Open Top Bus Tour London: Comparing the Three Options
An open top bus tour in London is the fastest way to see the big sights in one sweep, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's and Tower Bridge, all from an upper deck seat. Three different rides cover this ground, from a genuine 1960s Routemaster to a modern panoramic coach, and picking the right one comes down to time, budget and how much you care about the vehicle itself.
About This Experience
90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on which of the three routes you choose
Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund on all three tours
Lock in a seat today and pay closer to your travel date
The featured route runs on a genuine 1960s Routemaster, the classic red open-top double-decker
Two of the three routes include a live guide narrating the landmarks as you pass them
Each option is a single guided loop past the major sights, not a hop-on-hop-off day pass
Check Live Availability & Prices
See live seat availability and current pricing for the vintage Routemaster route below.
Which Open-Top Bus Tour to Pick
All three rides cover the same central London ground, but the vehicle, length and guide style differ enough to matter. The vintage Routemaster tour is the character pick: a real 1960s open-top double-decker with a live guide, a tight 90 minutes, and by far the largest review base of the three at 4.6 stars from over 3,600 riders. It's the one we point most first-time visitors toward, and the one we've slotted into plan your two days in London as the afternoon-one activity.
The 2-hour panoramic tour with a live guide is the best commentary-per-dollar option: a modern open-top bus, a full two hours on the road, and a strong 4.7-star rating, just with a smaller review count than the Routemaster. It suits travelers who want more time on board and don't mind trading the heritage vehicle for a longer, cheaper ride.
The third panoramic option is the weakest of the group, rated 3.8 stars against mixed feedback on its commentary, and it's also the priciest at $37.41. We include it here honestly as a fallback for when the other two are sold out on your date, not as a first choice.
Compare All Three London Bus Tours
Every open top bus tour in London below runs the same central loop, just with a different bus, length and guide.
from $24.31 Panoramic London: 2-Hour Open-Top Bus Tour with Live Guide
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from $37.41 London: Panoramic Open-Top Bus Tour
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from $25.05 Side by Side
What You'll See
Every one of these routes threads through the same core of central London, so the sights barely change between tours, only the bus and the pace do. Expect a loop past Westminster and the river before swinging east through the City.
- Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from Westminster Bridge
- Westminster Abbey's west towers
- Buckingham Palace and the edge of St James's Park
- Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column
- The Strand and Aldwych theatreland
- St Paul's Cathedral's dome above the City
- The Tower of London's outer walls
- Tower Bridge from the river side
How a Typical Ride Flows
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09:30
Board near Westminster or Victoria
Most departures start within a short walk of Westminster Bridge; arrive 10-15 minutes early to claim an upper-deck front seat.
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09:45
Past Big Ben and Parliament Square
The bus crosses Westminster Bridge for the first, and best, view of the Elizabeth Tower and the Houses of Parliament.
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09:55
Buckingham Palace and St James's Park
The route swings past the palace forecourt before cutting through the edge of St James's Park toward the Mall.
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10:10
Trafalgar Square and the Strand
A pass around Nelson's Column, then east along the Strand through theatreland.
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10:25
St Paul's and the City
The bus climbs toward St Paul's Cathedral, with the dome visible for several minutes before the route drops into the financial district.
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10:45
Tower of London and Tower Bridge
The eastern turnaround point, with the Tower's walls on one side and Tower Bridge's twin towers on the other.
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11:00
Return loop to Westminster
The bus retraces the river side of the route back to the starting point; the 2-hour tours add a wider western loop here.
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Anyone sensitive to cold or wind, the open top runs noticeably colder than street level even in summer
- Wheelchair users, the vintage Routemaster has no lift or ramp access
- Travelers wanting hop-on-hop-off flexibility, these are single continuous loops with one boarding point
What to bring
- A jacket or light layer even in July
- A charged phone or camera for upper-deck photos
- Sunscreen or a hat for exposed seating
- A printed or mobile ticket confirmation for boarding
Not allowed
- Large suitcases or oversized luggage on board
- Standing on the upper deck while the bus is moving
- Boarding partway through the loop, these are not hop-on-hop-off passes
Insider Tips
A few things that make the ride noticeably better once you know them:
- Book the first morning departure for the emptiest streets and the cleanest photos
- Sit upper-deck, front-left, for the best line on Big Ben and the river
- Bring a layer even in July, the top deck makes its own wind at speed
- A dusk departure catches the city's lights coming on across the river
- The vintage Routemaster tour sells out on weekends first, book a few days ahead
Where You're Headed
Open Top Bus Tour London FAQ
Is this a hop-on-hop-off bus tour?
No. All three of these are guided loop tours, one continuous ride with commentary from start back to start, not a day pass you can board and leave at will.
Which open-top bus tour in London is best?
The vintage 1960s Routemaster route is the strongest all-round pick, rated 4.6 stars from over 3,600 riders with a live guide and genuine heritage bus. The 2-hour panoramic tour is the better choice if you want more time on board for a similar price.
How long does an open-top bus tour of London take?
Between 90 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the specific tour. The vintage Routemaster runs the shorter 90-minute loop; the two panoramic options both run a full 2 hours.
What should I wear on the open top deck?
Bring a jacket or light layer regardless of season. The open upper deck creates its own wind once the bus is moving, and it can feel noticeably colder than the street below.
Do the buses run if it rains?
Yes, tours operate rain or shine. The lower deck is fully enclosed, so you can move down if the weather turns while still following the same route and commentary.
Where do the tours depart from?
Departure points sit within easy walking distance of Westminster Bridge and Victoria; your confirmation email lists the exact meeting point for your specific tour.
What Travellers Say
The old Routemaster made the whole ride feel like part of the sightseeing rather than just transport between stops. Our guide's commentary on Big Ben and the Tower was sharp and funny.
We took the 2-hour panoramic tour and the live guide covered far more history than I expected for the price. Front-row upper deck seats made every photo easy.
Good overview for a first morning in the city. The top deck was colder than we planned for, so bring a jacket even in summer.