The Original Hop on Hop Off Tour

The Original London Sightseeing Tour Company has 60 years experience showing visitors England's beautiful capital. They offer three distinct routes throughout the city, in all they cover 80 stops. Firstly the buses themselves are in the style of the iconic London double decker buses but the top floor is open-air. The buses are comfortable and modern and while on board you can listen to a live guide/tour host or one of the recorded audio commentaries in different languages. 

Your ticket entitles you to 24 hours of use on the buses, on all three of the sightseeing routes. It is a hop-on-hop-off ticket so it functions not only as a sightseeing bus but also as a great way to get around.

The three tour routes are:

The Yellow Route which passes the must-see sites like Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Downing Street among others. The Yellow Route bus leaves every 20 minutes between 8:30am and 4:30pm. Although you can join the tour anywhere along the way it begins at the Visitor Center or Piccadilly Square. This circular route takes 2.15 hours.

The Red Route Takes in the same London sites but with the addition of on-board entertainment, multi-lingual commentaries and a Kids' Channel which are heard through headphones collected from the driver. This is the only tour bus company which offers a commentary geared towards kids. They also give kids a free fun pack which includes an activity/quiz book and a "passport" to London. It takes 2.15 hours to do the complete route and it leaves every 20 minutes between 8:30am and 4:30pm. The best place to join this route is at Victoria Station or the visitor Center.

The Blue Route takes in the London museums and shopping streets this route also has the audio commentaries and kid's channel. The route goes by the British Museum, Kensington, Knightsbridge, the incredible Natural History and Science Museum as well as the iconic store – Harrods. This tour route leaves from Kensington Palace Gardens or Russell Square/Woburn Place, It runs from 8:30am to 5:15pm and leaves every 20 minutes.

 

When you buy a hop-on-hop-off ticket you get a free River Thames cruise (for the same day) which leaves from Westminster Pier (Big Ben) and the Tower of London Pier.

Also included in your bus ticket are three free walking tours (valued at £9) each 90 minutes long – Jack the Ripper Walking Tour retracing the steps of London's most famous serial killers; Rock n' Roll Walk which takes you past the landmark locations of famous musicians and the Changing of the Guard Walk which visits Buckingham Palace to see the regiments that guard the palace.

The tours begin at the company's Visitor Center located at 17-19 Cockspur Street where you can get lots of information about sightseeing in London in general and travel advice. When you book online the hop-on-hop-off bus tickets are cheaper, for adults £24.5, children £11.5 and a family ticket £70.

There are a number of combo ticket options which pair up famous London attractions with the bus tour. Some of the combo ticket options include tickets for West End shows, Madame Tussauds, London Eye or the London Aquarium. The company also offers an upgrade ticket for 48 hours instead of 24 hours; a group hop-on-hop-off ticket; private London tours and discounted tickets to other London attractions.

Visit:

• London Eye
• Kensington Palace
• Science Museum
• London Dungeon
  

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