Are London hop-on hop-off bus tours worth it?
Worth it on day one as a moving overview of the landmarks, not as transport. Ride a full loop from the top deck in the morning, then switch to the Tube.
📍
Our pick: Golden Tours · Free cancellation
Bottom line — are London hop-on hop-off bus tours worth it?
Worth it on your first day as a moving overview of London, not as transport. Buy the cheapest 24-hour ticket, ride one full loop from the top deck in the morning, hop off for two or three stops, then switch to the Tube. In afternoon traffic the same loop takes nearly twice as long.
Quick Facts
- Ticket length
- 24 or 48 hours, all operators
- Full loop
- 2–2.5 hours in normal traffic
- Age suitability
- All ages
- Wheelchair accessible
- Yes, lower deck
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (most tickets)
How we scored the London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Our methodFrom around £31 for 24 hours it earns its keep on day one, but it is an expensive way to get from A to B once you know the city.
The top deck on a clear day is a genuinely great way to see the landmarks lined up, with commentary joining the dots.
Central London traffic is the real queue: the same loop can take twice as long from mid-afternoon.
A first-day tool, not a transport pass. One full loop early in the day is where the value lives.
Best time to visit the London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Live forecastLondon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour is largely outdoor — slots below combine crowd levels with the live weather forecast.
- 9am🌤️Mostly sunny, 18°CGreat
- 11am🌤️Mostly sunny, 19°CGood
- 1pm☁️Cloudy, 21°COK
- 9am☀️Clear, 20°CGreat
- 11am☁️Cloudy, 23°CGood
- 1pm☁️Cloudy, 25°COK
Typical hour-by-hour →
Ride the full loop once from the first morning departure, when the roads are clearest, and treat hop-off stops as bonuses. Sunday mornings have the quietest roads of the week.
Best London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour tickets, compared
All London attractions →| Ticket Type | What's Included | Price from | TripScore | Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RECOMMENDED Golden Tours 24h + optional river cruise |
| £31.00 per adult | 7.8 Best Overall | View tickets → |
Tootbus Bus + Thames river cruise |
| £33.00 per adult | 7.4 | View tickets → |
City Sightseeing Bus + optional cruise |
| £42.00 per adult | 6.8 | View tickets → |
Big Bus Bus + Thames river cruise |
| £44.00 per adult | 6.9 | View tickets → |
We compare prices from GETYOURGUIDE · KLOOK · VIATOR · TIQETS …
What visitors say
Visitor reviews currently unavailable for this attraction. See ticket options for partner-specific ratings.
Why the London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour is worth it
- ✓The best first-day orientation London offers: every headline landmark in one loop.
- ✓Open-top views the Tube never shows, with commentary connecting the history.
- ✓Most tickets bundle or add a Thames river cruise cheaply.
- ✓Hop-off freedom covers the sights that are awkward to reach underground.
Common London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour mistakes
- ✗Using it as A-to-B transport, which the Tube does faster and cheaper.
- ✗Boarding at 4pm into rush-hour traffic and crawling past the landmarks.
- ✗Sitting downstairs on a clear day: the top deck is the whole point.
- ✗Not comparing operators: the routes are near-identical, the prices are not.
How the London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour compares
Other top London attractions ranked by TripScore.
Yes: around £14 for an hour past Big Ben, St Paul's, the Tower and Tower Bridge is London's best-value sightseeing. Go one way to Greenwich on a clear afternoon.
Yes for families and first-time visitors who love celebrity culture — but only with Fast Track or a London Eye combo. Avoid weekends without one.
London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour FAQ
Are hop-on hop-off buses worth it in London?▾
Worth it on your first day as an orientation tour: one open-top loop past Big Ben, St Paul's and the Tower with commentary beats any map for getting your bearings. They are not worth it as day-to-day transport, where the Tube wins on both speed and price.
Which London hop-on hop-off bus company is best?▾
The routes overlap heavily, so the real differences are price and frequency. Golden Tours from around £31 is usually the cheapest with a cruise option, Big Bus runs the most frequent departures, and Tootbus includes the river cruise as standard.
How long does the full London bus loop take?▾
Around 2 to 2.5 hours in normal traffic, and considerably longer from mid-afternoon. Morning departures are the fastest and clearest way to do the whole circuit.
Hop-on hop-off bus or Thames river cruise?▾
Different jobs: the bus covers far more landmarks and lets you hop off, while the river cruise is cheaper, traffic-free and shows you the city from its best angle. Many bus tickets include or add a cruise cheaply, which is the best of both.
Add to your London itinerary
Plan your perfect day in London with our free itinerary builder.
People also ask
Worth it for teens and adults who like comedy-horror: 90 minutes of actor-led shows and a drop ride. Not for under-10s, and cheapest booked online.
Worth it for families, especially on a rainy day: book the 10am weekday slot online. Adults without kids may find 60 to 90 minutes short for £28.
Worth it once, done right: the 5,000-year-old circle genuinely awes, but it's a long coach day for two hours on site. Combine it with Bath or Windsor.
Yes for the price — £16 buys glass-floor walkways and the Victorian engine rooms. Time your visit around a scheduled bridge lift for the best photo.
Our pick · From
£31 · Golden Tours
Last reviewed · Editorial verdict by tickets.uk editorial team · Structured feed