Bus & Coach · LONDON BUS TOURS

The 15 Best London Bus Tours & Open-Top Rides

32 tours  ·  from $29 a head

Four operators run the same streets in London and the tickets are not interchangeable. These 15 sort Big Bus from Tootbus from City Sightseeing, name which ones include a river cruise, and cover the Routemaster, tea and Christmas-lights rides on top.

London: Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tour & Branded Bus - Four hours inside the studio
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London: Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tour & Branded Bus

1.Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tour & Branded Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 19,194 reviews · 7h 30m · from $151Our pick

Travel from Victoria on a Warner Bros. Studio Tour branded bus, watch a Harry Potter film on the way, then spend four hours exploring the real sets, props, costumes, creatures, and special effects from all eight films. This is an unescorted visit, so you explore at your own pace. A digital guide is available to hire at the studio.

“Everything was wonderful, but for those who are fans of the Wizarding World and not solely accompanying children, the 3.5 hours allotted at the WB Studio may not be sufficient to fully explore and enjoy all the offerings. Therefore, it would be advisable to purchase admission tickets separately and arrange individual transportation, whether by car, Uber, or train to Watford Junction, followed by the shuttle bus to WB Studios.”

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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - The blue route reaches Hyde Park, museums, and Notting Hill
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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

2.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39

See London from an open-top double-decker bus across three routes covering Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, St. Paul’s, Notting Hill, and the British Museum. Choose a one-day, 24-hour, or 48-hour pass. The longer tickets add a one-way Thames cruise, while selected 48-hour options include walking tours and an evening ride.

“I chose one day because it said 1 day from when you start. This is different from 24 hours. The options should really be 12, 24, 48 hours. The wording was misleading.”

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City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Bookable Extras - Use the Blue Route for Kensington and the museums
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City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Bookable Extras

3.City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Bookable Extras

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 7,374 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $33

Use a 1, 2, or 3-day City Sightseeing London pass to explore 54 stops across three routes. Ride past Big Ben, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, Harrods, Kensington Palace, and Buckingham Palace with multilingual audio commentary. Upgrade your pass for a Thames cruise, vintage Routemaster ride, Greenwich trip, or evening tour.

“Positives: The route is well planned and the high frequency of buses Negatives: the buses had lots of rubbish”

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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional River Cruise) - Starting at Coventry Street or another London stop
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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional River Cruise)

4.Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional River Cruise)

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 7,045 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $47

See London’s big sights from an open-top Tootbus, then hop off for the Tower, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s, Soho, or Borough Market. Your 24, 48, or 72-hour ticket includes multilingual audio, child-friendly commentary, live bus tracking, and four self-guided walks. Add a one-way City Cruises trip between Westminster and Tower Pier.

“The ability to go at my pace if I went at all. The routes are comprehensive of the city. Just ride and listen or go wherever. The boat ride is a highlight. The ride was informative and interesting.”

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London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour - Harrods and the Lights of Knightsbridge
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London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

5.London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,516 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29Best value

Ride a yellow See London by Night bus from Green Park for 90 minutes of live English commentary and city views. You pass Wellington Arch, Harrods, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus. Guides such as Michael and Shannon add jokes, facts, and photo cues. Bring warm layers for the open top.

“Was amazing, unfortunately we cannot see the Buckingham Palace during the tour but the guide was so funny, worth the money!”

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London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide - From London Eye or Victoria into the festive center
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London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide

6.Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5,410 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $33

Take a 60 to 90-minute evening bus ride past Regent Street, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, and the London Eye. An English-speaking guide such as Brennan, Shaun, Emma, or Ethan adds London stories and humor. Choose an open-air upper deck for the best views or a warmer lower deck.

“Dominic was very entertaining and informative. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip.”

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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Begin near the London Eye at Stop 12
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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,332 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $74

Pair Big Bus London’s 24 or 48-hour hop-on route with a London Eye flight and one-way Thames cruise. You can start at any stop, but Stop 12 by the Eye is a useful base. Pre-book your Eye time, use the app for bus tracking, and save the 48-hour ticket for walking tours.

“The convinience of Hop on and Hop off, once you figure it out thru the Big Bus app.”

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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise - Blue Route: Kensington, Harrods, and the Tower of London
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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

8.Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,875 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $35

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus ticket to see London from an open-top deck, with routes linking Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, St Paul’s, the Tower, Kensington, and more. Add a 40-minute Thames cruise, guided walks, or a 2-hour evening tour. Audio commentary, WiFi, headphones, and wheelchair access are included.

“Love big red bus tours, essential for orienting yourself .”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and Kensington
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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

9.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

See London by open-top double-decker bus on three routes linking Buckingham Palace, Westminster, the Tower, St Paul’s, museums, and Notting Hill. Use the pass for one, two, or three days, then add a Thames cruise during the same validity period. Audio commentary, children’s narration, and an app with live bus locations are included.

“This was our first time visiting London and this was a great way to see all the sites. There were plenty of busses so we didn’t have to wait long for another one when we got off to wander around”

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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise - The Yellow Route, your best overview of central London
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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

10.Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,653 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $52

Use Tootbus to see London’s main sights without mastering the Underground on day one. Ride open-top routes past Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s, and Tower Bridge, then add a City Cruises Thames trip. The app tracks buses, stores your ticket, and guides four self-led walks. Audio is available in 10 languages, with child-friendly English and French options.

“I recommend to do a tour like this on the first day of your vacation in a big city to give you an idea of what to visit.”

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London: Guided Sightseeing Tour on a Vintage Open-Top Bus - Starting at Embankment Stop 40B
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London: Guided Sightseeing Tour on a Vintage Open-Top Bus

11.Guided Sightseeing Tour on a Vintage Open-Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,890 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $40

Ride a 1960s open-top Red Routemaster from Embankment while an English-speaking guide points out St. Paul’s, the Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus. Guides such as Johnny, Paul, and Will are known for lively stories and humor. Bring a warm scarf, since the upper deck can be chilly.

“fantastic tour through London with Johnny and Bob. Make sure to wear a warm scarf on the upper level of the bus”

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London: Comedy Horror Ghost Tour on a Bus - Meeting the Necrobus near Trafalgar Square
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London: Comedy Horror Ghost Tour on a Bus

12.Comedy Horror Ghost Tour on a Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,084 reviews · 1 hour · from $37

Join a creepy conductor on a one-hour English-language ride through London’s West End, Westminster, Fleet Street, the Tower area, London Bridge, and south of the river. The vintage 1960s Routemaster, live actors, dark jokes, and surprise effects make this a playful alternative to a standard sightseeing bus.

“Our guide, Oliver, was great—very knowledgeable and genuinely funny, which made the whole experience even more entertaining. He struck the perfect balance between comedy and historical storytelling. We were taken on a whistle-stop tour of some fantastic London locations, with plenty of interesting historical facts along the way—many of them dark and grisly, which really added to the atmosphere of the tour. The bus itself was a highlight. Travelling on a beautiful black 1960s Routemaster made the experience feel unique and immersive, adding a vintage charm that fit the theme perfectly. Overall, it was a great tour—funny, informative, and something a bit different. I’d definitely recommend it ...”

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Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise - London Eye, Westminster, and the royal center
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Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

13.Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,064 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $32

See London from an open-top bus with routes linking the London Eye, Tower of London, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, museums, and Notting Hill. Your ticket can cover four hours, one day, or 24 hours. The 24-hour option includes a one-way Thames cruise, while selected blue routes offer live guides such as Mark, Tim, and Mike.

“Our guide, Mark, was wonderful! Extremely knowledgeable, excitingly entertaining story teller and historian. We were even fortunate enough to see King Charles on his way to Buckingham Palace. Highly recommend!”

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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide - The Strand and the West End lights
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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

14.London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,040 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Ride an open-top bus from the London Eye through central London for 60 to 90 minutes of Christmas lights, landmarks, and live commentary. You’ll pass Regent Street, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Fortnum & Mason, and Big Ben. Guides vary, with Emma, Samuel, Abby, and James among those praised for lively storytelling.

“Ultimate touristy thing and well worth it. Our guide, Sean was funny, informative, thoughtful and really kept the tour going. Driver Colin was an expert. Highly recommend.”

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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - 1960s Routemaster Bus - From Victoria Coach Station into central London
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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

15.Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,032 reviews · 1 hour 25 minutes (approx.) · from $87

Ride a vintage 1960s Routemaster from Victoria Coach Station through central London with afternoon tea, sandwiches, pastries, and recorded commentary. You may sit upstairs or below, with seating assigned by staff. The 85-minute route passes Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, and Mayfair.

“I had the most wonderful experience on the Tea Party Bus Tour for my birthday! The food was absolutely delicious. The service was exceptional, with the staff going above and beyond to make the experience special. The bus was spotlessly clean and adorned with beautiful decorations that created a charming and cozy atmosphere. It truly felt like a one-of-a-kind celebration. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking for a unique and memorable outing!”

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New in London Bus Tours

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★ 4.7Great British Afternoon Tea Bus TourFrom $80616 reviews
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