London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour offers an effortless and flexible way to explore London’s most celebrated sites and attractions. With double-decker buses, you can easily hop on and off at various stops along several routes, taking advantage of the ease and flexibility while soaking up the city’s incredible, globally renowned landmarks at affordable prices.
Read on to discover everything about Hop-On, Hop-Off Tours in London—from bus ticket prices, timings, and must-visit spots along the tour!
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London: The Heartbeat of the United Kingdom
At the epicenter of the United Kingdom lies London, a city rich in history and culture. Its endless fascination lies in a wide array of attractions that cater to every interest and curiosity.
As the capital and largest city of England and the UK, London is also a major global hub, having significant influence across art, entertainment, fashion, commerce, finance, education, healthcare, media, science, technology, tourism, transport, and communications.
A dazzling blend of the ancient and the modern, London is home to several iconic landmarks like the Tower of London, alongside the magnificent London Eye. Whether exploring royal palaces, visiting captivating museums, or wandering through vibrant, fashionable neighborhoods, there’s something for everyone in this remarkable city.
London Hop-On, Hop-Off Tours: An Overview
London beckons the world as one of the most strikingly beautiful cities in the world. The city hosts the famous hop-on, hop-off tours that allow travelers to experience the rich history, culture, and lifestyle with over 40 stops across three different routes.
Take your time at each stop, exploring to your heart’s content, before hopping back on the bus to continue your journey. With the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, you can discover the city’s vibrant culture and fascinating history comfortably and at your own pace.
The tour features live or recorded commentary, providing intriguing insights into the city’s landmarks and history. Some packages even include extras like river cruises or walking tours, making it an excellent option for anyone eager to experience the best of London with ease.
A Variety of Tours Available
The London hop-on, hop-off bus tours are a great way to explore the city at your own pace, allowing you to get on and off the bus whenever you want.
The bus covers all the major attractions, like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and the London Eye so that you can see the best of London in one trip. With multiple routes and buses running frequently, you can plan your tour based on your interests and schedule.
Many tickets also come with extra perks like walking tours, river cruises, and evening tours, giving you more value for your money. Plus, audio guides in several languages provide interesting facts and history about the places you visit, making the tour fun and educational.
Big Bus London sightseeing buses adhere to a well-planned timetable, ensuring that a bus is always nearby. Running throughout the day, the tour encompasses three routes and visits 51 must-see spots. This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, offering a mix of historical landmarks and scenic views. Enjoy perks like free cancellation, instant confirmation, mobile ticket access, flexible duration, and an audio guide.
Depending on the pass you choose, Big Bus London hop-on hop-off tours also offer various extras, such as walking tours, cruises, and evening tours.
Here are the timings.
1. Royal Walk
Alt: Royal Walk London
Taken from the Internet
- Timings: 10 AM (Daily)
- Departure Points: Green Park Underground & Trafalgar Square
- Ticket Types:
- Essential Pass: 48 hours of access + River Cruise
- Explore Pass: 48 hours of access + River Cruise + Evening Tour
2. Little Legs Kids Tour
- Timings: 2 PM (Every weekend, daily from May 27-31, and throughout July & August)
- Departure Point: Westminster Pier
- Ticket Types:
- Essential Pass: 48 hours of access + River Cruise
- Explore Pass: 48 hours of access + River Cruise + Evening Tour
3. River Cruise
Taken from the Internet
- Frequency: Every 50 minutes (approximately)
- Boarding Points: Tower Pier, Greenwich Pier, Westminster Pier, or London Eye Pier
- Ticket Types:
- Essential Pass: 48 hours of access + River Cruise
- Explore Pass: 48 hours of access + River Cruise + Evening Tour
4. Evening Tour
Taken from the internet
- Timing: 7:30 PM
- Boarding Point: London Eye
- Duration: 2 hours
- Ticket Type: Explore Pass includes 48 hours of access + River Cruise + Evening Tour
This breaks down all the activities, timing, and ticket options, making it easy to understand for visitors.
Big Bus London Routes: An Important Insight
The Big Bus offers three different routes in the daytime, which are as follows:
1. Red Route
The Red Route, or Classic Red tour, takes you through the best spots in Central London. Some highlights include Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Big Ben, and St Paul’s Cathedral.
- First stop: Green Park Underground
- Timings: 8:30am – 6pm
- Frequency: Every 10 to 20 minutes
- No. of stops: 24
- Full loop duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
2. Blue Route
The Blue Route, or Big Blue tour, is excellent for visitors who want to see the best of West London. It takes you to places like Kensington Palace, Harrods, and Notting Hill. The tour starts near Piccadilly and goes through popular shopping areas like Park Lane, Regent Street, Oxford Circus, and Hyde Park.
- First stop: Green Park Underground
- Timings: 8:30am – 6pm
- Frequency: Every 10 to 20 minutes
- No. of stops: 24
- Full loop duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
3. Green Route
This route mainly serves as a connection between Euston Station and King’s Cross Station to Central London. It begins at Covent Garden and has 10 stops, including popular attractions like the British Museum, Russell Square, and Holborn.
- First stop: Woburn – Northbound
- Timings: 8:30am – 6pm
- Frequency: Every 30 to 60 minutes
- No. of stops: 10
- Full loop duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
TootBus London Tours
Hop on an eco-friendly open-top bus and enjoy amazing views of famous London landmarks like the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and St. James’s Palace. You can hop off at any stop to explore the sites more closely. Visit the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, or climb St. Paul’s Cathedral’s dome.
Tootbus tours offer flexible itineraries, multilingual commentaries, and a range of affordable options to suit every traveler.
TootBus Tour includes:
Tootbus: London Kids Tour with Live Guide:
Explore the best of London with the flexibility of the kids’ tour. One ticket gives you the freedom to see all of London’s famous landmarks.
The tour is convenient and runs every 45 minutes from Friday to Sunday and on holidays, so you won’t miss any of the city’s top attractions.
What’s Included
- 45-minute bus tour of London
- Live commentary in English
- Free Wi-Fi
Route Details
- First bus: 11 AM from Charles II Street (times may vary by season)
- Last bus: 3 PM from Charles II Street (times may vary by season)
- Buses run every 45 minutes
Experience the city in style on an open-top bus, with fun live commentary for kids that makes London’s history exciting.
Popular sights on the tour include Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Downing Street, and more.
Tootbus: London Evening Bus Tour
- Experience the magic of London at night on a 90-minute tour aboard an open-top bus, perfect for seeing the city’s landmarks lit up.
- The tour follows a single route designed for photo opportunities, with city lights adding an extra sparkle to your pictures.
- An audio guide, available in 10 languages, will share stories and facts about the places you pass, making the tour both fun and educational.
- See all the major landmarks like the Tower of London, the London Eye, and The Shard.
What’s Included
- 90-minute evening bus tour of London
- Audio guide in 10 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian, Chinese, Russian and Arabic)
- Free earphones
Not Included
- No live guide on this tour
Route Details
- Evening tour departure times:
- 8:30 PM (May 29 to Sep 3)
- 7:30 PM (Sep 4 to Sep 24)
- 7:00 PM (Sep 25 to Oct 29)
- 5:30 PM (Oct 30 to Nov 12)
- Departs from Coventry Street
- Runs once a day
Additional Information
- The buses are wheelchair accessible.
- Tickets are flexible and can be used any day before the scheduled tour date, but they can’t be used if the first travel date has passed.
- The tour is not a hop-on hop-off service and runs from May 29 to Nov 12. The tour is closed from Nov 13 to Mar 28.
Tootbus: London Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour with Thames River Cruise
- Ride the hop-on hop-off bus as many times as you want for 24, 48, or 72 hours.
- Buses come every 15 to 40 minutes, with 3 routes and 40+ stops to explore all over London.
- Enjoy a bonus sightseeing river cruise on the Thames River.
- Eco-friendly double-decker buses with multilingual audio guides for both adults and kids.
- Popular stops include Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and more.
What’s Included
- 24/48/72-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour
- Access to the Yellow, Blue, and Green routes
- Thames River cruise
- 3 self-guided walking tours
- Audio guide in 10 languages
- Kid’s audio guide in English and French (Yellow route only)
- Free Wi-Fi and earphones made from recyclable materials
- Mobile app with live bus tracking
- Discounted family tickets
Route Details
You can hop on or off the bus at any stop during the tour.
- Yellow Route:
- First bus: 8:30 AM from Coventry Street
- Last bus: 8:00 PM (Mon-Thu: 7:00 PM)
- Popular stops: London Eye, Buckingham Palace
- Royal Blue Route:
- First bus: 8:30 AM from Grosvenor Gardens
- Last bus: 6:20 PM (Mon-Thu: 5:00 PM)
- Popular stops: Parliament Street, Harrods
- Green Route:
- First bus: 8:35 AM from Wyndham’s Theatre
- Last bus: 7:30 PM (until Sept 27: 5:30 PM)
- Popular stops: British Museum, Bedford Place
Thames River Cruise
- From Tower Pier:
- First boat: 10:00 AM
- Last boat: 5:15 PM
- Popular stops: Westminster Pier
- From Westminster Pier:
- First boat: 10:00 AM
- Last boat: 6:00 PM
- Popular stops: London Eye, Tower Pier
Important Things to Know
- Explore local markets like Borough Market and Portobello Road Market for great food and unique finds.
- The buses run on biodiesel and are ultra-low emission.
- Access self-guided walking tours through the Tootbus app, featuring Kensington Gardens, Buckingham Palace, and more.
- Buses are wheelchair-accessible, and guide dogs are welcome. Pets and small dogs must sit on your lap.
- Children 4 and under travel free if they don’t need a separate seat.
- Tickets can be used on any day before the tour date but cannot be used after the first day of travel.
London City Sightseeing Bus Tours
This tour is perfect for those looking for an easy, flexible way to explore the city and learn about London’s rich history. London City Sightseeing Bus Tours provide an excellent opportunity to discover the city. You can ride on open-top buses that will take you to key landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye.
Why choose London City Sightseeing Tours?
- Comprehensive coverage: The bus routes cover all the top landmarks and attractions in London, so you won’t miss out on any of the city’s famous sights.
- Flexibility: With the hop-on hop-off option, you can explore London at your own pace. Get off the bus to visit any attraction you like, then hop back on when you’re ready.
- Informative commentary: The audio guide shares interesting facts and stories about the landmarks you see, making your tour more enjoyable and educational.
- Great value for money: These tours are an affordable way to explore London’s best attractions, especially compared to buying tickets for each site individually.
Available routes: There are three different sightseeing bus routes in London; read below:
Red Route:
- First stop: Belvedere Road
- Timings: 8:30am to 4:15pm
- Frequency: Every 15 minutes
- Number of stops: 20
- Full loop duration: 2 hour 30 minutes
Blue Route:
- First stop: Marble Arch (Park Lane)
- Timings: 8:40 am to 5pm
- Frequency: Every 30 minutes
- Number of stops: 9
- Full loop duration: 1 hour
Green Route:
- First stop: Waterloo Road
- Timings: 9:18am to 4:43pm
- Frequency: Every 30 minutes
- Number of stops: 14
- Full loop duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Golden Tours London
Golden Tours London offers exceptional sightseeing options in the capital, featuring hop-on-hop-off bus tours that take you to iconic locations like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. You can also embark on day trips to popular destinations such as Stonehenge and Windsor Castle, ensuring your visit to London is truly unforgettable.
In addition, Golden Tours introduces a delightful experience with its Central London Tea Bus Tour. This unique 90-minute journey allows you to enjoy a wonderful sightseeing adventure while indulging in a sumptuous high tea. As you take in the sights of Central London, savor delicious treats like smoked salmon on toast and freshly baked scones topped with jam and cream.
Whether you prefer a glass of Prosecco or a comforting cup of tea or coffee, there’s something for everyone. Plus, dietary preferences are accommodated, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available, ensuring that all guests can enjoy this charming experience.
Why to Choose Golden Tours London?
- Comprehensive sightseeing: Golden Tours covers all the major landmarks, like Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye, so you get to see all the best parts of the city.
- Flexibility: You can hop on and off the bus whenever you want at designated stops, making it easy to explore London at your own pace.
- Frequent departures: With buses running often, you won’t have to wait long, giving you more time to enjoy the sights.
- Comfort and value: The buses are comfortable with great views, and Golden Tours offers good deals, giving you a lot for your money.
- Expert guides and audio commentary: Friendly guides share interesting facts, and you can listen to audio guides in different languages to learn more about London’s history and culture.
Available routes: There are three different Golden tours London bus routes in London:
Red Route:
- First stop: Victoria
- Timings: 9am to 7:22pm
- Frequency: Every 20 minutes
- Number of stops: 35
- Full loop duration: 3 hours
Blue Route:
- First stop: London Eye
- Timings: 9:20 am to 6:30pm
- Frequency: Every 20 minutes
- Number of stops: 24
- Full loop duration: 2 hours
Orange Route:
- First stop: Hyde Park Corner
- Timings: 9:30am to 7:30pm
- Frequency: Every 20 minutes
- Number of stops: 35
- Full loop duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
How to Book London Hop-On, Hop-Off Tours?
Booking a London Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour is easy and convenient. Start by selecting a reputable tour operator online, such as Big Bus Tours or The Original Tour.
Visit their website or app, choose your desired package—standard, premium, or deluxe—and select the number of days you wish to travel. You can also add extras like a river cruise or guided walking tours. After booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your e-ticket.
Simply present the e-ticket at any designated stop and enjoy sightseeing around London at your own pace. Booking on-site at popular tourist spots is also an option.
To get your tickets booked and to know about ticket prices, you can click on London Hop on Hop off
What is the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour Cancellation policy?
You typically have until 24 hours before the start of your Hop-On Hop-Off London tour to cancel your tickets for a full refund. However, it’s important to check the specific cancellation policies of your ticket provider, as these can vary. Always confirm the details when making your booking.
Parting Thoughts
In conclusion, the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour in London offers a fantastic way to explore the city’s rich history and vibrant culture at your own pace. With convenient routes covering iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye, this tour provides an excellent overview of the capital’s must-see sights.
The flexibility to hop on hop off and off allows you to spend as much time as you wish at each location, making it ideal for both first-time visitors and seasoned travelers.
This tour ensures you’ll have a remarkable experience. Anyone wishing to explore the beauty of London will find the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour to be an excellent choice.
FAQs
- Can you bring food and drinks on the London hop-on hop-off bus?
While you can have light snacks and drinks on the bus, it’s important to consume them wisely to keep the area tidy. Hot food and alcoholic beverages are usually not allowed.
- Do London hop-on hop-off bus tours include a guide?
Many London hop-on hop-off bus tours have live guides or audio commentary in different languages. The guides share fun facts and stories about the landmarks you’ll see. While some tours have live guides, others use recorded audio to tell you about the sights. It’s a good idea to check the specific tour details to know what to expect.
- Can I start my London hop-on hop-off bus tour at any stop?
Yes, you can begin your London hop-on hop-off bus tour at any stop on the route. Just find a stop, get on the next bus, and start exploring.
- Do the buses have hotel pickups?
Most hop-on hop-off bus tours in London do not offer hotel pickups. However, they usually have designated stops near major hotels and attractions. It’s best to check the specific tour details or contact the provider for information on nearby pickup points.
- What languages are available for the tour commentary?
The commentary for London hop-on hop-off tours is typically available in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic.
- What time is the best time to visit London for Hop-ON, Hop-Off tours?
The ideal time to experience Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours in London is generally in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October). These seasons often bring pleasant weather and smaller crowds compared to the busy summer months. Also Read: Unique Things to Do in Madrid
