Best London bus tours

London is one of the most walkable cities in the world, and visitors have no trouble exploring its iconic landmarks on foot. However, sometimes you just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights from the comfort of your seat. Whether you're short on time or simply enjoy discovering a new city's transport links, you can see the best of the capital by joining one of its many exciting London bus tours.
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Blue double-decker bus driving past South Bank and the London Eye on a London bus tour.
Discover London on an open-top bus tour. Image courtesy of Golden Tours.

Choose from sightseeing tours of top London landmarks, night-time tours, movie tours and even tours with afternoon tea. Many bus tours let you jump on and off so you can visit attractions, have lunch or go shopping.

Book your bus tour now!

Hop-on hop-off bus tours in London

A group is on the open deck of London's Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus, including a man and a woman looking at a map of London, planning their itinerary for the day.
Enjoy the best views of the city from atop London's Hop-On Hop-Off bus. ©London & Partners/Michael Barrow

Explore London at your own pace with the Golden Tours hop-on hop-off bus tour. Choose between four routes and hop off at more than 60 stops, including Shakespeare's Globe and Westminster Abbey. As well as having your transport covered, you can enjoy added extras including a 24-hour Thames river pass.

Cost and duration: Enjoy a London bus tour around iconic sights from just £39, and decide between 24-hour, one day, 48-hour or 72-hour ticket options, depending on the length of your stay in the city.

Book the hop-on hop-off bus tour now.

The Total London Experience Guided Bus Tour

Exterior of Buckingham Palace during sunset.
Buckingham Palace. Image courtesy of Jon Reid.

See some of London’s most iconic landmarks and sights in one go with The Total London Experience. This full-day tour takes in the likes of St Paul’s Cathedral, royal Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London on a London sightseeing bus. There’s also a chance to see the famous Changing the Guard ceremony, take a boat trip to Greenwich and see views from the London Eye.

Cost and duration: Enjoy these attractions and more with The Total London Experience. The tickets vary in price and duration, dependent on the experience option you are looking to book, but prices start from £129 for adults and £119 for children.

Book The Total London Experience now.

London by Night Open Top Bus Tour

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliaments illuminated at dusk
Big Ben and Houses of Parliament at night time, Photo by Uncoated via Pexels

Wrap up and book a seat for the London by Night Open Top Bus Tour, which departs from Waterloo and lasts 90 minutes. Taking you through Trafalgar Square, the lights of Piccadilly Circus, past Big Ben and more, this London bus tour is a perfect opportunity to see the capital after the sun sets, with most attractions lit up.

Cost and duration: Tickets for the 90-minute evening bus tour cost £29 for adults and £16 for children, and a family ticket option is available for £78.

Don't miss seeing London lit up for the festive season on a special Christmas Lights London by Night bus tour.

Book the London by Night Open Top Bus Tour now.

Open top bus tour with panoramic views

A group of three friends are enjoying a sunny day on the top deck of the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus passing by the London Eye.
Enjoy a day out exploring London and its many sights on the London Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. ©London & Partners/Michael Barrow

See some of London's most iconic sights on a panoramic open-top bus tour with live guide. Spot famous attractions including Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and the Tower of London from the comfort of your seat, while hearing fascinating facts and stories from your guide. Multilingual audio guides are also available.

Cost and duration: The open top bus tour London costs £35 for adults and £19 for children, and a family ticket option is available for £89. The tour can take between 90 minutes and two hours (subject to traffic on the day).

Book the open-top bus tour with live guide now.

(Taylor's Version) London afternoon tea bus

An double decker bus in front of the london eye on an afternoon tea bus tour with panoramic views.
Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London. Image courtesy of Golden Tours.

Enjoy a range of sweet and savoury treats and a glass of prosecco onboard the Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus tour this summer. Journey through the city and spot some of London's most iconic sights and attractions from the comfort of your seat, all to the backdrop of a curated Taylor Swift playlist.

Cost and duration: The Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus tour costs between £49 and £69 for adults and £44 and £64 for children, depending on which deck you would like to sit on. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes, subject to traffic on the day.

Book (Taylor's Version) London afternoon tea bus now.

Taylor Swift Inspired London by Night Bus Tour

The shard and london bride skyline lit up at night with a stunning sunset backdrop.
See London landmarks at sunset. © Shutterstock

Party like it's “1989” on the Taylor Swift Inspired London by Night Bus Tour and sing along to Taylor Swift’s top hits. Perfect for Swifties, admire London’s sparkling landmarks on a panoramic tour of the capital while enjoying an epic Taylor Swift playlist along the way.

Cost and Duration: The Taylor Swift Inspired London by Night Bus Tour costs £29 for adults and £16 for children with a family ticket option available for £78. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes, subject to traffic on the day.

The Ghost Bus Tours

A black ghost bus whizzes past st pauls cathedral at night.
The Ghost Bus Tours. Image courtesy of The Ghost Bus Tours Ltd.

Sample some of London's grisly history with The Ghost Bus Tours. Climb on board a classic 1960s Routemaster for a bus tour that combines comedy with spine-chilling facts from London's past. The haunted London tour bus takes visitors around the city, via sites of murder, torture and execution, to reveal the ghosts of London.

Cost and duration: Tickets for the Ghost Bus Tour costs £25 for adults and £17 for children, with family, senior and student tickets also available. The tour takes 75 minutes.

Book The Ghost Bus Tour now.

Christmas Lights London by Night bus tour

A young woman sitting on the top deck of the Christmas Bus Light Tour seemed delighted by the spectacle.
Take the Christmas Bus Tour to see London's top attractions. Image courtesy of London & Partners/Michael Barrow.

Sit back and enjoy an expertly guided tour of London's landmarks lit up by thousands of sparkling lights on this Christmas Lights London by Night bus tour. The perfect way to celebrate the festive season, see some of the city's top sights, from the London Eye to Piccadilly Circus, aboard a London open top bus.

Cost and duration: Prices for the Christmas lights evening bus tour vary depending on whether you book seats on the lower or upper deck, but start at £22 for adults and £10 for children. The tour can take up to two hours, subject to traffic on the day of travel.

Book the Christmas Lights London by Night bus tour now.

Bustronome

Black Bustronome double-decker bus in front of the London Natural History Museum.
Bustronome afternoon tea bus tour. Image courtesy of Bustronome.

Indulge in the best of both worlds aboard Bustronome, which combines a luxury dining experience with London sights. Cosy up on the top deck of the bus, where you'll get stuck into lunch or dinner, learn about London's landmarks via an interactive map, and marvel at them from the comfort of your seat.

Cost and duration: Adult tickets start from £70 and children tickets from £40. The London tour bus length is subject to traffic on the day of travel.

Book your spot on the Bustronome dining experience now.

Cheese and wine tasting bus tour

close up shot of four wine glasses being held at an angle, with fairly lights in the background
Cheese and wine tasting London bus tour. Image courtesy of Golden Tours.

Sip on four premium wines, savour delicious cheeses and enjoy stunning views of London on the cheese and wine tasting bus tour. Sit back and relax with engaging commentary on the wine and regions, and admire iconic London landmarks including Big Ben and the London Eye.

Book your spot on the cheese and wine tasting bus tour now.

TootBus

The ultimate introduction to the capital, the famous open-top TootBus tours are the total London package. With entertaining on-board English-speaking guides, three main sightseeing bus tour routes, a free hop-on hop-off river cruise pass, three free walking tours and an exclusive Kids' Club, visitors are spoilt for choice when planning the ultimate day out in London.

Cost and Duration: The cost and duration of TootBus tours vary by route, but prices for the sightseeing bus London start at around £28 with family discounts available on select tours throughout the year.

Big Bus Tours

Enjoy an open-top sightseeing tour with a live guide or digitally recorded commentary in 12 languages with Big Bus Tours. A classic ticket entitles you to a free one-way river cruise, while a premium two-day ticket includes a return cruise and the Premium Plus enables you to do three days' worth of sightseeing.

Cost and duration: The cost and duration of the Big Bus Tour vary by route, but prices for the London sightseeing bus start at £35.

Book Big Bus Tours now*.

London buses

A red London bus driving across Tower Bridge on a sunny day
A red London bus on Tower Bridge © visitlondon.com / Ben Pipe

The number 94 bus route is a great way to experience the city using your Oyster card. The bus travels from central to west London, and visits some of the capital’s most iconic areas.

You can also ride past some of London's top landmarks using TfL's themed bus itineraries, with bus tours including Brixton Market, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Natural History Museum. 

Day trips from London

A shot of the path leading up to Windsor Castle on a sunny day in England.  © Shutterstock
Windsor Castle. © Shutterstock.

For those who want to venture past London's borders, there are countless day trips that offer a cheap way to see some of the best parts of the UK.

Grab a ticket and travel out of the city to tick off even more iconic destinations that offer great value and plenty of fun, from Windsor Castle to Stonehenge and Bath

For more sightseeing inspiration, discover the best attractions in London, book a landmark-packed tour and check out our top sightseeing tips.

How much does a London bus tour cost?

London bus tour tickets vary in price depending on the experience option you are looking to book, but can start from as little as £24. Prices may vary for weekday and weekend bookings, and where you book your seats. Most bus tours have set prices for children and adults, while family, senior and student tickets are also available.

How long does a London bus tour take?

Most London bus tours have a set time the experience will take, although this can vary subject to traffic on the day. Bus tours with 24-hour, one day, 48-hour or 72-hour ticket options let you jump on and off so you can explore the city, have lunch or visit London’s top attractions.

How do you take a London bus tour?

You can book a London bus tour online, where you can choose from sightseeing tours of London’s best landmarks, night-time tours, seasonal tours or afternoon tea tours. Explore London at your own pace with the best hop-on hop-off bus tours, or select an experience where you hear fascinating facts and stories from an expert guide.

What is the best London bus tour for families? 

For families wanting to make the most of their time or who have little ones who can only walk so far in a day, the best option is the hop-on hop-off bus tour. Visitors can enjoy access to three exciting routes that stop right outside all the best kid-friendly attractions, and it even includes a free walking tour.

If you're looking to impress the kids on their next day out in London be sure to book them on an afternoon tea bus tour. As they enjoy taking in the sights they'll get to tuck into sweet and savoury treats including traditional English scones with jam and cream.

Are London hop-on hop-off tours worth it?

In short – absolutely! Consider your hop-on hop-off bus tour a handy transport service that helps tick off as much sightseeing as possible for up to two days in London.

It is the perfect option for those seeking value for money when it comes to getting around the city, covering more than 60 stops that you can hop on and off at as many times as you want. Alternatively, stay onboard to enjoy the sights from the comfort of your seat.

The buses also serve the city's hotel districts, meaning you don't have to worry about how you'll get back to your accommodation at the end of a long day of exploring. 

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