London Sightseeing Buses and why I recommend them.
First time in London and not sure where to start? One of the best ways to orientate yourself is, to book a seat on the Hop-on and off buses. They are London’s famous red buses. You can explore the city at your own leisure, in comfort and with a guided multi-lingual guide.
When I visited London for the first time, I was exactly in this position. It was my first time abroad and London overwhelmed me. I did not know where to start. I booked a ticket with one of the oldest companies in London called the “The Original London Sightseeing Tour” on one of the London Sightseeing Buses.
My first experience on a sightseeing bus.
April was still cold but I decided to sit outside because I didn’t want to miss anything. Unfortunately it was cold and after a while I headed inside, where it was much warmer. Summer must be a beautiful time to sit on the deck and watch the city go by.
The bus picked me up close to Russell Square not very far from the Royal National Hotel where I was staying. There are various pick-up stations and you can get a map when purchasing your ticket. An alternative is to get the information on the Internet. Both are convenient options.
An overview of London city.
The tour gave me an overview of London and afterwards I felt more comfortable to explore the city on my own. I had an opportunity to orientate myself and didn’t feel completely lost. It was also a wonderful way to be able to identify places that I wanted to see. It helps to have a guide because they are very knowledgeable and know the city.
The route shows the famous sights like Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Sherlock Holmes Pub, The London Dungeon, Harrods and The Tower of London.
Buses depart every 20 minutes from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. In the late summer months the tours are more frequent. The tour takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Buses and bus hopping in London.
Tickets are valid for 24 hours and you can hop-on and hop-off as you please. You can also interchange to suit your sightseeing plan. There are 80 stops with 3 main sightseeing routes and you have a lot of photo opportunities.
When you book a ticket through The Original London Sightseeing Tour you have additional benefits including:
- Walking Tours for free;
- Free Thames River Cruise;
- Free Kids Club and Activity pack;
- Environmentally friendly buses that are not older than 5 years.
Please check their website for updated ticket prices. There are discounts available for children 5 to 11 years and families. You can purchase your London Sightseeing Buses ticket in advance and it is valid for 6 months from date of purchase.
Website: http://www.theoriginaltour.com/
