london open top bus tours from paddington

Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus London Sightseeing Tour

Brigit’s bakery are pleased to announce the launch of the very first paddington afternoon tea bus tour in london. what a bear-tastic opportunity for little cubs and grown-ups alike.

The Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is available weekly from Wednesdays to Sundays. And for the most entertaining of all London bus tours, our chefs have created a finger-lickin’ Paddington-themed afternoon tea menu featuring the best marmalade sandwich ever! Check further down the page for more details.

Taking in the best views of Central London, our iconic double-decker Routemaster bus will take you past some of Paddington’s favourite London landmarks, and you can be sure you’ll hear about some of his fun adventures and mishaps! This Paddington-approved tour includes Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, and much more.

Each table comes with a special built-in screen providing guests with a Paddington-guided animation of the tour of London. Paddington and Mrs Bird will be telling you all about some of the City’s most famous landmarks and share our beloved bear’s view of the world.

From early November to early January, you'll be able to enjoy the spectacular Regent Street Christmas Lights on our 17:30 Paddington tour, turning your afternoon tea bus tour into a dazzling experience.

Take a look at our Paddington Afternoon Tea Menus below. We have a range of menus to cater for all requirements and preferences and offer Traditional, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, and Gluten-free.

Due to the length of the tour and having no toilets on board the bus, our Paddington Tours are best suited, and enjoyed, by children of 5 years and over.

To enjoy this superb experience for kids and grownups alike, simply BOOK NOW and secure your date today.

Paddington regular afternoon tea menu, freshly prepared savoury treats.

Turkey Ham & Cheddar Finger Sandwich (on tomato bread) Cream Cheese & Cucumber Finger Sandwich (on spinach bread) Mini Margarita Pizza Smoked Salmon & Cucumber Pretzel Best Marmalade Finger Sandwich Ever! (on white bread)

Homemade Sweet Treats

Shortbread Cookie Vanilla Rice Pudding Chocolate Cupcake Lemon Meringue Tart Chocolate Macaron Freshly baked, Plain Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

Drink options included in our Paddington Afternoon Tea

Coffee & Hot Chocolate Americano | Cappuccino | Latte Macchiato | Hot Chocolate

Tea Selection English Breakfast | Earl Grey | Earl Grey Decaf | Rooibush Jardin Rouge | Peppermint | Lemon & Ginger | Berry & Elderflower | Darjeeling | Jasmine Tea | Green Tea

Our Paddington Menu may vary. Please check with us, at time of booking, for any changes.

Wine List for Paddington Bus Tours

Sparkling wine.

PROSECCO BRUT SUGAR-FREE VILLA MARCELLO Bottle £39 PROSECCO ROSE VILLA MARCELLO Glass £11 | Bottle £36 PROSECCO ZIA Glass £9 | Bottle £32 NYETIMBER CLASSIC CUVEE Half Bottle £35 | Bottle £65

CASTELNAU BRUT Half Bottle £28 | Bottle £48 LOUIS ROEDERER ROSE Half Bottle £65 CASTELNAU ROSE Bottle £55 CASTELNAU BLANC DE BLANC Bottle £85 LIMITED COLLECTION LOUIS ROEDERER Bottle £95 VINTAGE ROSE LOUIS ROEDERER Bottle £95 CRISTAL LOUIS ROEDERER Bottle £315

Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Dietary Options & Allergens

Our gluten-free menu may contain traces. Our vegan and gluten free teas are £3 extra. Please specify requirements upon reservation. Unfortunately, we are unable to cater for: nut-free, peanut-free, combination of dairy & gluten-free, combination of vegan & gluten-free and Coeliacs. All allergies must be emailed and confirmed by management at [email protected] . Thank you for your understanding.

Paddington Vegan Afternoon Tea Menu

Focaccia Bun with Pesto, Tomato, Red Pepper & Vegan Cheese Vegan Quiche with Pepper, Tomato & Onion Wrap with Avocado, Hummus, Red Pepper & Carrot Minty Quinoa Vegan Mayo Pot Best Marmalade Finger Sandwich Ever! (on white bread)

Vegan Shortbread Cookie Vegan Coconut Verrine Vegan Chocolate Cupcake Vegan Lemon Meringue Tart Vegan Almond Macaron

Freshly baked, Vegan Scone with a selection of Vegan Spreads

Paddington Vegetarian Afternoon Tea Menu

Cheddar & Mustardy Mayo Finger Sandwich (on tomato bread) Cream Cheese & Cucumber Finger Sandwich (on spinach bread) Mini Margarita Pizza Mozzarella Pretzel with Cherry Tomato & Pesto Best Marmalade Finger Sandwich Ever! (on white bread)

Shortbread Cookie Vanilla Rice Pudding Chocolate Cupcake Lemon Meringue Tart Chocolate Macaron

Freshly baked, Plain Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

Paddington Halal Afternoon Tea Menu

Paddington gluten free afternoon tea menu.

Smoked Salmon, Philadelphia, Cucumber & Chives Triangle Sandwich Beetroot, Hummus & Cucumber Triangle Sandwich Pastrami Burger Bun with Gherkin, Lettuce & Mayo Turkey Ham & Cheddar Cheese Triangle Sandwich Best Marmalade Triangle Sandwich Ever!

Shortbread GF Cookie Coconut Verrine Chocolate GF Cupcake Lemon Meringue GF Tart Almond Macaron

Freshly baked, Plain Gluten-free Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

Paddington Gluten Free & Veggie/Halal Afternoon Tea Menu

Cheddar & Mustardy Mayo Triangle Sandwich Beetroot, Hummus & Cucumber Triangle Sandwich Brie Burger Bun with Tomato, Lettuce & Mayo Mozzarella Pretzel with Cherry Tomato & Pesto Best Marmalade Triangle Sandwich Ever!

Shortbread GF Cookie Coconut Verrine Chocolate GF Cupcake Lemon Meringue GF Tart Chocolate Macaron

Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Route

It was like entering a parallel universe of fun & tasty treats.

I took my two sons aged 11 and 6 on the inaugural Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour with Brigit's Bakery. And we had such a good time. It was like entering a parallel universe of fun and tasty treats. The sandwiches and cakes were delicious - we sat down really hungry and left completely stuffed. The staff were friendly and attentive. And it was fun having Paddington and Mrs Bird narrating our journey around London. A wonderful activity to do over the half term holiday.

Yy 5 yr son loved the bus, cakes & souvenirs.

Really enjoyed our experience on the Paddington themed afternoon tea bus tour. I took my 5 yr son and he loved the bus, cakes and souvenirs. Would definitely recommend, particularly if you have young kids and want to show them the City of London.

The girls had so much fun listening to the tour.

We just finished Paddington tour bus! Best experience in every way and will try different tours.

I booked this for my daughters 7th Birthday. The food is beautiful presented! Very cute and vegetarian menu very good in selection. The girls had so much fun listening to the tour. Our hosts JP, Vince and Anna were amazing and very friendly. The hygiene is well considered, staff wear gloves when serving the sandwiches. We are definitely going to try different theme tour with Brigit Bakery again!

The team were exemplary!

We were on the second Paddington themed bus tour and the team were exemplary! Very professional and made the experience extremely special for my son and I. We sat right at the front and had the most wonderful afternoon, even despite my little one suffering from motion sickness. I highly recommend!

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Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour FAQs

Below are some specific questions relating to the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. Please also read our Bus Tour FAQs for other general questions. If you still have unanswered questions, please do get in touch with a member of our team and we'll be happy to help.

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from 8 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5BY - near Trafalgar Square.

Only a 2 minute walk from Charing Cross Train station and 4 minutes from Embankment underground. The bus will be parked at the bus stop outside the Grand Hotel and opposite the Sherlock Holmes Pub. The bus leaves and returns from the same point.

VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS ›

Will we be able to get off the bus?

No, the bus is only permitted to pick up/drop off passengers at our designated locations.

Is there a toilet on-board?

No, there is no toilet on board our Paddington Bus Tours. There are no public toilets at the Trafalgar Square departure point.

I would love to book a Paddington Bus Tour – why is it only for over 5’s?

Due to the length of the tour and having no toilets on board the bus, our Paddington Tours are best suited, and enjoyed, by children of 5 years and over. Parents / guardians must be confident that all persons in their party will not need to use toilet facilities for the duration of the whole experience.

Please be advised that no standing or walking is permitted during the tour. Parents are responsible for assessing whether their children are capable of remaining seated on parents' laps or on their own for the duration of the 1hr 45min tour. Parents are also responsible for keeping their children seated during the tour.

Do you allow babies on board?

No, unfortunately we are unable to allow babies on board. However, if you’re a large group and would like to hire out the entire lower or upper deck, we are able to make exceptions to this policy. Please call one of our team to discuss and arrange your booking on 020 3026 1188.

Are there changing facility on board?

No, unfortunately as it’s a classic Routemaster bus, space is limited, so there are no toilets or changing facilities onboard.

Is there somewhere to park our buggy?

No, we’re afraid that space is very limited on board the bus, so there’s no room to store buggies.

Are there seatbelts for the children?

No, we operate a 1960’s classic Routemaster bus, which was not fitted with seatbelts. Health and safety does not require us to install seatbelts however we do insist that all party members remain seated. Please be advised that no standing or walking is permitted during the tour. Parents / guardians are responsible for assessing whether their children are capable of remaining seated on parents' laps or on their own for the duration of the tour. Parents are also responsible for keeping their children seated during the tour.

Would you advise having two children per adult maximum?

We recommend having two children between 5-12 years old per adult. Please be advised that no standing or walking is permitted during the tour. Parents are responsible for assessing whether their children are capable of remaining seated on parents' laps or on their own for the duration of the tour. Parents are also responsible for keeping their children seated during the tour.

Is there a first aider on board?

Yes, all staff on board are trained in first aid.

Can we bring our own food for children who are fussy eaters or have multiple food allergies?

Yes. Please mention dietary requirements upon booking, but in the case we cannot meet your needs, own food is permitted.

There is a recorded guide commentary on our buses and friendly servers to answer any questions!

Read T&Cs

T: 020 3026 1188 E: [email protected]

PADDINGTON™ and PADDINGTON BEAR™ © Paddington and Company Limited/Studiocanal S.A.S 2022 Paddington Bear™, Paddington™ and PB™ are trademarks of Paddington and Company Limited Licensed on behalf of Studiocanal S.A.S by Copyrights Group www.paddington.com

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Top Sight Tours Group

Open Top London Bus Tour with Live Guide

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

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

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

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

Know before you go

What’s included :

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

What’s exlcuded :

• Entrances to any attraction

Please bring with you

• Bottled water

Please note :

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

Where we meet

London Eye Tourist Stop, Belvedere Road

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

Tour Highlights

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

Notable sights :

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

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Open-Top Bus Tours in London

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to explore London, you might want to consider taking an open-top or hop-on hop-off bus tour. These tours allow you to see the city's most famous landmarks and attractions from a comfortable and convenient seat on a double-decker bus. You can also hop off at any stop and explore the area on foot, then hop back on when you are ready to continue your journey.

One of the best open-top bus tours in London is the Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise . This tour lets you choose from three different routes that cover the main sights of London, such as Buckingham Palace , Big Ben , Tower Bridge , Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and more. You can also enjoy live commentary in English or personal commentary in 12 languages on board. Plus, you get a free one-way river cruise on the Thames that offers a different perspective of the city.

Another great option is the Vintage London Bus Tour Including Thames Cruise with Optional London Eye. This tour takes you on a nostalgic ride on a classic Routemaster bus that dates back to the 1960s. You will see some of the most iconic places in London, such as St Paul's Cathedral , The Tower of London, and The Houses of Parliament. You will also get to enjoy a scenic cruise on the Thames and have the option to add a ticket to the London Eye for a spectacular view of the city.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you might want to check out the London: Harry Potter Walking Tour + Hop-on Hop-off Bus + River Thames Cruise. This tour combines a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass with a guided walking tour of some of the locations featured in the Harry Potter films, such as Diagon Alley, Platform 9 3/4, and The Leaky Cauldron. You will also get to cruise along the Thames and see some of the landmarks that inspired J.K. Rowling's magical world.

No matter which open-top bus tour you choose, you will need a comfortable and convenient place to stay in London. That's why we recommend Mercure London Paddington , a four-star hotel that is located just steps away from Paddington Station, where you can find many of the bus tour pick-up points. Mercure London Paddington offers modern and spacious rooms , free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and a restaurant and bar. It is also close to many attractions, such as Hyde Park , Kensington Palace, and Oxford Street . Mercure London Paddington is the perfect hotel for your London adventure!

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Hop On Hop Off London - Bus Tours

London sightseeing bus tours, ( ) experiences found.

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Experience London in Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours

Get to ride the London Eye or visit Madame Tussauds to say 'hello' to the stars! You'll be saving some pennies if you do. Your ticket allows you to hop off the bus where you choose. You can always hop back on again later!

Nothing beats a good combo ticket. Check out all the options in the simple online booking process. All tickets offered by Golden Tours and Original London Hop on hop off  Tours come with options to add on the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and more. Options will be presented in the simple online booking process.

And those looking for some great deals may wish to pick up The London Pass, which provides access to the Tower of London, skip-the-line admission at St. Paul's Cathedral, and a lot more! A London bus tour is the perfect accompaniment to your trip and one of the best things to do in the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: what is a hop-on hop-off london bus tour.

A Hop-on Hop-off London bus tour essentially works over a designated route that allows you to see London’s top attractions and set your own itinerary. With all the stops located strategically around all the major attractions, it is convenient to explore at your own pace. When you are ready to return, simply show your pass, hop back on the bus and onward toward your next attraction. You can do this as many times as you like within your ticket limit.

Q: What are the key attractions covered in the London Hop-On Hop-Off tour?

London Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour will take you through major attractions and landmarks including Trafalgar Square, Thames River, Westminster pier or Tower of London pier, London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Downing Street, Piccadilly, Buckingham Palace, and more.

Q: Where can I find a list of all the stops and a map of the various Hop-On Hop-Off London tour routes?

You can visit the relevant product page and check the Useful Downloads section to find the latest information as routes, stops and timings change frequently.

Q: Are these tours guided?

Depending on the London tour operator, bus tours can either have a live guide or an audio guide. You can enjoy an informative commentary on the bus as you pass famous attractions and neighborhoods.

Q: What is the validity of the tour?

You can choose from 24/36/48/72-hour or ½/3-day London tours depending on your travel plans. The vouchers are valid anywhere between 6 months to 12 months and can be used anytime during that period.

Other Hop On Hop Off Destinations

• New York City
• San Francisco
• Washington DC
• Los Angeles
• Johannesburg
• San Antonio
• Reykjavik Iceland
• St-Petersburg
• Benalmadena
• Thessaloniki
• Kristiansand
• BUENOS AIRES
• Hop On Hop Off Bus Offers and Deals

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• Back To List

Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

B Afternoon Tea Bus Tour View map

From £ 70 .00 Per Adult

Visit venue page

The Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is available weekly from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Treat your little ones to a special Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. All aboard the B Bus and indulge in a range of delightful themed treats whilst on an exciting sightseeing tour of London with this experience.

For the most entertaining of all London bus tours, the Brigit's Bakery chefs have created a finger-lickin’ Paddington-themed afternoon tea menu featuring the best marmalade sandwich! 

Taking in the best views of Central London, the iconic double-decker Routemaster bus will take you past some of Paddington’s favourite London landmarks, and you can be sure you’ll hear about some of his fun adventures and mishaps!

This Paddington-approved tour includes Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, and much more.

Each table comes with a special built-in screen providing guests with a Paddington-guided animation of the tour of London. Paddington and Mrs Bird will be telling you all about some of the City’s most famous landmarks and share our beloved bear’s view of the world.

There are a range of menus to cater for all requirements and preferences and offer Traditional, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, and Gluten-free.

Due to the length of the tour and having no toilets on board the bus, the Paddington Tours are best suited, and enjoyed, by children of 5 years and over.

Unfortunately, B Bus are unable to cater for: nut-free, peanut-free, combination of dairy & gluten-free, combination of vegan & gluten-free and Coeliacs. Gluten-free menu may contain traces. Vegan and gluten free teas are £3 extra. Please specify requirements upon reservation.

Menu Details

The Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is available weekly from Wednesdays to Sundays at 13:45 and 17:30. From No. 8 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5BY Duration: 1h and 45 minutes

Prices: £70 per adult £60 per child (5-11years)

Paddington Afternoon Tea

B Afternoon Tea Bus Tour 164 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria Coach Station, London, SW1 W9TB

Menus at this venue

Vegan afternoon tea bus tour.

Enjoy a Vegan Afternoon Tea on the Brigit's Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. This vintage London double decker bus will drive round Central London, taking in some of the City's best sights, whilst you can indulge in the special Vegan Afternoon Tea menu.

Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Treat your little ones to a special Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. All aboard the B Bus and indulge in a range of delightful themed treats whilst on an exciting sightseeing tour of London with this experience available Thursday - Sundays.

Bombay Sapphire Gin Lovers Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Enjoy a fantastic Gin Lovers Afternoon Tea on-board the fabulous B Bakery Bus Tour, with three delicious Gin & Tonics brought to you by Bombay Sapphire.

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• Paddington Attractions

London Bus Tour

If you’re looking for a way to explore London but you’re not sure where to start then maybe a bus tour is perfect for you. Just around the corner from us there is Golden Tours, a bus service that offers several day trip packages but it’s most popular offering is its ‘hop on, hop off’ service which allows you to do exactly what it advertises. Drive around the most popular parts of the city with a tour guide and listen to commentary that is offered in a number of different languages.

Ask our reception staff for more information on how to book your tour today!

When you are planning your next visit to London, you can stay at Hotel Indigo London Paddington and take a bus tour, one of the best ways to explore London.

BOOK DIRECT & SAVE

Exclusive Book Direct Discount Lowest Prices Guaranteed Here Our rate £163, Booking.com rate £185

RELATED LINKS

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

OPEN TOP SIGHTSEEING BUSES

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

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

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

Tootbus has routes to major sights and free cruises

London's hop-on sightseeing bus tour providers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOOTBUS HOP-ON BUS & GUIDED WALKING TOURS

Tootbus London Discovery tickets + Vox City guided walking tours

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

DISCOUNTED BIG BUS LONDON TICKETS

DISCOUNTED TICKETS COMPARED WITH BOOKING DIRECT

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

GOLDEN TOURS HOP-ON BUS LONDON TICKETS

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus London & 2 walking tours

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

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

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

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

Walking Tours

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

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

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

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

River cruises

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

Routes and vehicles

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

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

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

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

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

Tootbus route map London 2024

Big Bus Tour map London 2024

Golden Tours route map London 2024

Live guides vs audio guides

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Times and frequencies of buses

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

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

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

Standard tour ticket durations

24, 48 or 72-hr durations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Evening tours (not hop on, hop off)

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

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

Discounted - cheapest tickets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tootbus are not part of the London Pass scheme.

Key points of the London Pass Ho Ho bus offer

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

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

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

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

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

London Pass more details

Free river cruises

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thames river cruise ticket options by company

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

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

Golden Tours

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

Hop-on buses in London plus attractions - money saving

Save money buying attraction tickets & bus tour in one package

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

Golden Tours hop-on buses plus top London attraction

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

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

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

Big bus + attraction through discount london.

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

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

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

Big Bus + attraction through Big Bus website

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

Tootbus and add-on attraction in London

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

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

All the hop-on bus companies have permanently discounted online prices, (compared with walk-up prices) which are between 10 - 15% off.

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

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

Tootbus official website

Big Bus official website

Golden Tours official website

Tootbus offer cheaper tickets, which are bus only, no river cruise. Tootbus offer this for a 24, 48 or 72-hr period and call this ticket 'London Discovery'.

Top of the page

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

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

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

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• About this activity

London Hop-On Hop-Off Open-Top Bus Tour with River Cruise

• Free cancellation available
• Mobile voucher
• Instant confirmation
• Discover London at your own pace with 3 unique routes
• Complimentary River Thames cruise
• Download the Big Bus app for live bus tracking
• Explore London by bus, boat, or foot on selected tickets
• Informative audio commentary available in 5 languages

Activity location

• London, England, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

• W1J 9DZ, London, England, United Kingdom

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Members save up to 15% on this activity

• Sign up, it's free
• Sat, 10 Aug AU$84
• Sun, 11 Aug AU$84
• Mon, 12 Aug AU$84
• Tue, 13 Aug AU$84
• Wed, 14 Aug AU$84
• Thu, 15 Aug AU$84
• Fri, 16 Aug AU$84
• Sat, 17 Aug AU$84
• Sun, 18 Aug AU$84
• Mon, 19 Aug AU$84
• Tue, 20 Aug AU$84
• Wed, 21 Aug AU$84
• Thu, 22 Aug AU$84
• Fri, 23 Aug AU$84
• Sat, 24 Aug AU$84

24 Hour Ticket plus River Cruise

• Activity duration is 1 day 1d 1d

24 Hours Hop on Hop off Ticket with 3 Routes servicing 41 central Stops

Includes a single Thames River Cruise from Westminster to the Tower of London or vice versa

Please download the Big Bus app to get live Bus Locations and accurate times.

48 Hour Ticket with River Cruise and Walking Tour

• Activity duration is 2 days 2d 2d

48-Hours hop-on, hop-off bus pass.

Unlimited rides on 3 different routes showcasing London key sights

one-way cruise between the Tower of London and Westminster (in either direction).

4 Live-Guided Walking Tours

48 Hour Ticket plus River Cruise and Night Tour

48-Hour hop-on, hop-off bus pass.

Unlimited rides on our red routes showcasing London key sights.

One Way cruise between the Tower of London and Westminster (in either direction).

2 hour Non Stop Panoramic Evening Tour departing at 19:30hrs from Stop 11 - London Eye

Big Day Day out - 24 hop on hop off, London Eye & River Cruise

24 hour hop on hop off Open Top Bus Tour Ticket with 3 routes

Entrance ticket to the London Eye

Sightseeing boat cruise along the famous River Thames from Westminster to the Tower of London or vice versa

What's included, what's not

• What's included What's included Unlimited hop on hop off access throughout your ticket validity
• What's included What's included One way River Thames sightseeing cruise on all Day Tickets
• What's included What's included Four optional Guided Walking Tours on selected tickets
• What's included What's included 2-Hour Panoramic Evening Tour on selected tickets
• What's included What's included Insightful Bus Tour Audio Commentary in 5 languages
• What's included What's included Headset for tour commentary
• What's included What's included Free WIFI on Board

Know before you book

• Children 4 and younger are complimentary.
• The Best of Central London - Red Route hours of operation are 8:15 AM– 5.00 PM, with buses approximately every 10-20 minutes. The entire loop lasts 2 hours 20 minutes.
• Blue Route operates from 8:00 AM– 5.00 PM, departs from Stop 24 - Victoria Complex, with buses approximately every 10-20 minutes. The entire loop lasts 3 hours 30 minutes.
• Green Route hours of operation are 8:30 AM– 5.00 PM, departs from Stop 39 - Paddington Station, with buses approximately every 45-60 minutes. The entire loop lasts 1 hour
• River Thames sightseeing cruise depart from Tower Pier (Stop 16), Westminster Pier (Stop 18) with departures every 40 minutes.
• Audio commentary in 5 Languages - English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

What you can expect

Enjoy this perfect introduction to London on a Hop on Hop off Big Bus tour. Sitting back and relaxing on an open-top double decker sightseeing bus as you listen to insightful and highly educational audio commentary of the city. With three unique bus route designed to take you on a captivating journey through London's rich history where you can also immerse yourself in its modern day vibrant life. You'll pass by and have the opportunity to hop off and further explore the city's most iconic historical sites such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Tower of London - where you can marvel at the 500 year old luxurious castle. Many customers choose to do one full loop to see the city and decide where they want to hop off on the next loop around, but it's completely up to you how you plan your day and visit. Buses will arrive every 10-20 minutes throughout the day, so you can choose to hop off at Covent Garden known for its high-end shopping and dining destination attracting food-lovers and fashionistas alike. Experience the West of London from the museum quarter south of Hyde Park to the leafy streets of Kensington and Bayswater. On route, you’ll see famous landmarks including Harrods, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, Kensington Palace and Notting Hill. Travel along the beautiful, regenerated area of St Pancras and King’s Cross with the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden making its way through Bloomsbury en route.

Gain a further insight into London's tremulous history with three distinct live-guided walking tours on selected tickets. Delve into the city’s fascinating past and walk through over 2000 years’ worth of history, walk alongside the Guards as they march from St James’ Palace to Buckingham Palace, and experience tales of one of London’s most notorious serial killers – Jack the Ripper

See London at dusk on an optional evening tour with audio commentary to enlighten you about the city's glorious past and present. Taking in sights including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London; the evening tour is a great way to round off a day in London.

Complete your London experience with a one way River Cruise taking in the unique views of the Thames River and exciting live commentary available in English. Enjoy the one-way cruise between the Tower of London and Westminster (in either direction).

• 207 Regent Street
• W1B 4NE, London, England, United Kingdom
• W2 4LX, London, England, United Kingdom
• W1B 5RW, London, England, United Kingdom
• Bayswater Road
• W2 3HL, London, England, United Kingdom
• W1K 7AD, London, England, United Kingdom
• SW1X 7XS, London, England, United Kingdom
• 28 York Road
• SE1 7ND, London, England, United Kingdom
• 362 Tower Hill
• EC3N 4DR, London, England, United Kingdom
• Speakers' Corner
• W2 2EU, London, England, United Kingdom
• 6 Buckingham Gate
• SW1E 6JP, London, England, United Kingdom
• 128 Piccadilly
• W1J 7PY, London, England, United Kingdom
• 61 Whitehall
• SW1A 2ET, London, England, United Kingdom
• NW1 5RZ, London, England, United Kingdom
• 26 Ludgate Hill
• EC4M 7DR, London, England, United Kingdom
• 4 York Road
• SE1 7NW, London, England, United Kingdom
• W2 4HP, London, England, United Kingdom
• Empire House South Kensington
• SW7, London, England, United Kingdom
• 3 Whitcomb Street
• WC2H 7HA, London, England, United Kingdom
• WC2B 4BZ, London, England, United Kingdom
• 87-135 Brompton Road
• SW1X 7XL, London, England, United Kingdom
• 15 Whitehall
• SW1A 2DD, London, England, United Kingdom
• Belvedere Road
• SE1 7GA, London, England, United Kingdom
• 25 London Street
• W2 1HH, London, England, United Kingdom
• SW1P 3SF, London, England, United Kingdom
• Tothill Street
• SW1H, london, England, United Kingdom
• Regent Street
• W1B 5SQ, London, England, United Kingdom
• SW1A 2JH, London, England, United Kingdom
• South Wharf Road
• W2 1JB, London, England, United Kingdom
• Kensington Court
• W8, London, England, United Kingdom
• WC2R 2PH, London, England, United Kingdom
• W1J 8EU, London , England, United Kingdom
• Lambeth Palace Road
• SE1, London, England, United Kingdom
• Walmar House
• W1G, London, England, United Kingdom
• SW1W 0AH, London, England, United Kingdom
• 49 Buckingham Palace Road
• SW1W 0QU, London, England, United Kingdom
• Gloucester Road
• SW7 4SZ, London, England, United Kingdom