big bus tour london last bus time

Big Bus London Tours

Big Bus London hop-on hop-off tours

Embark on a memorable journey with London’s Big Bus hop-on hop-off tours. Experience the city's rich history and vibrant culture as you explore famous landmarks, from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London. Enjoy the flexibility to hop on and off at your leisure and uncover the best of London's sights .

Why choose the Big Bus London tours?

Hop on hop off convenience

Enjoy the flexibility to explore London at your own pace with our hop-on, hop-off feature. Jump off at any of our designated stops and dive into the city's iconic attractions.

Panoramic views

Experience London's landmarks from a unique vantage point on our open-top buses. Capture breathtaking views of Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and more.

Expert guided tours

Learn about London's rich history and culture from our knowledgeable tour guides. Gain insights into each landmark's significance and uncover hidden gems along the way.

Multi-language commentary

Choose from a variety of languages for live commentary during your tour. Whether you speak English, Spanish, French, or Mandarin, our multilingual options ensure everyone can fully appreciate the experience.

Exclusive discounts and offers

Unlock special deals and discounts at select attractions with your Big Bus combo tickets. Maximize your London adventure while saving money on entrance fees and experiences.

Family-friendly experience

Our tours are designed to cater to all ages, making them perfect for families. Sit back, relax, and create lasting memories together as you explore London's top sights.

Big bus London routes, stops and maps

The Red Route/Classic Red tour travels around the best of Central London. Highlights are Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Big Ben, and St Paul’s Cathedral. 

• First stop: Green Park Underground
• Timings: 8:30am - 6pm
• Frequency: Every 10 to 20 minutes
• No. of stops: 24
• Full loop duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

The Blue Route/Big Blue tour is perfect for visitors who want to experience the best of West London, from Kensington Palace and Harrods to Notting Hill. It starts near Piccadilly and travels to the ritzy shopping areas near Park Lane, Regent Street, Oxford Circus, and Hyde Park. 

• First stop: Victoria, Nova Complex
• Timings: 8am - 6pm
• Frequency: Every 15 to 20 minutes
• No. of stops: 39
• Full loop duration: 3 hours 35 minutes

Green route

This route is primarily a transport link that connects Euston Station and King’s Cross Station to Central London. It starts at Covent Garden and has 10 stations that cover attractions like the British Museum, Russel Square, and Holborn. 

• First stop: Woburn - Northbound
• Frequency: Every 30 to 60 minutes
• No. of stops: 10
• Full loop duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

More details:

• Big bus overview and route-wise timetable
• Big bus route overview and route-wise stops and maps

Highlights of your Big Bus London tour

Route name: Red route, Blue route

Attraction timings: 11am to 6pm

Tower of London

Attraction timings: 9am to 5:30pm

SEA life aquarium

Attraction timings: 10am to 4pm

Buckingham Palace

Attraction timings: 9:30am to 6:30pm

Tower Bridge

Attraction timings: 9:30am to 6pm

Suggested London Big Bus Itineraries

If you have just one day in London then pick the Red Route of the London Big Bus Tours and explore all the top attractions in West London and Central London London.

• Start off at the Green Park Underground Station and take in the sights of West London, stopping at Mayfair. 
• Get back on the bus and stop at Trafalgar Square and enjoy the free Royal Walking Tour at 10am and explore the area around Buckingham Palace. 
• Take the Big Bus from Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London. Explore the landmark, then take the free River Cruise from the Tower of London Pier to Westminster Pier.
• After a stop for lunch, explore Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
• Finally, get back on the Big Bus and do the complete Red Route loop (1 hour 15 minutes), and get down at Covent Garden. Walk around the district and enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants.

If you have 2 days, you can explore the attractions in London at a more leisurely pace. Here is a sample itinerary to use:

Day 1 – Blue Route:  Set out from Green Park Underground and get down and explore the South Kensington Museums. Visit Kensington Palace and have lunch in the area, or at nearby Notting Hill. Get on the bus and stop at Baker Street for the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds. Stop at the London Eye to ride the London Eye, and visit the London Dungeons and SeaLife Aquarium. Finally walk down to Westminster Pier and take the free river cruise.

Day 2 – Red Route:  Start your day at Trafalgar Square for the free ‘Royal Walk’ walking tour at 10am. After the tour head to Westminster Abbey. Get on the Red Route and get off at St Paul’s Cathedral. Then head to the City Hall stop to explore the H.M.S. Belfast. Finally, cross Tower Bridge, or take the bus again and get down at the Tower of London and spend time exploring the attraction.

Big Bus London tips

• Download the Big Bus Tours app as it is a convenient way to plan your itinerary and ensure you have the bus timings and route ready at your fingertips. 
• Plan your day ahead in advance as the bus routes are in a loop and there are a few points where you can change over to other routes. Make sure you consider the timings of the attractions and the days of closing as you don’t want to waste time alighting at the wrong stops! 
• As much as possible pre-book your tickets as you can avoid spending time in the queues outside attractions. You can purchase skip-the-line tickets for London attractions here . 
• The Big Bus ticket is valid for calendar days which means it is advisable to activate your pass as early in the day as possible. You cannot use the 1-day Big Bus ticket for 24 hours over 2 days!

Big Bus London: FAQ's

Hop-on hop-off buses are tourist buses that allow you to board and leave whenever you like at their destined stops and sightsee at your convenience.

Your ticket grants you access to all Big Bus routes, allowing you to hop on and off at any designated stop. Additionally, you'll enjoy informative commentary, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, and exclusive discounts at select attractions and restaurants.

London Big Bus hop-on hop-off bus tours run at a frequency of 10 to 30 minutes. Depending on the route. Click here for details. 

There are three Big Bus tour routes in London - the red, blue, and green link. All the routes are included in your big bus ticket. 

Yes, you will get access to audio guides available in up to 12 languages to learn more about the city.

Yes, the London Big Bus hop-on hop-off tours are accessibility-friendly for wheelchair users.

Tickets are typically valid for either 24 or 48 hours from the time of redemption, depending on the ticket type purchased.

• Skip to content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Tips For Family Trips

Start planning your dream trip today

Tips for Taking a Big Bus Tour in London

England / October 4, 2019 by Allison / 3 Comments This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links.

Planning a trip to London? I used to scoff at Big Bus tours because they are “touristy.” However, I've now tried Big Bus in London and Washington D.C. and have decided that they are actually a fun, low-stress way to see a new city. 

My family used Big Bus as transportation and tour on our first full day in London. It was easy to use, and we saw more of the city that day than any other day of our trip. My kids (ages 11 and 14) loved riding in the open upper deck, and never complained about taking a break from all the walking we did on other days of our trip.

Here's are my tips for making the most of your Big Bus Tour in London.

What is a Big Bus Tour?

Big Bus tours are private double-decker buses that drive through the most visited and well-known sections of London. Every bus has a live tour guide or recorded narration that tells you more about what you're seeing. 

You can get off the bus anytime to spend more time at any of the attractions along the way. There are 40+ stops between 4 routes. When you're done, climb on the next Big Bus that comes by and continue your tour. Your wait will probably be 15 minutes or less.

All-Day Transportation

Big Bus is an activity and a full-day's transportation rolled into one. The bus will stop near most major activities in London. You can ride the bus, see the sights, and hop off for activities anytime you want. When you're finished, hop back on the next Big Bus that comes by. Buses should arrive every few minutes. 

You can start and end your day at any Big Bus stop. We arrived with our passes, and they were activated as we boarded. We chose a beginning and end point within walking distance of our hotel.

Related: My Review of Travelodge London-Covent Garden

Which Route is Best?

Stick with the Red Tour if this is your first trip to London and you only have one day on Big Bus.

The Red Tour is the Central London route, which will take you past London's most famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London and more. This is the only route with a live tour guide.

Big Bus has four routes to choose from – red, blue, orange and green. You can switch to any route any time, and back again at no extra cost. 

We planned to spend 2-3 hours just riding without hopping off, and imagined that we might transfer to the blue or orange route to see more of the city. It turned out that the Red Tour, with stops at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, took the whole day.

See all the routes and plan your day at https://www.bigbustours.com/london .

Keep Activities Short

Aim for smaller museums or landmarks that will not take more than an hour or so – and not too many of them – on your Big Bus day. This will give you time to see more of London on the bus. 

We stopped at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London on our Big Bus day. From a transportation perspective, these were good choices for us because they weren't very close to our hotel or other activities on our itinerary. On the other hand, the Tower of London is a major activity that can easily take 2-3 hours (or more) if you love history.

If you know you'll want to spend a lot of time at a single activity or neighborhood, do that on a different day. You'll get the most for your money if you use Big Bus to see more places.

Related: Tips for Visiting the Tower of London

Save Time to Ride

You may want to spend some time just riding the bus, without hopping off at all. This is what we did after we finished at the Tower of London in the afternoon.

We passed neighborhoods and landmarks that I'd heard about, but might never have seen without Big Bus. The recorded narration or live guide filled in the details. It was a great way to become more familiar with a new city.

If you just take the Red Route without hopping off, a round trip will take about 2 hours 20 minutes.

Dress for the Weather

Climbing to the open-air upper deck on your Big Bus will be a no-brainer for most families. It has the best unobstructed views. Dress for the weather so that rain or cold won't drive you into the sheltered lower deck too easily.

Related: Packing Tips from our London Trip

Expect Heavy Traffic

Be careful about scheduling other activities on your Big Bus day. We had evening tickets to Les Miserables in the West End and figured that we had plenty of time to take Big Bus from the Tower of London to Leicester Square. However, afternoon traffic was so slow that we had to settle for a grab-and-go dinner to arrive at the theatre in time. 

Slow traffic means you have time to take photos and soak up the scenery while someone else worries about driving. However, the Underground will be more efficient if you need to get somewhere quickly.

Related: How to Get Theatre Tickets in London

Ways to Save

The current price for the 1-day Classic Ticket is £39 per adult if you buy in London when you board the bus. There are several easy ways to save money on your Big Bus ticket. 

Buy Online – You'll save a few pounds on each pass when you buy in advance through the official website. Learn more at www.bigbustours.com/london .

The London Pass – One full day on Big Bus is included with The London Pass. This bundle-and-save pass also includes popular activities like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Churchill War Rooms and many more. Learn more about The London Pass at londonpass.com .

Upgrade your ticket  – It only costs an extra £5-10 to add a second or third day to your Big Bus ticket. If you love the low-stress Big Bus experience, this option is a good way to see London for as little as £15 per day. 

Related: My Review of The London Pass for Families

Every member of my family loved our Big Bus Tour in London and we recommend it. We saw a lot more of the city than we could have seen on foot or on the Underground. The tour guide/recorded narration was informative. We didn't need to spend any other money on transportation that day, and never worried about getting lost. 

I hope that our experience helps your family make the most of your time and money in London.

Happy travels!

Disclosure: My family received complimentary 2-Day London Passes for the purpose of review. Big Bus is included in The London Pass. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for Sharing!

Reader Interactions

John Phillips

June 30, 2020 at 8:37 am

Hi Allison Thank you for the very informative review which includes lots of good points.

I’ve travelled around London on a tourist bus but with another company called Megasightseeing. Their 2 hour non stop tour was also excellent but at a fraction of the price of Big Bus & the other tour bus companies that operate in London.

Perhaps you might want to check them out when you are next in town.

Liz Entwistle

October 22, 2021 at 4:33 am

Which is the nearest stop on the red bus tour to Euston station? & how far from Euston is it

October 22, 2021 at 4:09 pm

Hi! Let me start by clarifying that I don’t live in London or know the Big Bus route well. But using Google Maps and the official Big Bus Tours website, I was able to figure out that unfortunately, Euston Station is not very close to a stop on the Red Tour. You’re not too far if you ride a couple of stops via the Underground.

I got an address near Euston Station (the British Library) on Google Maps and then typed it into the official Big Bus site here: https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/find-a-bus-stop-london . From there, I was able to see the location in relation to the Big Bus routes. It’s a handy tool and it was fun to find it. Thanks!

Have a question or comment? Add it here. Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Search Experiences
• Manage Booking
• Phone # SMS #
• My Offers 5

London: Big Bus – Classic Tour

Be the first to get offers and news, shopping cart, find your experience.

travel tips

Big bus vs tootbus london.

Updated: May 7

Introduction

If you're planning to explore the vibrant streets of London in style, hopping on an open-top bus tour is the way to go. In this guide, we'll navigate through the offerings of two top players in the game – Big Bus and TooTBus London.

DoubleDeckerLondon is reader supported. If you make a purchase through some of the links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Check ticket deals for Big Bus  or TooTBus  

Table of contents

Brief overview of the open-top bus tours

Big Bus services

TooTBus services

Head-to-head comparison of Big Bus vs TooTBu s London

User reviews and testimonials

Summary of key points

1. Brief overview of the open-top bus tours

When it comes to open-top bus tours in London, two major players, Big Bus and TooTBus (formerly The Original Tour), have stood the test of time, accumulating nearly a century of combined experience.

While Big Bus has held firm to its traditions and values over the years, TooTBus (formerly The Original Tour) has undergone significant shifts and changes, especially through its latest rebranding. This transformation has brought both positive and not-so-positive aspects. I have to say, I used to be a big fan of The Original Tour. Tootbus still has to win me over.

Big Bus has been a part of London for more than 30 years , making it a true London icon. With one of the most frequent bus schedules and their Classic Tour (the flagship route) they've created a truly authentic experience.

The Big Bus experience doesn't end with bus rides alone. All their tickets include an amazing river cruise along the Thames, guided walking tours, and extra perks depending on your ticket choice. They've designed it so you don't need to worry too much; you just get your tickets and surrender to the experience.

If you fancy seeing London at night, they offer a special night tour that departs every evening. You can add it to your ticket or purchase it separately later on.

If you want to find out more about the Big Bus services, head to our dedicated blog post . There, we go into much more detail and highlight all the essential aspects.

Like I mentioned before Tootbus went through some serious transformation over the last few years, rebranding from the well-known 'The Original Tour'. Their focus has shifted towards sustainability and a more digitalized system, and to some extent, they have succeeded. However, there is still a long way to go.

One thing I appreciate is that they've replaced their entire fleet with eco-friendly buses, something no other tour has done. If you're concerned about your carbon footprint, Tootbus is the company to choose. 

They've also transitioned from the old paper ticket system to digital tickets , which can be used directly on your phone. This is a huge advantage because one of the biggest problems was people losing their tickets and not being able to board the bus.

If you happen to travel with kids, Tootbus has a special kids commentary designed to keep the little ones engaged. This feature dates back to the old days and is something that sets them apart from other companies that do not offer this. For an even more personalized tour for kids, they have a special tour with a few departures a day. These tours have a live guide catering to the kids, and they're much shorter for those who don't want to spend two hours or more on the bus.

For a more in-depth exploration of TooTBus services, head to our dedicated blog post .

4. Head-to-head comparison of Big Bus vs TooTBus London

Frequency:  They have one of the most frequent bus schedules

Partnerships:  They are partners with Merlin Attractions, offering discounted tickets to some top attractions

Extensive Coverage:  Their route covers a wider range of places like Madame Tussauds and Oxford street

London Pass Benefit: London Pass holders can use Big Bus for 1 day

Walking Tours : When you purchase the Essential ticket you get 3 guided walking tours

Eco-Friendly Focus:  TooTBus is committed to eco-friendly touring

Family-Friendly:  Specially designed commentary for kids

Affordability:  Some of the most affordable tickets in the sightseeing world

Later Departures:  Depending on the season, they offer later departure times

Walking Tours:  Complimentary self-guided walking tours

Let's delve into more detail:

Attraction Tickets:  If you plan to explore paid attractions in London, Big Bus takes the lead. They not only permit London Pass holders to board their buses for one day but also participate in an incredible package deal covering all Merlin attractions .

Service:  Big Bus wins when it comes to bus frequency , especially at major stops like the London Eye and Marble Arch. The blue route also offers a more frequent service compared to its Tootbus counterpart.

Route:   While their routes are almost identical, Big Bus covers stops like Madame Tussauds and Oxford Street, which Tootbus does not include. Another advantage for Big Bus is its blue route. It covers both east and west London, removing the need to switch buses.

Commentary:  TootBus shines in this aspect, featuring additional commentary specifically designed for kids. This kid-friendly commentary is crafted to entertain and inform young passengers during the journey.

Sustainability:   TootBus takes the lead in sustainability with buses running on alternative fuels. They also eliminated printed tickets and transitioned to an app-based system.

Walking Tours:  Big Bus offers guided tours included in their Essential ticket, whereas TootBus provides free self-guided tours through their app.

Price:  When it comes to pricing, TootBus offers notably more affordable options. The most significant difference is evident in family and child tickets.

Prices as of 12/04/2024. These prices are available online only .

5. User reviews

On TripAdvisor, Big Bus has a higher rating of 4 stars compared to TootBus which has 3.5 stars. While the difference is not huge, Big Bus has six times more reviews than TootBus. I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

An important observation from my experience and in line with some reviews is that TootBus faces challenges with its commentary , contributing to a less favorable perception among users

If budget is not a concern, I suggest going for Big Bus. However, keep in mind that, like any city, London can throw unexpected challenges your way. No matter what tour you take if you don't take the necessary measures, you can face some unpleasant situations. To avoid this, check the first and last bus timings, download the app, steer clear of rush hours, and be flexible with your expectations.

If you are looking for something more affordable , TootBus is the best choice, especially for families. The kids will love the special commentary, and the family ticket comes at a significantly lower cost.

Pro Tip : For a smooth experience, check with the staff validating your tickets about any potential disruptions and inquire about bus frequency.

If you enjoyed our Big Bus vs TootBus London post, make sure to check our Travel Tips page for other great advice.

Check ticket deals online for Big Bus  or TooTBus  

Related Posts

TootBus vs City Sightseeing London

Big Bus vs TopView London

Big Bus vs City Sightseeing London

TRAVEL TIPS

London on a budget

London in one day

Privacy Policy

Top 5 things to see in London

SPECIAL EXPERIENCES

Afternoon Tea Bus

Harry Potter Tour

© 2023 by Double Decker London