london pass golden tour

Golden Tours London

Golden Tours: London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Cruise

• Explore the best of London with maximum flexibility as you hop on and off unlimited times with this hop-on hop-off bus pass.
• Choose between a 1-day, 24, 48, or 72-hour pass with 4 dedicated routes and over 70 stops, available every 5 to 10 minutes.
• The 24, 48, or 72-hour passes include a free royal walking tour, Beatles London walking tour, and a boat ride on the River Thames.
• Enjoy panoramic views of London from the open-topped deck of these double-decker buses with free-wifi, a 3D treasure-hunting game, a live English-speaking guide available on the blue route, and an audio guide available in 12 different languages across all routes.
• Some of the iconic stops include St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben.
• 1 Day/24hr/48hr/72hr Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Pass
• Live English-speaking guide on the Blue Route
• Audioguide in 12 languages
• 3D Treasure Hunt Game
• One mobility impairment access seating per bus
• Complimentary walking tour (as per option selected)
• River Thames Cruise (as per option selected)
• Entrance tickets to attractions
• Additional Gratuities

Yellow Route

• The first bus is at 8:10am from opposite Hilton London Kensington, Holland Park Avenue, Bus Stop HJ, and the last bus is at 10:10pm.
• Frequency: every 20 mins.
• Popular stops: Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park.
• The first bus is at 9am from Victoria and the last bus is at 5pm (Apr to Oct) and 4:30pm (Nov to Mar)
• Frequency: Approx every 20 to 30 mins.
• Popular stops: Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge & St. Paul’s Cathedral.
• The first bus is at 10am from Hyde Park and the last bus is at 5pm.
• Popular stops: Tower of London, London Eye, Tower Bridge & London’s Museum District.

Orange Route

• The first bus is at 10am from Lambeth Palace and the last bus is at 5pm.
• Popular stops: Buckingham Palace, Paddington, Marble Arch, Madame Tussauds, Kings Cross & St. Pauls Cathedral.

Complimentary Walking Tours

Available with the 24/48/72 hour Tickets

Free Hop-on-Hop-off Thames Boat Tour – Lilac Route

• The first boat departs at 11am from Westminster Pier.
• Frequency: every 30 mins.
• Popular stops: Parliament Square & St. James’ Palace

Royal Walking Tour

• Departure Time and Day: 10:00 AM Daily (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time)
• Duration: 2 Hours
• Departure Location: Bus Stop outside The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Gate, SW1A 1AA
• Return Point: Westminster Abbey

Jack The Ripper Walking Tour

• Departure Time and Daye: 3:30 PM Daily (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time)
• Duration: 1.5 Hours
• Departure Location: Ice Cream Refreshments stand next to the Tower Hill Station exit
• Return Point: Near Liverpool Street Underground Station

Please click here and here for the detailed route map and boarding points.

• Tip: At Big Ben, visit the Prison Room which is accessible from the House of Commons and is currently occupied by the Petitions Committee.
• Facilities: Wheelchair Accessibility, Free Wi-Fi.
• The walking tours are available in English only.
• The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese & Arabic.
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Golden Tours: Central London Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

• You can cancel these tickets up to 72 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• This is THE classic London experience – high tea and sightseeing , all rolled into a 90-minute bus tour of Central London.
• See London's popular sights out your window – Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, you name it, with plenty of Insta-worthy moments along the River Thames.
• Tuck into some tasty bites like: smoked salmon on toast and scones slathered in jam and cream. Fancy a glass of Prosecco or maybe a cuppa tea or coffee? It's all there.
• Got dietary needs? No worries! Veggie, vegan, gluten-free, they've got you covered. Plus, pick your fave spot – upper or lower deck!
• 90-min afternoon tea bus tour
• Tea menu here
• Glass of Prosecco or soft drink
• Souvenir mug
• Seating on the lower/upper deck (as per option selected)
• First bus: 11:30am from Bulleid Way.
• Second bus: 2:30pm from Bulleid Way.
• Last bus: 4:30pm from Bulleid Way.
• Popular sights: Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey

Please click here for the detailed route map.

• Safety is a priority so this experience is restricted for guests under the age of 4 years.
• Keep in mind luggage and large bags are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!
• Guests may have to share tables.
• You must contact the activity provider at least 72 hours prior to the travel date to confirm your choice of menu (general or vegetarian) or you will be served the general menu.
• Keep in mind this activity does not have a tour guide although the staff onboard will highlight points of interest and famous landmarks.
• Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
• The route is subject to change due to road closures and traffic conditions.
• Alcohol will only be served to those aged 18 and over, valid ID is required.

Golden Tours: 24-Hour/1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour of London with London Eye Tickets

• Grab a 24-hour or 1-day hop-on hop-off London pass for a whirlwind tour of the city's most famous sights.
• Choose from 3 routes and hop on and off at over 70 stops. You can even use 2 hotel transfer routes to explore the city with ease.
• But here's the real treat: your pass includes 2 exciting guided walks and the 24-hour pass offers a relaxing boat ride along the Thames River.
• Experience London from a new perspective on the open-top buses, complete with multilingual audio guides and live guides on select routes.
• Few famous stops on your route include the Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum, and Tower of London.
• 24-hour/1-day hop-on hop-off unlimited tour
• Access to London Eye
• Thames River boat ride (optional)
• Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese & Arabic
• Free walking tours
• Entrance to attractions

Classic Tour (Blue route)

• First bus: 9:30 am from London Eye
• Last bus: 5pm from London Eye
• Frequency: 30mins
• Popular stops: Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Tower of London

Essential Tour (Red route)

• First bus: 8:58am from Victoria
• Last bus: 4:28pm from Victoria
• Popular stops: Hyde Park, Regents Park, London Zoo

Museum Tour (Orange route)

• First bus: 10:22am from Hyde Park Corner
• Last bus: 6:22pm from Victoria
• Frequency: 60mins
• Popular stops: Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum

Yellow route (pick-up)

• First bus: 8:06am from Kensington Palace
• Last bus: 9:56am from Kensington Palace
• First bus: 8:05am from opposite Hilton London Kensington
• Last bus: 9:35am from opposite Hilton London Kensington

Green route (drop-off)

• First bus: 5:57pm from London Eye
• Last bus: 6:57am from London Eye
• First bus: 5:58pm from Lancaster Gate
• Last bus: 8:58am from Lancaster Gate

Thames River boat ride

Westminster Pier to Tower Pier

• First boat: 10am from Westminster Pier
• Last boat: 6pm from Westminster Pier
• Frequency: approx 40 mins
• Popular stops: London Eye

Tower Pier to Westminster Pier

• Last boat: 5:15pm from Westminster Pier

Jack the Ripper walking tour

• Starts at 3:30pm from Tower Hill station exit
• Ends at 5pm at Liverpool Street underground station

Royal walking tour

• Starts at 10am from tourist bus stop outside Queen's Gallery
• Ends at 12pm at Westminster Abbey

Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.

• Tip: If you wish to visit Visit London Eye on the same day, then drop off at stop 1 or stop 11.
• The buses are wheelchair accessible (only one wheelchair user allowed per bus).
• The 24-hour ticket is valid for 24 hours from the time you start your tour. For example, if you begin your tour at 10am, your ticket is valid until 10am the following day. However, the 1-day ticket is only valid for 1 calendar day.
• You can visit the London Eye on the same day or book during peak and off-peak seasons. Check out schedules while making a booking.
• Thame River boat rides do not operate on Dec 24, 25, and 26 and Jan 1.

London Golden Tours Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours 2024

The Golden Tours Company has been a legendary name in the travel industry in London and the UK. Started in 1984, it has decades of experience in running city tours, day trips, and open bus tours across London and the UK. They are also famous for their Hop-On Hop-Off tours .

The easily recognizable blue and white Golden Tours open-top buses can be seen across the city, stopping at over 70 bus stations near London’s major attractions and landmarks. 

The London Golden Tours are one of the best Hop-on Hop-off experiences in the city and offer over 70 stops, excellent routing, comfortable coaches, and an array of freebies and services. Golden Tours also has special partnerships with attractions in London to offer discounts on entrance tickets. 

A London Golden Tours HOHO ticket is one assured way of ensuring that you have a comfortable experience sightseeing while you save on money and time!

Why Choose London Golden Tours?

Visit Top Landmarks: The London Golden Tours Hop-on Hop-off bus routes are designed to be within close walking distance to major landmarks with more than 70 stops.

Easy to Use: One of the best ways to avoid the stress of planning your transportation in a new city is by taking the Golden Tours HOHO bus tours. Their well-planned fixed routes make it easy to plan an itinerary.

Multiple Routes: The London Golden Tours operates along the Classic Tour (Blue Route), the Essential Tour (Red Route), and morning pick-up and evening drop-off bus routes.

Audio Guides: With London Golden Tours you can save money on transportation while listening to pre-recorded commentary in 11 languages to learn about the attractions as you pass them.

Your London Golden Tour Ticket Options Explained

• Valid for 1 calendar day
• Open-top buses
• Live English-speaking Guide
• Audioguide in 11 languages

• Valid for 24 hrs
• River Thames cruise
• Complimentary walking tour

• Valid for 48 hrs

• Valid for 72 hrs

Audio guide languages are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.

Flexible Cancelation Policy: Get a full refund on canceling this ticket up to 24 hours in advance.

Discounted Ticket: Get tickets for children aged 5-15 and family tickets (for 2 adults and 2 children) at a reduced price.

London Golden Tours Timetable

• Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency: Every 20 minutes
• Loop: 3 Hours

Blue Routes

• Timing: 10 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes
• Loop: 2 Hours
• Timing: 8 AM to 10 AM
• Loop: 1.5 Hours

Green Route

• Timing: 6 PM to 10 PM
• Timing:  9 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency:  Every 30 minutes
• Duration:  Approx. 30 minutes

London Golden Tours Routes

Classic Tour (Blue Route)

The Classic Tour/Blue Route takes you to all the main Central London landmarks, including Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, the London Eye, the London Eye, Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, Madame Tussauds and many more

The first bus starts at 9:30 AM from Victoria all year round and the last bus is at 6:30 PM.

Essential Tour (Red Route)

The Essential Tour/Red Route is perfect for visitors that want to see the best of Central and North of London. It covers Hyde Park, Regents Park, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, the British Museum, and Kings Cross, as well as many of Central London, highlights like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye.

The first bus departs from Hyde Park Corner at 9 AM and the last bus is at 5:30 PM all year round. The entire loop takes approximately 3 hours to finish.

The Museum Tour (Orange Route)

Discover London's top museums such as the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum as well as the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods, and Buckingham Palace. 

The first bus departs from Hyde Park Corner at 10:22 AM and the last bus is at 5 PM all year round. The entire loop takes approximately 3 hours to finish.

The Morning Pick-Up Service (Yellow) is a way for you to conveniently travel from the hotel region of West London, including Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park, into Central London. There are two main pick-up services, one in Kensington and one in Bayswater.

In the morning, the first bus leaves Holland Park at 7:45 AM, and the last bus is at 9:30 AM.

The Evening Drop-off Service (Green) is a way for visitors to return to the hotel region of West London, including Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park, into Central London. 

In the evening the first bus leaves from Lancaster Gate at 6 PM and the last bus is at 10:15 PM.

This complimentary one-way River Tour takes you down the River Thames. It departs from Westminster Pier near The Houses of Parliament and stops at Tower Bridge Quay near The Tower of London, and at Greenwich Quay.

The first boat departs from Westminster Pier at 11 AM the last one leaves at 6:30 PM. The entire cruise takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Download Map of All Routes >

Suggested London Big Bus Itineraries

Here are some suggested Big Bus HOHO routes you can follow in London:

Choose the 1 day/24-hour ticket and opt for the complimentary river cruise. Start your day by taking the Essential Tour or the Red Route which will take you through all the iconic sights in London. You can take time and explore Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye. You can also see the British Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and the London Zoo. End the day with a cruise down the Thames and stop at the Tower of London to see its sights.

Day 1 – You should start your day by taking the Classic Tour or the Blue Route. Visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the other attraction in central London. Then head to the museum district including Victoria & Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, and Gardens.

Day 2 – Use the day to spend time on the Essential Tour or the Red Route. Head to Madame Tussauds or the Sherlock Holmes Museum and then take the long route towards British Museum. Later on, spend the afternoon at London’s attractions like the London Eye, and the SeLife Aquarium. End the day with a relaxing cruise on the Thames and watch the sunset over London’s skyline.

Day 1  – Start by going on the Classic Tour or the Blue Route which will take you to Buckingham Palace and through the museum quarter. You can visit the Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and Kensington Palace and stroll through Hyde Park to end your day.

Day 2  – Use this day to go on the complimentary River Cruise and start exploring all the sights along the Thames. Start at Westminster Abbey and the nearby Downstreet and Churchill War Museum before hopping on the boat at Westminster Pier and heading to the Tower of London. Finally, spend time at iconic landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral and go up to the observation deck at the London Eye. Don't miss the SEA LIFE Aquarium and London Dungeon.

Day 3  – Spend the last day in London by taking the Essential Tour or the Red Route. You can visit attractions like the British Museum, Regent's Park, the London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and the Sherlock Holmes Museum. End your day by heading to Oxford Circus and browsing the shops and restaurants around Oxford Street and Regent Street.

Highlights of the London Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Westminster Abbey

One of the UK’s most important religious buildings, Westminster Abbey the burial and memorial site of writers, actors, scientists, thinkers, and other famous historical significant figures.

Parliament Square

Parliament Square has some of the capital’s most iconic buildings including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and statues of famous leaders and historical figures.

Experience a breathtaking view of London from atop the 443-feet high London Eye observation wheel located near the River Thames,  for a unique perspective of London.

London Bridge

Just off the banks of River Thames, the London Bridge area is famous for its restaurants and the Tower Bridge. Often confused with the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge has stunning river views.

River Thames

Explore the beautiful River Thames on a  River Cruise . Travel under the London Bridge, see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and admire the Festival Hall and the London Eye.

Buckingham Palace

Visit the Queen’s residence at Buckingham Palace . Stroll through the vast palatial gardens and witness the Change of Guards ceremony, at this treasure trove of royal experiences.

St. Paul's Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is one of Europe’s largest cathedrals Listen to the haunting acoustics in the Whispering Gallery and soaking in the breathtaking views offered by the cathedral's galleries.

Madame Tussauds

Home to lifelike wax figures of over 250 celebrities, at  Madame Tussauds you can see the Royal Family, Benedict Cumberbatch, James Bond, and more.

London Big Bus Visitor Tips and Guidelines

• Golden Tours is the only operator which offers both variants – 1 Day and 24 Hours, be mindful of which variant you are purchasing. The 1 Day variant is valid for a calendar day, which means if you activate it on 10 AM Monday it will work only until 11:59 PM Monday. The 24 Hours variant is valid for 24 hours, which means if you activate it on 10 AM Monday it will be valid till 10 AM on Tuesday.
• Audio Guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.
• Each bus has space for one fold-away pushchair and a wheelchair on the lower deck.
• Children under 5 years of age travel free.
• Golden Tours offers a river cruise pass which is valid for 24 hours. When you plan your itinerary make sure to activate it according to when you might use it to the maximum. The best thing about the pass is that it works like a hop-on and hop-off pass, you can get on and off as many times you want.
• Make sure to pre-book tickets and check the holiday schedule for the attractions. Golden Tours has online maps that will help you plan your journey in advance.
• If you are short on time, the best way to soak in all the sights is to take a round loop of the Grand Tour or the Orange Tour. It covers all the main tourist attractions in London except for the museum quarter.
• Golden Tours HOHO has an exclusive treasure hunt app that will allow you to collect points as you travel across the city. At the end of your journey, you can redeem the points for discounts, freebies, and other gifts.
• The top deck seats are much in demand and if you are looking forward to completing a loop it is best to board the bus at the first point of departure, as you can get the seat of your choice. Also, remember that buses drive on the right side of the road and you will get better views if you seat on the right side of the bus.
• There is no predicting London weather; while there is enough covered space on the bus it is best to carry rainproof gear. Umbrellas are usually not allowed to be opened on board for the safety of other passengers.

Frequently Asked Questions About London Golden Tours

A. Golden Tours is one of the top hop-on hop-off tours in London.

A. Hop-on hop-off buses are tourist buses that allow you to board and leave whenever you like and sightsee at your own convenience.

A. You can purchase London Golden Tours hop on hop off bus tour tickets online .

A. Yes, you can buy London Golden Tours hop-on-hop-off tickets online here .

A. There are multiple hop-on hop-off bus tours, most of which begin from £28.80.

A. London Golden Tours hop-on hop-off bus tours run at a frequency of 30 to 60 minutes.

A. There are four Golden Tours tour routes in London - the red, blue, and the yellow & green links.

A. Yes, you will get access to audio guides available in up to 11 languages to learn more about the city.

A. Yes, the London Golden Tours hop-on hop-off tours are accessibility-friendly for wheelchair users.

The London Pass® by Go City

• See all photos

The London Pass®: Access 90+ Attractions and Tours

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

The London Pass® by Go City - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

London Pass 2024

This is the London Pass

London pass: what's included, reservations with the london pass, public transport, what we like about the london pass, what we don't like about the london pass, our opinion: is the london pass worth it, where can i buy the london pass, london pass faq.

The London Pass is the most comprehensive Sightseeing Pass for the British capital. No other City Pass offers so many free attractions. This includes not only most of London's sights, but also sightseeing tours by bus, city tours and a boat trip. Around 90 tourist attractions are free with the London Pass.

A small selection of the top attractions:

• Madame Tussauds
• Tower of London
• London Tower Bridge Exhibition
• St Paul's Cathedral
• Westminster Abbey
• Kensington Palace
• Hop-on/hop-off bus
• Wembley Stadium (and other stadiums)

Flexible validity: Decide how long you want your London Pass to be valid for when you buy it. The product is offered with a flexible validity period of one to ten days. These are consecutive calendar days. The longer the London Pass is valid, the more sights you can visit.

Convenient use on the phone: After purchase, you will receive the London Pass by email. You can either print it out or save it on your mobile phone. To do this, use the free London Pass app. In the app you will find information on all participating attractions. To use the London Pass, simply show your phone at the attractions.

Public transport: Unfortunately, a travel card for public transport can no longer be ordered with the purchase of the London Pass. If you would like to receive a Visitor Oyster Card before your trip, you can buy it here: Visit Britain Shop .

Price for persons aged 16 and over:

The longer the London Pass is valid, the better the value for money.

Exclusive offer: 5% discount with discount code LONDONCP05LP

These are the current discounts for the London Pass. Every week there is a special promotion. Therefore, prices may vary slightly from week to week. Find out more about the London Pass price.

The London Pass covers around 90 sights in London. These can be visited free of charge with the London Pass. These include the most famous sights and museums, but also a city tour with the hop-on hop-off bus, guided city walks and a boat trip on the Thames.

In the table below you will find some of the most popular attractions that you can visit with the London Pass without having to buy additional tickets:

*You can choose between Big Bus and Golden Bus Tours.

The prices in the table refer to the high season. Some attractions are slightly cheaper in winter.

In addition, the London Pass offers many other sights and tourist attractions. The following services should also be of interest to many visitors:

• Royal Albert Hall incl. guide
• Hampton Court Palace
• Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
• Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace
• Royal Observatory Greenwich
• Wellington Arch
• Palaces & Parliament Walking Tour
• Guided Cycling Tour of London

You can find a complete list of all sights on LondonPass.com . You can also download the London Pass app to get an overview of all services and attractions.

These attractions are missing

The London Pass is the most comprehensive sightseeing pass, yet it is missing some attractions that may be of interest to visitors. The following attractions cannot be visited with the London Pass:

• London Dungeon
• HMS Belfast

In addition, the London Pass does not give you priority entry.

Please note that pre-booking is required for some attractions. This applies in particular to The Shard and Kensington Palace. Please note that The Shard can only be visited until late afternoon. Unfortunately, a visit in the evening is not possible.

For all guided city tours, the bike tour and some other attractions, you also need to book your participation in advance. Reservations can be made online, by email or by phone. We recommend that you book a few days in advance.

You can find out how to book your participation on the LondonPass.com reservation page.

Unfortunately, the London Pass does not entitle you to free use of public transport. However, you can buy a Visitor Oyster Card online before your trip: Visit Britain Shop .

With the Visitor Oyster Card you can use all public transport in London.

The Visitor Oyster Card applies to the following means of transport:

• London Underground
• Public buses
• Local trains
• Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
• River Boats (River Taxis)

Basically, each journey is paid for individually. However, the Visitor Oyster Card is loaded with credit that should be enough for your trip to London. Decide how much credit you want your Oyster Card to contain when you buy it:

When you buy, you pay for the credit and an activation fee.

A portion of the credit is deducted for each trip. However, there is a daily limit, which is usually reached after the third trip. Further journeys on the same day are not charged.

Delivery by post: You will receive the Visitor Oyster Card by post before your trip. It is recommended to order the Travel Card at least two weeks before your trip.

There are many arguments in favour of the London Pass. That's why we like this pass:

• The London Pass gives you free entry to many London attractions. These include the main sights of the city.
• The London Pass also gives you free travel on the hop-on/hop-off bus and boat on the Thames. You can also take part in guided city walks and a guided bike tour.
• The validity period of the pass is flexible. Choose a London Pass with a validity of 1 to 10 days. This makes the pass suitable for both a short and a longer stay in London.
• Simply download the digital London Pass to your mobile phone and scan the QR code at participating attractions. The London Pass app also contains useful information on all attractions and tourist services.
• The price-performance ratio is very good: if you visit a lot, the London Pass pays for itself quickly. The more services you use, the more you save.
• Overall, the London Pass is a very practical product. Everything is paid for with a single booking. You don't need any other tickets or passes. Just download the pass to your mobile phone and off you go.

Although the London Pass is a very good product, there are also some disadvantages that we would like to point out. We do not like the following aspects:

• The London Pass does not offer priority access to attractions. You will need to queue at the box office to collect your free ticket.
• For some tours you have to make a reservation yourself.
• Unfortunately, the Visitor Oyster Card is not included in the London Pass.
• Some attractions are not included in the London Pass: e.g. London Dungeon and HMS Belfast.
• The period of validity is given in calendar days. It is therefore advisable to start the visit in the morning to make full use of the time available.

We believe that the London Pass will be worthwhile for many visitors. The choice of attractions is very good and those who book the pass in good time can also use public transport.

With a validity of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days, the pass is very flexible. Another advantage is that you don't have to pick up the London Pass, but can use it with your phone.

One disadvantage is that you have to take care of some reservations yourself. In addition, you don't have priority admission and have to expect waiting times in high season.

The London Pass

LondonCityPass.com

We think the London Pass is worth the money as most of the sights in London are very expensive. With the London Pass you can save money.

Tip: The longer the London Pass is valid, the better the price-performance ratio. Read more about it, whether the London Pass is worthwhile.

The London Pass is available on the official website LondonPass.com. Only there you can also order the optional Travel Card. In addition, the London Pass is also available from some ticket providers:

• Official website: LondonPass.com
• London Pass at Tiqets.com
• London Pass at GetYourGuide
• London Pass at Musement

With all providers you get the London Pass directly to your mobile phone.

The most convenient way to buy is at LondonPass.com. There you can get the product directly from Go City. You can print out a QR code or save it on your phone. You can also download the free London Pass app and import the digital pass. The app contains useful information about all participating attractions.

Finally, we answer the most frequently asked questions about the London Pass.

You can buy the London Pass on the official website: LondonPass.com. You can also buy the pass from ticket providers such as GetYourGuide or Tiqets.

How does the London Pass work?

Buy the London Pass online and download it directly to your phone. As soon as you visit the first attraction, your pass will be activated. After that, the London Pass is valid for one to ten days.

During this time, you can use around 90 attractions free of charge.

Does the London Pass give priority entry?

No, unfortunately the London Pass does not grant priority entry. You must collect your free ticket from the ticket office of the relevant attraction.

Can I use public transport?

The London Pass does not entitle you to free use of public transport. However, if you want to buy a Visitor Oyster Card, you can do so on the following website: Visit Britain Shop . The card will be sent to you by post. With this card you can use all public transport in London.

Can I cancel the purchase free of charge?

Yes, you can cancel your booking free of charge within 90 days of purchase without giving any reason. To do so, contact Go City customer service. Your London Pass must not have been activated at this time.

How do I reach the customer service?

The best way to contact Go City customer service is via the Contact form . There you will also find the telephone numbers.

Here writes: Patrick

Patrick has visited various metropolises such as Rome, Paris, Barcelona and London. He has been writing about city passes since 2018. Here, the author focuses on the most important London City Passes. His aim is to provide balanced and up-to-date information.

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Comparing London's hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses

Tootbus compared with big bus + golden tours with previously asked questions.

Tootbus has routes to major sights and free cruises

London's hop-on sightseeing bus tour providers

Nowadays sightseeing tours of London are dominated by London's three hop-on, hop-off open top sightseeing operators:

1. Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour) 2. Big Bus 3. Golden Tours

If you see anybody else offering a hop-on, hop-off tour for London they are acting as an agent for one of the above.

At first inspection all three London sightseeing operators offer a very similar product. But spend an hour or so studying each service and you begin to identify the differences.

This page aims to save you that time and present the differences as concisely as possible.

The traditional guided coach tour of London is still available, but in terms of market share this is tiny compared with London's popular hop-on, hop off sightseeing buses.

Premium Tours also run a small fleet of open top vintage red London buses. These fall somewhere between the guided coach tour and the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses. The London red vintage bus tour has no hop-on, hop-off facility and is basically a guided orientation tour of London's main sights with a few photo stops and a river cruise.

Comparison table of London's hop-on bus prices 2024

BOOK HOP-ON BUS TICKETS   Compare 3 hop-on bus companies   Ticket differences   London Pass - Big Bus or Golden Tours   River Cruise   Money saving - Hop-on bus plus attraction   Hop-on bus price comparison table   Previously asked questions about hop-on buses  

TOOTBUS HOP-ON BUS & GUIDED WALKING TOURS

Tootbus London Discovery tickets + Vox City guided walking tours

• Choose from 24, 48 or 72-hr tickets • Audio guide in 5 languages • 2 professionally guided walking tours: The Wizard Walk - Harry Potter Walking Guided Tour & The Royals and Landmarks - Walking Guided Tour 

DISCOUNTED BIG BUS LONDON TICKETS

DISCOUNTED TICKETS COMPARED WITH BOOKING DIRECT

Choice of tickets • FREE River cruises on all tickets • 3 FREE guided walking tours on Essential & Explore tickets • Evening tours included on Explore ticket • Free Wi-Fi on board • Audio in 5 languages • London in your Pocket app access

GOLDEN TOURS HOP-ON BUS LONDON TICKETS

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus London & 2 walking tours

Choice of 1-day, 24, 48 or 72-hr tickets • Free one-way Thames river cruise (if selected) • Two walking tours • Free Wi-Fi on board • Audio in 11 languages • London in your Pocket app access

Tootbus (The Original Tour) v Big Bus v Golden Tours comparison

All 3 London sightseeing tour operators are established operators in the London market. Big Bus and Tootbus (formerly The Original Tour) are owned by large corporates and Golden Tours, the relative newcomer entered the market several years ago after a long history of offering the traditional guided coach tours, which they still do.

All 3 operators offer similar packages, but more differences have opened up in recent years, see below for more details.

Walking Tours

Both Golden Tours and Big Bus offer highly regarded professionally guided walking tours included with your ticket (selected tickets only).

With Golden Tours you can choose from a Jack The Ripper Walking Tour or Coronation Walking Tour.

Big Bus offer THREE FREE TOURS with their Essential and Explore tickets: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour, City of London Walking Tour and a Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. Each tour is 1.5 hours long.

Tootbus do not offer guided walking tours but instead give you the chance to download "Tootwalk" to your phone: a choice of three self-guided walks.

River cruises

River cruises are available with all three tour companies, but not all tours automatically include them; the cheaper (both 24-hr and calendar day) tours do not. If this is important to you, do check carefully before booking.

Routes and vehicles

All operators offer an open top bus experience with routes that all cover the major sights in central London.

Although they each have a different number of routes, where they visit is almost identical, with all three sightseeing tour operators almost duplicating each others routes in the very heart of London.

You can click through on the links below to study each operators route map in detail.

Tootbus are the only operator to offer the unique Kids Tour which is a non-stop tour (not hop-on, hop off) but which is cheaper and offers a commentary that is very family friendly. In addition they are also the only company to offer a 1.5-hr Bar Bus tour , again, not hop-on hop off but a memorable experience with bar on board.

Vehicles used are almost identical, all offer free Wi-Fi and audio guides providing commentary in English and at least one other language.

Tootbus route map London 2024

Big Bus Tour map London 2024

Golden Tours route map London 2024

Live guides vs audio guides

This is one area that has also changed in recent years. Traditionally all three companies offered live guides on at least one of their hop-on tours.

Today you will find this is no longer the case. If having a live guide is important to you there are a couple of options, but none of them are hop-on, hop-off but rather 60 or 90-minute continuous sightseeing tours.

Golden Tours have a live guide on their 90 min non-stop tour.

Tootbus have a live guide on their London Kids Tour and London Christmas Tour.

Big Bus no longer offer a live guide service on any of their tours.

Prices are similar to the 1-day tour but many people really value having a live guide if English is a language they speak fluently.

Tootbus no longer offer the range of languages it once used to; now audio is either in English or French. Big Bus have an audio guide with 5 languages. Golden Tours have the most with 11 languages.

Times and frequencies of buses

All operators start up around 8.30am and start running down the service around 5pm. Evening services are also additionally available as a separate tour with all three operators.

All three operators, even in the winter months operate frequent bus services, however of the three operators perhaps Golden Tours is slightly less frequent. You shouldn't generally have to wait more than twenty minutes however.

London's hop-on buses - differences between tickets for all 3 operators

Standard tour ticket durations

24, 48 or 72-hr durations.

All operators offer tickets with 24 and 48-hr validity periods; Tootbus and Golden Tours also offer 72-hr tickets.

In addition Tootbus offer a 60-min Bar Bus ticket, while Golden Tours offer a fully guided 1.5-hr Express ticket (see above).

Tootbus call their tickets, '1-day' and '2-day' but the actual validity is 24, 48 or 72 hours.

Golden Tours offer cheaper calendar tours (which run from when you buy them to the end of the day) in addition to 24/48/72-hr tickets. The calendar day tickets do not include the river cruise.

Shorter tours/express tours (not hop on, hop off)

Both Tootbus and Golden Tours offer shorter tours, of 1.5 hrs which are different to the traditional hop on, hop off buses in that you stay on them for the duration of the tour. Tootbus call theirs as 'Bar Bus' as drinks are available on board (over 18s only). River cruises are not included with these tours.

For Golden Tours this is their only product featuring a live guide. Although much shorter therefore, the price is nearly as much as a 24-hr hop on bus tour.

Tootbus' similar offering is in the same price band but does not feature the live guide. Many people really appreciate the difference between having a live guide and an audio guide.

Evening tours (not hop on, hop off)

All three companies offer evening tours which are non-stop for around 1.5 hours. Again, Golden Tours is the only operator offering the live guide on this experience, though Tootbus have a live guide on their Kids Tour and Christmas Lights tour.

Big Bus also include a separate evening tour with their Explore ticket.

Discounted - cheapest tickets

Hop-on, hop off sightseeing tickets are freely available in London from hotels, tourist centres and on the day from the representatives of the tour companies you find around the bus stops.

Do not expect to find discount vouchers or codes, if you do find one it's the exception rather than the rule.

However, cheaper tickets can be found using our banners on this page. By booking online ahead of our hop-on, hop-off bus tour you will always save money.

Our partners Travel Compendium bring you exclusive discounts on hop on bus tours in London with Golden Tours and Big Bus.

Pre-booking tickets - flexibility and ease/cost of obtaining tickets

All three operators now require you to select your date of tour at purchase. However all 3 tours companies offer a 'flexible booking guarantee' should you need to amend your tour date at any time (Tootbus allow this up 12 months from date of purchase, Golden Tours allow a cancellation for full refund up to 24 hours before boarding, Big Bus require 72 hours to amend your booking.)

For Big Bus and Golden Tours tickets are e-tickets and are shown to the driver at your first bus stop. Here they give you a receipt which you keep for the validity of your hop-on bus tour.

Tootbus accept mobile tickets but encourage you to download your tickets on to their app, for ease of use.

Both Big Bus and Tootbus offer an app offering similar features such as:

Maps, route planning, real time bus tracking, walking directions to nearest bus stops, nearby eateries and attractions and even the secrets of must-see landmarks with audio commentaries.

With Tootbus you can also import your pass (tickets) ready to scan directly on the bus.

London Pass - choice of 2 hop on bus companies: Big Bus or Golden Tours

The London Pass is a flat rate sightseeing pass to many (but not all) of London's main sightseeing attractions. You can buy a London Pass for 1, 2, 3, 6 or 10 day durations

The London Pass gives you entry into more than 60 London tourist attractions and a river cruise on the River Thames.

The London Pass also now includes use of either Golden Tours or Big Bus hop-on hop-off bus for one calendar day, whatever the duration of the London Pass.

Tootbus are not part of the London Pass scheme.

Key points of the London Pass Ho Ho bus offer

You can choose to ride on the Golden Tours  or  Big Bus hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. Tootbus (Original Tour) is not covered.

The Ho Ho bus offer is for one calendar day  not  for 24 hours.

Most people use the Ho Ho facility on the first day of their London Pass, but there is nothing stopping using it on another day when the London Pass is valid.

The Ho Ho bus offer with London Pass doesn't include the walking tours and river cruises included in the standard tickets issued by the Ho Ho companies concerned, only the bus tour (but you do get a river cruise included in the London Pass separately anyway)

You show your London Pass to the driver or tour guide of the first bus you board. They will scan your London Pass and issue you with a separate ticket for the bus company concerned valid for the rest of the day. You cannot switch to the other bus company once you have made your first journey.

London Pass more details

Free river cruises

While all three tour companies have a river cruise option, not every tour comes with a river cruise automatically. The cheaper tours for example, do not feature a river cruise.

Both Big Bus and Tootbus use the same river cruise company, City Cruises , while Golden Tours use Thames River Sightseeing.

Golden Tours/Thames River Sightseeing operate a cruise between Westminster Pier and Greenwich Pier.

Tootbus and Big Bus cruises run between Westminster and Tower Pier (or Greenwich Pier for Big Bus Premium or Deluxe ticket holders).

All operators run river services approximately every 40 minutes and later services are usually available until around 6pm in the summer season from April.

The Thames Cruise should be a highlight of your day and we recommend you take advantage of the facility.

Thames river cruise ticket options by company

A complimentary one-way river cruise offered by  City Cruises  (lasting around thirty minutes) is included in your Big Bus London ticket.

Tootbus' cheaper ticket doesn't come with the river cruise included - look for it on the 'Must See London' ticket. Your one-way river cruise starts at either Westminster pier or Tower of London pier.

Golden Tours

Golden Tours' river cruise is only available on the 24-hr ticket, not the calendar day ticket. There is also another ticket option to choose 24-hrs without cruise. Cruises are also one-way.

Hop-on buses in London plus attractions - money saving

Save money buying attraction tickets & bus tour in one package

Many people opt to combine their hop-on bus tour with one or more top attractions in London, in order to save even more on entrance tickets.

Golden Tours hop-on buses plus top London attraction

At the moment Golden Tours probably offer the best range of hop-on bus tours combined with attractions.

Please see our full listing of your choices of Golden Tours hop-on bus plus top London attraction

Big Bus + top London attractions tickets - save up to 28%

Big bus + attraction through discount london.

Discount London are offering a great deal: buy your Big Bus tickets in combination with your choice of top London attraction and save up to 28% on the cost of buying tickets separately.

Attractions included are: London Eye , SEA LIFE , St Paul's Cathedral , London Dungeon , Madame Tussauds , Tower of London and London Zoo .

Please see our full listing of your choices of Big Bus plus top London attraction

Big Bus + attraction through Big Bus website

In addition, through the Big Bus official website you can also add on tickets to: Madame Tussauds , Tower of London and London Eye Fast Track .

Tootbus and add-on attraction in London

Tootbus don't currently offer any add-on attractions but they do offer alternative tours such as an Evening Tour , Bar Bus and a very popular Kids tour .

LONDON'S OPEN TOP HOP-ON, HOP-OFF SIGHTSEEING TOUR PRICING 2024

All the hop-on bus companies have permanently discounted online prices, (compared with walk-up prices) which are between 10 - 15% off.

Prices are seasonal and variable and prices above are based on low season prices. During school holidays prices are typically higher.

To be sure you are getting the best possible price it is advisable to check our prices above against the hop-on bus companies' websites as they occasionally run sales throughout the year:

Tootbus official website

Big Bus official website

Golden Tours official website

Tootbus offer cheaper tickets, which are bus only, no river cruise. Tootbus offer this for a 24, 48 or 72-hr period and call this ticket 'London Discovery'.

Top of the page

London's hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses - previous questions answered by Bob

At present we are unable to maintain the discuss service but you can contact us using the Contact Us link at the bottom of each page. We have decided to leave the answers here as they are useful for many of the questions we receive. If you cannot find an answer to your question, we'll be happy to hear from you.

POPULAR LONDON ATTRACTIONS - ADVANCE PURCHASE AND/OR FAST TRACK TICKETS

• Guided London Tours
• Haunted London Tours
• Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
• Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours London
• Thames River Cruise Tours
• Afternoon Tea London
• Christmas and New Year Tours
• Afternoon Tea on River Thames Cruise
• London to Stonehenge, Windsor and Salisbury Guided Tour
• Stonehenge Afternoon Tour
• Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London
• Bath and Stonehenge Tour
• 6 Nights London Package with Stonehenge & Cotswolds
• Hotel Stay for Two with London Tour Bus & Trip to Stonehenge
• London Discovery: Hotel Stay, Panoramic Tours, and Stonehenge Adventure
• London Hotel Package for Two with Full Day London Tour and Stonehenge Trip
• All London Hotel Packages
• Stonehenge Tours From London
• Day Tours from London
• Rail Tours from London

Golden Tours (Gray Line) hop-on hop-off open top bus tour

Hop-on hop-off double deck open top sightseeing bus tour with tickets for 24, 48 or 72-hours

Golden Tours London hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour

Explore London on a double-decker open-top sightseeing bus tour that allows you to hop on and off at your leisure. Choose from 24, 48, or 72-hour ticket options.

Golden Tours offers one of the three main hop-on hop-off sightseeing tours in London. In addition to the bus tour, they also provide guided coach tours from London to popular destinations like Windsor, Stonehenge, and Oxford.

For a unique experience, you can combine your Golden Tours bus ticket with a visit to the Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Golden Tours is the only tour operator that offers a fully live-guided tour on their 1.5-hour Express ticket, which is not hop-on, hop-off.

What’s included

• Unlimited travel for 24, 48, or 72 hours on the Golden Tours London sightseeing bus network, covering all major attractions in Central London.
• Enjoy a free one-way river cruise as part of your ticket.
• Join complimentary walking tours of the Coronation and/or Jack the Ripper sites.
• Experience 4 open-top sightseeing routes with recorded commentary available in 11 languages.
• Take part in a 90-minute open-top bus tour with an English-speaking guide.
• Benefit from a flexible cancellation policy allowing a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour.
• Stay connected with free Wi-Fi on all buses.

Golden Tours Ticket Options

Discover the various ticket options offered by Golden Tours for an immersive sightseeing experience in London.

Golden Tours Duration Options

Choose from flexible durations of 24, 48, or 72 hours for your Golden Tours adventure. Select the ticket that suits your itinerary and explore London at your own pace.

Golden Tours with or without River Cruise

Customize your experience by deciding whether you want to include the Thames river cruise with your Golden Tours ticket. Opt for the package that best matches your interests and preferences.

Best Price Guarantee

Enjoy peace of mind when you purchase your Golden Tours tickets directly from their website. Benefit from the best price guarantee, ensuring you get the most value for your money.

Golden Tours Advance Tickets

Secure your tickets in advance through the easy online booking system. Simply make the payment with your credit or debit card and receive an instant confirmation email with your printable ticket.

Easy Redemption Process

Join the tour at any Golden Tours bus stop by exchanging your email voucher for the physical tickets. Your adventure begins when you board the first bus, allowing you to make the most of your chosen duration.

Plan your Golden Tours experience and embark on a memorable journey through the iconic sights of London.

Golden Tours Routes and Buses

Explore London’s iconic landmarks and attractions with Golden Tours’ comprehensive bus routes. With the hop-on, hop-off ticket, you have the freedom to switch between routes as you please.

The Classic Tour (Blue Route)

Discover all the major sights in Central London, including the renowned Museum Quarter. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of the city.

The Essential Tour (Red Route)

Experience famous landmarks like Madame Tussauds, Kings Cross, Hyde Park, and Regents Park. Take in the beauty of London’s picturesque parks along this route.

The Morning and Evening Drop off Service (Yellow and Green Routes)

Designed for convenience, these routes operate in the morning and late afternoon, providing transportation from popular hotel districts to Central London.

Golden Tours Route Map

Refer to the comprehensive route map of Golden Tours to plan your sightseeing itinerary and make the most of your London adventure.

Frequencies and Operating Hours

Buses run every 5-10 minutes at major tourist points and approximately every 10-20 minutes at the outer reaches of the network. The main routes commence around 8:30 am to 9 am and gradually wind down from 5 pm.

Guides and Audio Guides

Enhance your experience with Golden Tours’ audio guides, available in 11 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Indian, Japanese, and Arabic. While live guides are not currently available, there is a dedicated 90-minute route, the Open Top London Bus Tour With Live Guide, accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of London with Golden Tours’ extensive bus routes and informative audio guides. Discover the city at your own pace and create unforgettable memories.

With Warner Bros Studio Tour

Golden Tours 4-Hour Hop-On Bus + Warner Bros Studio Tour London – Harry Potter Magic

Embark on a magical journey into the world of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Enjoy exceptional value with a 4-hour hop-on bus tour of London’s iconic sights, including round-trip transportation and entrance tickets to the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

Discover the wonders of The Great Hall, Harry’s bedroom, the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, and the enchanting Forbidden Forest.

Join us for an unforgettable adventure through the magical realm of Harry Potter!

Click the link to book your tickets

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter – what to expect

With Merlin attraction pass 

The Ultimate London Experience

Book your Tickets here

Enjoy complete flexibility with this pass. You can select a 1-day or 24-hour hop-on bus tour of London and choose three or all five of the exciting Merlin attractions.

As an added bonus, your hop-on bus pass includes a complimentary Thames river cruise.

Experience a fantastic combination of top London attractions with this incredible bundle.

River Cruise  

Free Thames river cruise with Thames River Cruising

Enjoy a complimentary river trip included in your Golden Tours hop-on, hop-off bus ticket. The river service that the Golden Tours ticket covers runs from the Westminster Pier by Big Ben to the Greenwich Pier in the east, with several stops along the way.

Cruises are for one-way only.

Frequencies are approximately every 20 minutes in the summer and every 30-40 minutes in the winter.

Note – the river cruise is not included in the one calendar day ticket.

Walking tours  

Free walking tours with Golden Tours hop on buses

Explore the dark secrets of London with a complimentary Jack The Ripper Walking Tour or embark on a majestic Coronation Walking Tour during your Golden Tours hop-on bus journey.

Uncover the haunting locations where crucial clues were found and immerse yourself in the chilling enigma of Jack The Ripper’s crimes.

Alternatively, embark on a captivating 2-hour stroll through the city, discovering the grandeur of Royal sites and gaining insights into historic and contemporary coronations. Unearth intriguing details like the favored cigarette shop of The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth’s preferred off-license store.

Add-ons to Golden Tours tours & themed tours 

In addition to the regular hop-on bus services, Golden Tours offers various other options for you to choose from.

These include:

1. Night tours

2. Christmas lights tours

3. Add-on for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

4. 90-minute non-stop open-top bus ride with a live guide providing commentary

Click on the banner below for more information.

Golden Tours also provides bundled packages that combine their top London attractions with the hop-on bus service.

Choose from:

1. Tower of London with hop-on bus

2. View from the Shard with hop-on bus

3. Westminster Abbey with hop-on bus

4. St. Paul’s Cathedral with hop-on bus

5. SEA LIFE with hop-on bus

6. The London Dungeon with hop-on bus

7. Madame Tussauds with hop-on bus

8. London Eye with hop-on bus

9. Shrek’s Adventure! London with hop-on bus

Golden Tours included with London Pass 

The London Pass is a convenient sightseeing pass that allows you entry to many of London’s main attractions. It is available for 1, 2, 3, 6, or 10-day durations.

With the London Pass, you can access over 60 popular tourist attractions in London and enjoy a river cruise on the River Thames.

Additionally, the London Pass now includes the option to use either Golden Tours or Big Bus hop-on hop-off buses for one full day, regardless of the duration of your London Pass.

Important points about the London Pass Hop-on Hop-off bus offer:

•  You can choose to ride on either Golden Tours or Big Bus hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses for one calendar day. Tootbus (Original London Tour) is not included.
•  The Hop-on Hop-off bus offer is valid for one calendar day, not for 24 hours.
•  Most people use the Hop-on Hop-off facility on the first day of their London Pass, but you can use it on any day within the validity of your London Pass.
•  The Hop-on Hop-off bus offer with the London Pass does not include walking tours and river cruises provided by the respective bus companies. However, the London Pass already includes a separate river cruise.
• -When boarding the first bus, you need to show your London Pass to the driver or tour guide who will scan it and provide you with a separate ticket for the chosen bus company. This ticket will be valid for the rest of the day. Once you start with one bus company, you cannot switch to the other company on the same day.

Golden Tours compared with Tootbus & Big Bus  

When it comes to coverage in London, all three hop-on hop-off bus operations visit the same areas and major attractions in the city.

Live Guides:

Golden Tours is the only company that offers a regular service with live guides, but this is not a hop-on-hop-off bus. Instead, it is a fixed 90-minute tour, priced similarly to the hop-on bus.

Commentaries:

All three companies use pre-recorded commentaries for their hop-on bus services, though the number of languages offered may vary. However, during special promotional periods, Tootbus sometimes provides a special service with an expert live guide. These tours operate on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed (though they run hourly).

Ticket Durations:

All operators offer tickets valid for 24 and 48 hours. Tootbus and Golden Tours also offer 72-hour tickets. Additionally, Tootbus offers a 1.5-hour Bar Bus ticket, while Golden Tours has a fully guided 1.5-hour Express ticket.

Evening Tours:

All three operators offer evening tours. Big Bus includes a separate evening tour with their Premium and Deluxe tickets. For more details, please visit their respective websites.

Walking Tours:

Golden Tours and Big Bus offer professionally guided walking tours included with selected tickets. Golden Tours offers the Jack The Ripper Walking Tour or Coronation Walking Tour. Big Bus offers three free tours with their Essential and Explore tickets: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour, City of London Walking Tour, and Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. Each tour lasts 1.5 hours. Big Bus currently offers a Royal-themed hop-on bus tour called “A Big Royal Adventure” along with a 45-minute Royal Walking Tour. Tootbus does not offer guided walking tours but provides the option to download “Tootwalk” to your phone, which includes three self-guided walks.

River Cruises:

Two different river cruise operators, City Cruises and Thames River Sightseeing, are used. Golden Tours and Tootbus offer tickets without the river cruise, making them cheaper. All Big Bus tickets include the river cruise. Please note that river cruises are one-way only.

Add-on Attractions or Alternative Tours:

Golden Tours offers a range of attractions as add-ons to the basic 4-hour hop-on bus ticket. Discount London allows you to purchase discounted bundles of Big Bus tickets and top London attractions. Through the Big Bus official website, you can also add-on tickets for Madame Tussauds, Tower of London, and London Eye Fast Track. Tootbus does not currently offer add-on attractions but provides alternative tours such as a Windsor hop-on bus tour and a popular Kids tour.

For a detailed discussion on the differences between the companies, click on the provided banner.

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Is the london pass worth it an honest review by a local.

My hometown of London has an unwelcome, but not undeserved, reputation for being eye-wateringly expensive. Although its superb state-funded museums are free, London’s other attractions can seriously bend your credit card.

Like many major cities, London has a city pass – the Go City® London All-Inclusive Pass or London Pass – that provides free access to many of its top attractions and activities. But is this London Pass worth it?

The bottom line is that this pass can generate significant savings , particularly if you are visiting the more expensive attractions.

Get the lowdown in my London Pass review which covers how it works, what is included, how much it costs and where to buy it. All information and prices are taken from the London Pass official website and are correct as of March 2024.

Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases . Read the full disclosure here .

IN THIS ARTICLE

The London Pass gives you free access to several top London attractions and tours

Some of these include fast-track admission , avoiding the need for queuing. At selected attractions, there are extra perks such as gift shop discounts.

The pass also comes with a free guidebook containing information about each attraction, maps and helpful London tips. 

It works as a digital sightseeing pass . You choose your pass duration – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days – and then download this to the official London Pass app. For the duration of your pass’s validity, you can visit as many of the included attractions as you can manage, subject to a maximum “ credits value “. As these credits values are extremely generous, they will not be an issue for most travellers (for example; a 1-day adult pass has a maximum credits value of £180).

The London Pass has to be used on consecutive days . For example, if you have a 3-day pass and start using it on a Wednesday, it will be valid for that day, Thursday and Friday.

London All-Inclusive Pass vs London Explorer Pass

It’s easy to confuse these two London city passes, both of which are sold by Go City.

Unlike many traditional city passes, the London Explorer Pass offers access to a predetermined number of attractions over a generous 60-day time window. The London All-Inclusive Pass provides access to unlimited included attractions over a predetermined number of days.

The London Pass lets you choose the number of consecutive sightseeing days. With the London Explorer Pass, you choose how many attractions you would like to visit.

What is free with the London Pass?

As of March 2024, more than 90 attractions and activities are free with the Go City® London Pass. You can check the full list on the official website. Most of London’s most popular attractions are there, including the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle. In addition to tours and attractions, the London Pass gives you free tickets to screenings at the wonderful Curzon cinemas.

Here are some of the most popular London attractions included in the pass along with the full adult ticket price at the time of updating this article (March 2024).

There’s no need to pre-book many of these. However, there are a few you will need to book in advance as they cap visitor numbers. You can get the full list of attractions that require reservations here .

London attractions

• Tower of London (£34.80)

This UNESCO-listed fortress has played a prominent role in English history for more than 1,000 years. Built by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London is famous as a place of imprisonment and execution and as the home of the Crown Jewels.

• St. Paul’s Cathedral (£23)

For me, St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful and special places in London.

Built by Sir Christopher Wren after the devastation wrought by the Great Fire of London in 1666, the cathedral has been the setting for many ceremonial events. It is also famous for its Whispering Gallery and the views over London from its Golden Gallery.

• Westminster Abbey (£27)

Westminster Abbey is London’s Pantheon.

Founded by Benedictine monks in 960 AD, this Gothic masterpiece is the final resting place of 17 English monarchs, plus writers, artists, scientists and political leaders. It is also where you will find the Coronation Chair, on which monarchs have been crowned for the past thousand years.

The View from The Shard (£37)

Soaring to a height of almost 310 meters above the River Thames, The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the seventh-tallest in Europe. It is home to The View from The Shard, the highest viewpoint in London.

• Tower Bridge Experience (£12.30)

In this fun and educational visit to Tower Bridge, the most famous of London’s bridges , a lift whisks you up to the walkways, 30 meters above the street level. From here, you can look through the glass floor to the bridge below and learn about the construction of the bridge.

• Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (£24)

This detailed reproduction of an Elizabethan theatre is located a few hundred meters from the original Globe, where many of Shakespeare’s plays were first performed. If you can’t make it to one of the productions here, the next best thing is to take a tour of the Globe Theatre.

Kensington Palace (£24)

Designed by Christopher Wren, Kensington Palace is best known as the childhood home of Queen Victoria and the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Kew Gardens (£21.50)

Displaying over 50,000 plant species, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in London. The Temperate House and the Palm House are gems of Victorian engineering and kids will love the Treetop Walkway, 

London Zoo (£41.80)

Set in Leafy Regent’s Park and home to over 700 species, London Zoo is a fun family day out.

Hampton Court Palace (£27.20)

This royal palace is one for all fans of Wolf Hall . Hampton Court is famously the former home of the Tudor king Henry VIII.

Windsor Castle (£33) – afternoon entry only

Windsor is one of the easiest day trips from London by train . In just 30 minutes you can be exploring one of Europe’s historic palaces .

Home to British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years, Windsor is the oldest occupied castle in the world.

It’s also good to see many of London’s interesting smaller museums on the list of attractions included in the London Pass. These include the excellent Museum of Brands and the Mail Rail at the Postal Museum .

Transport & Tours

Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour (£37)

Choose between two operators to see the best of London from an open-top bus with an audioguide in five languages.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers 1-day River Roamer (£23.50)

For a sightseeing tour by water, jump on a Thames Uber Boat, stopping at 24 piers that include Greenwich, the Tower of London and Westminster.

London Bicycle Tour (£34.95)

Explore the city on two wheels on a choice of two guided bicycle tours. For a DIY option, bicycle hire is also included in the pass.

Wembley Stadium Tour (£26)

Visiting the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium is one is for the footie fans (and their reluctant partners). The London Pass also includes tours of Chelsea FC Stadium, Emirates Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur.

Fuller’s Brewery Tour (£25)

Sample British beer on a tour of the Griffin Brewery in west London.

>>> SAVE MONEY ON LONDON’S BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS WITH THE LONDON PASS. CLICK HERE TO BUY YOURS!

Attractions not included in the London Pass

Even to my critical eye, the London Pass is pretty comprehensive. However, it does not include the London Eye, tours of Buckingham Palace, the London Aquarium, the London Dungeon and tours of the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament). Madame Tussauds is also a notable exclusion, but who in their right mind would want to waste precious time there?

It’s also worth mentioning that the pass may not cover admission to special exhibitions and events or audioguides at the included attractions. Government-funded museums are not included but admission to their permanent exhibitions is free regardless. 

Unlike some city cards, the London All-Inclusive Pass does not include  public transportation . To zip around London’s transport network,  buy an Oyster card  (a prepayment tap-and-go smart card) and load it with credit when you arrive. Alternatively, use your contactless bank card.

London Pass prices & how to buy

The cost of your London Pass will be determined by its duration.

It comes in these different flavours: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days . The longer the duration, the cheaper it is on a £ per day basis.

Adult prices apply to those aged 16 and over. Child prices are for those aged 5 to 15. Most attractions grant free entry to under-fives.

The London Pass prices quoted refer to full face value as of March 2024 but discounts may be available at the time of purchase. Check the current prices here .

• 1-Day Pass – Adult £90 | Child £55
• 2-Day Pass – Adult £125 | Child £70
• 3-Day Pass – Adult £138 | Child £80
• 4-Day Pass – Adult £151 | Child £96
• 5-Day Pass – Adult £166 | Child £101
• 6-Day Pass – Adult £171 | Child £106
• 7-Day Pass – Adult £182 | Child £112
• 10-Day Pass – Adult £202 | Child £117

The London Pass can only be purchased online from the official site or GetYourGuide here . It’s worth comparing the prices and cancellation terms offered by the two sites.

Is the London Pass worth it? Crunching the numbers

The only way to figure out if the London Pass will save you money is to cost a sample itinerary with and without the pass. To give you a head start, I’ve priced one and two-day itineraries.

These are based on a first-time visitor’s solo trip to London .

These key London attractions are clustered within walking distance of one another along the Thames.

• Evening boat ride on the Thames (23)

Cost of individual tickets: £117.10

1-Day London Pass: £90

SAVING: £27.10

In the evening, you could max out the pass further by seeing a movie at one of the Curzon cinemas.

Day two of this sample itinerary starts by visiting Westminster Abbey before taking a short train ride to Windsor.

• Windsor Castle (£33)

Cost of individual tickets: £177.10

2-Day London Pass: £125

SAVING: £52.10

Note that these itineraries do not include the use of a hop-on-hop-off bus or one of the excellent tours on offer.

As these examples illustrate, the London Pass is likely to save you money. With a little planning, you can visit enough attractions in two days to be easily quids in.

Add to that the convenience of not having to queue to buy tickets at each place, and fast-track admission where available, and it’s a no-brainer.

For extra reassurance, Go City has introduced a risk-free guarantee .

If the city pass costs more than individual attraction tickets, they will refund you the difference. To be eligible, you’ll need to have scanned your pass at least three times per day, every day of your pass.  

Find out more here .

>>> SAVE MONEY WHEN VISITING LONDON’S BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS WITH THE LONDON PASS. CLICK HERE TO BUY YOURS!

Who is the pass good for?

If you want to see as much of London as possible – Then the Go City® London Pass is for you. The more you use it, the more money you will save.

If you are spending longer in London – Although you are likely to save money using a London Pass if you are in town for a day or two, these savings will be amplified if you stay longer,

If you want to set your budget in advance – No one likes a nasty shock when they check their credit card statement at the end of a holiday. With the London Pass, you can take control over a chunk of your vacation budget.

If you are looking for convenience – There’s a lot to be said for not having to purchase individual tickets and fast-track entry. Who doesn’t want to be treated like a VIP at times?

Who should skip the pass?

If you do not have a smartphone – Although those who do not have a smartphone are in the minority, there are still some out there (including a few of my friends). As the London Pass is no longer available as a paper ticket, you will not be able to use it if you do not have a smartphone.

As you can show a London Explorer P ass as a paper copy, consider this as an alternative.

If you are on a budget – In an expensive city like London, it can be challenging to stretch the travel budget to the paid-for attractions. Fortunately, London has a clutch of excellent free museums, parks and gardens.

I f you have already visited the big-ticket items – Perhaps you have already visited places like the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey. These more expensive London Pass attractions generate the biggest savings.  

If you are looking for a relaxed itinerary – Another key to maximising the benefits of the London Pass is to squeeze as much into your sightseeing day as possible.

The London Pass is unlikely to be a good buy if you only plan to visit a few paid attractions during your stay. Instead, consider the London Explorer Pass as an alternative.

Tips for squeezing the most value out of your London Pass

1. Plan your itinerary

A little research can go a long way. Identify which attractions you want to visit and whether they are included in the pass. This will help you decide if the London Pass is worth it for you.

2. Consider transit times

Don’t just look at a list of London attractions in isolation. Whilst, many of its landmarks are located in central London, others are in outer boroughs (e.g. Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace).

Therefore, consider how long it will take to travel between the places on your draft London itinerary, clustering them by locality if possible.

3. Don’t try to squeeze too much in

This is the biggest danger of city cards. By trying to visit as many of the included attractions as possible, you run the risk of becoming completely frazzled.

It’s far better to pick a smaller number of high-value activities and enjoy them. If relaxed sightseeing is more your thing, take a look at the Go City® London Explorer Pass here .

4. Prioritise high-value attractions

You get the most bang for your buck by using your London Pass for entry into the more expensive London attractions. By using the pass to get you into places like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle, you maximise its benefits.

5. Consider what is not covered by the London Pass

Think about attractions that are not covered by the London Pass, such as its excellent museums and the London Eye. If these are on your itinerary, visit these on a “non-London Pass day.”

6. Start using your London Pass on the morning of the first day of validity

As the pass’s validity is for consecutive days, not 24-hour periods, make an early start to your sightseeing to get the best value from it. If you start using your London Pass late in the day, that will count as your first day.

7. Check opening hours in advance

Some London attractions are closed on certain days of the week (Westminster Abbey is closed on Sundays, for example) and many admit their last visitors at 4.30 pm.

8. Make sure that you make reservations where these are required.

9. Appoint the London Pass guidebook as your best friend

The complimentary guidebook is a mine of useful information, including travel information and those attractions offering skip-the-line access to pass holders. 

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman is a Londoner who has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

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How to get tickets for Travis Scott’s 2024 UK tour: presale, ticket prices and everything you need to know

The rap star’s Circus Maximus Tour will arrive on UK shores for two shows this summer

Hip-hop heads, we’ve got massive news. Travis Scott, one of the biggest rappers and producers on the planet right now, has announced he’ll be heading off on a huge tour this summer. The Houston musician’s UTOPIA – Circus Maximus Tour will see him play 12 dates this side of the Atlantic – including, excitingly, two shows in the UK.

The Circus Maximus tour has been described as ‘an unparalleled audiovisual experience’ and its North American took place last year. The tour follows Scott’s chart-topping fourth studio album UTOPIA , which was the biggest-selling hip-hop release of 2023.  

Keen to catch Scott on his upcoming tour of the UK and Europe? Here’s everything you need to know, from presales to potential ticket prices.

When is Travis Scott going on his UK tour in 2024?

Scott will be playing two shows in the UK on this summer’s Circus Maximus Tour. They are: 

• July 11: London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• July 13: Manchester, Co-op Live

The show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be his largest UK headline show to-date.

When do tickets go on sale?

General sale kicks off at 10am BST on Friday May 10. You’ll be able to get tickets here . 

Is there a presale?

There are a few presales available. For the London gig, Tottenham Hotspur Season Ticket Holders and One Hotspur Members got access at 10am on Thursday May 9.

For the Manchester show, Co-op members also got access on May 9 at 10am through the Co-op app. 

How much are Travis Scott tickets?

Official prices haven’t yet been confirmed, so watch this space for updates.

Following the presale today (May 9) some on X have leaked potential prices (so take ’em with a pinch of salt), saying that seated tickets will start from around £72 and that standing will start from £105. ‘Gold Circle’ tickets apparently start from around £143. 

Tickets for the same tour over in North America started from $65 (£52).

Can I go VIP?

Yep, you can do that through the official hospitality partner,   Seat Unique .   Packages get you things like premium seats, arrival via the hospitality entrance, premium dining options and other cool things.   Find out more here .

Where else is Travis Scott touring as part of his 2024 Europe and UK tour?  

Travis Scott’s 2024 leg of his UTOPIA – Circus Maximus Tour will see him play 12 arenas across the UK and Europe. Here’s the full list of cities. 

• June 28: Arnhem, Netherlands
• July 2: Poland, Krakow
• July 4: Zurich, Switzerland
• July 6: Nice, France
• July 9: Antwerp, Belgium
• July 11: London, UK
• July 13: Manchester, UK
• July 16: Hamburg, Germany
• July 18: Prague, Czech Republic
• July 20: Cologne, Germany
• July 23: Milan, Italy
• July 27: Frankfurt, Germany

When did Travis Scott last play in the UK?

Travis Scott last played the UK last summer (July 2023), at Wireless Festival in London.

How to get tickets for Billie Eilish's 2025 UK tour .

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• Ed Cunningham News Editor, Time Out UK and Time Out London

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Here’s every city Childish Gambino will perform in for the ‘New World’ tour

The rapper will take his first tour since 2019 to the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and more

Childish Gambino has revealed the list of cities he’ll be performing in for his next world tour – see the full list below.

• READ MORE:  Childish Gambino – ‘3.15.20’ review: rap’s Renaissance man lets guard down with most personal record to date

Today (May 13), rapper-actor-comedian Childish Gambino, real name Donald Glover , released his ‘Atavista’ album, along with a music video for the new track ‘Little Foot Big Foot’ . The album is the “complete” version of his 2020 record,  ‘3.15.20’ .

Besides releasing the album and music video, Gambino has also now revealed the list of cities he will be performing in for his recently teased world tour . The tour is being dubbed the ‘New World’ tour, and will see the rapper embark on his first string of shows since 2019.

While no concrete dates have been shared and it’s currently unknown when and where the tour will begin or the order of cities he’ll be performing in, the tour’s website has now been uploaded with a scrolling list of cities .

The tour will see the rapper performing in the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. It is currently unclear if other regions such as South and Latin America, and Asia will be added to the list in due time.

The current list of cities in Childish Gambino’s ‘The New World’ tour is, in alphabetical order:

Amsterdam Atlanta Auckland Austin Berlin Birmingham Boston Brisbane Brooklyn Brussels Calgary Chicago Cologne Columbus Copenhagen Dallas Denver Detroit Dublin Edmonton Glasgow Hamburg Houston Kansas City London Los Angeles Lyon Manchester Melbourne Milan Milwaukee Munich Nashville New Orleans Oklahoma City Oslo Paris Perth Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland Prague Raleigh Saint Paul Salt Lake City San Francisco Seattle Sunrise Sydney Tampa Toronto Uncasville Vancouver Washington

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Besides releasing ‘Atavista’, a music video for ‘Little Foot Big Foot’ and the current slate of cities in his upcoming tour, Donald Glover has also provided an update on his next – and final – album as Childish Gambibo: ‘Bando Stone & The New World’ will double as the soundtrack for his upcoming movie of the same name.

Glover wrote of the upcoming album on social media : “the all new childish gambino album comes out in the summer”. He also teased a special vinyl release for ‘Atavista’, which will include “visuals for each song”.

‘3.15.20’ was awarded four-stars by  NME  when it was initially released in 2020: “Glover’s willingness to share such a candid moment on record is particularly interesting given his past proclivity towards keeping his private life largely offline, and may be a sign that the star is beginning to let his guard down as the outside world continues to try to peer in.

“It’s an approach that Glover is applying to his musical output at least, with the impressive ‘3.15.20’ well worth the wait — we’ll keep our fingers firmly crossed, then, that he doesn’t give in to his past evasiveness and take the record down again…”

• Related Topics
• Childish Gambino
• Donald Glover
• Live Music News

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