London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

The best part of this package is the change of viewpoint. You see London from an open-top bus, from the River Thames, and from a glass pod high above Westminster. The London Eye gives you the big picture, while the bus and boat bring you close to the city’s famous landmarks.

I like the freedom to hop off at Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, or St Paul’s Cathedral, then carry on when you are ready. I also like the helpful app and the entertaining live commentary on the river cruise, including guides such as Bill, Dave, and Pasquale. The catch is London traffic: a bus ride that looks short on the map can crawl, especially late in the day.

Key points to know before you go

• Three views of London: See the city by open-top bus, Thames boat, and London Eye.
• Start almost anywhere: Activate your ticket at any Big Bus stop, with Stop 12 by the Eye a practical choice.
• Book the Eye early: Your London Eye entry requires a separate time slot after purchase.
• Use the app: Live bus tracking and stop locations make this much easier to manage.
• Save 48 hours for extra walks: The longer ticket includes Royal, Jack the Ripper, and Harry Potter walking tours.
• Allow for traffic: The bus is excellent for sightseeing but not always the fastest way across central London.

Why this three-part London plan works

London can feel scattered on a first visit. Westminster sits west of the City, the Tower of London sits east, and major sights such as Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, and Kensington Palace are spread across a wide area.

This package gives you a simple frame for seeing it all. The bus connects the main districts, the cruise provides a calm route between Westminster and the Tower, and the London Eye gives you a clear sense of how the city fits together.

At $74 per person, the value depends on how much you use the pass. If you take the bus several times, use the river cruise, and visit the Eye, the combined price can make sense. It is less useful if you plan to spend most of your time inside museums or use the Underground for every transfer.

You get a 24-hour or 48-hour bus ticket, access to three routes, the London Eye, and a one-way Thames cruise. The 48-hour option also includes three guided walks, so it is the better choice if you have two sightseeing days and want more than a single bus loop.

Begin near the London Eye at Stop 12

You can board at any Big Bus stop during operating hours, but Stop 12, London Eye, is one of the easiest places to begin. It is on Westminster Bridge Road near the Lion Statue, outside the London Marriott County Hall.

Starting here puts you beside the Eye, Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben. You can arrange the Eye first, then use the bus to continue west or east once you have finished.

Look carefully for the Big Bus vehicles, which use a cream and dark red color scheme. London has several sightseeing bus companies, and some stops can feel confusing at first. Big Bus staff are positioned around many stops and can help point you toward the correct route.

You can activate the ticket through the Big Bus app using the activity provider reference number. You can also show a mobile or printed voucher to a staff member or driver. The app shows stop locations and real-time bus positions, which is especially useful when traffic delays the next departure.

The London Eye gives you the clearest first look

The London Eye is the visual centerpiece of this package. Its glass capsules rise above the Thames opposite Westminster, giving you broad views toward Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and the central London skyline.

The ride lasts one rotation. That is enough time for photographs and for watching the city change as you rise and descend. The experience is more about orientation and views than thrills, so it suits families and first-time visitors who want a gentle introduction to London from above.

You must reserve a time slot after booking. Do not leave this until the last minute, especially in summer or during busy holiday periods. One useful strategy is to book early in the morning, when lines may be shorter, or choose a slot near sunset so you can see daylight fade into London’s evening lights.

The Eye operates with standard admission in this package. You should expect other people in the capsule, though the space is large enough to move around and find a good viewing position. The queue can still be long even with a reserved time, so arrive with room in your schedule.

Westminster Abbey and Big Ben anchor the bus route

From the Eye, the bus brings you into the heart of Westminster. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are directly across the river, while Westminster Abbey sits nearby.

The Abbey is one of London’s major historic buildings, but this ticket does not include entry. Use the bus stop as a starting point for an outside look, photographs, and a walk through the surrounding streets. You can also reach 10 Downing Street and Whitehall from this part of the route.

This is one of the best stretches for the open upper deck. On a clear day, you get a strong view of Parliament and the busy streets around Westminster. In rain, the lower deck provides shelter, but visibility and photographs are better upstairs when the weather cooperates.

The recorded audio commentary gives background as you ride. It is available in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Some listeners enjoy the jokes and light banter, while others may find the repeated commentary tiring after several loops.

Buckingham Palace and the royal parks

The bus continues toward Buckingham Palace, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, and Marble Arch. This is a good section for a first look at the royal center of London.

Buckingham Palace is best treated as a stop for photographs and a walk around the nearby streets unless you have a separate admission plan. The Changing of the Guard is listed among the route highlights, but the bus ticket does not promise a ceremony at a particular time. Check the day’s schedule before planning your route around it.

Green Park and Hyde Park offer a useful break from traffic and stone buildings. You can hop off for a walk, then return to the route at a later stop. The same area also brings you close to Harrods and South Kensington’s museums, though you will need to allow plenty of time if you plan to visit them.

The bus is most useful here as a sightseeing ride and a way to get your bearings. It is not always the quickest transport between the palace and the museums. Traffic, road closures, parades, and public events can slow the route or force you to walk to another stop.

Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, and Covent Garden

The central route passes through Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, and Covent Garden. These stops show a different side of London from Westminster’s government buildings and royal parks.

Piccadilly Circus is a good place to hop off for a short walk through the West End. Trafalgar Square gives you access to the National Gallery area and a clear view of Nelson’s Column. Covent Garden is useful for shops, restaurants, and street activity, with the exact feel changing throughout the day.

The bus can be slow through this district. That is not always a problem if you are sitting upstairs with the commentary running, but it can be frustrating if you are trying to reach a timed London Eye slot or a museum appointment.

I would use the bus here for sightseeing, not for a strict point-to-point schedule. If you need to be somewhere at a fixed time, leave a generous margin or choose another form of transport.

St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London

The route then reaches the City, London’s old financial district. You pass the Bank of England, Monument, and St Paul’s Cathedral before continuing toward the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

St Paul’s is one of the most impressive exterior views on the route. The dome rises above the surrounding streets, and the changing mix of old churches, office towers, and modern buildings makes this part of the ride especially good for photographs.

Monument marks the Great Fire of London, while the Bank of England represents the City’s long financial role. The bus commentary helps connect these places, although you should not expect a full guided tour at every stop.

If you want to visit St Paul’s or the Tower of London inside, plan those as separate stops. The package takes you past them and makes getting close easy, but admission is not included.

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge from two angles

The eastern end of the bus route brings you to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, City Hall, and The Shard. This is where the Thames cruise becomes especially valuable.

Tower Bridge looks impressive from the street, but the water gives you a cleaner view of its full structure. The cruise lets you sit back and watch the bridge, riverside buildings, and working parts of the Thames without dealing with traffic.

The Tower of London is another place that deserves a separate visit if you have the time. The bus helps you reach it, but the admission ticket is not part of this package. If your schedule is tight, you can still see the exterior and use the cruise to continue toward Westminster.

The Tower stop can experience long waits at busy times. Check the app before leaving the bus, and do not assume that a short distance means a fast connection.

The Thames cruise is more than a transfer

The one-way City Cruises boat runs between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, taking about 40 minutes. You can board in either direction, and departures generally run every 15 to 40 minutes in summer and every 30 to 40 minutes in winter.

This is the most relaxing part of the package. The river gives you open views of bridges and riverside buildings, and you avoid the stop-start pace of central London roads.

The cruise includes live commentary. Bill, Dave, and Pasquale are among the guides praised for making the ride informative and funny. The tone can vary by departure, but live narration adds a human touch that the recorded bus commentary cannot always match.

Do not treat the cruise as a guaranteed backup if a departure is canceled. One scheduled boat trip may be affected by operational problems, so keep some flexibility if you are connecting to another timed activity. If boat fumes bother you, you may prefer an outdoor position or a seat with better ventilation.

The three bus routes and how to use them

Your pass includes three Big Bus routes. Together, they reach the major central sights, including Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the City, the Tower, South Kensington, Kensington Palace, and Notting Hill.

You do not need to complete every route in one sitting. A better plan is to use one loop for orientation, then hop off at two or three places that interest you. On a second day, use the bus for areas you missed rather than repeating the entire circuit.

The bus pass is valid for 24 or 48 hours, depending on your selection. The 48-hour period begins when you first activate and board, which gives you useful flexibility if you arrive in London late in the day.

The app is worth downloading before you start. It shows live bus positions and stop locations, though the map can take a little practice. Stop numbers are not always obvious, so ask Big Bus staff when in doubt.

Walking tours with the 48-hour ticket

Only the 48-hour ticket includes the three guided walks. These are the Royal Walk from Stop 8 at 10:00, the Jack the Ripper walk from Stop 19 at 13:00, and the Harry Potter walk from Stop 21 at 16:00.

The walks give you a reason to get off the bus and explore at street level. The Harry Potter walk has been especially popular with families, and guide Lea has been praised for keeping children interested while showing more of the city.

Check the meeting times before you build your day. These are fixed departures, unlike the bus, so a delayed route or long Eye queue could make you miss one. If the walks matter to you, plan them first and fit the bus around them.

Who gets the best value from this tour

This package suits first-time visitors, families, and anyone with one or two days to see the main sights without planning every Underground connection. It is also useful if you want a gentle overview before choosing which buildings and neighborhoods deserve more time.

The open top deck is a major draw in good weather. You get better photographs and a wider view than from a regular city bus. On rainy or cold days, the lower deck keeps the tour possible, but the experience is less scenic.

The ticket is less suitable if you already know London well or need fast transport. Traffic can reduce the number of stops you manage in a day, and buses may run later than expected. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must reach the route yourself.

The package is wheelchair accessible, with ramps on all buses. Infants under two travel free. These practical details make it workable for a mixed-age group, though you should still allow extra time for boarding and timed attractions.

Should you book the London Eye, bus, and cruise package?

Book it if you want a broad first look at London and value the mix of sightseeing rather than speed. The strongest plan is to reserve the London Eye early, use the bus for orientation and selected stops, and take the Thames cruise between Westminster and the Tower.

Choose 48 hours if you have two sightseeing days or want the walking tours. Choose 24 hours if your main goal is to combine the Eye, cruise, and a single bus day.

I would not choose it as your only transport pass if you have a packed schedule. London traffic is the clear weakness. But for a first visit, the three viewpoints, flexible stops, multilingual audio, live bus tracking, and river commentary make this a useful and easy-to-understand introduction to the city.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

You can choose a 24-hour or 48-hour Big Bus ticket. The bus access period depends on the option selected.

Where can I start the bus tour?

You can board at any Big Bus stop during operating hours. Stop 12 at the London Eye, on Westminster Bridge Road near the Lion Statue, is a recommended starting point.

Do I need to reserve a time for the London Eye?

Yes. After booking, you must pre-book a London Eye time slot through the Big Bus Manage My Booking portal.

Is the Thames cruise included?

Yes. All ticket types include one one-way cruise between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, in either direction.

How long is the river cruise?

The cruise takes about 40 minutes.

How often do the river boats depart?

In summer, boats generally depart every 15 to 40 minutes. In winter, departures are generally every 30 to 40 minutes.

Are the guided walking tours included with every ticket?

No. The Royal Walk, Jack the Ripper walk, and Harry Potter walk are included only with the 48-hour ticket.

What languages are available for the bus audio guide?

Audio commentary is available in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The buses have ramps for wheelchair users.

Can infants join the tour?

Yes. Infants under two travel free.