Tootbus London

london bus tour toot

  • See all photos

london bus tour toot

London Tootbus Kids Tour with Bespoke Live Guided Commentary

london bus tour toot

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

london bus tour toot

London Tootbus Discovery Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

london bus tour toot

London by Night Tootbus Sightseeing Bus Tour

london bus tour toot

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

london bus tour toot

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.

PJMammoo

TOOTBUS LONDON - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

RELATED LINKS

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

Harry Potter attractions in and around London

OPEN TOP SIGHTSEEING BUSES

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

London Toolkit

  • 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

Rome Toolkit

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

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

Tootbus (Original London Tour) Open Top Sightseeing Bus

Tootbus has routes to major sights and free cruises

London's hop-on sightseeing bus tour providers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

London Tootbus

TOOTBUS HOP-ON BUS - EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS

Tootbus London

Tootbus London Discovery tickets

EXCLUSIVE PRICE

• Choose from 24, 48 or 72-hr tickets • Audio guide in 5 languages

Big Bus London tickets

DISCOUNTED BIG BUS LONDON TICKETS

London Big Bus tours

DISCOUNTED TICKETS COMPARED WITH BOOKING DIRECT

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

Golden Tours hop on bus London tickets

GOLDEN TOURS HOP-ON BUS LONDON TICKETS

London Golden Tours hop on bus tours

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus London

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

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

Big Bus  hop on bus - top deck evening tour

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

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

Walking Tours

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

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

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

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

River cruises

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

Routes and vehicles

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

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

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

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

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

Tootbus route map London 2024

Big Bus Tour map London 2024

Golden Tours route map London 2024

Live guides vs audio guides

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Times and frequencies of buses

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

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

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

Tootbus (Original Tour) hop on bus London

Standard tour ticket durations

24, 48 or 72-hr durations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Evening tours (not hop on, hop off)

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

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

Discounted - cheapest tickets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big Bus or Golden Tours hop on bus included with London Pass

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

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

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

Tootbus are not part of the London Pass scheme.

Key points of the London Pass Ho Ho bus offer

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

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

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

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

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

London Pass more details

Free river cruises

St Paul's from top deck Tootbus tours London

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thames river cruise ticket options by company

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

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

Golden Tours

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

Hop-on buses in London plus attractions - money saving

Madame Tussauds with Big Bus hop on bus London

Save money buying attraction tickets & bus tour in one package

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

Golden Tours hop-on buses plus top London attraction

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

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

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

Big bus + attraction through discount london.

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

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

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

Big Bus + attraction through Big Bus website

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

Tootbus and add-on attraction in London

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

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

All prices (except family prices) are those offered through Travel Compendium unless otherwise stated, using banners on this page. Travel Compendium aim to be price-competitive, offering you the best value price (against the hop-on bus company's own permanently discounted online prices, which are between 10 - 15% off their walk-up prices).

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

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

Tootbus official website

Big Bus official website

Golden Tours official website

* Golden Tours and Tootbus offer cheaper tickets, which are bus only, no river cruise. Tootbus offer this for a 24, 48 & 72-hr ticket and call theirs 'London Discovery'. Golden Tours offer the bus only option for either 24 hours or a 1-day period only.

All other Tootbus and Golden Tours tickets are for 24/48/72-hour periods, unless stated otherwise.

** Prices for Tootbus here use official Tootbus link, Big Bus and Golden Tours prices use our links.

Family hop on bus tickets and other tour options

Family prices for all companies can be found through the operator's own websites (above).

For a big range of Golden Tours hop on plus attraction tickets see: Golden Tours hop-on bus plus attractions

Top of the page

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

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

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

Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath tour from London for £89

PlanTripLondon – Things to do in London

Best Sightseeing Bus Tours in London Compared

Best Bus Tours in London Compared

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

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

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

London Bus Tours Deals

GET 10% OFF AT BIG BUS TOURS

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

Sightseeing Bus Tours in London Compared

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

Sightseeing Bus Tours in London: What’s included

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

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

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

Sightseeing Bus Tours in London: Price Comparison

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

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

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

Big Bus Tours

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

Big Bus Tours London Tickets

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

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

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

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

⇒ See Big Bus London Route Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sightseeing bus tours in London

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

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

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

⇒ See The TOOT Bus London Route Map

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

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

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

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

Golden Tours

london bus tour toot

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

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

⇒ Golden Tours Route Map

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

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

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

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

City Sightseeing London

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

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

City Sightseeing Bus Tour in London

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

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

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

⇒ See City Sightseeing London Route Map

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

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

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

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

Comparison Sightseeing Bus Tours in London: Summary

Are sightseeing bus tours in london worth it.

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

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

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

Other Bus Tours in London

⇒ Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Tour

⇒ Vintage Bus Ghost Tour

Related Posts

Best musicals in london in 2024, thames river cruises in london: options, offers and available routes, changing of the guard in london: dates 2024, combination tickets for london attractions, leave a reply cancel reply.

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

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

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

Tootbus London

Tootbus London Hop-on hop-off bus tour

  • Instant confirmation

Hop-oh Hop-Off London

London discovery 1 day • hop-on hop-off london.

  • Explore London at your own pace for 1 day.
  • Your Tootbus pass is valid unlimited for 24 hours from its first use.

London Discovery 2 DAYS • Hop-on hop-off London

  • Explore London at your own pace for 2 days. Your Tootbus pass is valid unlimited for 48 hours from its first use.

London Discovery 3 DAYS • Hop-on hop-off London

  • Explore London at your own pace for 3 days. Your Tootbus pass is valid unlimited for 72 hours from its first use.

What to expect

Many tourists, when they visit a major city, are accustomed to making a first discovery by bus, in order to quickly grasp the essential places that they will take the time to visit later. The Tootbus company offers this possibility in London.

Open-top, hop-on hop-off buses help explore London

Indeed, the Tootbus panoramic buses allow an optimal discovery of London. As well as taking you to all of London's iconic locations, their 'hop-on hop-off' formula leaves you free to hop on and off freely. This opportunity, linked to the panoramic views offered by the design of this type of double-decker bus, is a way of discovering the main monuments from their different aspects: from afar, overlooking them, then up close, then from inside during of your visit. In addition, the audio-guides made available to you provide you with the information you need to intensify your knowledge.

The "Hop-on hop-off" principle is ideal

When you visit a city two important criteria guide you: mobility and freedom. Tootbus with this "Hop-on hop-off" formula meets these two expectations. Indeed, this panoramic bus takes you easily to the unmissable places of London but allows you to get off in order to discover the monument that attracts you and to get back on a next bus to continue the adventure.

Tootbus London: Discover London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Common questions

What are the departure times for tootbus london buses.

Toobus London's panoramic buses run daily, Monday to Sunday from 9am and finish their rounds at 4.20pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.

How frequent are the Toobus London buses?

With the Hop-on Hop-off formula of Tootbus London, count 1 bus every 30 to 40 minutes approximately.

Which London landmarks can you see with a Tootbus London package?

There are 2 routes (blue and yellow) that you can use unlimitedly for the duration of your ticket (24h, 48h or 72h). The circuits have been optimized to pass in front of the emblematic monuments of London and you will be able to admire among others the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, the Westminster Abbey, the wheel of the London Eye , Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul or the Saint-James Palace/

Customers also bought

Kids Tour: London bus tour with children

Exploring London with kids on a panoramic bus tour

London Aquarium Photos

London Aquarium

Londres Madame Tussauds Famille Royale

Madame Tussauds

Cruise on the River Thames Photos

Thames river cruise

Coca Cola London Eye

Your number will not be used for promotional purposes. It will be used to contact you for any clarification regarding your request.

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

Company Logo - Home Link

Hop-On-Hop-Off London Bus Tours

london bus tour toot

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)

Big Bus London Map

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.

Original Bus Tour London

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

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

Also for children, a free activity pack is included.

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

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

Ticket Prices (with 15% discount)

24-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price

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

48-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price

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

72-Hour Ticket Price

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

Yellow Route

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

Yellow Route   – The Original Tour (T1 and T2)

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

Original Tour Map

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.

london bus tour toot

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.

Which Are the Best London Bus Tours

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.

Best London Bus Tour

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.

London 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.

london bus tour toot

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!

london bus tour toot

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.

london bus tour toot

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.

london bus tour toot

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.

london bus tour toot

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

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

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

RELATED POSTS: 

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

And much, much more

About the author.

london bus tour toot

North America

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

London by Night Tootbus Sightseeing Bus Tour

london bus tour toot

  • London's top attractions under a new light
  • Breath-taking views of the city by bus
  • Free access to the Tootbus app including audio commentary and self-guided walking tours
  • Kids audio guide specially designed to capture their attention
  • Free wi-fi on board the bus
  • Food & drink
  • Restroom on board
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travelers can participate
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
  • Tower of London
  • Buckingham Palace
  • Tower Bridge
  • SEA LIFE London Aquarium
  • Tate Modern

Similar experiences

london bus tour toot

  • PJMammoo 0 contributions FANTASTIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND Families STAFF WERE KIND HELPFUL Absolutely FANTASTIC ! We did the child friendly 45 minute tour but it ended up being 1 hour 20 because of the traffic being 1 lane at Piccadilly! This showed us we had booked the right tour for our toddler as he was ready for off about 1 hour 15 in so we couldn’t have done one of the typical 2 hour ish tours with him it was just the perfect length. Really safely driven, absolutely FANTASTIC funny and friendly tour guide who was very informative and helpful whilst waiting for our tour and a great guide on the way around!! We willl DEFINITELY do this again in summer it went by all the thing we wanted to see and for a fantastic price cannot commend this tour enough to be honest. As you can see from the attached photos our son LOVED it! Read more Written February 17, 2024
  • Kantilal G 0 contributions A very traumatic experience Our experience on taking the Hop hop off Christmas light tour of the London sights in December 2023 has been an awful experience and one that me and my family will never forget and we will never ever do any tours with this company. I rate this company 0 out of 5 and advise all travellers to avoid this company and choose a better bus tour operator. Our experience left us mentally traumatised and horrified. It all started when half way into our tour when the conditions on the tour bus got worse to say the least. Sitting on an open top bus we were given ear phones to hear running commentary on audio system which having tried several times did not work at all a total waste of time. We then opted to move down stairs in order to sat warm but this made seeing the Christmas lights even worse as nothing could be seen. As we had already paid £120 for 8 of us in our group, a large amount for a tour which should have lasted an hour with guidance, non of which had happened, instead we ended up seeing the residential parts of London when the driver took the wrong turn and ended getting lost and driving on the footpath and driving the bus full off people with on coming traffic., going down the wrong way on a one way street just I try and get back on to the tour route. The bus driver was even seen driving and talking to the head office over the phone while driving, when on of the passenger requested to stop and drive the bus,which was totally ignored. We were frightened for our safety. Even after complaining and writing several emails to and through Tooth bus only gave back £30;00 with an apology of inconvenience blaming the night had faced planned protest marches which they were not aware at the time and as a result the driver took the wrong turn which ended the tour taking an unplanned diversion, and a route which under normal circumstances would have not been taken. Such a disgraceful awful experience. 1st let down by the tour bus driver and then .eat down by the management. On-any of Toot Bus, with a Mosley compensation of £30;00 when we asked for a full refund we were advised that this is the best the can offer under the circumstances. I ask what would you do ? Is it worth the anxiety and trauma it has caused and the disappointment of not seeing the Christmas lights tour.. I advise all fellow travellers to avoid this Bus company in future sight seeing visits not us there in London but any where in the world as they are a budget company with no customer care at all. AVOID AT ALL COST - ITS NOT WORTH THE MONEY AT ALL. Read more Written February 17, 2024
  • stephp869 0 contributions Tootbus are excellent. Theyll guide you all the way ! The best way to see most of the important sights in London on the top deck of a double decker bus. Tootbus staff are very helpful and approachable. Just google a Tootbus stop and hop on. Regular buses and choose from different routes but highly recommend the yellow route. Or do them all. Nice clean buses with complimentary earphones to listen to the guide explain the different landmarks and short history of each and a map to follow your route. The lady driver today ( sat 10th Feb) on the green route, Theresa, went above and beyond to help and assist with redeeming our tickets and stopped the bus and escorted us to the yellow stop to continue our journey. She was very friendly and made sure we had the best experience. Shes an absolute credit to the company. Read more Written February 10, 2024
  • 123glennk 0 contributions Easy Way to Get Around to Visit Most of London's Attractions The Tootbus routes take you all around London to visit most of the of the well-known attractions. It is well-priced, especially if you get it with one of the many tourist combo passes. The buses are generally on time and easy to hop on and off. The are not particularly quick so if you are in a hurry you are best off using the London Tube network. They do a commentary as well which is informative and sometimes humorous Read more Written February 9, 2024
  • hollymP672LL 0 contributions Just skip this one! I took the Toot Bus BRUSSELS tour in December of 2023, and it was a joke. My sister and I were in Amsterdam for a week and decided to take a day trip to Brussels to enjoy the hop-on-hop off option getting to see Brussels to a day. BIG mistake. The train ride in was fine...ish. The weather the day we got there was cold, rainy, and windy. I don't blame Brussels for that. You can't control the weather, right? What you CAN control, however, is having an open-air bus in cold, rainy, windy weather. Seriously? Toot-bus. It was about 39 degrees, rainy, windy, and cold, and you've got an open air bus with no protection from the elements. ZERO protection from the elements. My sister and I planned to stay in Brussels for the entire day, riding around on the two bus lines, seeing the sights, and just generally enjoying the day. HOWEVER, once we realized that no one at the Brussels Toot-bus office cared about customers (or had any common sense when it came to weather in the winter) we decided to get right back on the train and head back to Amsterdam. We did one cold, wet, windy, frigid loop on a Toot-Bus with a small group of LOUD Russian tourists who weren't on the bus to see any sights, just to sit and shout at each other in Russian (yippee!), and decided to go back to Amsterdam. And before you say, "Why didn't you just go sit on the lower level of the bus?" WE WERE ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE BUS! Every window was down/open and it was impossible to close them and have any protection from the cold/wet/wind. Truly the worst hop-on-hop-off experience I've ever had. Just skip this one. Read more Written February 8, 2024
  • Pathfinder398263 0 contributions Terrible Terrible …constantly stopping for ages …better to get the regular bus ..each stop staff trying to get passers by on board while all the poor people on the bus were waiting …never again Read more Written January 28, 2024
  • 246oleksiyv 0 contributions Awful - avoid We had 2.5 hours before heading to the airport and were told by the agent that the full loop (hop on/hop off) takes about 40 mins (asked thrice to confirm). Well at about 2:20 mark we had to jump out and look for taxi as the driver seemed to be going 5 mph the entire time (traffic or no traffic), stopping at every other stop to chat with co-workers 5-10 mins - and we still had about 1/4 of the route left after more then two hours. Audio guide was a joke with music playing the entire time and about 5 mins worth of absolutely random factoids not connected to the route or the stop you were at. You are much better off taking a regular bus or even walking. Read more Written January 26, 2024
  • Anthony S 0 contributions Toot bus Well recommend drivers are very friendly great for 1st time visitors to lo Don buses run every 20 mins hop on hop off anywhere Read more Written January 17, 2024
  • ngairet2019 0 contributions AWFUL experience for our Family AWFUL Experience. Completely ruined our time in London. In town for 3 days. Had a 48hr pass. Horrible experience on both days we used Tootbus, leaving myself and my children incredibly upset. Out of pocket hundred of $$$ due to missing entry times for other pre-paid tours due to inefficiency, appauling service and no-shows of buses. Does not deliver 15-20 min arrivals as promised and SHOULD not be relied upon to be on time or to even show up. Saw lots of other companies pass us waiting in the rain with 2 young children. Horrible, horrible horrible. Wish I had booked with another company. Read more Written January 16, 2024
  • Explorer28070005879 0 contributions Toot Hop on Hop off in London This was a most worthwhile experience letting us get to know the area and things to do during our stay. A nice little touch was the mulled wine while waiting to do the return river cruise. Recommend it Read more Written January 16, 2024
  • hoplik 0 contributions Carlos is the best driver ever ! We loved Toot, on time and drove us all around a very wet London. Carlos our driver was just delightful and he deserves a special mention for his personality and his humour. Thank you Carlos for making our day easier seeing all of the sights. Read more Written January 8, 2024
  • orlag540 0 contributions Get a better tour than this one. Better are available. This is a real swizz. I was mad at myself for not waiting to find the reliable tour bus. The bus itself is fine but the audio guide is terrible. Outdated and uninformative and often doesn't work. It still talks about Queen Elizabeth 2nd as alive. Avoid. Read more Written January 4, 2024
  • HM2985 0 contributions Bad experience We had an awful experience. We got told to get off mid route in the dark with two children because someone’s drives hours were up. We ended up having to get a taxi back to our hotel. Staff were really rude and just literally told us to get off. Tried to complain but getting no response. We went with these as it was the cheapest but wish we had not! Read more Written January 3, 2024
  • Seaside704018 0 contributions Use another tour company. Pros - bus stop central and easy to find. Seats uncomfortable, advertised as Xmas songs playing, instead we had to listen to the "guide" all the way round. Uninteresting and talked about his wife for the 80 minutes duration. Thought the planned route wasn't good and last year we.used a different bus company which was really enjoyable and showed us The Ritz and other Xmas themed hotels. At £80 for a family, it wasn't worth it. Read more Written January 1, 2024
  • franckmatthews 0 contributions Poor audio / frequency of buses We did a 24hr hop on, hop off in London in between Christmas and NY. The staff were friendly but Toot Bus let themselves down with poor audio on the buses (the kids channel was very poor) and they weren't as frequent as we were told (we waited 30 minutes outside Trafalgar Square). Overall, we would not do this again- London buses is the way to go! Read more Written December 29, 2023

More to explore in London

london bus tour toot

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

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

Vicki P

Buy it with

london bus tour toot

London by Night Tootbus Sightseeing Bus Tour provided by Tootbus London

Product overview: london by night tootbus sightseeing bus tour.

Explore

Avoid These Tourist Traps In London And Visit These Destinations Instead

O ne of the world's greatest cities, London is packed with tourist attractions so impressive that you'll want to add them all to your itinerary. From the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace to the Churchill War Rooms, the list of unmissable landmarks seems endless. Don't worry, though -- it's possible to visit most of them in just a two-day trip . When you're on a tight schedule, it's important to avoid time- and money-wasting tourist traps in favor of visiting sites that are worthy of your attention. 

Whether it's an overrated and overpriced wax museum, a kitschy dungeon experience, or a super crowded viewpoint, there are many places to avoid visiting in the U.K.'s heady capital. The confusing part? Some of them top multiple lists of must-see attractions. That's where we come in. 

As someone who lived in this captivating English city for six years, I have first-hand knowledge of the biggest tourist traps to avoid when traveling to London. Plus, I can offer more impressive (and often less costly) destinations to visit instead. Don't want to take my word for it? No problem. I combined my first-hand knowledge with reviews and suggestions from other locals to create this list.

Read more: 50 Underrated Tourist Destinations Around The World

Skip Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours And Ride A London Bus

While hop-on hop-off bus tours can be a convenient way to explore a big city, they often come with a hefty price tag. If the tour is based in London, you can expect to pay over $50 per adult for a one-day pass. Instead, board a London bus, which will cost less than $7 for a day of travel. Bus fare for one ride is about $2 and the daily cap is under $7. To pay for their ride, visitors must use a contactless card or an Oyster Card, the visitor's version of which can be purchased online and mailed to your home before you leave.

Double-decker London buses offer spectacular city views, with many routes passing right by London's landmark attractions. One of our faves is the historic Routemaster Bus 15, which we suggest boarding at the Tower of London. Hop on at Great Tower Street (Stop TT) and ride west to Charing Cross Station. Be sure to sit up top for the best views along this heritage route -– you can't miss St. Paul's Cathedral and Trafalgar Square. 

Bus 24 is another great option for sightseers. Hop on at Victoria Station and ride it to Camden High Street. Along the way, you'll pass Westminster Abbey, the Horse Guard's Parade, Trafalgar Square, and Downing Street. Grab a bite at Camden Market when you disembark or stay on until you reach Hampstead Heath where you can catch unbeatable views of the city.

Skip Madame Tussauds And Visit Buckingham Palace

It may tout itself as a top London attraction, but Madame Tussauds would be more honest if they said they were the top rip-off site. Booking in advance will save some money -- the standard online rate for an adult begins at just over $47 versus the walk-up price, which begins at almost $60. But that's still a lot of quid to dish out for wandering around an overcrowded and noisy space filled with okay-ish wax replicas of A- and B-list celebs. Yes, it's fun to take photos with the royal family and fool friends into thinking you met them IRL, but is it worth it? We don't think so.

Instead, we suggest visiting Buckingham Palace for a potential King Charles III sighting. Realistically, you probably won't spy a royal outside the palace, but at least you'll see a historic monument up close. Celebrities more your thing? Book a reservation at one of the city's most popular restaurants. Chiltern Firehouse has hosted acting greats Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper as well as soccer superstar David Beckham. 34 Mayfair is another good bet for great food and celeb spotting. Imelda Staunton and royal family members have all eaten here.

Skip Changing Of The Guard And Visit The Queen's Gallery

While you should add Buckingham Palace to your list of must-see London tourist attractions, you may want to avoid a visit during the Changing of the Guard. This formal ceremony marks the change between the old guard (on-duty soldiers) and new guard (soldiers taking over duty) for the royal palaces. Marching with a band from Wellington Barracks to the Palace, the new guard will arrive at the palace at about 10:45 a.m. A well-known event, this is a big tourist draw, which means you can expect hefty crowds queuing up an hour or more in advance, as well as pickpockets who arrive to take advantage of the chaotic atmosphere. This tourist trap, which takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, is one you'll be happy to miss. Sadly, watching this famed ceremony these days feels more like witnessing an overhyped marching band than it does an esteemed historic ritual.

Instead, ditch the crowds and glimpse art from the Royal Collection in the Queen's Gallery or visit the Royal Mews , where you can see the royal stables and the 260-year-old Gold State Coach used at King Charles III's Coronation. The Mews are open Thursday through Monday from early March to early November. Neighboring St. James Park is another interesting place to visit. One of London's famed Royal Parks, it is bordered by three palaces and boasts a fabulous view of Buckingham Palace in particular.

Skip Platform 9 ¾ At King's Cross Station And Visit Warner Brothers Studio Tour London

If you're traveling with a Harry Potter-obsessed kid, you may want to visit Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. But if you're alone, or with other adults who couldn't care less, we advise you to skip this overrated tourist trap. If you're already planning to be in King's Cross Station and have time to scope out this attraction, that's one thing; but if you're traveling there with the sole purpose of visiting this site, think twice. 

Set between platforms 9 and 10 (obvs) this point of interest includes nothing but a brick wall denoted with a sign. Stuck into the wall is part of a trolley loaded with fake suitcases and an empty owl cage. Those hoping for a quick photo and to score some Potter swag will be pleased;  the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ is open daily, even on bank holidays, and it sells everything from wands to clothes to makeup. 

For those who'd rather have an unforgettable and truly magical Harry Potter experience, though, head to Warner Brothers Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter in nearby Leavesden. Instead of merely looking at a wall, visitors can board the Hogwarts Express, "fly" on a broomstick, walk through the Great Hall, and explore the Forbidden Forest. Step foot in Diagon Alley, try a Butterbeer, or check out some of the film's famous props and costumes. You won't be sorry you visited.

Skip London Dungeon And Visit The Tower Of London

No matter how much the kids beg you to visit the London Dungeon, stay strong and just say "no." This kitschy tourist trap is a waste of your hard-earned money (tickets start at over $37 for adults) and it's so hokey you'll roll your eyes more times than you can count on both hands. This pitiful attraction is peppered with costume-clad actors who like to scream and cackle and its two rides (the Drop Dead: Drop Ride and the Tyrant Boat Ride) will make you wish you were at Walt Disney World; even "It's a Small World" would be more enjoyable. An escape room has also been added to increase the venue's income stream –- it costs $153 for a private game for six people.

Want a historic experience with a side of chills? Head to the Tower of London instead. There, you can tour the Torture at the Tower Exhibition, where you can get up close and personal with the stretching machine (a.k.a. the rack) and other ancient torture devices in the Lower Wakefield Tower. The Bloody Tower is another point of interest you won't want to miss. The most infamous prison on the grounds, this is where you'll learn about the alleged murder of two young princes -– Edward V and his little brother Richard –- by their uncle, Richard III.

Skip The London Bridge Experience And Visit Churchill War Rooms

Looking for a good spooking? Do yourself a favor and skip The London Bridge Experience. A tourist trap designed to bring the city's macabre history to life with the help of actors with a penchant for jump scares, you can expect to meet zombie-like versions of ghastly heavyweights Jack the Ripper and William Wallace during your visit. Tickets cost about $37 for the experience, which takes anywhere between 35 and 50 minutes. That means you could be spending more than $1 a minute. Entry fees also include a trip to the London Tombs, deemed the U.K.'s "best scare attraction," according to their site . Zombified dentists, doctors, and creepy clowns await visitors in the lower vaults of this venue, ready to pounce and scream in your face.

Instead, we suggest visiting the Churchill War Rooms. Also located underground, this fascinating historic facility is part of the Imperial War Museums. Located in the basement of Whitehall, this once-secret complex was used by former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, top government ministers, and military planners to conduct meetings and develop plans during the country's war effort during World War II. Known as the Cabinet War Rooms, this clandestine spot was used daily during the war, until August 16, 1945. Or experience that stomach drop feeling by walking the glass floors at Tower Bridge. Set nearly 138 feet above the Thames, the views are both terrifying and impressive. Tickets cost under $16 per adult. 

Skip The Sherlock Holmes Museum And Visit The Sherlock Holmes Pub

We don't recommend visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum unless you have a detective-obsessed kid who doesn't realize that the famed character is fictional. Set inside a Georgian townhouse at 221B Baker Street in Marylebone, this four-story museum has been open since 1990. Inside lie antique furnishings mentioned in the books and pretty creepy-looking mannequins. Tickets cost over $21 which isn't exorbitant, especially for London, but considering you won't be there long (the museum's quite small), this seems a bit of a waste.

Instead, head to The Sherlock Holmes  in St James. Self-described as a "Victorian-themed public house," this watering hole features a recreated version of the famed fictional detective's apartment upstairs. The entire pub is dotted with references to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved books, making it easy to feel as if you're within the pages. Plus, there's a beer garden –- the museum certainly doesn't have one of those.

Skip The SEA Life London Aquarium And Visit The London Zoo

You'll find everything you'd expect to see at the SEA Life London Aquarium. From penguins to sharks to turtles, they're all there. And as far as aquariums go, this is a pretty good one. But when you're in one of the world's greatest cities that lies on the banks of a river, not an ocean, there are plenty of better things to see. Standard tickets to the Sea Life London Aquarium cost $24 online or $51 at the door. Again, that's pretty on par for London attractions, however, it's a steep price to pay for a tourist trap. 

Instead, visit London Zoo in Regent's Park. The oldest scientific zoo in the world, this family-friendly attraction was opened in 1828 for fellows of the Zoological Society of London. In 1847, the public was invited to visit. Today, the zoo is home to 14,0000 animals including a giant, 425-pound silverback gorilla, Sumatran tigers, and Linne's two-toed sloths. While tickets aren't cheap (an adult will cost about $40 to visit on a weekday), it's easy to spend a whole day here. Or, if you aren't willing to part with that much cash, visit the smaller, and lesser-known, Battersea Park Children's Zoo . Adult tickets are more reasonably priced, at $16. There are over 100 animals at this little zoo, including wallabies, meerkats, otters, and lemurs, and plenty of opportunities to interact with animals like coatis, donkeys, and goats.

Skip The Shard And Visit Level 10 At The Tate Modern

There's no denying that The Shard is impressive. In fact, it's one of the most spectacular buildings in the world . The viewing platform was opened by the queen on February 1, 2013, with the main restaurants (Aqua, Oblix, and Hutong) following suit that summer. Set across the Thames from another bucket-list-worthy London building, the Gherkin, this engineering masterpiece towers 1,016 feet above the city and boasts 11,000 glass panels. 

Dubbed a "vertical city," there's plenty to do inside, like spend serious coin on a meal with a view, or zip up one of the 44 elevators to the viewing platform. That 360-degree view will cost you, though -- about $36, or more if you add a glass of champagne. And if you visit on a day that's rainy or misty (honestly, London is often both of those things), you're basically paying for a ride in a lift.

Instead, head to Level 10 at Tate Modern, where you can enjoy a drink or snack (including sandwiches and salads) while ogling the impressive view of the Thames, St. Paul's Cathedral, the BT Tower, and Blackfriar's Bridge. You won't have to pay a thing unless you choose to grab a bite or a warm cuppa. The Skygarden at 20 Fenchurch Street is another must-visit for a free skyline vista. The highest public garden in London, this leafy space is as stunning as its views are remarkable.

Skip The London Eye And Visit Hamstead Heath

We are well aware that some of you will disagree with this addition to our list of tourist traps to avoid when traveling to London, but hear us out. Yes, the London Eye is iconic. Yes, it offers fantastic views of the city. And yes, it's deemed a top London attraction you won't want to miss . That said, visiting this popular landmark can cause more headaches than enjoyment. First created as a temporary point of interest, this 443-foot-tall, "cantilevered observation wheel" is the largest of its kind in the world, according to its website . And if you catch a ride on one of its 32 pods on a sunny day, you can see up to 25 miles in all directions. The problem is that thousands of others have the same idea, which means you could stand in line for more than two hours on a particularly busy day. Standard tickets start at over $32 online or more than $57 for a walk-up.

Instead, visit Hampstead Heath for a unique city view you probably never knew existed. Parliament Hill stands over 321 feet tall, making it one of the highest natural points in the city. If the weather is ideal, you can see to the Gherkin, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Houses of Parliament. Speaking of the Gherkin, it's another great spot to enjoy unparalleled views. Grab a drink and snack at Iris Bar at Searcys at the Gherkin , then relax with a side order of stunning vistas.

Skip Harrods And Visit Peter Jones And Liberty

Harrods is to London as the Colosseum is to Rome -– a historic icon that's become synonymous with the city. The world's most famous luxury department store, this Knightsbridge institution is impossible to miss -– it's eight floors tall and an entire block long, not to mention over one million square feet in size. Inside, you'll find 20 restaurants, a beauty salon, a bank, and 300 separate departments selling over 5,000 brands. You'll also see price tags so high you might suffer sticker shock. Due to its notoriety, Harrods is often packed with tourists, making it difficult to enjoy the plush interior.

If you're hoping to shop during your London holiday, there are plenty of excellent places to visit instead. Sloane Square is home to the Peter Jones & Partners department store. Owned by John Lewis, this vast shop is filled with enough enticing merchandise that you'll find it tough to leave empty-handed. Grab a bite at The Top Floor Restaurant (on the 6 th floor) for captivating views of Chelsea and beyond.

Liberty is another recognizable landmark located on Regent Street. A heritage-listed building; this stunning Tudor-style store is as beautiful outside as it is indoors. Built between 1922 and 1924, it is worth a visit, if only to admire the impressive architectural features (the price tags here are also quite shocking).

Our Ranking Methodology

Having lived in London for six years with two young children, I visited pretty much every tourist attraction the city has. From renowned points of interest like the Tower of London to remarkable museums, I've seen the top sightseeing destinations multiple times, including many kitschy tourist traps I wish I'd skipped. To create this list, I used my experiences at these attractions to determine which locales are tourist traps that should be avoided and I included alternatives that are more than worthy of your time and money. I also consulted reviews from other locals and travelers, as well as their tips, to ensure the list is solid.

Read the original article on Explore .

Tourists and Houses of Parliament

Let yourself be carried by the magic and romance of London at Christmas time. Sit back relax and enjoy the festive lights from the open top deck of the bus.

  • Non-stop sightseeing bus tour
  • Live guided in English
  • London's most iconic lights
  • Key facts about London through the audio guide

Routes & Service

Live guides, audio guide, flexible tickets, select your tickets.

Please select your tickets

IMAGES

  1. The Original Tour rebrands to Tootbus London

    london bus tour toot

  2. Toot Bus, London Touring Bus Outside St Pauls Cathedral Editorial Stock Image

    london bus tour toot

  3. London By Night Toot Bus Tour Voucher

    london bus tour toot

  4. London: Tootbus London Discovery Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

    london bus tour toot

  5. Great British Icons: The Routemaster

    london bus tour toot

  6. London: Tootbus Sounds Bus Tour

    london bus tour toot

VIDEO

  1. London 4k Bus tour Tooting to croydon

  2. LONDON ENGLAND / Double Deck bus Ride along Knightsbridge and Oxford Street (1997)

  3. Bus Spotting at Waterloo Bridge TOOT London Optare Visionaire B9TL VXE728 (YJ11 TVM) Yellow Tour

  4. Bus Tour!! London Bus Tourist||

  5. Travelling on the red Buses in London

  6. London Big Bus Tour@BWBeautifulworldTV

COMMENTS

  1. Best and simplest way to discover cities

    Explore London at your own pace during the day and come back at night to see the city under a whole new light. February 2024 Fri 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Royal shopping in St James's Architecture & Celebration

  2. Tootbus London

    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Write a review See all photos About Enjoy awesome and beautiful places of London and Windsor with Tootbus. Our well-guided tours and iconic routes are waiting for you. Tour London with us and explore locations you've never been to before. Toot-toot! Let's go sightseeing. London, England Suggest edits to improve what we show.

  3. Tootbus

    Highlights of Tootbus - The Original London Bus Tour 24hr / 48hr / 72hr Tickets Unlimited Hop On Hop Off - 2 Routes Free Thames River Cruise (when "Bus & River Cruise" ticket type selected) Audio Guided Commentary Kids English Audio Guide Complimentary WiFi Language Options Schedule of tour First Bus: 9.30am Last Full Tour: 5.00pm

  4. TOOTBUS LONDON

    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Write a review See all photos About Enjoy awesome and beautiful places of London and Windsor with Tootbus. Our well-guided tours and iconic routes are waiting for you. Tour London with us and explore locations you've never been to before. Toot-toot! Let's go sightseeing. London, England Suggest edits to improve what we show.

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

    About from $43.47 per adult Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay later Free cancellation Ages 5-99 Duration: 2h Start time: Check availability Mobile ticket Audio guide: Arabic, German, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish More What's included Explore London at your own pace across 3 routes and 44 stops

  6. Toot bus

    Plus, our buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi so you can stay connected during your tour. So come explore London with Toot Bus and make the most of your stay! Toot Bus Stop Near Zedwell Hotels. There are 17 bus stops of Yellow Origional Route. The closest bus stop from Zedwell Hotels is located within 2 minute walk at Coventry Street - 5-1 ...

  7. Tootbus London: Royal Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour (Feb 2024)

    Embark on a tour aboard an eco-friendly open-top bus and enjoy stunning views of iconic capital landmarks such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. James's Palace and other symbols of London. Hop off at the stop of your choice to ...

  8. Tootbus Original London Tour sightseeing bus reviewed & compared

    Unlimited travel for 24, 48 or 72-hrs on the Tootbus, (Original London Tour) sightseeing bus network that visits all major attractions in Central London. High frequency daily buses with a selection of different tours available including Express, Kids, Bar Bus and Evening tours. The only tour company to offer specially adapted Kids Tours.

  9. Best London sightseeing bus tour

    Tootbus has routes to major sights and free cruises London's hop-on sightseeing bus tour providers Nowadays sightseeing tours of London are dominated by London's three hop-on, hop-off open top sightseeing operators: 1. Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour) 2. Big Bus 3. Golden Tours

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

    Plus, your ticket includes a Thames River cruise and access to a free London walking tour, making it a great value package. from. $53.94. per adult. Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay later Free cancellation. Ages 5-99. Duration: 2h. Start time: Check availability. Mobile ticket.

  11. London: Tootbus London by Night Bus Tour

    See London as the sun sets and watch the city burst into life at night from an open-top deck. London looks spectacular at night, and the best seat is from above. Board the bus, sit back, relax, and enjoy the fresh air as you rediscover the city from a whole new perspective. In just 90 minutes, pass by Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Houses ...

  12. Comparison: Sightseeing Bus Tours in London 2023

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

  13. Kids Bus Tour London

    Kids Bus Tour London | Best Bus tour for Families | Tootbus Whether you have teens or little ones, Kids Tour offers an easy journey rich with discoveries, fun, educational and suitable for the whole family.

  14. Tootbus hop-on hop-off London express tour

    Short on time? See the best of London in just 2 hours! Hop onboard the Tootbus London Express tour, sit back, relax and see the city's top attractions including Tower Bridge, London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and many more!

  15. Tootbus London Hop-on hop-off bus tour

    The Tootbus company offers this possibility in London. Open-top, hop-on hop-off buses help explore London. Indeed, the Tootbus panoramic buses allow an optimal discovery of London. As well as taking you to all of London's iconic locations, their 'hop-on hop-off' formula leaves you free to hop on and off freely.

  16. Which Hop on Hop off London Bus Tour is Best?

    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.

  17. Tootbus London

    Tootbus London, formerly The Original Tour [1] is a London bus tour operator using open-top double-decker buses. It also holds the franchise to run City Sightseeing 's London tour. Based in Wandsworth, it is a subsidiary of RATP Dev . History Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympian in June 2008 Plaxton President bodied DAF DB 250 in April 2011

  18. 2024 London by Night Tootbus Sightseeing Bus Tour

    Vintage London Bus Tour Including Thames Cruise with Optional London Eye. 146. Historical Tours. from . $66.82. per adult. Ghost Bus Tour of London. 371. Halloween. from . $35.98. per adult. BEST SELLER. ... I took the Toot Bus BRUSSELS tour in December of 2023, and it was a joke. My sister and I were in Amsterdam for a week and decided to take ...

  19. London: Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour

    Full description. Hop aboard a bus for a holiday tour of London. See the famous lights that decorate the iconic streets of London on board a double-decker bus. Watch the city sparkle as you go past the capital's most famous Christmas light displays. Drive by Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and more.

  20. Avoid These Tourist Traps In London And Visit These Destinations ...

    Skip Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours And Ride A London Bus. While hop-on hop-off bus tours can be a convenient way to explore a big city, they often come with a hefty price tag. If the tour is based in ...

  21. Bus tour Christmas lights London

    Bus tour Christmas lights London | Christmas in London | Tootbus Let yourself be carried by the magic and romance of London at Christmas time. Enjoy the festive lights show from the open top deck of the bus.