London’s skyline is the main event here: first from an open-top bus, then from a glass capsule on the London Eye. I like the freedom to step off near landmarks such as Big Ben and Trafalgar Square, and the chance to pair the city views with a Thames cruise and walking tour.
The catch is that a bus ticket is only useful when a bus comes along. One recent rider reported waiting nearly 30 minutes and finding service over after 7 pm, so plan your day around the published routes rather than treating this as all-hours transport.
- Key points before you book
- Start with the view, then choose your pace
- Pick a route that fits your day
- Ride the London Eye for a different view
- Take the Thames route between sights
- Choose a walk with a clear theme
- Make the price work for you
- Plan around the bus, not the other way around
- Who will get the most from this bundle?
- Should you book it?
- FAQ
- What is included in the package?
- How long is the London Eye ride?
- What are the London Eye’s opening hours?
- Is the London Eye closed at any point?
- How often do the buses run?
- Which languages are available on the bus?
- Where can I join the hop-on hop-off tour?
- What time are the walking tours?
- How do I get to the London Eye by Underground?
- Do infants and children need to be included in the booking?
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Key points before you book
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6 / 6- Two ways to see London from above: The open-top bus gives street-level views, while the Eye’s 30-minute rotation offers a broad panorama from a glass capsule.
- Four bus routes serve different areas: The Blue and Red routes cover central sights, while Orange focuses on museums and Yellow and Green offer morning and late-afternoon drop-offs.
- Cruise and walks add variety: The package includes a Thames sightseeing cruise with commentary and free Jack the Ripper and Royal walking tours.
- Bus intervals vary: Red and Blue buses are scheduled every 20 minutes, Orange every 30 minutes. A rider reported a wait of almost 30 minutes, so leave slack in your plans.
- Ticket options differ: The listed choices are a 1-day, 24-hour or 48-hour bus ticket, each paired with London Eye admission. Check the exact option and price before paying.
- The Eye has limited hours: It is listed as open daily from 11 am to 6 pm, with last admission at 5:45 pm, but hours and closures can change.
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Start with the view, then choose your pace
This is a sightseeing bundle, not a guided day with one fixed route. You can use the bus to get a broad introduction to central London, get off when something catches your eye, and fit in the Eye, cruise and walks around your own priorities.
That flexibility is useful if London is new to you or if you want an easy way to connect landmarks spread across the city. But the bundle’s value depends on how much you use it. If you plan to spend most of the day inside museums or walking between nearby sights, the bus may save less time than you expect.
There are three stated bus-ticket choices: 1 day, 24 hours and 48 hours. The experience details also advertise an extra 24 hours with a 24- or 48-hour ticket for travel before March 31. Since that offer has no year attached here, confirm that it still applies to your travel date before relying on it.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in London
Pick a route that fits your day
The Classic Tour, or Blue route, covers central London’s main sights and the Museum Quarter. It is a sensible first ride if you want a broad overview before deciding where to get off. Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London are among the landmarks named as places to visit, but check the current stop map to plan the exact bus connections.
The Essential Tour, or Red route, passes Madame Tussauds and King’s Cross, as well as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park. It may suit you if you want to combine famous sights with time in two of London’s best-known parks. The stated frequency is every 20 minutes.
The Museum Tour, or Orange route, is aimed at London’s museum district. Along the way it passes the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods and Buckingham Palace. Buses are listed every 30 minutes, a longer interval than on the Red and Blue routes. If you have a timed admission or lunch booking, allow room for a missed connection.
Yellow and Green are morning and evening drop-off services between popular hotel districts and central London. They are not described as all-day sightseeing loops, so check their operating times if you intend to use them as part of a full day’s touring.
You can join at any signposted Golden Tours or London Tour Bus stop. Live English guides or audio commentary in 11 languages are available: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic. The choice gives you a way to follow the city’s sights without having to rely on a separate guidebook, though the experience will depend on which service is operating.
Ride the London Eye for a different view
The London Eye is a 30-minute ride in a high-tech glass capsule. From above the river, the city’s landmarks come into one wide view, a useful counterpoint to the bus’s closer look at streets and buildings. I would schedule it when you can give the ride and arrival process some breathing room rather than squeezing it between two tightly timed activities.
The listed opening hours are 11 am to 6 pm daily, with last admission at 5:45 pm. Hours and closure dates can change, and the Eye is listed as closed from January 10 to January 19 for annual maintenance. Check current operating information before setting your day around it.
The address is Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB. Waterloo is the nearest stated Underground station, served by the Bakerloo, Northern, Jubilee, and Waterloo & City lines; from there, it is about a five-minute walk. Children aged 0 to 2 are free, but they still need to be included in the passenger headcount. Children aged 16 and over pay the adult rate.
Take the Thames route between sights
The Thames sightseeing cruise adds a change of pace after time on the road. It is described as a scenic trip with live commentary or an audio guide in English, with views of riverside landmarks. The cruise is a useful part of the package if you want to see the city from the water without arranging a separate sightseeing outing.
The details provided do not give a cruise duration, departure times or boarding point. So treat it as an included activity to fit into your day, not as a fixed leg of transport until you have checked the latest service information. That distinction matters if you are trying to link it to a timed London Eye admission or a walking tour.
Choose a walk with a clear theme
The Royal London Walking Tour runs from 10 am to noon. Meet 15 minutes early at the tourist bus stop outside The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace Gate, SW1A 1AA. The walk ends at Westminster Abbey, near Westminster Underground Station. Its route makes sense if you want a focused look at royal London and the Westminster area.
The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour runs from 3:30 to 5 pm. Meet 15 minutes early at Golden Tours Bus Stop 9 by the Tower of London, opposite Tower Hill Station. It ends near Liverpool Street Underground Station. This is a themed walk through a different part of London, and it can complement the more formal royal route.
The walks have set times and different meeting points, so they are not activities to join spontaneously. If you want to do both, check how the walk times fit with your Eye admission, bus plans and cruise. The supplied information says free walking tours are included, but does not specify whether you can take both in every package. Confirm what is available for your selected ticket.
Make the price work for you
The package choices are listed from US$74.90 for the 1-day ticket with London Eye, US$85.60 for the 24-hour option, and US$93.65 for the 48-hour option. The experience summary also gives a starting price of US$82.39. Prices can vary by selected package or date, so compare the final price for your exact choice rather than assuming one starting figure applies to every option.
The bundle’s value comes from combining transport-style sightseeing with several separate experiences. If you use the bus for multiple stops, take the Eye ride, and make time for the cruise or one of the walks, the package can be a practical way to organize a full sightseeing day. If you only want the Eye, or prefer to use the Underground and walk, the bus portion may not earn its keep.
The 48-hour ticket costs more than the 1-day option, but it gives you extra time to spread out the routes and stops. That can be useful if you do not want to cram every activity into one day. Before choosing, compare the ticket’s stated duration with the schedule you actually plan to follow.
Plan around the bus, not the other way around
The strongest caution is service reliability and timing. One rider reported waiting almost 30 minutes for a bus and said service stopped after 7 pm, forcing an unplanned Underground trip. That is one account, not a guarantee of what will happen on your date, but it is a useful warning: do not rely on the tour bus as your only way home or as the sole connection to a timed activity.
The stated intervals are every 20 minutes on Red and Blue and every 30 minutes on Orange. Even a published interval can feel long when you are standing at a stop, especially if you have booked the Eye or joined a walk at a set time. Leave a cushion, check the latest route information, and keep another way to get around in mind.
The ticket is valid only on the selected date, and you redeem it with your mobile voucher. Free cancellation is available with at least 24 hours’ notice, based on local destination time. Personal expenses and tips are not included.
Who will get the most from this bundle?
I would consider this package if you are visiting London for the first time, want a structured overview without committing to a fixed guided itinerary, and are keen to see the city from both the road and the river. The multiple routes offer a broad spread of sights, while the Eye and walking tours give you reasons to get off and explore.
It also suits families planning a day around the major landmarks, provided they include every infant and child in the passenger count. The language options can help mixed-language groups follow the bus commentary, though the walking tours are listed with English-language schedules and meeting details.
It is less suited to a tightly packed day with little spare time, or to anyone who needs transport late into the evening. London’s Underground remains a practical backup, but if an extra fare would strain your budget, plan your return before you set off.
Should you book it?
Book this if you will use several parts of the bundle: bus routes, London Eye, and at least one cruise or walk. The combination offers a convenient first look at London, with good variety in how you see the city. Skip it if you want only the Eye, expect dependable late-evening transport, or prefer to set your own pace entirely on foot and by Underground. Before purchase, verify the selected ticket length, current prices, route service and Eye hours.
FAQ
What is included in the package?
The listed package includes a hop-on hop-off bus ticket and admission to the London Eye. It also includes free walking tours and a Thames sightseeing cruise with English-language guidance or commentary. Check the details for your chosen ticket option before booking.
How long is the London Eye ride?
The London Eye ride lasts 30 minutes.
What are the London Eye’s opening hours?
The stated hours are Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm, with last admission at 5:45 pm. Hours and closure dates may change, so check current information before your visit.
Is the London Eye closed at any point?
It is listed as closed from January 10 to January 19 for annual maintenance. Check the latest schedule, as dates can change.
How often do the buses run?
The Red and Blue routes are listed every 20 minutes. The Orange route is listed every 30 minutes. No frequency is stated for the Yellow and Green drop-off services.
Which languages are available on the bus?
The bus offers a live English guide or audio guides in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.
Where can I join the hop-on hop-off tour?
You can join at any signposted Golden Tours Hop on Hop Off or London Tour Bus stop.
What time are the walking tours?
The Royal London Walking Tour runs from 10 am to noon. The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour runs from 3:30 to 5 pm. Arrive 15 minutes before either tour.
How do I get to the London Eye by Underground?
Take the Bakerloo, Northern, Jubilee or Waterloo & City line to Waterloo Station, then walk about five minutes to the London Eye.
Do infants and children need to be included in the booking?
Yes. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount. Children aged 0 to 2 are free, and children aged 16 and older pay the adult rate.
