London: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & River Cruise

Three Bus Routes Through London, One Ticket That Lets You Stop Anywhere

You board at any of 25+ stops across three routes, stay on as long as you want or hop off to explore, and use your ticket to ride the river cruise between Westminster and Tower Pier (or to Greenwich on longer tickets). The app tracks buses in real time, audio guides cover 11 languages, and the whole system runs from 8:45am until at least 6:30pm, so you set the rhythm instead of following a guide's clock.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore London by Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

• Start at London Eye stop
• Visit Buckingham Palace
• See Tower of London
• Stop at Big Ben and Westminster Bridge
• Explore St. Paul's Cathedral area
• Visit London Bridge and Tower Bridge
• Ride through Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus
• Stop at Trafalgar Square and National Gallery
• Enjoy Hyde Park and Marble Arch
• Visit Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace
• Return to London Eye stop

The Experience

So you're trying to fit Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and half of Oxford Street into a day without losing your mind to the Tube map. The Red Route alone runs 150 minutes in a full loop, hitting 25 stops from Westminster to Marble Arch, and you can jump off at any of them, or stay on the whole way if you just want to sit on the top deck and watch the city roll past. The buses run every 20 minutes until mid-afternoon, then every 30 minutes, with the first departure at 8:45am from Belvedere Road behind the London Eye.

The hop-on hop-off setup means you're not locked into a guide's pace or a fixed itinerary. Want to spend two hours at the Tower of London and skip the V&A? Fine. Want to walk through St. James's Park and catch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace? The bus will be back in 20 minutes. The Blue Route covers the museum quarter (Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, Notting Hill) in 80 minutes if you want a tighter loop, and the Green Shuttle Service runs a 90-minute circuit through the British Museum and Covent Garden. Pick your 24, 48 or 72-hour ticket depending on how much ground you want to cover, and the app tracks every bus in real time so you're not standing on Piccadilly Circus guessing when the next one arrives.

The 24-hour ticket throws in a one-way river cruise between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier: 35 minutes, departing every 40 minutes from 10am. The 48 and 72-hour tickets upgrade that to a same-day return trip to Greenwich, which means you can actually get out to the Observatory and the Cutty Sark without eating up your whole afternoon on transport. The 72-hour ticket also unlocks the Night Tour, which runs at 7:30pm and later depending on the season, so you see the Thames lit up and the Parliament buildings glowing. Audio guides come in 11 languages on the Red Route, and the Blue Route even has a kids' commentary called Mia Cloo's London Quest if you're traveling with children.

One thing to know: Stop 1 at Belvedere Road is currently out of use due to construction, so you'll board at York Road outside the M&S store instead. A few other stops shift depending on events and road closures, but the app and your driver will steer you right. You can use your voucher at any stop along any route, and it's valid for 12 months from your purchase date, so if your plans change, you've got time.

What’s included

• Hop-on hop-off bus access across three routes (Red, Blue, Green Shuttle).
• audio guide in 11 languages with headphones.
• river cruise included (one-way on 24-hour ticket, same-day return to Greenwich on 48 and 72-hour tickets).
• Night Tour on 72-hour tickets.
• AI-powered City Sightseeing app with live bus tracking.
• stops near major sights including Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Harrods, Royal Albert Hall, British Museum and the London Eye.
• flexible 24, 48 or 72-hour ticket validity.
• valid for 12 months from purchase date.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by City Sightseeing Ltd - UK and Ireland

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to see London's main landmarks without booking separate tours or figuring out the Tube, and who'd rather spend time inside attractions than waiting for a guide to move the group along: the flexibility to hop off and on means you control how long you stay at each stop.

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Top questions

Can I start the tour at a stop other than the first one?

Yes. You can board at any of the stops along the Red, Blue or Green routes. Stop 1 is currently at York Road (outside M&S) due to construction at Belvedere Road.

How often do the buses run?

Red Route: every 20 minutes until 3:30pm, then every 30 minutes until 6:30pm. Blue Route: every 45 minutes from 9:30am to 5:40pm. Green Shuttle: varies by day, with multiple departures between 9:10am and 5:40pm.

What's included in each ticket length?

24-hour: one-way river cruise Westminster to Tower. 48-hour: same-day return cruise to Greenwich. 72-hour: Greenwich return cruise plus Night Tour (7:30pm departures, seasonal times).

How long does a full loop take?

Red Route: 150 minutes. Blue Route: 80 minutes. Green Shuttle: 90 minutes.

Are the buses wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Buses are wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed.

What languages are the audio guides available in?

Red Route: 11 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese and Arabic. Blue Route: 11 languages plus kids' commentary. Green Shuttle: 5 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian).

Can I use my voucher on any day?

Yes. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from your purchase date and can be redeemed at any stop along the routes on any day within that period.

Is there a river cruise included?

Yes. 24-hour tickets include a one-way cruise (35 minutes, departing every 40 minutes from 10am). 48 and 72-hour tickets include a same-day return trip to Greenwich.

What time do the buses start and finish?

Red Route: first departure 8:45am, last departure 6:30pm. Blue Route: 9:30am to 5:40pm. Green Shuttle: 9:10am to 5:40pm (times vary by day).

Can I get a printed voucher or do I need a mobile one?

Both mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted. You can redeem either at any stop along the routes.