Boxing Day Open Top Bus Christmas Lights Tour

What’s Included

• Extended Christmas Lights Tour: Enjoy a comprehensive 90-minute journey showcasing London’s festive illuminations.
• Live English-Speaking Guide: Benefit from insightful commentary and stories from an expert guide.
• Seating Choice: Select between upper deck (open-top for best views) or lower deck seating (enclosed).

What’s Not Included

• Gratuities (these are optional).
• Food and Drink: Only bottled water is permitted on board; other food and beverages are not included.
• Travel to/from Start Point: Transportation to your chosen departure location is not provided.

Important Information

• Tour Duration & Route: While planned for 90 minutes, heavy Christmas traffic may occasionally alter the route to ensure you see as many lights as possible. On quieter days, the tour might be shorter (60-70 minutes).
• Seating Policy: Seating on the bus is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis; seats cannot be reserved in advance. If you book a lower deck ticket, you will not be able to sit on the upper deck.
• Specific Route Detail: Please be aware that the 4:15 PM departures from Victoria will not drive along Oxford Street.
• Onboard Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on the bus.
• Weather Preparation: As this is a winter tour, please dress suitably for cold weather conditions.
• Children: Children aged 0-4 years travel free of charge, but they will not be allocated a seat. If a seat is required for them, a child ticket must be purchased.
• Accessibility: The lower deck of the bus has space for one fold-away pushchair and one wheelchair.
• Non-Stop Tour: This is a sightseeing tour; you cannot hop on or hop off at any point during the journey.

Useful Information

When booking, please select your preferred time of departure. This tour operates daily with multiple departure times from various convenient London locations:

London Eye: Located at the Tourist bus stop on Belvedere Road, London SE1 7NA, directly in front of the London Eye. Waterloo tube station is just a 2-minute walk away.

• Departure Times: 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:00 PM, 8:30 PM, and 9:00 PM.

Victoria: Find us at Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SR. Victoria tube station is only a 2-minute walk away.

• Departure Times: 4:15 PM, 5:15 PM, 6:15 PM, and 7:15 PM.

Green Park: Depart from the Tourist Bus Stop outside Green Park London Underground Station, Piccadilly, London W1J 9DZ.

• Departure Times: 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 9:00 PM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the tour depart from? Usually tours will depart from Victoria, central London but can vary depending on itinerary. Please contact us for further information or check the important information tab on the tour page.

Where will I be dropped off following my tour? Due to legal and time restrictions, tour operators typically offer a choice of a few drop-off points within central London (unless otherwise stated during the tour). These are usually located in close proximity to underground stations.

What time will I return from my tour? For full-day coach excursions, returns to London generally occur between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM, depending on the tour and traffic conditions. Unescorted train tours usually return later, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

Are tours suitable for wheelchair users? Coaches can typically accommodate only folding wheelchairs. Passengers using them will usually need to be able to board and alight the coach (including a few steps) with assistance from their own helper, as tour staff are often not permitted to assist for health and safety reasons. Due to the fast-paced nature of many tours and the amount of walking involved, tours are often not recommended for individuals with limited mobility. It’s best to contact the reservations team for specific queries.

What items are permitted on the coach regarding luggage? Generally, you are permitted to take one piece of luggage on a coach tour. It’s advised to keep personal and valuable items with you at all times, as any items left on the coach are at your own risk. Hot food and hot drinks are typically not permitted on the coach.

Can the Open Top Buses accommodate wheelchairs? Many open-top buses have an access ramp at the front. Legally, they can usually carry one wheelchair user per bus.

What else is typically included in the tour price? All entrances are usually included in the tour price unless otherwise stated.

What is generally not included in the tour price?

• Travel insurance
• Gratuities for your guide and driver (optional)
• Any transfers to/from stations and pick-up points unless specifically mentioned on the tour page.

If lunch isn’t included, can we grab lunch from nearby restaurants? Most locations will have restaurants nearby, but opting for a sit-down meal may significantly restrict the amount of time you have at the attractions.

At what age do senior concessions begin? Senior concessions typically begin at 60 years of age.

Do coaches have washroom facilities on board? Washroom facilities on board coaches cannot always be guaranteed. However, regular stops are usually made en route, and lavatories are often available at most attractions.

How much time is spent at each attraction? There isn’t a set time for exploration at each attraction. Guides are trained to observe how their group progresses and adjust the tour accordingly. It’s important to remember that some tours cover multiple landmarks in a single day, so extensive time at each attraction may not be possible.

What happens if I arrive late for a departure? If you arrive late for a departure, you could lose your seat to a walk-up passenger. It’s highly encouraged to arrive at the pick-up point a minimum of 15 minutes before departure. Once on the tour, your guide or driver will provide specific departure times for each location, and you must be back at the coach at least five minutes before this time. If you are late and miss the given time, the coach will depart without you to avoid delaying other passengers. If unsure about a departure time while on tour, always ask the guide or driver.

For groups traveling together, can specific seats on the coach be reserved? Unfortunately, seats are usually on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be pre-booked.

Can an itinerary be provided for a specific tour if the website doesn’t detail time spent at each attraction? An approximate amount of time spent at each attraction can often be provided. However, the overall tour duration and timing at each stop are often at the guide’s discretion and can vary.

Are tours available in languages other than English? Yes, many tours offer foreign language-speaking tour guides. Please check with us to see which days these operate.