London Christmas Lights Bus Tour: 90-minute live guide route
Ninety minutes on the top deck, watching five thousand stars light up Oxford Street.
You get ninety minutes of London's Christmas lights from an open-top bus with a live guide pointing out the history and the displays as you pass: Regent Street, Oxford Street's five thousand stars, Fortnum & Mason's advent calendar, Big Ben lit up, and Trafalgar Square's tree. No stops, no food, just movement and views. Arrive fifteen minutes early.
Step-by-step itinerary
London Christmas Lights Bus Tour
- Board bus at Belvedere Road
- Enjoy views of London Eye
- Listen to live guide introduction
- Drive down The Strand, see fairy lights
- Pass Trafalgar Square Christmas markets
- Admire Piccadilly Circus lights
- View Regent Street illuminations
- See Oxford Street stars and Selfridges
- Pass Fortnum & Mason advent calendar
- Admire Big Ben illuminated
- Return to Belvedere Road, tour ends
What’s included
- Your ninety-minute tour includes a live English-speaking guide on board throughout the journey.
- The bus departs from Belvedere Road by the London Eye and passes Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street with its five thousand sustainable stars, Fortnum & Mason's advent calendar display, and Big Ben lit up at night before returning to the starting point.
- No food, drinks, or restroom breaks are provided on board.
- Every day 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00
Information
90-minute open-top bus tour of London's Christmas lights with live guide. See Regent Street, Oxford Street and Big Ben lit up. Board at the London Eye.
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The experience
You board at Belvedere Road, right by the London Eye, and the bus pulls into the night with the city already glowing around you. The live guide starts talking as soon as you're moving: facts about the West End, the Savoy Theatre, why Norway sends London a Christmas tree every year for Trafalgar Square. It's the kind of detail that makes you actually look instead of just taking photos. The top deck is open if you want the cold air and the full view. The lower deck is warm if the December wind gets too much. Either way, you're moving through the same route.
Piccadilly Circus comes up with its billboards throwing light everywhere, then Regent Street with the holly and ivy wrapped around the shop fronts and the illuminations running the whole length of it. Fortnum & Mason has turned itself into a red advent calendar. The kind of thing you'd miss if you were walking past at ground level. Oxford Street is where the 5,000 sustainable stars are strung, and Selfridges has its window displays lit up. The bus doesn't stop. You're seeing it all from the seat, which is exactly the point. The guide keeps the facts coming without being loud about it.
Big Ben comes up lit against the night sky as you head back toward the London Eye where you started. The whole thing is ninety minutes if traffic moves, though around Christmas that's not guaranteed: some days it's closer to sixty or seventy if the roads are clear. There are no breaks, no stops to get out, no food on board. You stay on the bus for the duration. Arrive fifteen minutes early for boarding, and bring a camera if you want to catch the lights properly from the top deck.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5): free.
How long is the tour?
Ninety minutes, though traffic around Christmas can bring it down to sixty or seventy minutes on lighter days. There are no stops during the tour.
Where do I board?
At Belvedere Road, by the London Eye. Arrive fifteen minutes early for boarding.
Can I get off the bus during the tour?
No. This is not a hop-on hop-off tour. You remain on the bus for the full duration.
Is there food or drink on the bus?
No food is provided on board. Bring what you need before you board.
What if I need a restroom?
There are no restrooms on the bus. Plan accordingly before boarding.
Can I sit on the top deck if I want?
Yes. The top deck is open-air. The lower deck is enclosed and warm. Both see the same route and lights.
Is the London Eye admission included?
No. Admission to the London Eye is not included in this tour.
What's the cancellation policy?
You can cancel up to twenty-four hours before departure for a full refund.
What if the route changes?
The itinerary and order may change depending on traffic. The guide will keep you moving to see as many lights as possible.
Operated by Golden Tours Gray Line London. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
London Christmas Lights Bus Tour: 90-minute live guide route
1h 30m · EN
from £ 30 per person
≈ US$ 40 in your currency
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