London · LONDON CITY TOURS

15 London City Tours Worth Booking Ahead

37 tours  ·  from $19 a head

A short list you could hand to a friend landing at Heathrow: 15 london city tours worth the money, with prices, traveller verdicts and the one detail to check before booking.

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

1.London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,516 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29Our pick

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: 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

2.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

3.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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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London - Greenwich deserves more than a quick look
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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

4.Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,969 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $22

Sail east from Westminster Pier to Greenwich on a roughly one-hour Thames cruise, with live commentary and Wi-Fi audio in six languages. Look for Big Ben, St Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe and Tower Bridge, then explore Greenwich on foot. You can book a return cruise, too. Local attractions are not included in the fare.

“Good value for money. But don’t expect much from the food/beverage bar, other than plain coffee. Wine is barely drinkable.”

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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

5.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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London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option - Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
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London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option

6.London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,672 reviews · 4 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $95

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a guided coach tour of London’s landmarks, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Changing of the Guard on selected dates. Choose the half-day option or add the Tower of London and a Thames cruise. Full-day upgrades include the London Eye or Harrods cream tea. Guides have included Peter, John, Derek and Frank, but a particular guide is not guaranteed.

“It is a long day, however, you do get to see a few of the most iconic places to visit in London in one day.”

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Up at The O2: Daytime Climb with Guided Tour with Panoramic Views - Reach the roof and read the view
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Up at The O2: Daytime Climb with Guided Tour with Panoramic Views

7.Up at The O2: Daytime Climb with Guided Tour with Panoramic Views

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,592 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51Top rated

Climb The O2’s south face with a guide, safety harness and supplied boots, then take in views of Greenwich, Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park from 52 metres up. The 90-minute trip includes the climb and descent. Guides have included Owain, Max, Makayla, Jack, Joey, Humphrey and Emma.

“The views were amazing and the staff was friendly. If I come back I will definitely like to do again”

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London 30 Top Sights with Fun Local Guide - Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey
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London 30 Top Sights with Fun Local Guide

8.London 30 Top Sights with Fun Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,105 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $66

Walk central London from the Ritz to London Bridge with a local guide, passing Buckingham Palace, Westminster, St Paul’s, Borough Market and more. Expect stories, photo stops and one Tube ride, but no visits inside paid attractions. Guides named in past outings include Tanya, Ash, Dan and Lisa. Bring a travel card, water and comfortable shoes.

“Our tour guide Ash was awesome!!!!!!! He was very knowledgable and had great energy!!! He was a vibe that’s for sure!!!”

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London's Palaces & Parliament Tour (See Over 20+ London Top Sights) - The London Eye and what the tour does not include
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London’s Palaces & Parliament Tour (See Over 20+ London Top Sights)

9.London’s Palaces & Parliament Tour (See Over 20+ London Top Sights)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,609 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $30

Walk from the Ritz through royal and political London, taking in Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Parliament and the London Eye. The three-hour tour is in English, with a Changing of the Guard viewing on select 10am departures. Guides vary, with names including Ash, Mark, Chris and Tanya.

“It was a very nice tour, not tiring but still very rich of information. Nicola, the guide, was nice and passionate about the history he was explaining us about. Highly recommend.”

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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

10.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

11.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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City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras - The Green route: stations and the British Museum
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City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,224 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Use City Sightseeing’s open-top double-decker buses to reach London sights across three routes, with audio commentary in multiple languages. Choose a ticket from one day to 72 hours; some options add a Thames cruise, a heritage Routemaster ride, or a night tour. Plan ahead: stops and service times vary by route, and the app may not always refresh reliably.

“Excellent way to safely develop an understanding of London geography during the first 48 hours in London. Stops were intelligently placed everywhere you'd want to be. After 48 hrs we found we could navigate by tube and on foot efficiently. Note that there are multiple double decker bus lines using the same stops and they are often just a different shade of red.”

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London by Night Sightseeing Tour - Open Top Bus - Piccadilly, Fortnum & Mason and the West End
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London by Night Sightseeing Tour – Open Top Bus

13.London by Night Sightseeing Tour – Open Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,060 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Set off from Green Park for a 90-minute guided ride past London’s illuminated landmarks, including Piccadilly, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Westminster, Harrods and the Royal Albert Hall. The tour is live-guided in English, with seats allocated first come, first served. Bring warm layers if you plan to ride on the open upper deck.

“Loved the dry humor. Couldn't hear very well but we did sit in the last row up top. I liked that the guide also prepared us and let us know to turn around for photos or selfies.”

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London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide - Starting near the London Eye
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London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide

14.London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 977 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Take a 90-minute open-top bus ride past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Tower Bridge, with an English-speaking guide when available or audio guides in 12 languages. Choose a central departure point when booking. Guides such as Joe, Tim, Emma, and Dominic have been praised for lively stories and humor, but the guide is not guaranteed.

“It got a little cold at night. Joe was amazing. The pick up spot could be a little more descriptive. It was a little confusing.”

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London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up - From Tower Bridge to St Paul’s
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London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up

15.London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Take a four-hour private black cab tour of London for up to six people, with pickup and drop-off at a central London hotel. Your driver-guide connects major sights such as Tower Bridge, St Paul’s and Westminster with local stories, photo stops and some room to tailor the route. Guides on past tours have included Greg, Paul, Lee and David; your assigned guide may differ.

“Excellent tour of London with a guide that was knowledgeable, fun, and knew his way around a crowded city. We walked and rode in the Black Cab. Best way to see it all!!”

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New in London City Tours

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★ 3.9Panoramic Open-Top Bus TourFrom $47256 reviews
★ 4.0Hop-On Hop-Off 1-Day River Sightseeing AdventureFrom $34257 reviews
★ 5.0Speedboat Sightseeing: Embankment OR Westminster Pier -45 MinutesFrom $79288 reviews
★ 4.5Westminster Abbey Priority Access & Guided City TourFrom $73282 reviews
★ 5.0Black Taxi Tour of London: Classic Sightseeing Bespoke & Fun371 reviews
★ 4.0Tower Bridge River Sightseeing Cruise from WestminsterFrom $18457 reviews
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London Walking Tours71London Private Tours10London Black Cab Tours8London Bus Tours34London Bike Tours10Thames River Cruises55London Night Tours10London Photo Shoots5London Family Tours6
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