Best bus tours of London

Explore London at your own pace with the Golden Tours hop-on hop-off Bus Tour. Choose between four routes and hop off at more than 60 stops, including Shakespeare's Globe and Westminster Abbey. As well as having your transport covered, you can enjoy added extras including free walking tours and a 24-hour Thames river pass.

Go on a whistle-stop ride around some of London’s most famous landmarks from the comfort of an air-conditioned coach with the Spirit of London Tour. See St Paul's Cathedral, royal residence Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and more. Your ticket also includes a relaxing Thames boat trip to Greenwich, offering a chance to take in different views of the city at a leisurely pace.

Enjoy an open-top sightseeing tour with a live guide or digitally recorded commentary in 12 languages with Big Bus Tours. A classic ticket entitles you to a free one-way river cruise, while a premium two-day ticket includes a return cruise and the Premium Plus enables you to do three days' worth of sightseeing.

See some of London's most iconic sights on a panoramic open-top bus tour with live guide. Spot famous attractions including Buckingham Palace, famous Piccadilly Circus and the Tower of London from the comfort of your seat, while hearing fascinating facts and stories from your guide. Multilingual audio guides are also available.

Feeling peckish, but want to carry on the sightseeing? Then Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is ideal. Join a classic Routemaster bus for high tea, including a tempting array of sandwiches, cakes and pretty pastries. Or treat the kids to its Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea, complete with guided animations, singalongs and activities.

Hop aboard the signature yellow bus and See London By Night! Admire iconic landmarks and be stunned by the views around the capital as it's beautifully illuminated at night. The tour lasts around 90 minutes and passes by the Houses of Parliament, iconic Harrods, historic Kensington Palace and much more. 

Indulge in the best of both worlds aboard Bustronome, which combines a luxury dining experience with London sights. Cosy up on the top deck of the bus, where you'll get stuck into afternoon tea, learn about London's landmarks via an interactive map, and marvel at them from the comfort of your seat. 

Wrap up and book a seat for the London by Night Open Top Bus Tour, which departs from Waterloo and lasts one hour and 45 minutes. Taking you through Trafalgar Square, the lights of Piccadilly Circus, past Big Ben and more, this tour is a perfect opportunity to see the capital after the sun sets, with most attractions lit up.

Have you been missing musicals? Golden Tours have created one-of-a-kind bus tours with live entertainment this summer in London! Enjoy the city's sights while a West End performer sings top musical hits during An Afternoon at the Theatre or A Night at the Musicals tour. With refreshments on board and an epic 90-minute ride around top landmarks, you won't want to miss out on this theatrical experience. 

See more than 50 of London's most famous sites, including The Shard and Trafalgar Square, in just two hours on the Megabus Sightseeing Tour. This bus tour is a great option for those on a budget and starts from three central London locations – the London Eye, the Tower of London and Park Lane. 

If you want to take a ride on a classic Routemaster, head to Tower Hill and jump on the 15 bus. The heritage route uses the time-honoured London bus known throughout the world, running between Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. The number 94 bus route is another great way to experience the city using your Oyster card. The bus travels from central to west London, and visits some of the capital’s most iconic areas.

You can also ride past some of the London's top landmarks with TfL's themed bus itineraries, including Brixton Market, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Natural History Museum. 

For those who want to venture past London's borders, there are countless day trips that offer a cheap way to see some of the best parts of the UK. Grab a ticket and travel out of the city to Stonehenge, Windsor, Oxford or Bath – these trips offer great value and plenty of fun.

For more sightseeing inspiration, discover the best attractions in London, book a landmark-packed tour and check out our top sightseeing tips.