London: ABBA Voyage Express Bus and Optional Concert Ticket

ABBA Voyage turns a concert into a full evening out, with ABBA’s music, a live band, spectacular lights, and changing screen images filling a purpose-built arena. The branded electric coach adds a practical bonus: you avoid working out London transport to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and arrive close to the entrance.

I like the easy door-to-door transport and the priority entry, especially if you are visiting London with older relatives or simply dislike navigating unfamiliar stations at night. I also like the mood on the bus, where ABBA music and a short scene-setting video begin the evening before you reach the arena.

The main drawback is time. The advertised experience lasts about five hours, and the ride can take roughly 40 minutes each way, or longer in traffic. After the show, you need to head fairly directly to the coach, so there may be little time for shopping or a relaxed drink.

Key points to know before booking

• The coach leaves from near Victoria Station: The Evan Evans Tours meeting point is about a five-minute walk from Victoria Station, but allow extra time for London traffic and finding the exact departure point.
• You get priority arena entry: The coach uses a separate arrival process, with tickets scanned before you go through security.
• The show lasts about 90 minutes: The arena experience pairs ABBA’s best-known songs with a live band, lights, images, and a constantly changing setting.
• You can choose your concert style: Options include a seated ticket, a dance-floor ticket, or bus-only transport without the concert ticket.
• The return coach is waiting after the show: You are brought back toward central London, with the stated drop-off at Victoria Station.
• The dance floor has an age limit: It is not recommended for children under 12, and children aged 16 or younger must be with an adult.

Why the ABBA Voyage Express makes sense

ABBA Voyage is not a standard tribute concert. The show uses ABBA’s hand-picked songs, a live band, large-scale visual effects, and a purpose-built arena that changes around the performance. You get familiar music, but the presentation is designed to feel more like a major event than a simple stage show.

The coach matters because the arena is in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, away from the usual visitor circuit in central London. You could arrange your own transport, but the package removes several small worries: finding the right route, arriving at the correct entrance, collecting or managing concert tickets, and getting back into central London after the music ends.

I particularly like the fact that the evening begins before you reach the venue. The electric coach is ABBA-branded, plays ABBA music, and shows a short introduction to the reunion of Benny, Björn, Anni-Frid, and Agnetha after their last performance together. It is not a full sightseeing tour, and you should not book it expecting a guide to explain London along the way. Think of it as a comfortable concert transfer with a little scene-setting.

The onboard Guest Services Assistant welcomes you, issues wristbands and tickets when included, and helps with boarding. Wi-Fi and USB charging points are useful touches, particularly if you have spent the day taking photographs or using your phone for London directions.

Finding the Victoria meeting point

The starting point is Evan Evans Tours, close to Victoria Station. The walk from the station is short, but the exact departure area can be easy to miss. One visitor found the bus point poorly marked, with only a small image in a shop window, so do not leave this until the last minute.

I would aim to reach the meeting point early. One family missed the bus after allowing too little time from central London, and an earlier review specifically advised allowing at least an hour and a half to reach the meeting point because of traffic. That is generous for a five-minute walk, but sensible if you are crossing London before departure.

There is a waiting area where you may be able to sit before boarding. The staff welcome you, check the booking details, provide the relevant wristband and ticket, and direct you to the coach. This is a useful arrangement for a gift booking or a family group because one person does not need to solve every ticketing detail at the arena.

The service is in English. The assistant gives a brief introduction, but this is not a guided London excursion. If you want detailed commentary about the city, choose a separate sightseeing tour. Here, the practical job is to get you to the show in good order.

The one-hour ride to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The journey is listed as about an hour in the itinerary, while the practical travel time from Victoria to the arena is often around 40 minutes. London traffic can change that, so keep your schedule flexible.

The coach is climate-controlled, clean, and comfortable, with USB charging and Wi-Fi. The onboard soundtrack helps create a party mood, and the scene-setting video gives you some background on how ABBA Voyage came together. For many people, this is more pleasant than changing trains or worrying about the final walk to the arena.

You may also see parts of East London that are outside the usual central sightseeing route. That is a modest bonus rather than the main reason to book. Some past passengers enjoyed seeing more of the city from the coach, but the windows and traffic are not a substitute for a dedicated tour.

The bus is especially useful for older family members, people carrying shopping, or anyone who wants to avoid the Tube. One family chose it so they would not need to walk or use the Underground, and another specifically recommended the full package for people travelling with older relatives. The coach drops you close to the arena, which keeps the arrival simple.

Priority arrival at ABBA Arena

On arrival, an ABBA Voyage team member meets the coach. Your tickets are scanned on or near the bus, and you are directed through a priority entrance and security lane. This can save time and makes the transition from coach to arena much less confusing than joining a large public queue.

You should still expect security checks. Priority entry does not mean skipping all venue procedures. It means you use the arranged access route rather than waiting in the general line.

The early arrival is valuable because you can use the toilets, look around the merchandise outlets, and buy food or drinks before the show. There is usually time for photographs and a drink, although the precise amount depends on traffic and the scheduled departure.

One important trade-off comes after the performance. The coach uses a separate exit area and is ready for the return journey, but you need to make your way there with the group. Some people found there was no time to browse the shop after the show. If merchandise matters to you, shop before the performance rather than assuming you can linger afterward.

What happens inside during the 90-minute show

The concert lasts about 90 minutes. Its setlist focuses on ABBA’s best-known and most beloved songs, selected by the band. A live band performs alongside the visual production, giving the music a real concert base rather than making the evening only about screens and effects.

The arena is built for this show, and the setting keeps changing around you through images and lighting. The result is polished, loud, and highly visual. Several people who were not especially committed ABBA fans still found the atmosphere infectious, while dedicated fans described the combination of music, lights, and images as the main reason to return.

You should expect a performance designed to make you sing and move. The dance-floor option is the liveliest choice, but it is not recommended for children under 12. If you want a more predictable view and a place to sit, choose the seated option. The show can work well for mixed-age groups because teenagers, parents, and grandparents can enjoy different parts of the same production.

Sound levels are worth considering. One person found the music slightly too loud at times. That will not trouble everyone, but if you are sensitive to volume, a seated ticket may feel more comfortable than standing close to the action.

The visuals are central to the experience, so you do not need to be an ABBA expert to follow the evening. Still, knowing the songs will make it more rewarding. If you can sing along to Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, or Waterloo, you will get more from the communal concert feeling.

Choosing between seated and dance-floor tickets

The dance floor puts you in the middle of the most energetic part of the room. It suits adults and older children who want to stand, sing, and move throughout the show. Because it is not recommended for children under 12, families with younger children should choose seats.

A seated ticket is the safer choice if you have mobility concerns, prefer a clear personal space, or want to watch the visual production without standing for the full performance. One person seated near the back still reported an excellent view, which suggests that the arena is designed to give a broad view from many sections.

The booking information does not promise a specific seat location, so check the option carefully before paying. If you are travelling as a group, make sure everyone is booked into the same ticket type and understands that the dance floor is standing rather than seated.

The return trip and the end of the evening

After the show, follow the signs and staff instructions to the coach meeting point. The return coach uses a side exit, which helps avoid a long walk through the main crowd. You do need to move with purpose, since the bus departure is part of the organized transfer.

The return trip takes roughly 40 minutes or longer, depending on traffic. It is a good chance to settle down after the show, but do not plan a tightly timed dinner reservation or another ticketed event immediately afterward. The stated drop-off is Victoria Station, with the journey ending back in central London.

A few practical details make this easier. Keep your meeting instructions handy, remember the coach location, and do not assume you will have time for a final merchandise stop. The system is simple once you know where to go, but it is not designed for a slow post-show wander.

Is the $66 price good value?

The listed price is $66 per person, with the concert ticket included unless you select the bus-only option. Because the booking can include either seated or dance-floor admission, confirm exactly what your chosen price covers. One past booking cost £145 per person, so prices can differ considerably by ticket type, date, or availability.

The real value is not only the seat. You are also paying for round-trip transport, an ABBA-branded electric coach, a Guest Services Assistant, onboard entertainment, and priority entry. If you would otherwise need to arrange transport both ways, the package can be a sensible purchase, especially for a family or a group.

It is not the cheapest way to reach the arena if you are comfortable using public transport and arranging your own concert ticket. The bus adds convenience rather than a long guided program. One person described it as a straightforward drive with music, and that is a fair description.

I would compare the full package with the official concert ticket price for your date. If the difference is small, the coach is worth serious consideration. It removes the most awkward parts of the evening and gives you a direct ride home after the show.

Free cancellation is available up to three days in advance for a full refund. That gives you some useful flexibility, but check the terms shown for your selected booking before you rely on it.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

I would recommend it to:

• ABBA fans who want the concert and transport handled together
• Families with teenagers
• Older relatives who would rather avoid the Tube and a long walk
• Visitors staying in central London
• Anyone arriving in London for a short stay and wanting a simple evening plan
• People who enjoy large visual productions as much as live music

It may not suit you if you want a long guided tour, a quiet concert, or plenty of time to shop after the performance. It also requires care with children: those under three are not accepted, children aged 16 or younger need an adult, and the dance floor is not recommended for under-12s.

The coach is not a private transfer. You share the ride with other concertgoers, and departure times are fixed. That is part of the appeal for many people because the mood begins early, but it gives you less freedom than travelling independently.

Should you book the ABBA Voyage Express?

Book it if you want the easiest route from central London to the arena, especially if you are taking family members or do not want to manage the return journey late in the evening. The priority entrance, comfortable coach, and direct drop-off are the strongest reasons to choose this package.

If you are confident with London transport and find a much cheaper concert ticket elsewhere, the bus-only option or independent travel may make more sense. For most first-time visitors, though, the organized transfer removes enough hassle to justify the extra cost.

Choose a seated ticket for comfort and a dependable view. Choose the dance floor if singing, standing, and joining the party matter more than having a seat. Either way, allow extra time to reach Victoria, arrive early, and buy merchandise before the 90-minute show starts.

FAQ

Where does the ABBA Voyage Express leave from?

It leaves from Evan Evans Tours near Victoria Station in central London. The meeting point is about a five-minute walk from Victoria Station, but it can be difficult to spot, so arrive early.

How long does the whole experience last?

The experience is listed as five hours. This includes the coach journey, the approximately 90-minute concert, and the return trip to central London.

How long is the coach journey?

The journey between Victoria and ABBA Arena is approximately 40 minutes, although the itinerary allows about an hour each way. Traffic and other operating conditions can affect the timing.

Is the concert ticket included?

A seated or dance-floor concert ticket is included unless you select the bus-only option. Check your chosen option carefully because the available ticket type affects what you receive.

Where does the return coach drop passengers?

The stated drop-off is Victoria Station in central London.

Is priority entry included?

Yes. The package includes skip-the-line access to ABBA Arena. Tickets are handled and scanned as part of the arrival process before you go through security.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can use the arena refreshment outlets before the concert.

Does the coach have Wi-Fi and charging?

Yes. The ABBA-branded electric coach has Wi-Fi and USB charging points.

Can children join the experience?

Children under three are not accepted. Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The dance-floor area is not recommended for children under 12.

What language is the experience offered in?

The Guest Services Assistant and tour operation are in English.