Ride a double-becker bus ★★★
Riding the famous double-decker buses of London
Those red two-story buses are an icon of London—and a fabulous way to take a quick sightseeing tour, a bird's-eye tour of the city at the price of a bus ticket.
Besides, sometimes in London you end up feeling like a gopher, taking the Tube everywhere, popping above ground just long enough to see some sight then scurrying back down to tunnel off aboard the Underground to your next stop. Instead, take a few of those rides on a bus—a bit slower, perhaps, but you'll get to see more of London this way.
When you do, try your best to ride up top in the front seat. The view from here can be slightly panicky or vertigo inducing, as an odd effect of parallax often makes it look as if you are about to shave off the corners of buildings as the bus wends its way through London's gnarl of streets. But once you get used to that, it's great fun.
There are four kinds of double-deckers plying the streets of London these days.
You will mostly see the late 20th century boxy models, the sleek, rounded New Buses, and of course the ubiquitous topless double-deckers converted into hop-on/hop-off sightseeing buses.
The fourth kind, whuch you will rarely see the classic old 1950s Routemaster—at least on public routes.
Most of those you will see have been repurposed as sightseeing tour buses—save on "Heritage Route" 15H.
Where to ride a double-decker in London
- Heritage Route 15H (classic Routemaster bus): Trafalgar Square–Charing Cross–Aldwych–City Thameslink–St Paul's Churchyard–Mansion House–Cannon Street–Tower Hill
- Route 8 - Oxford Circus to Bow Church
- Route 9 - Hammersmith to Aldwych
- Route 10 - Hammersmith bus station to King's Cross St. Pancras
- Route 11 - Liverpool Street station to Fulham Broadway
- Route 12 - Dulwich to Oxford Circus
- Route 15 - Trafalgar Square to Blackwall DLR
- Route 16 - Victoria station to Longley Way
- Route 24 - Hampstead Heath to Pimlico
- Route 38 - Victoria to Hackney
- Route 55 - Oxford Circus to Leyton
- Route 73 - Victoria to Stoke Newington
- Route 88 - Camden to Clapham
- Route 137 - Oxford Circus to Streatham Hill
- Route 148 - Camberwell Green to White City bus station
- Route 390 - Notting Hill Gate to Archway
- Route 453 - Marylebone station to Deptford Bridge
How to pay for your ride
If you are using a hop-on/hop-off bus, just flash your pass when you board.
If you are using a public bus, you can use your Oyster Card at the little scanners just inside each door.
If you happen to have a Day Travelcard or paper ticket, board at the front to flash this to the driver.
By the way, the open back platform on the New Bus is only available during the day, when there is a conductor on board to assist back there. It's closed behind perspex at night, though the driver can open it, as he does the other doors, after he comes to a stop.
ToursDouble Decker Buses Tours
Hop aboard a vintage red double-decker bus, and then sit back and relax on a sightseeing tour of London. On a route around the city center, watch out for iconic London monuments like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey — where Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011. Listen to details of each sight’s history from your guide.
Pass St Paul's Cathedral, a much-loved Baroque cathedral that has hosted countless services for London’s dignitaries over the years, and hear details of significant occasions, such as the wedding of Lady Diana to Prince Charles, from your guide.
Amble down to the banks of the Thames River for a photo stop outside the Tower of London. Designed to terrify Londoners while deterring foreign invaders, the formidable-looking tower is now home to the Crown Jewels and the famous Beefeater guards who protect them.
Walk along the river to Tower Pier and hop aboard a sightseeing boat for a leisurely cruise to Westminster. Sit out on deck or relax in the comfy seats in the saloon, listening to audio commentary about all the sites that you pass. Cruise under London Bridge, gaze at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and see the London Eye just across the river.
Next, head to the Queen’s famous residence — Buckingham Palace — and see the legendary Changing of the Guard ceremony from outside the palace gates. In time to drumbeats from a military band, soldiers from the Queen’s Foot Guard march to Buckingham Palace in their eye-catching red tunics and bearskin hats.
Watch this traditional ceremony, your tour will then conclude near Victoria Railway Station in central London. Upgrade to include a delicious fish and chips lunch in a central London pub.
Relax on board your open-top bus as you travel around central London and see the sights. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye are just a few of the landmarks you might see.
Hop off your bus near the Tower of London, and pose for photos in front of the formidable monument. Hear how the tower is now home to the world-famous Crown Jewels, and admire the smartly dressed Beefeater guards who protect them.
Walk along the river to Tower Pier and board a Thames River sightseeing boat for your 1-hour afternoon tea cruise to Westminster. Sit out on deck or relax in the comfy seats in the saloon, and listen to audio commentary about all the sites. Cruise under London Bridge, gaze at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and take in beautiful views of the London Eye just across the river.
No visit to London is complete without sampling a cup of tea alongside quintessentially British scones with jam and clotted cream. So do just that, and enjoy the sweet treats and a glass of Champagne, too.
When your cruise ends, travel back to the start point by coach.
Enjoy great views of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye as we meander through the streets and history of our great city, all brought to life by our expert guide.
Take your seat on our beautifully restored double-decker bus and marvel at all of London’s highlights, including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, all brought to life by our expert guide.
Have your cameras at the ready as we stop for photos at Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral where Admirals Nelson and Wellington are buried and where Princess Diana was married. Then join us at the Tower of London that was built nearly a thousand years ago and is now home to the Crown Jewels protected by the famous Beefeaters. The imposing former palace was once used as a fortress and a prison and your guide will take you to see Traitors Gate where prisoners entered the Tower for the last time!
Take your place for an unforgettable traditional Christmas lunch cruise for the finest festive dining experience you will find on the Thames. With a luxurious 3 course menu and an elegant, seasonal atmosphere, we promise you’ll never know another Christmas like it.
Red double-decker Routemaster buses are a much-loved London icon, and the only way to tour London.
Other famous London landmarks you'll see include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.
Next, you'll jump onboard a Thames River Cruise to see all of the famous London landmarks and bridges from a different perspective. The cruise passes Shakespeare’s Globe, Cleopatra’s Needle and London Bridge before you arrive at Westminster pier to rejoin the bus and head for Buckingham Palace.
Watch the world-famous Changing of the Guard Ceremony as the soldiers, dressed in their fabulous tunics and busbies, march to military music. If the guard change is not taking place, you will stop for photos of the Horseguards.
Add one of the following attractions for a comprehensive introduction to the city of London:
Top London Attractions:
Enjoy fast, hassle-free entry to the London Eye or Tower of London. Pre-booked and pre-paid tickets ensure speedy access to London’s top attractions.
Stonehenge Shuttle:
Combine the tour with an afternoon visit to Stonehenge. After the morning tour of London, you'll be dropped off at Victoria Coach Station ready to depart on the roundtrip shuttle bus (5 hours) to Stonehenge at 12:30pm. Designed to give you a fast, hassle-free independent trip to Stonehenge, collect your entrance tickets (included in the tour price!) and free audio-guide before exploring at your own pace.
Take your seat on the beautifully restored double-decker bus and marvel at all of London’s highlights including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. Have your cameras ready as you stop for photos at Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral, which contains impressive mementos and monuments to many of Britain's heroes including Nelson, Wellington and Churchill.
Next, sit back, relax and enjoy the London scenery en-route to the Tower of London. Built nearly a thousand years ago, this imposing building has been a palace, fortress and prison. Learn about the Tower’s famous Beefeater guards who are protecting its current treasure, the Crown Jewels and your guide will take you to see Traitors Gate where prisoners entered the Tower for the last time.
Choose the evening departure time most convenient to you, then make your own way to the prearranged meeting point near Trafalgar Square in central London. Greet your ghoulish guide, then climb aboard the eerie ghost bus, a classic 1960s Routemaster with a Gothic edge and a dark backstory.
Find a secluded spot in the shadows of the lower deck, or boldly ascend to the top deck and settle into one of the blood red seats. Feel the roar of the engine, and prepare yourself for a thrilling tour of London’s darker side.
As your bus weaves its wicked way through London’s streets, listen to your guide, a somewhat unhinged bus conductor, recount gruesome tales from the capital’s long, depraved past. Feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end as you learn about the Whitehall Mystery, a particularly bloody murder case where neither the victim nor the killer were ever identified, though some believe that Jack the Ripper, London’s most fearsome serial killer, may have been behind it.
Hear spine-chilling stories about the city’s most famous ghosts as you pass by some of London’s must-see attractions including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
Steel yourself as you learn about the ancient royal tombs that were uncovered at Westminster Abbey, the black dog of Newgate Prison, and the demon barber of Fleet Street. You’ll also visit the Cross Bones Graveyard, a pauper's burial ground with a legend that dates back to medieval times.
After around an hour, your tour concludes back at the original start point.
Make your own way to the prearranged meeting point near Trafalgar Square in central London. Greet your guide, the eccentric Professor Quantum, then climb aboard a classic 1960s Routemaster bus, kitted out (British slang for customized) with time-bending gadgets and mind-boggling devices.
Get comfortable inside the lower deck or find a seat on the top deck, then feel the rumble of the engine and prepare to travel back in time on an entertaining tour of historical London.
Pass by premier sights including the magnificent Neo-Gothic Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married.
Then continue on to Whitehall, the center of the British Government. Pass by Downing Street, home to the British Prime Minister, and catch a glimpse of the Horse Guards Parade.
Next, marvel at St Paul’s Cathedral, one of the city’s most iconic buildings, and be awed by the monumental Tower of London and Tower Bridge, as well as the more modern sights around the London Bridge area.
As your bus makes its way through the capital’s streets, listen to the professor recount tales of his experiences from the past, present and future, as well as the history behind the sights you see. You’ll also have the opportunity to make contact with famous figures from by-gone times through a fully functioning time phone.
After around an hour, your tour concludes at the original start point.
Perfect for days out in London, this tours has been specifically designed to show you all the sights of the city in 75 minutes. This tour gives you a flavor of the swinging sixties on a timeless Routemaster bus, now converted into an open top bus and filled with state of the art technology.
Handpicked by comedy writers and directors, your London tour guides will come from a wide variety of professional entertainment backgrounds. From award winning comedians to the finest tour guides in the city with years of experience, the performers bring you a comedy tour like no other.
The tours provide more than just the finest things to see in London, the buses are equipped with high definition screens and an exclusively designed sound system. With footage of London through the ages and site-specific music and songs, this tour immerses you in the London experience.
These might include Double decker buses
More toursActivities, walks, & excursions
- Viator.com - Best one-stop shopping site for all sorts of activities, walking tours, bus tours, escorted day trips, and other excursions. It is actually a clearinghouse for many local tour companies and outfitters, and since it gets a bulk-rate deal on pricing (and takes only a token fee for itself), you can actually sometimes book an activity through Viator for less than it would cost to buy the same exact tour from the tour company itself. (I once booked a Dublin pub crawl via Viator and later discovered that I saved about $1.50; also, the tour turned out to be sold-out, and they were turning away the folks in front of me in line, but since I had a pre-booked voucher I got in.)Partner
- Londonwalks.com - Since the 1970s, the gold standard in city walking tours and museum tours—and cheap, to boot. Just meet your guide at the appointed time and place (usually a Tube stop), pay your £10 (students or over 65s are £8; under 15 free), and prepare for a good two hours of amazing cultural insight and historic anecdotes. If you plan on taking three or more walks, buy a "Frequent London Walker" card for £2 from your first guide, then each subsequent walk costs £8. They also run popular excursions outside London for £18. Note that the fee just covers the guided tour; you pay for any admissions (or, for excursions, travel expenses) yourself.
- Contexttravel.com - This bespoke walking tour company doesn't even call its 200 tour leaders "guides." It calls them "docents"—perhaps because most guides are academics and specialists in their fields: history professors, archeologists, PhDs, art historians, artists, etc. Groups are miniscule (often six people maximum), and most docents can be booked for private guiding sessions as well. They aren't always the cheapest tours, but they are invariably the best. People rave about Context.Partner
- City-discovery.com - Chief rival to Viator (though with a less spiffy interface and often sub-par text descriptions), representing many of the same tours (at the same prices). However, it also seems to cover more destinations, especially secondary ones. When it comes down to it, City-Discovery and Viator have maybe 70% the same inventory, but then 30% will be completely different (some Viator has City-Discovery does not, other vice-versa) so it pays to check through the offerings from both.Partner
Public transit
- Tfl.gov.uk - Covers pretty much all London transportation, including the Tube and buses but also taxis, the DLR and other local light rail systems, trams, the London bike share program, and other one-off transport options.
- Nationalrail.co.uk - Covers all of the lines once operated by the (since-privitized) old British Rail. This includes most major British railways, but notably does not cover many urban area light rail systems (such as London, Glasgow, Manchester, Blackpool, Sheffield, and Midland Metro), nor does it cover the Eurostar, Heathrow Express, nor a handful of heritage or privately owned railways. Still, it's the closest thing to one-stop shopping for finding train connections across the mainland U.K. (though not Northern Ireland).
Related
Do not buy point-to-point tickets. What you want is an Oyster Card (possibly with a Travelcard transit pass).
