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The best London hop‑on hop‑off buses

City Sightseeing, Big Bus and Golden Tours passes, live-guided vintage buses and bus-with-cruise-and-Eye combos: here is which ticket to buy, with honest advice on waiting for the next bus, getting the commentary and route you paid for, and value for money.

By the Things to Do in London editorial team 8 tours compared Prices checked 24 October 2026

See our 8 picks
A red double-decker bus on Westminster Bridge in front of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
Short answer

The best London hop-on hop-off ticket for most first visits is a one-day pass. City Sightseeing starts from €30 and Big Bus from €38. Both have free cancellation.

Want a real person talking, not a recording? A live-guided vintage bus tour starts from €15. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.

Our 8 picks for London bus tours

Three hop-on hop-off passes, one combo with the London Eye, two live-guided vintage buses, one river pass and one panoramic loop. All eight have free cancellation.

London bus tours side by side

London bus tours side by side
TourFromDurationLive guide or recordedWho it suitsWhy we picked it
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off pass 4.3 (8,859)€30
per person		Not statedRecorded, 11 languagesFirst-timers with one or two daysThe most reviewed bus pass here, with 4.3 from 8,859 reviews.
Big Bus pass with an optional river cruise 4.2 (5,146)€38
per person		1–2 daysRecorded, several languagesTwo-day visitorsThree routes and an easy upgrade to a cruise, with 4.2 from 5,146 reviews.
London Eye, river cruise and Big Bus combo 4.4 (6,825)€66
per person		Not statedRecorded, 7 languagesVisitors who want the Eye and the busThree big sights in one booking, with 4.4 from 6,825 reviews.
Live-guided tour on a vintage open-top bus 4.6 (4,438)€36
per person		1 h 30 minLive guidePeople who want a live guideA real guide, not a recording, with 4.6 from 4,438 reviews.
Vintage open-top bus with a live guide 4.7 (650)€15
per person		75 minutesLive guideShort stays on a budgetThe lowest price here and a top-deck seat, with 4.7 from 650 reviews.
River Thames hop-on hop-off cruise 4.4 (3,310)€30
per person		Not statedOn-board commentaryVisitors who would rather float than sit in trafficA river pass instead of a road pass, with 4.4 from 3,310 reviews.
Golden Tours hop-on hop-off pass 3.9 (1,229)€30
per person		4 hours–3 daysRecorded; live on some blue routesFamilies who want kids' commentaryThe only pass with a kids' audio track. Its rating is lower, at 3.9 from 1,229 reviews.
Panoramic open-top bus tour 3.9 (333)€31
per person		2 hoursRecorded; live on some departuresPeople who want one ride, not a passA simple two-hour overview. Its rating is lower, at 3.9 from 333 reviews.

  • City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off pass

    €30 per person 4.3 (8,859)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Recorded, 11 languages
    Who it suits
    First-timers with one or two days
    Why we picked it
    The most reviewed bus pass here, with 4.3 from 8,859 reviews.

  • Big Bus pass with an optional river cruise

    €38 per person1–2 days 4.2 (5,146)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Recorded, several languages
    Who it suits
    Two-day visitors
    Why we picked it
    Three routes and an easy upgrade to a cruise, with 4.2 from 5,146 reviews.

  • London Eye, river cruise and Big Bus combo

    €66 per person 4.4 (6,825)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Recorded, 7 languages
    Who it suits
    Visitors who want the Eye and the bus
    Why we picked it
    Three big sights in one booking, with 4.4 from 6,825 reviews.

  • Live-guided tour on a vintage open-top bus

    €36 per person1 h 30 min 4.6 (4,438)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Live guide
    Who it suits
    People who want a live guide
    Why we picked it
    A real guide, not a recording, with 4.6 from 4,438 reviews.

  • Vintage open-top bus with a live guide

    €15 per person75 minutes 4.7 (650)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Live guide
    Who it suits
    Short stays on a budget
    Why we picked it
    The lowest price here and a top-deck seat, with 4.7 from 650 reviews.

  • River Thames hop-on hop-off cruise

    €30 per person 4.4 (3,310)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    On-board commentary
    Who it suits
    Visitors who would rather float than sit in traffic
    Why we picked it
    A river pass instead of a road pass, with 4.4 from 3,310 reviews.

  • Golden Tours hop-on hop-off pass

    €30 per person4 hours–3 days 3.9 (1,229)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Recorded; live on some blue routes
    Who it suits
    Families who want kids' commentary
    Why we picked it
    The only pass with a kids' audio track. Its rating is lower, at 3.9 from 1,229 reviews.

  • Panoramic open-top bus tour

    €31 per person2 hours 3.9 (333)

    Details
    Live guide or recorded
    Recorded; live on some departures
    Who it suits
    People who want one ride, not a pass
    Why we picked it
    A simple two-hour overview. Its rating is lower, at 3.9 from 333 reviews.
  • Small group: Vintage open-top bus with a live guide, max 15.
  • None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
  • All 8 offer free cancellation.
  • Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.

Which London hop‑on hop‑off bus should you book?

Book by the kind of visit you have, not by the brand. Each operator covers the big sights. They differ in extras, languages and guides.

  • First-timer with one day: pick the City Sightseeing one-day pass. It is the most reviewed pass here.
  • Family: pick the Golden Tours pass. It has a kids' audio track.
  • Two-day visitor: pick the 48-hour Big Bus pass. It adds a Thames cruise and three guided walks.
  • Live-guide seeker: pick a vintage bus tour. A guide talks to you on board the whole way.

Compare the London bus tours

The passes cost about the same, so compare what comes with them. The table above shows price, length, rating and refunds. The list below shows what each ticket includes.

  • City Sightseeing: audio in 11 languages, free headphones, a cruise on the 24-hour ticket and a night tour on the 72-hour ticket.
  • Big Bus: three routes, digital audio, Wi-Fi, a cruise on 24 and 48-hour tickets, and walks on 48-hour tickets.
  • Golden Tours: audio in 12 languages, a kids' track, a live guide on some blue routes and Wi-Fi.
  • Vintage buses: a live guide in English and one loop. You do not hop off.

Guides on other ways to see London

Hop‑on hop‑off or a guided open-top bus tour

A hop-on hop-off pass is for getting around. A guided tour is for the story. Most passes play a recording through headphones.

The vintage Routemaster tours have a live guide on board. You stay on for 75 to 90 minutes and do not get off. They are English only.

Golden Tours puts a live guide on some blue routes. The panoramic loop has a live guide only on some departures. Check the listing before you book if a live voice matters to you.

What about duck tours?

No duck tour is sold on this page. We could not confirm that an amphibious bus tour runs in London now. For the river, take a Thames boat pass instead.

Hop‑on hop‑off plus a river cruise or the London Eye

A combo is worth it if you want the London Eye anyway. On GetYourGuide, the plain Big Bus pass starts from €38. The combo with the Eye and a one-way cruise starts from €66.

So the Eye and the cruise add about €28 to the bus. The London Eye's own site sells a Big Bus and Eye combo from £59 per adult. It says the same tickets cost £88.99 bought apart.

Some passes add a cruise at no extra step. City Sightseeing's 24-hour ticket has one river trip. Big Bus adds a cruise on its 24 and 48-hour options. Read more on London Eye tickets.

The main routes and the sights each one passes

All the main passes cover Westminster, the river and the Tower. The routes below come from each operator's own pages or listings.

Big Bus London routes

Big Bus runs three routes, says the London Eye's site. The Red Route takes about 2 h 30 min. It passes Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

The Blue Route takes about 3 h 35 min and goes west to Kensington Palace and Harrods. The Green Route takes about 1 h 10 min. It links King's Cross and St Pancras to the other two.

Golden Tours routes

The Golden Tours listing names Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. It does not list every stop. Check the route map you get with the ticket.

City Sightseeing routes

The City Sightseeing listing names the Tower of London, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and the V&A. A shuttle links its lines. Its app shows where each bus is.

How long a loop takes, and how to plan your day with stops

A full loop takes about one to three and a half hours without stops. On Big Bus, the Red Route takes about 2 h 30 min. The Blue Route takes about 3 h 35 min.

Check how often buses come before you buy. Each operator publishes it. One example: the London City Tour Red Route runs every 15 minutes in summer, from 08:40.

Its blue and green routes come every 30 minutes. It moves to a winter timetable from 9 November 2026. Fewer buses can mean a longer wait at each stop.

Start early and pick two or three stops, not ten. Ride a full loop first if you have two days. Then hop off where you want more time.

Tickets, validity and cancellation

Passes run for one day, or for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Longer passes add extras like cruises, walks or a night tour. The listings do not all say when the clock starts, so check your ticket.

City Sightseeing says you can use the ticket any day within 12 months of the date you pick. All eight picks have free cancellation on GetYourGuide. The listing shows how late you can cancel.

Practical tips for a London bus tour

Sit on the top deck for the view. Bring a rain layer, since the top is open. Food and drink are not included on any pick.

Two tours say they do not suit wheelchair users: the 1.5-hour vintage bus and the panoramic loop. Ask the operator about other buses before you book.

A bus is a poor choice in some cases. Traffic can slow it down. Heavy rain makes the top deck cold and wet. With only a few hours, walking can be quicker.

Then try London walking tours or ride the Tube. A day of Tube and bus in Zones 1–2 caps at £8.90 on contactless, per TfL.

A day of buses alone caps at £5.25. That rises to £5.55 from 1 November 2026, per TfL.

Before you book a London bus tour

  1. Check how often buses come

    Each operator publishes its frequency. Winter timetables run fewer buses, so allow time at each stop.

  2. Find the start

    Some passes have more than one start point. Your option on the listing tells you where to go.

  3. Bring headphones or take theirs

    City Sightseeing and Big Bus give free headphones. Vintage tours have a live guide, so no headphones are needed.

  4. Cancel if it pours

    All eight picks have free cancellation. Check the cut-off time on the listing.

Real questions about London bus tours

Which hop-on hop-off bus is best in London?
For most first visits, a one-day City Sightseeing or Big Bus pass. City Sightseeing starts from €30 and Big Bus from €38. For a live guide, take a vintage bus tour from €15.

How long does a London bus tour take?
A guided vintage bus tour takes 75 to 90 minutes. A full hop-on hop-off loop takes longer. The Big Bus Red Route takes about 2 h 30 min without stops.

How much is a hop-on hop-off bus in London?
On GetYourGuide, passes start from €30 with City Sightseeing or Golden Tours. Big Bus starts from €38. A combo with the London Eye and a cruise starts from €66.

More London bus tours, live

More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.

See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.

Browse all on GetYourGuide

Browse all of them on GetYourGuide

Sources (6), facts checked on 24 October 2026

Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.