Best bus tours of London

Explore London at your own pace with the freedom of 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.

See some of London's most iconic sights on a panoramic open-top bus tour with live guide. Spot famous attractions including Buckingham Palace, 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.

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 river cruise, while a premium two-day ticket also includes a guided walking tour, so you can see all that London has to offer. 

Jump on board one of The Original Bus Tour's hop on hop off busses and be entertained by lively commentary as it makes its way around more than 60 stops, including the top shopping districts and museums in London. Kids will love the special Kids' Club with activity packs full of games and quizzes, in addition to special commentary. 

Feeling peckish, but want to carry on the sightseeing? Then Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is the perfect tour. Hosted by Brigit’s Bakery, the tour takes place on a classic Routemaster bus and serves up 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.

Admire iconic landmarks around the capital as they're beautifully illuminated at night. The tour lasts just over an hour and passes by the Houses of Parliament, Harrods, Kensington Palace and much more. 

Sample some of London's grisly history with The Ghost Bus Tours. Climb on board a classic 1960s Routemaster for a bus tour which combines comedy with spine-chilling facts from London's past. The haunted bus takes visitors around the city, via sites of murder, torture and execution, to reveal the ghosts of London. 

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

Join Professor Quantum on a voyage through time and space with The London Time Tour Bus. A sci-fi option for all the family, this theatrical experience is unlike any other bus tour in London. Guests are whizzed around the city in a time-travelling bus to discover the history of the capital during a fun-filled sightseeing tour.

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 for just £1.50.

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.