View History Contact Operator Last updated: June 02, 2025

London Essential: 48hr Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour, Walking Tours & River Cruise

Summary Description

Discover London's history and landmarks on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Hear captivating tales of the city while admiring iconic sights such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge. Your ticket includes a Thames River cruise and three walking tours

Highlights
  • Explore London at your own pace on a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour
  • See Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London and the London Eye
  • Discover London from another perspective with a one-way Thames River Cruise
  • Uncover London's history with 4 themed Guided Walking Tours
  • Enjoy engaging audio commentary in a choice of 7 languages
Description

Explore London's iconic sights and landmarks on a hop-on, hop-off open-top sightseeing bus tour. Travel across three unique bus routes to discover all the city’s most famous sights and attractions including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye. With 50+ stops citywide and frequent bus departures, you have the flexibility to hop on and off whenever you want, exploring the city at your own pace. The red route covers the main attractions of Central and East London while the blue route will take you all the way from the charming neighborhoods of Kensington and Notting Hill in the West to the Tower of London in the East. The green route provides a connection to Kings Cross and St. Pancras in the North via the world-famous British Museum. Hear captivating tales of London’s history, landmarks and famous figures with entertaining audio commentary available in 7 languages. Enhance your trip and see the city from a different perspective on a one-way Thames River Cruise (from Westminster to Tower Pier or vice versa). Uncover London's history by foot on a choice of four guided walking tours.  Choose between the Royal Walk (which includes the Changing of the Guard on days it is scheduled), the Hidden Gems of the City of London walk, the Hidden Gems of Westminster Walk and the Jack the Ripper Walk. 

Included / Excluded
  • Unlimited Hop-On hop-Off throughout the ticket validity (48hr)
  • One-way Thames River Cruise
  • 4 Live-Guided Walking Tours
  • Free Wi-Fi and Headphones
  • Hotel Pick-up
Start / End Locations

Start Location: Stop 26: Queen Mother Gates (Park lane, TfL Stop Y, opposite London Hilton)

Accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller Accessible
  • Infants required to sit on laps
Commentary

Audio : English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese Mandarin, Portuguese

Important Information
Know Before You Book
  • Routes operate between 8.00am - 6.00pm with a 10-20 min frequency
  • Fleet 100% wheelchair accessible on lower deck. Mobility scooters are not permitted.
  • Strollers and pushchairs must be folded and stowed on the lower deck
  • Buses are not equipped with toilets or lifts/elevators
  • 48h bus ticket validity starts from redemption time.
Know Before You Go
  • Redeem your voucher with a Big Bus staff member at any stop
  • For stop directions, live bus-tracking and more, download the free Big Bus App
  • Free headphones available on every bus
  • Seating is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Cancellation

Cancellation Cutoff: 24 hours

Cancellation Notes: Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Options and Pricing

Unlimited 48 Hour Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus ticket with a one-way Thames River cruise between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier. 4 Walking Tours included.

London Essential RETAIL PRICE
Adult (16 - 99 years) ÂŁ45.00
Terms and Conditions

Voucher is non-refundable after it has been scanned and activated by a member of staff.

Additional Information

Our walking tours, led by one of our expert Big Bus tour guides, give you access to areas that you can’t visit by bus, while our guides reveal historical facts and fascinating stories about famous London buildings and cultural institutions. Our Royal Walk (Stop #7, 10am, 1.5hrs) reveals London's iconic royal pageantry, including the Changing of the Guard on days it is scheduled. Our Hidden Gems of the City of London Walk (Stop #14, 4pm, 1.5hrs) will explore the history and modern architecture of the City of London, our Jack the Ripper Walk (Stop #16, 2pm, 2hrs) follows in the steps of the notorious Whitechapel murderer and his victims, and our Hidden Gems of Westminster Walk (Stop #10, 1pm, 1.5hrs) explores the City of Westminster, including Parliament, Big Ben, Horseguards and more.

Redemption Information

Tickets will be held at the box office

FAQ

What audio commentary is available on the tour?

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Our bus tours feature pre-recorded commentary in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

How long does the tour take?

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Red Route: 2 hours, 30 minutes (approx.) Blue Route: 3 hours, 30 minutes (approx.) Green Link: 1 hour (approx.) Please allow for more time if you plan to hop on and off at any of our stops.

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Basic Information
  • Duration: 48 hours
  • Trip difficulty: Easy
  • API Providers: Ventrata
  • Magpie ID: IPTRBD
  • Currency: GBP
  • Language: English
  • Booking Cutoff: 0 minutes
  • Timezone: Europe/London
  • Category: Tours & Sightseeing
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