London · LONDON BUS TOURS

The 15 Best Hop-On Hop-Off & Bus Tours in London

34 tours  ·  from $29 a head

The open top deck is the lazy way to see London, and on a dry day it is a good one. These 15 bus tours compare routes, how often the buses run and which ones add a river cruise.

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - What the central route gives you
London Bus Tours, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

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

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

Ride Big Bus London’s double-decker routes past Westminster, St. Paul’s, the Tower, Kensington and more. Hop off to explore, listen to recorded commentary in seven languages, and use onboard Wi-Fi. A one-way Thames cruise comes with 24- and 48-hour tickets, while 48-hour options add walking tours.

“great way to see london. i do this tour everywhere I go. I will say it takes a very long time for bus to complete loop.”

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London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour - Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye
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London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

2.London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

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

Ride an open-top bus from Green Park past Harrods, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and Piccadilly Circus. A live English-speaking guide shares stories along the way. Guides such as Michael and Shannon have been praised for their humor and well-informed commentary. Bring warm layers: the top deck can feel cold, even on a clear evening.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and funny. He kept the tour interesting even when we got stuck in a traffic jam. It was overall incredible. We went in October and it was very chilly on the top, so be sure to rug up!”

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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Follow the landmarks from Westminster to the City
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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

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

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

Pair a 24- or 48-hour Big Bus pass with a London Eye ride and a one-way Thames cruise between Westminster and Tower Pier. You can board at any Big Bus stop, use the app to track buses and choose from three routes. The 48-hour option also includes three guided walks, including Harry Potter and Jack the Ripper tours.

“Harry potter wslking tour with Lea was very informative and kids loved it. We got to see a lot of the city on this walk. Bus was good, but traffic slowed progress to a crawl at times. London eye and river cruise were very enjoyable.”

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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise - From Westminster to the Tower by boat
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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

4.Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 4,327 reviews · from $41

Ride Tootbus’s open-top buses across three London routes, hopping off at 45 stops for landmarks such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace. Your 24-, 48- or 72-hour ticket includes multilingual audio, child-friendly English and French commentary, live tracking and four self-guided walks. Add a one-way City Cruises trip between Westminster and Tower Pier.

“I enjoyed it very much a good guide a small group and the sun came out I would highly recommend the tour 😀”

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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise - Make landmark stops count
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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

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

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

Tour London by hop-on hop-off bus across three routes and more than 50 stops, with multilingual audio commentary. The 24- and 48-hour options include a one-way Thames cruise; 48-hour tickets add guided walks, and an optional evening tour shows the city after dark.

“Loved it… we were able to experience all the sights and sounds of London. Very informative and touched on all the key points”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - The Thames cruise is a worthwhile change of pace
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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

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

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

Ride Tootbus’s double-decker buses on three London routes, hopping off near Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, museums, and more. Your pass includes adult and children’s audio commentary, app-based bus tracking, and a Thames sightseeing cruise valid for the same period as your bus pass. Choose a one, two, or three-day option.

“Three lines available to ensure you don’t miss the best bits of London. Yellow is definitely the best line of the three, though! Clean and comfortable buses, friendly and knowledgeable staff - highly recommend!”

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London: Christmas Lights Nighttime Bus Tour with Live Guide - Trafalgar Square and its towering Christmas tree
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London: Christmas Lights Nighttime Bus Tour with Live Guide

7.Christmas Lights Nighttime Bus Tour with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,720 reviews · from $40

Take a 1.5-hour open-top bus tour past London’s Christmas lights and landmarks, including Regent Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and the London Eye. An English-speaking guide shares city history and festive details. Guides have included Emma, Gee and Harriet; traffic can extend the ride, so dress warmly and allow extra time.

“The route and guide were excellent but didn’t think you should have to pay for a 2 year old on your lap”

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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise - Make the Thames cruise part of the plan
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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

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

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

See London from an open-top Tootbus and the Thames, with a 24, 48 or 72-hour pass, audio commentary in 10 languages, a children’s channel, and four self-guided walking tours. Hop off near landmarks such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, then use the app to find your next bus.

“The shuttles ran on time. We were very pleased with the experience.”

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London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise - Westminster to the London Eye
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London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

9.River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,112 reviews · 1 day · from $33

See London from an all-weather, wheelchair-friendly boat, with live crew commentary and a bar selling drinks and snacks. Your 24-hour ticket lets you hop on and off at Westminster, the London Eye, Tower Pier and Greenwich. Highlights include Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Cutty Sark. Sailings run daily except Christmas Day, with times subject to river conditions.

“Great experience good value for money and the guys on board running it was excellent very informative and amusing much better than an audio recording”

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London: Guided Sightseeing Tour on a Vintage Open-Top Bus - Embankment to St. Paul’s: a quick orientation
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London: Guided Sightseeing Tour on a Vintage Open-Top Bus

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

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

Ride a 1960s open-top Routemaster from Embankment past St. Paul’s, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster and Piccadilly Circus. An English-speaking guide provides live commentary, with guides such as Johnny, Paul and Alfie known for mixing London history with humor. It is a compact overview, not a hop-on, hop-off tour.

“Everything was great! Our guide was perfect knowledgeable and funny! Driver was amazing too!”

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Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise - The northern circuit reaches stations, museums, and the Zoo
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Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

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

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

Use a one-day hop-on hop-off ticket to link London’s big sights, from the London Eye and Westminster to the Tower, Hyde Park, Notting Hill, and Harrods. Expect recorded commentary in 12 languages, Wi-Fi, and live guides on selected Blue-route buses. A one-way Thames cruise is included with the 24-hour option only.

“Tim was a fabulous in person tour guide! Moses was a great driver. Our other 2 hop on buses did not have live guides and that was a major disappointment. Very uninteresting drive without live guides.”

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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide - Trafalgar Square and its Norwegian tree
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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

12.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 the West End, passing Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Fortnum & Mason, and Big Ben. A live English-speaking guide shares London history and Christmas traditions. The ride lasts about 60 to 90 minutes, with no stops or restroom on board.

“Knowledgeable announcer with a lovely voice. The time flew by and we got to see many major attractions.”

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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - 1960s Routemaster Bus - Commentary and the pace of the ride
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London: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

13.Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – 1960s Routemaster Bus

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

Board a vintage double-decker at Victoria Coach Station for an 85-minute afternoon tea ride through central London. Enjoy sandwiches, cakes, pastries and tea or coffee as recorded commentary and music accompany views of Harrods, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park and Mayfair. Staff assign your table upstairs or down, so a top-deck seat is not guaranteed.

“What a delight! Was a little concerned that it might be kinda gimmicky, but Cara made it a real treat. Food was good and more than enough and the tea choices fabulous and hot ! Would recommend and would do again with friends.”

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London: Nighttime Open-Top Bus Sightseeing Tour - What you see from the London Eye departure
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London: Nighttime Open-Top Bus Sightseeing Tour

14.Nighttime Open-Top Bus Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,362 reviews · from $39

Set off from the London Eye or, on a dated seasonal schedule, Green Park for a 90-minute open-top ride past sights such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral. An English-speaking guide adds stories and jokes, with audio in 12 languages. Sit upstairs for open-air views, or downstairs if you prefer shelter.

“Our tour guide Jack was absolutely brilliant! Had us all in stitches, very witty and knowledgeable.”

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Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames - Tower Pier and the eastbound journey
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Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

15.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,256 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

Board a City Cruises boat at Westminster, Waterloo near the London Eye, Tower or Greenwich pier. This one-day hop-on hop-off pass pairs river views with onboard commentary, an indoor saloon and open deck. You can ride the route or get off to explore, then check the timetable for the next boat. Drinks are sold onboard; food is not included.

“Very good. Easy to locate. The personnel very helpful. Not really hop on and off. Went from Westminster to Tower bridge and back. Guide told same stories each way.”

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New in London Bus Tours

★ 4.3London Vintage Bus Tour: Live Comedy Sightseeing ShowFrom $48217 reviews
★ 4.3Vintage Double Decker Bus Tour & Thames River CruiseFrom $83226 reviews
★ 4.0Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off busFrom $329227 reviews
★ 4.3Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker BusFrom $43245 reviews
★ 3.9Panoramic Open-Top Bus TourFrom $47256 reviews
★ 4.0Hop-On Hop-Off 1-Day River Sightseeing AdventureFrom $34257 reviews
★ 3.5London Eye Ticket, Big Bus Hop-on Hop-Off Tour & River CruiseFrom $82275 reviews
★ 4.0London Vintage Bus Tour Including River Thames Cruise with Optional LunchFrom $85286 reviews
★ 4.0Tootbus London by Night Bus TourFrom $37302 reviews
★ 4.3Uber Boat 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off and Cable Car TicketsFrom $44409 reviews
★ 3.5London Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional Thames Cruise)From $48483 reviews
★ 4.4Children’s Open Top Bus TourFrom $32542 reviews
★ 4.0Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye OptionFrom $85586 reviews

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