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Big Bus Tours London   Reviews

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Reviews 3.0.

11,114 total

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Commentary doesn’t match location

We are approaching tower bridge and the commentary is talking about Shakespeare’s Globe! We are no where near that! I thought we were just out of sync but then it talked about London Bridge! Lot’s of music that could be filled with more history or pointing out of historical buildings like the boys school - the people with us were very confused asking were landmarks were since commentary was not aligned. Very disappointed!

Date of experience : 21 August 2024

Overloaded on both floors

Overloaded on both floors, people standing because all seats are busy. Waiting time more than 20 minutes. Not recommend, choose another company if you want a good experience from your journey.

Date of experience : 17 August 2024

Brahim saved the day

Brahim saved the day - super helpful assistant, solved my boating issue when we got to the Thames. I cannot thank Brahim enough - he really made it worth it for us. Thank you. PS Great tour!

Date of experience : 20 August 2024

Travelled today with Phil & Ted

Travelled today with Phil & Ted. Great audio guide & great driving. Would recommend to all. Visits all of Londons attractions & Phil has a fountain of knowledge. Today I have learnt so many things I did not know. Well worth the ticket price.

Thank you Fuad for being going the…

Thank you Fuad for being going the extra mile to be helpful and make our trip a success.

Date of experience : 22 August 2024

If I could give a minus rating I would

If I could give a minus rating I would. The four of us were ripped off majorly. Advised that the buses don't go off till 8pm. Nope they go off at 6.30pm. £152 paid at 4.30pm 20 minutes wait for the bus. Terrible tour..got off and walked seen more of the tourist attractions. Book another tour bus!!

Date of experience : 11 August 2024

It was a great day out for me and my…

It was a great day out for me and my mum. I had the best time in London.Brahim was Excellent helping us with the London eye ticket and walking us to the umbrella thank you for your help mr brahim I will definitely recommend you and Big Bus to my friend who are visiting UK next month❤️❤️

Date of experience : 01 August 2024

Never buy There is a lack of big buses in London compared to other hop-on-hop-off bus services. Although I had a London pass, the Big Bus was still a negative experience.

Date of experience : 19 July 2024

Jack the Ripper Walk

We did a Jack the Ripper walk with Phil. It Was a great experience! I'm happy we came along.

Improvement required

I am writing with disappointment to inform you that I've brought my parents over for holiday from abroad. I bought 5 all inclusive passes as they are elderly and the experience would be better based on reviews. However, your bases were not on time and 2 drivers made all the passengers get down at Paddington station from 2 busses stating the PRIDE PARADE HAD BLOCKED THE STREETS. My parents and other tourists had to walk and catch the regular bus. Do note that the area which they indicated that were blocked was actually clear. I do not know if their shift finished and they just stopped randomly. They called someone to let them know what they were doing and that was it. A very crappy end to what started out great. I'll be posting to all other sites possibly recommending alternative companies. This is absolutely distasteful and I honestly demand a refund or some inconvenience fee as we were unable to fully utilize the passes.

Date of experience : 29 June 2024

Amen allah is very kind person

Date of experience : 16 August 2024

Great tour with amazing tour guide…

Great tour with amazing tour guide Phil. Incredibly funny and knowledgeable. Takes great care in making sure everyone is happy and has great photo opportunities.

Date of experience : 03 July 2024

Great Day Out

Nice Tour, good value for anyone visiting London who wants to see the sights. We preferred the Red Route over the Blue. Tanvir was great, very informative and engaging, even spoke 5 languages and was able to communicate with my non-English speaking in-laws! Would highly recommend the tour! Thanks!

Date of experience : 16 May 2024

No Refund for No Show

I purchased 2 tickets online for London Big Bus/boat for May 6. When I arrived in the city in the afternoon, we went to the designated stop near our hotel and waited in the rain for an hour — the bus never came. When I advised the company that the bus was a no-show and I could not use the tickets on that day, nor any other time on my short stay in the city, they refused to issue a refund. Ripoff!

Date of experience : 06 May 2024

Shocking experience

Shocking experience. We got on the red line, drove two stops, were told that the bus wasn’t going on the red line anymore so then got on another bus, got a little further and then were told that we had to get off this one and get on a third red line bus. All in the span of 15 minutes. No explanation and I had older relatives with me who were exhausted from all the stairs.

Date of experience : 12 May 2024

Don’t really know why all the bad…

Don’t really know why all the bad reviews for this company yes it is expensive but it’s LONDON and like any big city things cost more get used to it. Staff were great and drivers have such a hard job driving round the busiest parts of the city what do people expect their own VIP bus lane? If your in a rush and want to see all the sights you can’t go wrong with Big Bus👍

Date of experience : 23 March 2024

Terrible experience

Terrible experience, booked for all day attractions. Not one place excepted them had to pay again for entry. No guided tour just a bus ride where u had no idea where u were what stop or any history of the buildings just terrible music . Drivers weren't any help either especially with their language barriers. Website and flyers are extremely misleading #ripofbritain. Don't waste your money

Date of experience : 02 September 2021

Horrible ! The worst bus tour ever. Always waiting more than 30min in every station meanwhile bus from other companies are very frequent. Audio comment ( In french) is poor Can't understand why Bigbus is the most expensive and at the same time delivering the poorest service.

Date of experience : 23 February 2023

With no advance warning the green route…

With no advance warning the green route did not stop at Temple Underground Station, causing problems with a pre-arranged meet up. Your map/route guide is poor. Not enough information regarding which direction the bus routes follows - which route is Eastbound and Westbound on your maps?. A different colour for each would be very helpful. Very poor value for money.

Date of experience : 30 October 2019

Avoid at all costs!

One of the worst bus tours I've been on. Myself and my partner were standing on an overpacked bus with no ability to listen to the commentary. There was no control over the number of people entering the bus with more and more people being wedged together. When we finally did get a seat we spent 1 hour listening to the Beatles while driving around London with minimal factual information about the sites. Whatever information we did hear was an extremely poor attempt at comedy with no substance whatsoever. Avoid this tour at all costs!!! Literally did not learn a thing about the city. What an incredible waste of money.

Date of experience : 16 August 2022

Reply from Big Bus Tours London

Luke Arthur Byrne, we strive for 100% satisfaction, and we regret to find out that this was not the case. We have passed your feedback onto the team to review and make improvements where possible. Best Wishes Vicky

travel tips

Big bus london - a complete review of the sightseeing bus for 2024.

Updated: May 4

Trying to figure out which London bus tour would suit you best is not an easy task. After reading most of the information out there, I realized that most of it is outdated, inaccurate, or written without having much knowledge about the way the tours work. 

The role of this article is to simplify the process as much as possible and give you an unbiased opinion on why opting for Big Bus could be the best option for you. I'll also highlight any downsides and elaborate on the additional tours and attractions they offer. 

DoubleDeckerLondon is reader supported. If you make a purchase through some of the links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

   Summary:  

Big Bus is a global leader in the tourism world

Over 30 years of history in London 

Reliable and enjoyable

The most frequent bus schedule

Merlin Attractions partnership - discounted attraction tickets

Our top recommendation for hop-on-hop-off tours in London

            Check online for ticket deals

Table of contents

1. Why choose the Big Bus Tours ?

2. Advantages over other companies

3. Things to consider  

4. Making the most of your time during the bus tour

5. Aditional tours on offer by Big Bus  

6. Routes and Timetable  

7. Available Tickets  

8. Conclusion

1. Why choose Big Bus London ?

Big Bus has been around for a very long time, over 30 years to be more precise. The only other company that can match this, is Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour). This means that most of the routes, tours and special offers that the other companies promote, have likely been introduced and perfected by Big Bus. 

This is one of the reasons why they have gained a reputation as one of the best bus tour operators in the world, not just in London but also in the other cities where they operate.

Big Bus has been working hard over the years to maintain it's spot at the top. They simply have an incredible edge based on their experience and the other companies don't seem to catch up. 

Their superiority is often evident in traffic, with their buses consistently filled with passengers, even when other tours appear less busy.

frequent bus schedules

London Pass let's you use the bus for 1 day

one route that covers both East and West London

user friendly app

partnership with Merlin Attractions

larger buses

          Check online for ticket deals

Their tour stands out with its frequent bus schedule , meaning you'll spend less time waiting at the bus stop and more time exploring. At some of the key points like the London Eye or Marble Arch their superiority is very obvious, with buses coming every 10 minutes or less during the high season. 

Their route design is one of the best, making it super easy to follow. What's impressive is that they not only hit all the major sights but also have buses going the opposite way at crucial stops, a feature that most of the other tours don't offer. 

Pro tip : Make sure you download the Big Bus app; it's your ticket to tracking the buses and minimizing those pesky waiting times.

One of the most significant advantages of choosing Big Bus is their partnership with Merlin , the operator of London's most popular attractions. This collaboration allows you to snag an incredible deal if you plan to visit these attractions. They offer a fantastic ticket that bundles four attractions with the Big Bus Tour. You can check the offer here .

Another great advantage that comes with choosing the Big Bus is the London Pass offer. If you purchase the pass, you can use the bus tour for 1 day without paying any additional fees (make sure you start early). With the London Pass, you gain access to a wide array of attractions like the Tower of London, The Shard, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and many more. 

Big Bus London is a better choice for those staying in the Bayswater, Notting Hill, Lancaster Gate, or Paddington areas, as it provides better convenience unlike other companies that either don't have stops in these areas or offer infrequent service.

Please take note that on some days, the hop-on hop-off can work really smoothly, with buses arriving all the time, without really having to wait too long. On other days you can get stuck in bad traffic jams, there can be diversions because of roadworks, and on occasion, long waiting times at the bus stops.

3. Things to consider

Now let's talk about the downsides! No matter how good they are or how long they have been around for, there are still a lot of unforeseen circumstances that can affect your tour. We have the spectacular London weather that can almost always take you by surprise, traffic jams, and loads of events and protests. 

During one of my rides with Big Bus London for this review, I experienced an unplanned protest . Now most of the time they are planned, and you can check the service update page for the latest information, but this time it just happened. The driver was very friendly and explained clearly that the bus would go on a diversion and offered alternative routes. It might not always go so smoothly. The key is to approach the tour with an open mind. 

buses could be more crowded during busier times

higher price

expensive child tickets

all tickets include the boat ride

Buses can experience higher levels of crowding during the weekends and school holidays making it harder to get seats upstairs. Most of the time they are suplementing the number of buses that are on the road to overcome this.

Pro Tip : One of the best ways to find seats upstairs is to begin your tour at Green Park, which happens to be one of their starting points. You'll often find that they dispatch empty buses from there, ensuring you have a better chance of finding a seat and enjoying a more comfortable ride.

Big Bus may have a slightly higher price point compared to other companies. Booking online can lower the costs.

Pro tip : If you are planning to visit one of the famous London Attractions, to offset the higher price point of the Big Bus ticket, try to get a bundle ticket . For example you can get a combined ticket with the London Eye and save around 20% on each. You can find the tickets here .

Red route : If you happen to find yourself closer to the red route, it's the ideal route to start your day with as it covers all the major attractions. 

Blue route : Once you've completed the red route, if you still have time left, consider hopping on the blue route to explore the West side of London. This way you get to visit famous landmarks such as Harrods, Kensington Palace or Notting Hill. It is also worth getting off the bus to take a stroll through Hyde Park. 

Boat ride : Every Big Bus ticket includes a fantastic City Cruises boat ride. I took the cruise during sunset, and let me tell you, it was magical. I really enjoyed the guide they had, he offered a lot of great information about the sights, and he was also quite funny.  For the best experience, consider hopping off at the Tower of London and catching the cruise to Westminster.

Pro tip : If you have limited time or simply want to stay on the bus and not hop-off too much, their Blue Route covers both East and West London in a single ride . Keep in mind that the tour lasts over 3 hours!

For more tips on making the most of your day in London, check out our blog post : The best itinerary for one day in London .

5. Aditional tours on offer by Big Bus London

London Evening Tour : This tour has been around for quite a long time and it's  highly popular . It's not uncommon to see a lot of people queuing for it every day, so make sure you arrive at least 15-20 minutes before departure to get the best seats. 

The tour can be added to your hop-on hop-off ticket or it can be purchased separately.

Starting at Point 11, the London Eye Stop , the tour lasts for approximately 2 hours. Remember, it's a continuous ride without stops.

6. Routes and Timetable

Big Bus Tours offers a choice of 3 routes:

Red route is the main route, leading you to the major attractions.

Blue route explores West London, including attractions like the museums, Hyde Park, and Harrods.

Green route focuses on the British Museum and Kings Cross.

The red route tends to have the most frequent departures, followed by the blue and green routes. The best way to avoid long waiting times is to check the app or ask the members of staff for the next bus arrivals or potential delays .

Pro tip : from stop 19, next to the London Eye, you can take the red route in 2 different directions. The westbound bus goes towards Buckingham Palace while the Eastbound one goes towards the Tower of London.

7. Available Tickets

As of the time of writing, Big Bus offers a trio of ticket options to choose from:

Discover £44

Essential £54

Explore £64

The Discover ticket is the standard ticket that is valid for 24hrs and includes the boat ride. It is designed for those with a relatively limited amount of time to explore. It's a great choice when you want to make the most of your visit in a shorter timeframe 

The Essential ticket is for a 48-hour adventure. It not only includes a great boat ride but also offers three incredible walking tours led by some of Big Bus's finest guides. This ticket is perfect for those with more time on their hands.

The Explore ticket includes all the features of the Essential ticket but adds the highly sought-after night tour to the mix. This option ensures you can savor the best of London day and night.

Pro tip : If you decide to go on some of their guided tours, I especially recommend the Changing of the Guard walking tour – it not only shows you the best vantage points for the guard change but also provides invaluable context that would be hard for you to come by in other circumstances.

8. Conclusion of our Big Bus London review

We highly recommend the tour, but please approach it with an open mind. There are so many factors that cannot be influenced when doing an open tour in London. This will ensure that you will have a great time no matter what.

If our Big Bus London review captivated your interest, be sure to explore our assessment of other tours   here   and discover valuable travel tips   here .

Getting tickets

Purchasing tickets online is often more cost-effective than buying from street vendors or when boarding the bus.

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Big Bus Tours

Location & Hours

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110 Buckingham Palace Road

London SW1W 9SA

United Kingdom

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• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

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Overall rating

We had a blast with the hop on hop off. Plus they have WiFi. Zero complaints. My kids loved it and you get an idea of the city.

I'm a fan of these Big Bus Tours. In most cities I visit, I always do these tours. I visited Paris and London and did both. The Paris tour was solid, but the London bus tour was lackluster. We waited very long for the bus and when it arrived, it was too crowded to board. The next bus took about 25 minutes, which was too long. It was raining and a little chilly and only had seating upstairs and the seats were wet. The bus had way too many stops and the narration wasn't very good for this country. I wanted to visit Kensington Palace, however, I didn't realize that I needed the blue line, which had a few more additional stops than the red line-- so be mindful and look at the brochure so you don't miss your stop. An additional thing that I don't get-- London is notorious for rain-- with that being said, maybe the top can be fully enclosed so folks can get the better view from the top but not be forced to sit in wet seats.

Going by the Tower Bridge on the Bus

Watch the drivers in London. Saw a young lady drop her money at the stop. One of the drivers picked it up in front of everyone and refused to return it to her. Where's Lupin when you need him.

The tour was awesome. We got to see so many different sights. It was our first time in London or being abroad. It's an experience. You must have your tickets printed at the stop when a ticket reader is present. They will scan the QR code on your phone and print a ship that you mustn't lose. There are 3 routes for the hop on hop off, red, blue and green. No one believes in orderly fashion here passengers push and shove despite there being a line. Some bus drivers are savage. They won't answer questions, assist or explain if you happen to be confused. If you've done the tour in the day don't odd extra for the night tour it's literally the same thing just lighted. It's a total waste especially because it takes you back to the London Eye which is near no underground station for the tube and you could be stranded unlike the day tour. Be wise and enjoy yourselves!

See all photos from Sam A. for Big Bus Tours

Excellent routes but seeing the low frequency of the buses vs other companies keeps you wondering if it was the best desition if you are in a tight schedule .. you see 2 or 3 times more frequency whole waiting for this one .. and then arrives and is not the one the you were expecting (im my case been waiting foe the blue line forever 2 res has passed no blue in sight)

Save your money. It takes hours just to get anywhere and your lucky if you can get on a bus. Waited 1 1/2 hours to get on first bus. Got on bus at Hamlet's at 4:00 and was heading back to hotel in Paddington, there was traffic and we sat for 2 hours. Got to Buckingham Palace at 6:00 and the driver told us this is as far as he goes and we needed to get off the bus. We had to walk from Buckingham Palace back to Paddington. Was not our fault the traffic was bad but we paid the price for it.

Is there a way to give negative 500 stars? Epic level terrible from start to finish. Big Bus is evidently oh so cleverly trying to use money saving artificial intelligence throughout and the misses add up to a level 9 nightmare experience. 1. The meeting point is 3 blocks away from "The Eye" Instead,it is in the street the front of the Marriott. 2. There is no way to ask questions outside of the canned chat responses. 3. The wretched canned recording is 90% ads and trance music. They are clearly trying to engage real life tour guide level audience participation with 2 psycho robots doing some canned chatter and it fails miserably 4. The recording is not synched to the very few sights they do address. And again? Mostly raving about the shopping opportunities. Very little about history...think the intellectual level of maybe Kardashians on quaaludes 5. This should be called the Bridges tour coz thats mostly what they do...cross bridges. Out of the thousands of amazing sights of London? The canned recording had a disturbing obsession with 3 bridges. 5. Notice that even their responses to comments are canned. This company is doing robots from ads to ticketing to tour to feedback. This is pure BS and actually creates unsafe conditions for both staff and passengers. Truly epic level awful. Only good as a terrible warning travel story. Avoid!

We had a great time in the Big Bus hop on hop off. Such a great way to see London. Also, we did the Jack the Ripper walking tour. Our tour guide, Nick, was FANTASTIC!! So fun and so informative. He was funny and interesting!!

09/10/17 - 09/12/17 Most European cities have these hop on hop off buses. They provide information and history via headphones and a choice of languages. Your tour comes with a map and legend that informs you where the bus goes and where it stops. We found that the routes and landmarks given along with maps were more of a suggestion then an actual written in stone route. Buses are supposed to come every 20 minutes. There were times where we waited over 45 minutes. It appeared to me that the other hop on hop off buses were more accurate and on time. At one stop we asked the others how long they had been waiting, one person replied 45 minutes. The bus came about 15 minutes after that. This one get kudos for providing plastic rain coats for those riding the bus. The map and timetable should be kept consistent.

The Madame Tussaud's tickets. Seem like a good deal EXCEPT. IT IS A SECOND CLASS TICKET WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE LINE. A ticket bought onsite will get you in the short line. I wasted three trips on this and it was not possible. Big Bus owes me a refund on this.

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 48 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Hop-On-Hop-Off London Bus Tours

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)

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.

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 f o r 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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Paris Big Bus Tour Review

T he Paris Big Bus Tour is the gift that keeps on giving. Truth be told I love to walk and see cities on foot, but Paris is a must by bus because it makes financial sense, and it will save you a lot of time.

The Big Bus Tour in Paris

Is it worth it.

When traveling, I am a fan of taking public transportation and traveling like a local. It’s environmentally friendly and you can save money on car rental expenses.

Taking the Big Bus Tour was one of the best decisions that we made because the tourist attractions are spread apart, and you can see many more points of interest while saving time and money.  

Paris is made up of 20 neighborhoods (or arrondissements) and the Big Bus Tour will travel through 7 of them.  

We spent a total of 9 days and Paris and had a pretty full agenda which included lunch at the Eiffel Tower , a river cruise on the Seine, a day trip to Versailles, a classical concert at La Sainte Chapelle, trips to outdoor markets like Marche des Enfants Rouges, visiting the rooftop of the Arc de Triumph, souvenir shopping, Sacre Coeur, the Louvre Museum, the Champs Elysees, the Catacombs, Rue de Cler, Pont Alexandre , a croissant making class with a Parisien chef, Ile de la Cite, Berthillon, and more. We also ventured out to see Paris at night and the views were stunning!

How Long is the Big Bus Tour in Paris

The Red Route is the main tour, and it takes about two hours to see everything if you don’t exit the bus. We stayed on the bus from start to finish to get a idea of places that we wanted to visit on foot.

How Much is the Big Bus Tour in Paris

The ticket fee will vary based on the number of days that you want to join the tour bus. I recommend the combination ticket where you can see the points of interest for the Big Bus, and take a cruise on the river Seine.  

It is possible to do both the tour and the cruise in one day. If you join the tour and finish by 5 PM, you can then join the cruise on the river and catch the sunset depending on the time of year that you go.  

Check for tickets on the Paris Big Bus Tour here .

Are There Toilets on the Big Bus

Sorry, but no matter what the city it is very likely that you won’t find any restrooms. However, you can ask the driver or attendants on the bus to guide you. The wonderful thing about Paris is there are public restrooms available for just a euro.

When is the Best Time to Visit Paris

We went on the bus tour at the end of March for Spring break. The weather was a bit chilly and in the high 50s to low 60s. It was sunny, but not incredibly warm.  

The prime months are April, May, September, and October when highs reach a comfortable 60-70°F (15-21°C).

Big Bus Tour Review

We purchased our tickets online using a smartphone after touring Notre Dame. Because the cathedral was one of the tour stops, we thought we were close, but the stop was a 7-minute walk away.  

To add, the area was congested, and the instructions were confusing. After calling the tour company, we found the stop heading west but then learned that the bus stop was across the street and coming from the south direction.  

Fortunately, we caught it in time and were able to get nice seats on the upper deck. 

It was a sunny, cool day and one would think would be an excellent opportunity for photos. The problem for me is that I don’t have great photography skills and I was using my smartphone.  

When we got to a landmark or icon, it was difficult to take a good shot due to the speed at which the bus traveled, bumps in the road, construction equipment, or overgrown trees, not to mention the hands, heads, and cameras of other passengers.

On our tour there were two routes in operation, the red route, and another color (which may no longer be available). The red route took about two hours to see everything. Then we had to exit the bus at the last stop to catch another bus that went into other neighborhoods.

The most interesting point on the second route was The Moulin Rouge. Otherwise, the sights were non-eventful, so we caught up on rest and napped on the lower level during the ride.

Overall, it was time well spent. And since we planned activities at a few of the attractions we had the chance to make up for bad photos taken on the bus. 

Where to Catch the Big Bus Tour in Paris

There are 10 stops on the red route and the buses will arrive in frequent intervals. During peak visiting months, like spring to summer, you can expect longer waits and slim pickings for a good seat.

1 – Louvre Pyramide / Big Bus Information Centre (11 avenue de l’Opéra)

2 – Louvre at Pont des Arts (2 rue de l’Amiral de Coligny)

3 – Notre Dame ( 3, Rue Lagrange (outside souvenir shop, opposite park entrance)

4 – Musée d’Orsay (58 Place Henry de Montherlant, facing the museum)

5 – Champs-Elysées (156, avenue des Champs-Elysées, facing the Arc de Triomphe)

6 – Grand Palais (Avenue Winston Churchill, facing Grand Palais and Petit Palais)

7 – Trocadéro (Avenue Paul Doumer, next to the Musée de l’Homme)

8- Tour Eiffel (Quai Branly, Entrée 2 Tour Eiffel, at the north pillar of the Eiffel Tower)

9 – Champ de Mars (Avenue Joseph Bouvard)

10 – Opéra Garnier (Facing 15 rue Scribe, next to the Roissy airport shuttle bus stop)

Things to Know Before You Go

• The tour is pre-recorded and the audio narratives can be heard in English, French, Italian , Spanish, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Mandarin, and Korean.
• Be mindful of potential traffic delays, especially during peak hours so that you can plan your tour for off-peak times to avoid congestion.
• Be aware of any events that may alter the experience (rallies, protests, huge sports competitions).

I can’t emphasize the awareness of events enough. There was an enormous parade outside our hotel on one trip, and protests that caused the Champs Elysee to be boarded up during another trip.

Final Thoughts on the Paris Big Bus Tour

Overall, it was a pretty fun girls’ trip but the last thing I wated to do was spend most of our time and money riding the subway all over Paris.

The Big Bus is a no brainer if you want to see the best of Paris without wearing yourself out.

As a US citizen, I try to make the most of my visits to Europe.

The more countries I visit, the more I am convinced that I’ve made the best use of a 10-hour flight.

A quick trip to the Covent Garden in London, Venice , Italy, or any another country is always must for me.

And as always, you can see whether you are in New York , Paris, or Chicago , you experience so much in a short amount of time with a Big Bus Tour.

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The Bowie Show to tour and head to the West End

The multi-media experience is inspired by Bowie’s work

23 August 2024

The Bowie Show , a new multi-sensory experience celebrating the life and music of David Bowie, will tour across the nation with a night in the West End.

The piece will takes audiences on a journey through Bowie’s career, exploring his iconic alter-egos, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke, and delving into the artist’s personal and creative evolution. The production features live performances of Bowie’s greatest hits, accompanied by visual projections and choreography. The cast will be announced at a later date.

The Bowie Show will kick off its UK tour at the Hippodrome in Golders Green, London on 24 to 25 January, followed by performances at Nottingham Concert Hall on 27 January, Buxton Opera House on 28 January, Glasgow Pavilion on 29 January, Bath Forum on 1 February, Bournemouth Pavilion on 2 February, De Montfort Hall in Leicester on 3 February, and Derngate in Northampton on 4 February. The tour will culminate with the one-night West End show at the Lyric Theatre, London on 10 February 2025.

The Bowie Show is created and directed by Simon Gwilliam and produced by John Dalston and Gwilliam. Tickets for the West End premiere go on sale at 10.30am today.

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Big Bus Tours London   Reviews

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Reviews 3.0.

11,114 total

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Commentary doesn’t match location

We are approaching tower bridge and the commentary is talking about Shakespeare’s Globe! We are no where near that! I thought we were just out of sync but then it talked about London Bridge! Lot’s of music that could be filled with more history or pointing out of historical buildings like the boys school - the people with us were very confused asking were landmarks were since commentary was not aligned. Very disappointed!

Date of experience : August 21, 2024

Overloaded on both floors

Overloaded on both floors, people standing because all seats are busy. Waiting time more than 20 minutes. Not recommend, choose another company if you want a good experience from your journey.

Date of experience : August 17, 2024

Brahim saved the day

Brahim saved the day - super helpful assistant, solved my boating issue when we got to the Thames. I cannot thank Brahim enough - he really made it worth it for us. Thank you. PS Great tour!

Date of experience : August 20, 2024

Travelled today with Phil & Ted

Travelled today with Phil & Ted. Great audio guide & great driving. Would recommend to all. Visits all of Londons attractions & Phil has a fountain of knowledge. Today I have learnt so many things I did not know. Well worth the ticket price.

Thank you Fuad for being going the…

Thank you Fuad for being going the extra mile to be helpful and make our trip a success.

Date of experience : August 22, 2024

If I could give a minus rating I would

If I could give a minus rating I would. The four of us were ripped off majorly. Advised that the buses don't go off till 8pm. Nope they go off at 6.30pm. £152 paid at 4.30pm 20 minutes wait for the bus. Terrible tour..got off and walked seen more of the tourist attractions. Book another tour bus!!

Date of experience : August 11, 2024

It was a great day out for me and my…

It was a great day out for me and my mum. I had the best time in London.Brahim was Excellent helping us with the London eye ticket and walking us to the umbrella thank you for your help mr brahim I will definitely recommend you and Big Bus to my friend who are visiting UK next month❤️❤️

Date of experience : August 01, 2024

Never buy There is a lack of big buses in London compared to other hop-on-hop-off bus services. Although I had a London pass, the Big Bus was still a negative experience.

Date of experience : July 19, 2024

Jack the Ripper Walk

We did a Jack the Ripper walk with Phil. It Was a great experience! I'm happy we came along.

Improvement required

I am writing with disappointment to inform you that I've brought my parents over for holiday from abroad. I bought 5 all inclusive passes as they are elderly and the experience would be better based on reviews. However, your bases were not on time and 2 drivers made all the passengers get down at Paddington station from 2 busses stating the PRIDE PARADE HAD BLOCKED THE STREETS. My parents and other tourists had to walk and catch the regular bus. Do note that the area which they indicated that were blocked was actually clear. I do not know if their shift finished and they just stopped randomly. They called someone to let them know what they were doing and that was it. A very crappy end to what started out great. I'll be posting to all other sites possibly recommending alternative companies. This is absolutely distasteful and I honestly demand a refund or some inconvenience fee as we were unable to fully utilize the passes.

Date of experience : June 29, 2024

Amen allah is very kind person

Date of experience : August 16, 2024

Great tour with amazing tour guide…

Great tour with amazing tour guide Phil. Incredibly funny and knowledgeable. Takes great care in making sure everyone is happy and has great photo opportunities.

Date of experience : July 03, 2024

Great Day Out

Nice Tour, good value for anyone visiting London who wants to see the sights. We preferred the Red Route over the Blue. Tanvir was great, very informative and engaging, even spoke 5 languages and was able to communicate with my non-English speaking in-laws! Would highly recommend the tour! Thanks!

Date of experience : May 16, 2024

No Refund for No Show

I purchased 2 tickets online for London Big Bus/boat for May 6. When I arrived in the city in the afternoon, we went to the designated stop near our hotel and waited in the rain for an hour — the bus never came. When I advised the company that the bus was a no-show and I could not use the tickets on that day, nor any other time on my short stay in the city, they refused to issue a refund. Ripoff!

Date of experience : May 06, 2024

Shocking experience

Shocking experience. We got on the red line, drove two stops, were told that the bus wasn’t going on the red line anymore so then got on another bus, got a little further and then were told that we had to get off this one and get on a third red line bus. All in the span of 15 minutes. No explanation and I had older relatives with me who were exhausted from all the stairs.

Date of experience : May 12, 2024

Don’t really know why all the bad…

Don’t really know why all the bad reviews for this company yes it is expensive but it’s LONDON and like any big city things cost more get used to it. Staff were great and drivers have such a hard job driving round the busiest parts of the city what do people expect their own VIP bus lane? If your in a rush and want to see all the sights you can’t go wrong with Big Bus👍

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Terrible experience

Terrible experience, booked for all day attractions. Not one place excepted them had to pay again for entry. No guided tour just a bus ride where u had no idea where u were what stop or any history of the buildings just terrible music . Drivers weren't any help either especially with their language barriers. Website and flyers are extremely misleading #ripofbritain. Don't waste your money

Date of experience : September 02, 2021

Horrible ! The worst bus tour ever. Always waiting more than 30min in every station meanwhile bus from other companies are very frequent. Audio comment ( In french) is poor Can't understand why Bigbus is the most expensive and at the same time delivering the poorest service.

Date of experience : February 23, 2023

With no advance warning the green route…

With no advance warning the green route did not stop at Temple Underground Station, causing problems with a pre-arranged meet up. Your map/route guide is poor. Not enough information regarding which direction the bus routes follows - which route is Eastbound and Westbound on your maps?. A different colour for each would be very helpful. Very poor value for money.

Date of experience : October 30, 2019

Avoid at all costs!

One of the worst bus tours I've been on. Myself and my partner were standing on an overpacked bus with no ability to listen to the commentary. There was no control over the number of people entering the bus with more and more people being wedged together. When we finally did get a seat we spent 1 hour listening to the Beatles while driving around London with minimal factual information about the sites. Whatever information we did hear was an extremely poor attempt at comedy with no substance whatsoever. Avoid this tour at all costs!!! Literally did not learn a thing about the city. What an incredible waste of money.

Date of experience : August 16, 2022

Reply from Big Bus Tours London

Luke Arthur Byrne, we strive for 100% satisfaction, and we regret to find out that this was not the case. We have passed your feedback onto the team to review and make improvements where possible. Best Wishes Vicky