What’s Included
- A hop-on hop-off bus ticket for your chosen duration (1-day, 24, 48, or 72-hour).
- A tastecard, if selected, for dining discounts.
- Access to two complimentary walking tours (not included with the 1-day ticket).
- Live guide commentary on select Blue Route departures.
- A single-use river cruise ticket (not applicable with 1-day or 24-hour without cruise options; valid for 7 days from bus tour start).
- Audio guides available in 12 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Japanese, and Arabic.
What’s Not Included
- Entry fees to any attractions.
- Meals and beverages.
Important Information
- The duration of your ticket starts from your first hop onto the bus.
- Children under 5 years of age can travel free of charge.
- Each bus has dedicated space for one fold-away pushchair and one wheelchair on the lower deck.
- The complimentary Golden Tours City Guide App offers bus timings and assistance with city navigation.
- During the Changing of the Guard ceremony (10 am to 12 pm), stops 20, 22, 24, and 25 near Buckingham Palace are temporarily closed. Please use stop 21 or 14 during these times.
- The Orange Route buses operate every 30 minutes.
- Live English-speaking guides are often present on many open-top buses. You can board at London Eye, Belvedere Road, SE1 7NA on the hour for a complete loop with a live guide (availability may vary).
- You can begin your tour from any of the numerous marked stops, easily identifiable by Golden Tours branding.
- Bus frequency varies by season: during Summer and holidays, Red and Blue routes run every 20 minutes, while the Orange route runs every 30 minutes. In Winter, Blue routes run every 30 minutes, and Red and Orange routes run every 60 minutes.
- The river cruise, operated by City Cruises, departs every 30 minutes from Westminster Pier or Tower Millennium Pier and lasts approximately 30 minutes.
- The free walking tours include the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour (starts daily at 3:30 pm from Tourist Bus Stop 8 opposite Tower Hill Station) and the Royal London Walking Tour (starts daily at 10 am from Tourist Bus Stop outside The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace).
Useful Information
- Ticket Validity: Choose from 1-day, 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour options, valid from your first hop-on.
- Routes Available: Classic Tour (Blue), Essential Tour (Red), Museum Tour (Orange).
- Bus Frequency (Summer + Holidays):
- Red and Blue Routes: Every 20 minutes
- Orange Route: Every 30 minutes
- Bus Frequency (Winter):
- Blue Routes: Every 30 minutes
- Red and Orange Routes: Every 60 minutes
- River Cruise Frequency: Every 30 minutes.
- Live Guide Departure (Blue Route): On the hour from London Eye, Belvedere Road, SE1 7NA (subject to availability).
- Free Walking Tours:
- Jack the Ripper: Daily at 3:30 PM from Tourist Bus Stop 8, opposite Tower Hill Station.
- Royal London: Daily at 10:00 AM from Tourist Bus Stop outside The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.
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.
