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.
Hop-on hop-off bus tours in London
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
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.
London by Night Open Top Bus Tour
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.
Open top bus tour with panoramic views
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).
(Taylor's Version) London afternoon tea bus
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.
Taylor Swift Inspired London by Night Bus Tour
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
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.
Christmas Lights London by Night bus tour
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.
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.
Cheese and wine tasting bus tour
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.
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.
London buses
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
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.