Review · UK BUS TOURS
London: Peppa Pig Bus Tour with Entertainment
London sightseeing can be hard work for small children. This Peppa Pig afternoon tea bus solves that problem with songs, games, cartoons, and cake while a red Routemaster rolls past Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus. It feels more like a moving family show than a standard city tour.
I like the strong mix of British afternoon tea and child-friendly entertainment. I also like the staff’s personal touch. Nicole, Gentrit, Karina, Matt, Liam, and JP have all been praised for keeping children engaged, helping families, and staying cheerful when traffic slows the bus.
The main catch is seating. Upper-deck places are limited and not guaranteed, and the lower deck has weaker views. If your child is excited about riding on top of a London bus, this seating policy is the one thing to consider carefully before booking.
Key points to know before booking

- Temple Station departure: Meet at Bus Stop N, just a one-minute walk from Temple Underground Station.
- Ninety minutes on a Routemaster: The route passes major Central London sights including Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus.
- Peppa’s built-in entertainment: Each seat has access to guided animation, singalong songs, games, and activities.
- Afternoon tea is part of the ticket: Expect savoury bites, cakes, scones with jam and cream, plus unlimited tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.
- Upper-deck seating is not guaranteed: Seating is assigned according to availability on the day.
- Best for young Peppa Pig fans: Children under two cannot join, and the bus is not suitable for wheelchair users or people prone to motion sickness.
Starting beside Temple Station

The meeting point is Bus Stop N, around the corner from Temple Station. That makes this one of the easier family activities to reach in central London. Temple Underground Station is about a one-minute walk away, and the stop is roughly 10 minutes from Charing Cross Station and 15 minutes from Waterloo Station.
I would arrive early. The bus cannot wait for late passengers, and a family with a buggy, coats, snacks, and an excited child needs a little more time than a solo visitor. The bus departs from the stated stop, so check the exact meeting instructions when you book and keep your group together near the pickup point.
The red Routemaster is part of the fun. London’s double-decker buses are an attraction in their own right, and this ride gives a young child a clear sense that the sightseeing has begun before the first landmark appears.
The tour lasts about 1.5 hours. That is a useful length for families. You get enough time for a proper route through central London, but the outing is not so long that most young children lose patience. Traffic can affect the timing, though. One family had a delayed journey in heavy traffic, and host Liam kept everyone occupied until the bus moved again.
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Peppa Pig turns the bus into a moving show

Once you sit down, the entertainment comes through a built-in tablet at your seat. Peppa Pig guides children through the London route with animated segments, singalong songs, games, and activities.
This matters because the experience does not depend only on what you can see outside. London buses can be exciting, but a young child may not understand why a distant building matters. Peppa gives the ride a familiar voice and a simple story, making the city easier for children to follow.
The activities also help during slower parts of the route. Central London traffic is not always graceful or quick. A regular sightseeing bus can feel tedious when it stops behind taxis and delivery vans. Here, children have something to do while the driver deals with the road.
I would not book this expecting a quiet architectural tour. The focus is clearly on family entertainment, with sightseeing woven into the Peppa Pig program. The audio guide is in English, and the host or greeter speaks English as well.
Several staff members have been singled out for making the experience work well for children. Nicole, Gentrit, Karina, and Matt were praised for greeting families, serving food, sharing stories, and keeping a three-year-old involved. Liam was especially helpful when traffic caused a delay, and JP was praised as a strong host on one of the buses.
That personal attention can make a real difference. A child who feels noticed is more likely to stay seated and enjoy the ride. One parent also found the bus worked well for an autistic son who normally struggles to remain seated for long. That does not mean the experience will suit every child with sensory or attention needs, but the combination of predictable entertainment, food, and a fixed seat may work well for some families.
What you actually eat at afternoon tea

The afternoon tea includes a selection of savoury foods, cakes, and scones with jam and cream. You also receive unlimited tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, while children can have soft drinks.
The menu brings a familiar British ritual into a setting designed for children. Scones with cream and jam are the star for many families, and the warm scones have received especially strong praise. The portions can be generous enough that you may not finish everything, particularly if you are sharing with a small child.
The food is not just a token snack. It is a full afternoon tea, which helps explain the price better than a simple bus ride would. You are paying for the meal, drinks, entertainment, hosted service, and sightseeing in one package.
Still, afternoon tea is not a perfect match for every child. Some children will happily eat cake and scones but ignore the savoury items. One parent would have preferred more savoury food and less sweet food. If your child is selective, do not assume every item will appeal.
Tea and coffee are unlimited, which is useful for adults. Hot chocolate gives children an option beyond soft drinks. Alcohol is not included.
Allergies require care. Nut allergies cannot be catered for, and other allergies must be checked before booking to see if the provider can accommodate them. Do not wait until boarding to ask.
Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, and the London route

The bus takes you through Central London while Peppa talks about the sights and her adventures. Big Ben is one of the key landmarks on the route. For a child, seeing the famous clock tower from a double-decker bus can turn a picture-book image into something real.
Piccadilly Circus is another highlight. It gives you a very different view of London, with a busy central crossroads and the city’s famous urban energy. The combination of major landmarks and Peppa’s narration keeps the route moving at two levels: adults can look out at London, while children follow the animated story.
The sightseeing is pleasant, but you should keep expectations sensible. This is not a stop-and-explore tour. You remain on the bus, and the route is shaped by traffic and road conditions. You will see sights through the windows rather than getting off for photographs.
You may not see every landmark equally well. One family was disappointed not to have a clear view of the front of Buckingham Palace. That is a useful warning. A bus route can pass near important places without giving you the ideal angle, and the lower deck makes this more noticeable.
The upper deck normally offers the best view, but it is not guaranteed. Seating is assigned according to availability on the day. A family of three may have a better chance of sitting upstairs than a pair, but you should not treat that as a booking rule or promise. The important point is simple: pay for the experience, not for a guaranteed upper-deck seat.
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Upper deck or lower deck: the practical difference
For many children, the double-decker itself is half the attraction. Sitting upstairs gives a better view over traffic and a stronger feeling of riding on a London bus. It can also make landmarks easier to spot.
The lower deck is more sheltered and may feel easier for families who want quick access to the host and food service. But the views are limited. One child who was eager to see London found the lower-deck position disappointing, and the parent felt the guide spent most of the time upstairs.
That is the most important weakness in the format. If the guide and entertainment are concentrated upstairs, lower-deck passengers may feel slightly removed from the action. The built-in tablet helps, but it cannot fully replace a clear view through the windows or a host nearby.
I would be especially cautious if your child has been talking about riding on the top of a red bus. Explain before booking that upstairs seating cannot be promised. That small bit of honesty can prevent a major disappointment on the day.
The bus has a toilet, but it is for children’s use only. Adults should plan accordingly before departure, especially since the bus cannot wait for late passengers.
Is $85 per person good value?

At $85 per person, this is not a cheap way to see London. You can find less expensive sightseeing options, and a regular bus ride costs far less. The value comes from combining several things that would otherwise need separate planning.
Your ticket covers:
- A 90-minute Central London tour
- A ride on a Routemaster bus
- Afternoon tea with savoury food, cakes, scones, jam, and cream
- Unlimited tea, coffee, and hot chocolate
- Soft drinks for children
- Peppa Pig animation, songs, games, and activities
- An English audio guide
For a family already planning afternoon tea and a sightseeing ride, the price can make sense. You avoid arranging two separate activities, and the entertainment gives children a reason to stay engaged while adults enjoy the food and views.
For adults travelling without children, I would choose a traditional afternoon tea or a more focused sightseeing tour instead. Peppa Pig is not a minor decoration here. It shapes the entire experience, from the audio to the activities and the tone of the ride.
The overall score is 4.4 out of 5 from 187 ratings, which fits the experience well. The strongest points are the friendly service, generous food, warm scones, and the way the program holds a young child’s attention. The recurring concern is lower-deck seating and the effect it has on views and contact with the guide.
Who will enjoy this most
This tour is a good match for families with young Peppa Pig fans who want a gentle introduction to London. It suits children who enjoy songs, familiar characters, short activities, and food served in small portions.
It can also work well for families looking for a structured outing. You do not need to plan a route, find a restaurant, or keep moving between attractions. The bus provides a fixed base, and the program gives children something predictable to follow.
The experience may suit some autistic children, but you know your child’s needs best. One family found that the combination of food, animation, and a seated ride held their son’s attention unusually well. At the same time, the bus can be noisy and visually busy, so consider your child’s response to sound, movement, and singing.
I would skip it if anyone in your group gets motion sick. I would also avoid it for children under two, since they are not permitted. Wheelchair users cannot join, and the bus is not suitable for a child or adult who needs wheelchair access.
The tour runs rain or shine. Comfortable clothes and shoes are sensible, and a camera is worth bringing for the London views and family photographs. The bus itself is not a place for a complicated wardrobe or bulky belongings.
Seasonal notes and booking flexibility
The Peppa Pig Christmas Bus Tour theme ends on December 31. If you are visiting in the Christmas period, check which version of the experience is operating on your date.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your London schedule is still changing. I would still check the departure time and seating terms before paying, since the bus will not wait for late arrivals and upper-deck places are not guaranteed.
Should you book the Peppa Pig bus?
Book it if your child is a genuine Peppa Pig fan and you want one easy outing that combines London views, afternoon tea, and entertainment. The staff’s warmth, the useful built-in activities, and the generous food make this more than a short character photo opportunity.
I would book it with two clear conditions in mind: accept that traffic may slow the route, and accept that you may sit downstairs. If upper-deck views are essential, this is not the right choice. If your main goal is a happy child, a warm scone, and a relaxed look at Big Ben from a classic red bus, the $85 price can be fair value.
FAQ
Where does the Peppa Pig bus tour depart from?
Meet at Bus Stop N, around the corner from Temple Station. The stop is about a one-minute walk from Temple Underground Station.
How long does the tour last?
The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
Is afternoon tea included?
Yes. The ticket includes savoury foods, cakes, scones with jam and cream, unlimited tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Soft drinks are available for children.
Is upper-deck seating guaranteed?
No. Upper-deck seating is limited and assigned according to availability on the day.
Which London sights does the bus pass?
The route includes major Central London sights such as Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus. A clear view of every landmark, including Buckingham Palace, is not guaranteed.
Is the tour suitable for children under two?
No. Children under two are not permitted on the tour.
Can the bus accommodate allergies or wheelchair users?
The bus is not suitable for wheelchair users. Nut allergies cannot be catered for, and other allergies must be confirmed before booking to find out if they can be accommodated.
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