Our 10 Favourite Vintage Bus Tours in the UK

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

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

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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2.London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,132 reviews · 1h 15m · from $37Best value

Ride a genuine 1960s Routemaster through London’s Christmas-lit streets for 75 minutes. Your English-speaking guide adds jokes, music, history, and local color as you pass Oxford Street, Regent Street, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, Harrods, and major landmarks. Top-deck seating is guaranteed, but seats are first come, first served, so arrive early and dress warmly.

“It was wonderful except the one 25 minutes before was late arriving and guests became quite agitated and angry, believing they should go first. I felt bad for the representative who seemed at a loss, despite calling head office who would not allow him to accommodate the earlier guests. Recommend that a back up plan should be in place for such occurrences, if possible. Otherwise well done. Many thanks.”

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3.Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 770 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $48

Ride an open-top 1960s Routemaster from Embankment through London’s Christmas-lit West End. An English-speaking guide, festive music, and photo stops bring you past Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Guides such as Rory, Lola, and Kate are known for warm, lively commentary.

“It was great tour seeing the lights and singing along with christmas songs. Rory our guide and driver very nice and helpfull people. Loved it!!!”

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4.Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 699 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $57

Ride Edinburgh’s vintage Red Bus Bistro for 90 minutes while enjoying prosecco, tea, coffee, sandwiches, warm scones, quiches, cakes, and optional Edinburgh Gin cocktails served in teapots. Staff such as Helen, Jimmy, Mark, and Steven add humor and helpful landmark notes, though this is more a moving tea room than a formal sightseeing tour.

“It was amazing! We loved every second of it 🥰 cant wait to join again sometime!”

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5.Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 586 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a 3.5-hour tour by 1960s red Routemaster bus and Thames boat. Hear stories from guides such as Alan, Lisa, Steve, or Magnus while seeing Buckingham Palace, Westminster, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and more. Add the London Eye for 360-degree views or continue to Stonehenge.

“Harrowing ride through loaded London streets, more fun than an amusement park ride just watching our driver! Lisa was wonderful and taught us a ton despite the intermittent rain. Was the perfect trip to acquaint us on our first day in the city. Boat tour was frosting on the cake!”

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6.Glasgow: Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 434 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $58

Spend 90 minutes aboard Glasgow’s classic Red Bus Bistro, with tea, coffee, sandwiches, scones, cakes, mini quiches, and a glass of prosecco. Add gin cocktails served in teapots. Hosts such as Helen, George, Nicky, and Jim keep the mood lively while you pass the People’s Palace, Kelvingrove, and the Transport Museum.

“The tour was amazing. You have proper tea while driving around the city. You get to see a lot of the city but they only talk about a few places so it’s not a good historical tour but it’s a great sightseeing tour. The staff was amazing. On hotter days you may want to request being on the bottom floor if you’re sensitive to heat. It was pretty hot with few windows. The day was particularly warm though”

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7.Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 245 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $43

Meet at Gate 0 inside Victoria Coach Station for a 90-minute Christmas lights tour on a restored vintage double-decker bus. Your English-speaking guide points out Oxford Street, Regent Street, Knightsbridge, Big Ben, Westminster, and Trafalgar Square. Upper-deck seats are not guaranteed, and warm clothing is essential.

“Christmas lights in London can't be missed! Amazing! Toby, our tour guide had some unknown trivia for us about some of the areas! Weather was good! Freezing but good. Dress in multiple layers!”

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8.Vintage Bus Tour and London Eye Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 148 reviews · 4 hours · from $130

Spend four hours seeing central London by vintage double-decker bus, Thames boat, and London Eye. Your English-speaking guide covers Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. Morning departures may include the Changing of the Guard, while afternoon tours offer a palace photo stop instead.

“Alan was great! Provided a great and very knowledge filled tour with some comedy. Definitely recommend taking the tour lots of great landmarks to see and learn about the history behind them.”

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9.Sussex Vineyard & Winery Bus Tour on Iconic Vintage London Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 89 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $201

Set out from Brighton with guide Danny on a small-group wine tour aboard an iconic vintage London bus. Visit Court Gardens Farm and a second Sussex estate, which may vary, for tutored tastings of sparkling and still wines. Your day includes a locally made picnic hamper, vineyard walks, and round-trip transport.

“My first ever vineyard experience was fun and interesting. Lovely wine from Court Garden and a very pleasant lunch at Springs' Smokery in Edburton. The tour ended with a visit to Henry's Marani at Plumton College to learn about Georgian wine making which was very interesting. A very enjoyable day out.”

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10.Vintage Bus Wine Tour with Return Train Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · 8 hours · from $214

Meet your English-speaking guide at London Bridge, take the train to Brighton, then ride a 1960s red Routemaster bus into Sussex wine country. Visit two award-winning vineyards, taste at least eight still and sparkling wines, tour a winery, and eat a locally sourced picnic lunch among the vines. This adults-only tour runs rain or shine.

“we had a very enjoyable day- unfortunately due to some transport difficulties we had a nerve wracking journey at the start - but once we arrived all was well. The two visits were very informative and the wine was delicious and varied. the pace of the trip was good, allowing time to enjoy both visits- we just thought that the lunch was limited and the food, especially the cheese, ran out quickly.”

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