London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: 3 Routes, Unlimited Stops
Hop off whenever you want and explore London at your own pace
A hop-on hop-off bus tour of London across three routes: the Classic Tour covering central landmarks like Big Ben and the Tower of London, the Essential Tour reaching north to Madame Tussauds and Regent's Park, and the Museum Tour visiting the V&A, Natural History Museum and Royal Albert Hall. You ride the open-top bus, hop off at any stop to explore, and rejoin when you're ready, with audio commentary in 12 languages and a free river boat ticket included on the 24-hour option.
Options for this experience
3 optionsWhat’s included
- Hop-on hop-off access to all three routes (Classic, Essential and Museum).
- audio guide in 12 languages.
- kids' commentary on all routes.
- WiFi on all buses.
- free one-way river cruise on the Thames (24-hour ticket only).
- easy pickup at multiple stops throughout London.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Information
Ride London's hop-on hop-off buses across three routes covering Big Ben, Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and more.
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The experience
Three separate routes let you build your own London itinerary instead of following a fixed schedule. The Classic Tour (Blue) runs through Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods and Buckingham Palace. The Essential Tour (Red) heads north to Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, King's Cross and Regent's Park, then loops back through Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. The Museum Tour (Orange) focuses on South Kensington: the V&A Museum, Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and Notting Hill. Each route has its own stops, so you can stay on for the full loop or step off to spend time at any landmark.
Audio commentary plays throughout in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Japanese or Arabic, so you learn about each site as you pass it. The buses are open-top, giving you unobstructed views of the city. WiFi is available on all buses, so you can upload photos as you go. Children travel free up to age 4, and kids' commentary is included on all routes. On the 24-hour ticket option, you also get a one-way river cruise on the Thames between Westminster Pier and Tower Millennium Pier, adding a different angle on the city's waterfront landmarks.
You pick your ticket length at checkout (4 hours, 24 hours or 1 day), and your time runs from the moment you first board. Hop-on points are scattered throughout London, so you can join at whichever stop is nearest to you. There's no restroom on board, and the Orange Route runs every 30 minutes Monday to Thursday. Attractions themselves, food, drinks and tips are separate from the ticket price.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.
What's the difference between the three bus routes?
The Classic Tour (Blue) covers central London's most famous landmarks: Big Ben, Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace. The Essential Tour (Red) goes north to Madame Tussauds, London Zoo and King's Cross, then loops back through Westminster and Trafalgar Square. The Museum Tour (Orange) focuses on South Kensington's museums, the V&A, Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace, plus Notting Hill.
Can I use the river cruise that's included with the 24-hour ticket?
Yes, the 24-hour ticket includes a one-way river boat ride on the Thames between Westminster Pier and Tower Millennium Pier. You can travel in either direction and use it once during your 24-hour window. The 4-hour and 1-day tickets don't include this.
What languages is the audio guide available in?
The audio guide comes in 12 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic. Kids' commentary is also included on all routes.
How do I board if I don't start at a main stop?
Hop-on points are spread throughout London, so you can join at any Golden Tours bus stop nearest to where you are. Your ticket time starts counting from when you first board, not from a fixed departure time.
What happens if I want to spend more than a few hours exploring one area?
Choose the 24-hour or 1-day ticket option, which gives you unlimited hop-on hop-off access across all three routes for your chosen timeframe. You can stay off the bus as long as you want at any stop and rejoin whenever the next bus arrives.
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 Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: 3 Routes, Unlimited Stops
1d · EN · ES · FR · DE · IT · PT +6
from £ 25.20 per person
≈ US$ 34 in your currency
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