London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover London your way with a hop-on hop-off bus tour, plus a Thames River cruise included with selected tickets. Pass iconic sights including the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben while enjoying entertaining commentary on London’s history and culture.
Your ticket gives access to three routes. The Red Route covers major landmarks such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral. The Blue Route travels from Kensington Palace to the Tower of London, stopping near Harrods, the Natural History Museum and Notting Hill. The Green Route connects King’s Cross and St Pancras with Covent Garden via the British Museum.
Choose a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket to enjoy the Thames River cruise. 48-hour tickets also include live guided walking tours in English: the Royal Walk, Jack the Ripper Walk and Harry Potter Walking Tour. Upgrade to include the Panoramic Evening Tour for stunning night-time views of London.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Your ticket’s validity period begins from the date and time it is activated.
Buses are all equipped with ramps for wheelchairs or strollers
Activate your mobile voucher or QR at any of the designated Big Bus stops
Infants aged 3 and under travel free of charge and do not require a ticket
1-Day Ticket does NOT include a River Cruise.
Please note that Stop 1 – Green Park is currently affected by a long-term closure of the main bus stand. While the Blue and Red Tours will continue to pass through this stop, boarding is impacted. As a result, the Red Tour now starts and ends at Stop 2 – Hard Rock. Customers are advised to board from this location.
If you purchased a 48-hour ticket, 3 walking tours are included. Meet your guide at the Big Bus Stop listed below and have your printed or digital ticket ready. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. All tours are live guided and conducted in English only. Tours last approximately 1.5–2 hours. Royal Walk – 10:00 | Stop #8 Trafalgar Square Jack the Ripper Walk – 13:00 | Stop #19 Tower of London Harry Potter Walking Tour – 16:00 | Stop #21 Westminster Pier
Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile ticket.
What To Expect
Duration:2 hours 30 minutes
Operating Schedule:Buses depart every 15-20 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 2: Hard Rock Cafe at 8:30 AM and the last bus departs at 18:00 PM.
Stop 1: Green Park Underground
Stop 2: Hard Rock Cafe
Stop 3: Queen Mother Gates
Stop 4: Marble Arch
Stop 5: Regent Street
Stop 6: Piccadilly Circus
Stop 7: Haymarket (Stop R)
Stop 8: Trafalgar Square
Stop 9: Craig's Court
Stop 10: Horseguards
Stop 11: Whitehall
Stop 12: London Eye (Eastbound)
Stop 13: Waterloo (Eastbound)
Stop 14: Covent Garden
Stop 15: St Paul's Cathedral
Stop 16: Monument (Bus stop P, stop outside Pret)
Stop 17: London Bridge
Stop 18: Southwark (Stop J, at City Hall)
Stop 19: Tower of London
Stop 20: Temple Underground Station
Stop 21: Westminster Pier
Stop 22: London Eye (Westbound)
Stop 23: Lambeth Palace
Stop 24: College Green
Stop 25: Tothill Street
Stop 26: Buckingham Palace
Stop 28: Victoria Station
Duration:3 hours 35 minutes
Operating Schedule:Buses depart every 20 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 4: Marble Arch (Westbound) at 8:31 AM and the last bus departs at 4:18 PM.
Stop 27: Victoria, Nova Complex
Stop 28: Victoria Station
Stop 29: Queen Mother Gates
Stop 30: Marble Arch (Westbound)
Stop 31: Green Park
Stop 32: Hard Rock Cafe
Stop 33: Hyde Park Corner
Stop 34: Harrods
Stop 35: Kensington Museums
Stop 36: Gloucester Road
Stop 37: Kensington Palace
Stop 38: Notting Hill
Stop 39: Kensington Gardens
Stop 40: Thistle Hotel Kensington Gardens
Stop 41: Peter Pan
Stop 42: Lancaster Gate
Stop 43: Paddington Station
Bus Stop 44: Edgware Road
Stop 45: Marble Arch (Eastbound)
Stop 46: Baker Street
Stop 47: Oxford Circus
Stop 5: Regent Street
Stop 6: Piccadilly Circus
Stop 7: Haymarket (Stop R)
Stop 8: Trafalgar Square
Stop 9: Craig's Court
Stop 10: Horseguards
Stop 11: Whitehall
Stop 12: London Eye (Eastbound)
Stop 13: Waterloo (Eastbound)
Stop 14: Covent Garden
Stop 15: St Paul's Cathedral
Stop 16: Monument (Bus stop P, stop outside Pret)v
Stop 17: London Bridge
Stop 18: Southwark (Stop J, at City Hall)
Stop 19: Tower of London
Stop 20: Temple Underground Station
Stop 22: London Eye (Westbound)
Stop 23: Lambeth Palace
Stop 24: College Green
Stop 25: Tothill Street
Stop 26: Buckingham Palace
Duration:1 hour 10 minutes
Operating Schedule:Buses depart every 45mins. The first bus departs from Stop 48: Woburn at 8:30 AM and the last bus departs at 4:30 PM.
Stop 48: Woburn
Stop 49: Euston Station
Stop 50: Kings Cross Station
Stop 51: St Pancras Station
Stop 52: Euston Road
Stop 53: Woburn (Southbound)
Stop 54: British Museum (Southbound)
Stop 20: Temple Underground Station
Stop 14: Covent Garden
Stop 55: British Museum (Northbound)
What‘s Included
Recorded Commentary Available in 7 Languages
One-day, 24- or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket (depending on option selected)
Royal Walk, Harry Potter, and Jack the Ripper
2-Hour Non-Stop Panoramic Evening Tour (Available With Selected Ticket Option)
Headphones
Free Wi-Fi On Board
One-Way Thames River Cruise (Included With 24- and 48-Hour Tickets Only)
3 guided walking tours (with 48-hour options)
Food and drinks
Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
48-Hour Ticket & River Cruise
Duration: 2 days: Unlimited use valid for 48 hours from time of first use. 3 Hop-on, Hop-off Routes: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket. Themed Walking Tours: Choose from 3 different themed walking tours, please speak to a member of staff on the day. One-Way River Cruise: Starting at either Tower Pier or Westminster Pier.
24-Hour Ticket & River Cruise
Duration: 1 day: Unlimited use valid for 24 hours from time of first use. 3 Hop-on, Hop-off Routes: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket. One-Way River Cruise: Starting at either Tower Pier or Westminster Pier.
One day Hop-on Hop-off
Duration: 1 day: Unlimited use valid for 1 Day from time of first use. 3 Hop-on, Hop-off Routes: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket.
48-Hour Ticket & Night Tour
Themed Walking Tours: Choose from 3 different themed live guided walking tours. Speak with a member of staff on the day to arrange these tours Duration: 2 days: Unlimited use valid for 48 hours from time of first use. 3 Hop-on, Hop-off Routes: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket. 7:30 PM Panoramic Evening Tour: Departure at London Eye (Stop 11). Full tour lasts 2 hours and is non-stop. With pre-recorded commentary. One-Way River Cruise: Starting at either Tower Pier or Westminster Pier.
Reviews
10,963 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Very Disappointing
OregonTrails13,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Useless audio guides. Too much just music playing and then 3 hosts laughing and making jokes... we are passing amazing historical spots and some did not even get mentioned ! ! It would have been cheaper (and faster!) just to take the regular bus if we needed and walked otherwise. I had ridden the Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off bus and highly recommended it to our whole party for all the neat things I learned about the town, it's history and the numerous interesting places we were going by. It encouraged me to go to more sites than originally planned in Dublin. I was so embarrassed that I got everyone to pay for it in London! Would have liked a refund if I could have gotten it. Bus driver was curt and not helpful - bus rides took longer than expected so had to get off early anyway just to make back to a dinner reservation.
Good way to get acclimated on your first day.
Karen L,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00It was a decent way to get an overview of the city and its landmarks. However, the audio was obnoxious. Screeching actors over-playing their scripts. There was so much traffic, we sat around in traffic a lot, and I personally would have appreciated more interesting historical and cultural tidbits (half the time there was just music on the audio). We took the Big Bus tour, but there are several others, possibly with better audio. Tip: Pick up the earbuds near the driver, or better yet, bring your own wired set.
The bus ride was fine,...
Laura H,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00The bus ride was fine, the audio narrative was good, and the drivers were fine. The three different routes were very confusing and the website was very confusing. It would’ve been very helpful if the website had been more clear about the three different routes and which stops were on which route, so I could’ve known in advance.
Don’t do it!
Alice W,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Far too slow No air conditioning No clear information about stop numbers, either inside the bus from the driver, or on the stop. Crammed loads of people on so you couldn’t move or breathe. No one showed tickets and it looked like workers were using it to commute back from work on the last bus which overloaded it more. Could do with some sort of system inside telling you which stop you’re approaching etc. Sights were lovely if you’re on the top and can stand the heat. Free headphones were good.
Jack the Ripper tour with Big Bus
dsn7287,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Kevin did a great job with the Jack the Ripper tour. The weather was a bit too hot but Kevin did his best to keep everyone interested.
Confusion and Unorganized
Francis N,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Bus had limited Seats on 2nd Deck. Tour was stopped at 7:30 pm at Station 27 as Driver can't continue to drive. There were two other buses stopped at this Station After 20 minutes of Confusion we were asked to board another Bus which would take us to two other Station at 42 and 40. I had to walk 25 minutes back to my Hotel
Waste of money
Chuggington,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Not worth it. Stuck in traffic most of the time. They don’t keep to the timetable so if you try to use the bus to get back to your starting point they say, we aren’t going that far despite the timetable. Drivers are rude and don’t leave enough time for elderly users to get off. Not a good way to see London sights. Walking is quicker and you see more. River cruise is good but just pay for one separately.
Can’t control the weather
ella b,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00We went on one of the hottest days in London history. It was great to be brought around to the different sights. I was a little confused at first about how we were supposed to listen to the tour, but once we got the headphones, it was good.
Big bus tour
Megan M,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00The audio tour was fantastic lots of great information. It could be improved by signage on the bus or an announcement to let travelers know which stop they were stopping at, if you were not listening to the audio tour you would not know what stop you were at.
DO NOT TAKE THIS BUS! HORRIFIC!
Elise V,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Excruciating! Stopped several times, once for 30 minutes, to change drivers. Then skipped stops because they lost time .Very hot. No air conditioning! Brakes did not wok well. Horrendous experience! This was absolutely the very worst!!!!! I can’t say enough bad things about it.
From £32.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Big Bus London