get to.

The address to pick up the coach from is: Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SH

The office is separate (across the road to) Victoria Coach Station.  The outside of the building has colonnades and is unmarked with no tour operator’s details on the outside . There will often be a Golden Tours bus parked outside which is helpful in finding it.

Baker Street

The second pick-up point is at Baker Street, again a strategic location with a major Underground station very close to Madame Tussauds. This is convenient if you are staying in a  hotel district close to Hyde Park, Marble Arch  or the  St Pancras ,  Bloomsbury area .

Kings Cross

Pancras Road, Bus Stop T, London NW1 2SD. The interactive map on Golden Tour's web page shows precisely where the bus stop is in relation to the station.

What facilities are there in and around the Golden Tours office in Victoria?

The reception area is quite large and well lit but there are no seats, except for those in the eateries surrounding the office.

Food, drink and gifts

You can use this time to grab something to eat – there are many places around to buy lunch or snacks and drinks - or maybe even purchase a gift from the London gift shop in the vicinity.

There are no public toilets in the immediate area; you can if you wish use the loos from one of the surrounding shops, but you need to make a purchase to do this.

There is no Wi-Fi in the waiting area at the office, but there is Wi-Fi on the Golden Tours Bus.

Check in closes fifteen minutes before advertised boarding time, but the bus does not actually depart for a further thirty minutes.

The order of queuing is the order of entry onto the bus, so if you are first in the queue you will get first choice of seat. Just before you go on the bus have your paper ticket(s) ready for checking.

You will be given an envelope with your Warner Bros. Studio Tour London tickets inside and also return tickets for your shuttle back to the bus station, and the time of meeting.

On board the Golden Tours bus to the Harry Potter studios in Watford, London

Harry potter movie aboard top deck.

The top deck is popular with everyone choosing to sit up here; from here you have a nice view of some of the sights of London and you can also see two screens, where they show one of the Harry Potter films. This is particularly useful if you have children! The film does not start playing until all passengers have been picked up from Baker Street.

Free Wi-Fi on board

There is free Wi-Fi on board the Golden Tour buses.

There are no toilets on board the bus so it is best to go before you leave.

Food and drink

Hot food and drink is not permitted on the coach, but you can eat simple cold snacks.

The bus is not a guided bus, therefore there is a driver only. Driving to the Studio Tour, the driver does not make a commentary, so any questions are best directed beforehand to the office assistant who can advise you in the queue.

There is no luggage storage on board the bus; at Victoria Railway Station and Coach Station there are left luggage facilities where you can pay a nominal fee and leave your cases all day until you return.

Alternatively you can leave small suitcases, coats and bags free of charge at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, in the Lobby cloakroom.

Arrival & admission to the Harry Potter studios

The bus takes you to just a hundred metres or so from the entrance, and then you are left to walk inside independently. Upon entry you will have your bag checked and then you are free to walk inside into the lobby.

Your arrival time will allow you about twenty minutes to queue, ready for your pre-booked entry time into the Studio Tour itself.

Please note, there is a bag check before you go inside. If you need somewhere to store any small suitcases (or coats and bags) you may have, you can do this free of charge in the lobby cloakroom.

Pushchairs are also encouraged to be left here if possible due to the restricted amount of space in the Studio Tour.

Opposite the cloakroom, also in the lobby, is a digital guide desk where you can hire digital guides for the duration of your tour.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - what will I see?

We have a dedicated page detailing what to expect once inside the studios.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - full detail

Return journey to Victoria or Baker Street or Kings Cross

After 4.5 hours, it is time to leave the Studio Tour, and make your way to your Golden Tours bus, which will be waiting just outside.

The driver will be standing outside the bus; you show your return tickets and hop on.

The entire tour takes around 7 hours including travelling time.

On your return journey you can sit back and watch the remainder of the Harry Potter movie you started on your way over, remembering where all the magic began.

Harry Potter themed tours & activities in and around London

Tours from london including warner bros. studio tour, harry potter london hotel & ticket packages, harry potter tours within london, harry potter locations within london & oxford including platform 9 3/4.