How To Book Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour London

A fusion of historic buildings and a modern metropolis, London is one of the top travel destinations in the world. Standing on the banks of the Thames, this charming city is home to some of the world’s best museums. And, there’s no better way to explore the city than catching an open-top Hop On Hop Off Bus.

From happening pubs to world-class theatres, London sightseeing bus tours cover them all. Being a popular mode of tourist transportation, the bus tour operators are the lifeline of UK tourism. So, choosing one can be a lengthy process. However, we’re here to ease your tour planning with all the details you need to know about London hop on hop off buses. 

Top 3 Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour Providers 

From the OGs to the newer ones, we’ve got you covered. Following are some famous bus tour providers that you should check out.

#1 Sightseeing Supermarket

Golden Tours is another big player with a reasonable London hop on hop off bus ticket rate. They offer a variety of bus tours in and around London displaying the city’s famous landmarks. Apart from the open-top bus tours, they offer cruises, rail tours, and Warner Bros. studio tours as well. 

The best part of Golden Tours buses is they cover some of the lesser-known places. Also, all of the tours are audio-guided, helping you learn new things about the city and its historical monuments. 

The Routes

• Blue Route – Known as the Classic Tour, this route takes you to all the central London attractions. This is the flagship route that covers places like the London Eye, Big Ben, the Tower of London and more.
• Red Route – Known as the Essential Tour, here you can explore the North London landmarks. This route goes through Hyde Park, London Zoo, and Regents Park, to name a few. 
• Yellow & Green Routes – These two are the morning & evening drop-off routes connecting the city centre with West London’s hotel regions. 

The Pricing

• 1 Day Ticket – $28 for adults and $14 for children
• 24 Hour Ticket – $34 for adults and $16 for children
• 48 Hour Ticket – $42 for adults and $20 for children.

#2 Tootbus London

Formerly known as The Original Tour, Tootbus came up with the idea of an open-air city touring experience back in 1951. Being the first London hop on hop off bus tour provider, it enjoys a good fan following. 

Tootbus currently operates on 4 sightseeing routes and 2 connector routes. They also offer a complimentary river cruise and a couple of walking tours. You can learn a thing or two from the in-bus commentary, which is available in 11 languages. 

The Routes

• T1 The Original Tour – Going across west London, this route covers most of the prime sights of the city. In the 2 hours duration of the tour, you will get an English-speaking tour guide explaining the places.
• T2 City Sightseeing – It’s another 2 hours tour that covers places like Madame Tussauds, Buckingham Palace, and the National Gallery, among others.
• T3 The Loop Line – It’s a shorter route that connects Waterloo Station with Westminster and London’s west end. It runs through places like Trafalgar Square, London Eye & House of Parliament.
• T4 Museum Tour – This 90 minutes tour covers all the great museums in London. It runs every 15 minutes between 8 AM to 5 PM.

Apart from these 4 main routes, there are two connector routes named Station Connector and Capital Connector. 

The Pricing

• 1 Day City Sampler – $27 for adults and $13.50 for children
• 24 Hour Ticket – $34 for adults and $16 for children
• 48 Hour Ticket – $42.50 for adults and $20 for children
• 72 Hour Ticket – $54 for adults and $26 for children.

#3 Big Bus Tour

Big Bus Tour is currently the world’s largest open-air bus tour operator. With a fleet of 150 buses, the company operates in 21 cities across the globe. Big Bus London runs on three different routes, including a unique evening route.

Offering fascinating insights into the city, Big Bus Tour covers more than 40 places. The tours start at 8:40 in the morning and happen till 5:10 in the evening. The frequency of the buses hovers between 15-30 minutes so that you have enough time to explore each place. 

The Routes

• Red Tour – The flagship route of Big Bus London passes through Central London, covering all the significant sites. The route starts from Green Park, Belgravia and ends on Tower Bridge while passing through Baker St, Regent St, and Trafalgar Square, among many more places.
• Blue Tour – This route traverses the popular tourist attractions of West London. From Kensington Palace to Paddington Station, the Big Bus Tours’ Blue route covers it all. Enjoy an audio-visual commentary along the way as you pass through West London icons. 

The Pricing

• Classic Ticket (1 Day) – $36.90 for adults and $27.90 for children.
• Premium Ticket (2 Day) – $53.10 for adults and $44.10 for children.
• Deluxe Ticket (3 Day) – $62.10 for adults and $53.10 for children.
• London Evening Tour – $27 for adults and $18 for children.

Conclusion

London sightseeing bus tours are the best way to get the hang of the UK capital. These tours not only take you on an informative joyride but give you an experience of a lifetime. As you sit on the open upper deck and gaze at the streets of London, you’ll have a British cultural dose along with a lovely memory.