This post will provide details about each of the hop-on hop-off buses available in London.
We will also include information about any discounts or deals available on tickets. Let's get started!
- Companies + Routes
- Night Bus Tours
- Discounts & Deals
- Pros and Cons
- 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.
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)
Classic Ticket (24 Hours)
- Adult – £36.90
- Child – £27.90
- Family – £101.70
- Includes free cruise on the Thames.
- Includes free guided walking tours.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: A 1-day ticket is included for free with the London Explorer Pass and the London Sightseeing Pass.
Premium Ticket (48 Hours)
- Adult – £53.10
- Child – £44.10
- Family – £150.30
- Includes a free cruise on the Thames.
- Includes free guided walking tours.
- Includes free night bus tour.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Deluxe Ticket (72 Hours)
- Adult – £62.10
- Child – £53.10
- Includes a free cruise along the Thames.
- Includes free guided walking tours.
- Includes the night bus tour for free.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
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.
Routes
Red Route (2 hrs 30 min):
The best of London covers Central London, from Green Park to Victoria Station, including Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Covent Garden, Big Ben, Mayfair, London Bridge, and much more.
The Big Bus red route starts from the Green Park Underground station next to the Ritz (first stop at 08:30 and last stop at 16:00)
Click on the map for a larger view
Blue Route (1 hrs 15 min):
As above, plus Kensington Gardens, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Paddington, Notting Hill, Regents Park, and more.
The Big Bus blue route starts from 144 Regent Street (TfL Bus Stop "V", near the corner with Beak Street)
Green Route (1 hr 10 min):
Temple Church, The Mall, St James’s Park, British Museum, Kings Cross, Churchill Museum, Downing Street, National Portrait Gallery, and much more.
The Big Bus green route starts from
Reviews of Big Bus Tours London
With a 4 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, Big Bus Tours has received quite a few respectable reviews from its customers.
Most passengers felt like this was a great way to learn about London and see many significant landmarks.
Unhappy reviews tend to increase during the early summer season as buses become more crowded, so be sure to temper your expectations.
The TootBus Sightseeing Tour
The TootBus Sightseeing Tour, also known as the Original London Sightseeing Tour company is almost identical to Big Bus Tours and their reviews are about equal.
As their name hints, they are the original hop-on-hop-off London sightseeing bus tour.
The Original Tour also offers opportunities to combine a bus ticket with tickets to popular attractions to save on both.
Extras: 24-hour and 48-hour tickets include a free river cruise, 3 free walking tours, and a booklet filled with vouchers for various London attractions (not for The Original Tour).
Also for children, a free activity pack is included.
The 3 free walking tours are: Changing of the Guard, Rock N Roll London, and Jack the Ripper.
Original London also offers a nighttime bus tour as well as a bus tour specifically for families.
Ticket Prices (with 15% discount)
24-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price
- Adult – £26.35
- Child – £15.30
- Family – £80.00
48-Hour London Discovery Ticket Price
- Adult – £28.90
- Child – £17.85
- Family – £89.00
72-Hour Ticket Price
- Adult – £31.45
- Child – £20.40
- Family – £98.00
Purchase tickets or learn more. (Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance)
Times
Yellow Route
- Mon - Thur: 9 am - 4:35 pm
- Buses run every 20-35 minutes.
- Fri - Sun: 9 am - 5:10 pm
- Buses run every 15-30 minutes.
Blue Route
- Daily: 9 am - 4 pm
- Buses run every 20-30 minutes.
Routes
Yellow Route – The Original Tour (T1 and T2)
- Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, The Shard, Tower Bridge and Leicester Square.National Gallery, and more.
- T1 – Live commentary in English. T2 – Recorded commentary in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Mandarin. PLUS special commentary specifically for children.
- First bus: 8:30 am. Frequency: every 5-20 mins.
Blue Route – The Royal Borough Route (T4)
- Harrods, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Design Museum, and more.
- Multilingual commentary.
- First bus: 8:30 am. Frequency: Every 15-20 mins.
Orange Route – The British Museum Tour (T5)
- British Museum, British Library, Chinatown, Shaftesbury Avenue, and more.
- Multilingual commentary.
- 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
- £34/Adults | £22/Children
- 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
- Self-Guided Royal London Tour.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
24-Hour Ticket + Cruise
- £39/Adults | £24/Children
- 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
- Self-Guided Royal London Tour.
- Thames River Cruise.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
48-Hour Ticket + Cruise
- £45/Adults | £27/Children
- 48-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
- 6 Self-Guided London Tours.
- Thames River Cruise.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
City Sightseeing London Routes
City Sightseeing offers pretty much the same red and green route provided by Big Bus Tours.
The red route starts from the London Eye, Belvedere Road, Stand 3788, and follows a route that covers mostly Westminster and the City of London.
The green route also starts from the London Eye and travels north to sites such as Woburn Place and Southampton Row.
There aren't many differences to note, as they both follow pretty much the same path.
If you want to get a better idea of where the bus will take you, use the following map for more information.
The Thames River cruise, the blue route, starts from Westminster Pier, across from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and has just one stop ending at Tower Pier, near the Tower of London.
Reviews
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
- Includes boat ride
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.
Routes
- 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.
Times
- 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)
Times
- 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.
Commentary Type and Language: Live commentary in English.
Big Bus Tours
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.
Ticket Prices
- Adult – £30
- Child – £20
- Family – £80
- Under 5 – FREE
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Times
- 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.
Ticket Prices (with 15% discount)
- Adult – £21.25
- Child – £12.75
- Family – £65
- Under 5 – FREE
- Purchase tickets or learn more. (Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance)
Times
- 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)
Golden Tours (24-hour ticket)
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: £32.30/Adults | £18.70/Children
- 48 Hour Tickets: £34.85/Adults | £21.25/Children
- 72 Hour Tickets: £37.40/Adults | £23.80/Children
Big Bus Tours
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:
- Classic Ticket + St. Paul's Cathedral
- £58/Adults | £37/Kids
- Premium Ticket + St. Paul's Cathedral
- £74/Adults | £53/Kids
- Classic Ticket + Madame Tussauds
- £74/Adults | £61/Kids
- Classic Ticket + Harry Potter Exhibition
- £57/Adults | £42/Kids
- Not available as of March 2023.
Purchase combo packages or learn more.
Golden Tours
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.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
Here are the deals they currently have available:
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + London Eye
- £62/Adults | £48/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + Tower of London
- £59/Adults | £32/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + Madame Tussauds
- £59/Adults | £45/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + View From the Shard
- £54/Adults | £43/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + Westminster Abbey
- £59/Adults | £32/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + St. Paul’s Cathedral
- £52/Adults | £27/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + London Dungeon
- £54/Adults | £40/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + London Eye + Madame Tussauds
- £101/Adults | £79/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + London Eye + Tower of London
- £95/Adults | £65/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + SEA LIFE Aquarium
- £54/Adults | £40/Kids
- 24-Hour Bus Tour + London Eye + Madame Tussauds + SEA LIFE
- £86/Adults | £71/Kids
Purchase tickets or learn more.
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.
PROS
Here are a few reasons you may want to think about taking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour in London.
Commentary in Several Languages
These bus tours typically include recorded commentary about the most historic and notable landmarks in the city.
The audio guide is often offered in at least 5-10 different languages.
Jump Off and Explore
In addition to the tour itself, you’ll also have the opportunity to jump off at any stop you want and take a closer look for yourself.
You can set your own pace for exploration. Once you’re done looking around, just hop back on and resume your guided trip!
Great Overview of the City
This is a great way for visitors to become more familiar with the city and where everything is located.
Each hop-on-hop-off bus tour includes a map that can make it even easier to find your way around town.
Additional Services
Depending on which type of ticket you purchase, you could also enjoy free walking tours, cruises, night tours, and other things to do.
This is a great way to save money on activities you may already be considering.
Reasonable Prices
Considering that you’ll receive transportation, a tour, live and recorded commentary, a map, and even additional activities, the ticket prices are pretty reasonable at an average price of £35-£50 per person.
TIP: We have a section on discounts and deals below so you don't have to pay full price!
CONS
Although a hop-on-hop-off bus tour can be very useful for most travelers, there are some reasons that you may want to consider another service.
Simplistic Commentary
It’s nice that these tours typically include both live and recorded commentary about the city.
But, they don’t usually go into a lot of detail about all of the landmarks and historic locations you will see.
If you want more in-depth commentary, consider complementing a bus tour with one of our walking tours.
Or, consider our public bus hop-on-hop-off route.
In addition to audio on the bus, we also have clips for walking around at select stops (learn more here).
Not Very Efficient
Whether you don’t have a lot of time in London or you just want to save some time, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour isn’t very efficient.
This service is more about taking your time and exploring each location of interest.
Visitors who want a quicker, more efficient experience should consider a different kind of London bus tour.
No Assigned Seat
While you can get an assigned seat on other bus tours and assure that you’ll always have a place to sit, there is no such guarantee on these hop-on-hop-off bus tours.
All seats are first-come, first-served.
If you want to make sure you’ve got a good seat with great views of the city, another type of London bus tour will probably suit you better.
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