Hop on Hop off London Bus Tour & Tower of London

London’s famous sights are spread across a wide area, and this package gives you a simple way to connect them. You can ride the red, blue, or orange routes, get off near Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye, then enter the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels.

I like the flexibility of a one-day, 24-hour, or 48-hour ticket, and I like having a boat ride included instead of paying separately for another Thames experience. The main catch is timing: buses can be slow in rush hour, and bus service or ticket checks may not always go smoothly.

Key points to know before you book

• More than 60 stops: Reach major sights including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds, and the London Eye.
• Three bus routes: Red and blue buses are scheduled about every 20 minutes, while the orange route runs about every 30 minutes.
• Tower entry included: Visit the fortress and Crown Jewels, but download or prepare the correct ticket before arriving.
• Thames ride included: The 24-hour option includes a one-way boat ticket. The 48-hour option includes a return ticket, according to the supplied details.
• Twelve audio languages: Commentary is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Japanese, and Arabic.
• Extra time promotion: For qualifying 24, 48, or 72-hour tickets used before February 28, you may receive an extra 24 hours.

How the London bus routes fit together

The hop-on hop-off bus is most useful when you treat it as both sightseeing and transport. You can stay aboard for a full circuit to get your bearings, then use the stops that match your day.

The red and blue routes run about every 20 minutes, while the orange route is listed at about 30-minute intervals. Those gaps sound short on paper, but traffic can change the real wait. One booking was badly affected when a stop was canceled without clear notice, so I would avoid planning a tightly timed attraction immediately after a bus connection.

The red route includes the classic central London sights. You can get off near Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and other central landmarks. This is the route I would use early in your visit, since it helps you understand how Westminster, the royal quarter, and the Thames fit together.

The blue route reaches major attractions farther across the center, including stops near Madame Tussauds. It is useful when you want to link the west side of central London with the Tower area, though traffic can make the ride much slower than the map suggests.

The orange route runs less often, so allow extra time if you plan to use it. Its value depends on your schedule and the attractions you choose. If you are trying to squeeze several paid sights into one day, a 30-minute service gap can eat into your visit.

You will hear either live commentary or recorded audio, depending on the bus. The audio guide covers 12 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese, with Brazilian Portuguese and Polish also listed in the detailed language information.

One useful point from the feedback is that not every bus had working Wi-Fi, and audio commentary was not always available in the expected format. If you specifically want a live guide, ask before boarding. The live guides can add character, and one German-language booking praised a friendly storyteller and an enjoyable route, but live narration may be in English rather than your preferred language.

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the central sights

The Westminster section is the most familiar part of the tour, but it still works well from an open-top bus. You get a broad view of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster without spending time navigating between separate Underground stations.

Buckingham Palace is another natural hop-off point. The bus stop for the Royal London Walking Tour is outside The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, on Buckingham Gate. That walking tour starts at 10 a.m. daily, and you should arrive 15 minutes early.

The walking tour can add context that a recorded bus guide cannot. It also gives you a reason to get off and walk instead of spending the entire day seated. The supplied details do not promise a specific guide name for this tour, so I would regard it as an optional extra rather than the main reason to buy the package.

The central routes are best before late afternoon traffic. One booking had a pleasant ride before 5 p.m. but spent a long time stuck in rush hour. I would use the morning for the longest bus circuit and save fixed-entry attractions for times when traffic is less likely to matter.

Entering the Tower of London and seeing the Crown Jewels

The Tower of London is the strongest fixed attraction in this package. It is not simply a photo stop from the bus. You can enter the old fortress, explore its historic grounds, and see the Crown Jewels.

The Tower gives the day a sense of purpose. A bus tour can otherwise become a string of passing views, but this visit lets you spend real time in one of London’s most important historic sites.

Plan this part carefully. The Tower is closed on December 24 through December 26 and January 1. More importantly, keep the Tower admission ready before you arrive. One booking was told by a driver that the bus ticket alone covered entry, only to discover that the correct Tower ticket needed to be downloaded first. Another booking spent about an hour trying to resolve access after being refused several times.

I would not rely on a driver to explain every ticket condition. Download the documents before leaving your hotel, check that the Tower admission is clearly included, and keep the confirmation easy to show. The departure point for the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour is Golden Tours Bus Stop 8 at the Tower of London, Tower Hill, opposite Tower Hill Station. That tour begins at 3:30 p.m., and you should arrive 15 minutes early.

The Tower stop also works well with the Thames boat ride and Tower Bridge area, but allow plenty of time. You do not want to rush through the Crown Jewels because you are trying to catch a bus or boat at a fixed hour.

Using the Thames boat ride wisely

The included River Thames ride adds a welcome change of pace. From the water, you see London from a lower, broader viewpoint, with famous bridges and riverside buildings arranged in a single moving view.

The ticket details matter. The 24-hour bus option comes with a one-way boat ride, while the 48-hour bus option is listed with a return boat ticket. The general description also calls the boat ride one-way, so check the exact option shown when you book. Do not assume that every ticket includes a return journey.

A one-way ride is still useful. You can take the bus toward the Tower, visit the fortress, then use the boat for part of your return. Or you can ride the Thames first and use the bus afterward. The best choice depends on the day’s route and boat departure times.

The river trip is not a substitute for a full transport pass. It is one included sightseeing ride, not unlimited boat travel. Treat it as a scenic connection between selected parts of the city.

Optional attractions and how to judge their value

The wider package lets you choose between one and five top London attractions, depending on the option booked. Listed choices include:

• The London Eye
• Madame Tussauds London
• SEA LIFE London Aquarium
• The London Dungeon
• Shrek’s Adventure! London
• London Zoo
• Westminster Abbey
• The Tower of London
• Kensington Palace
• Afternoon Tea Bus
• London by Night Bus Tour

This choice can improve the value, but only if you actually visit enough included attractions. At about $90 per person, the package is not automatically a bargain for someone who only rides the bus and visits the Tower.

The London Eye suits you if you want a high view over the Thames and central London. Madame Tussauds is a strong pick for fans of celebrity wax figures, while SEA LIFE and Shrek’s Adventure are aimed more at families.

The London Dungeon focuses on London’s darker past and uses a theatrical format. London Zoo offers a much longer family outing, with more than 8,000 animals listed. Westminster Abbey is the better choice if royal weddings, coronations, and church architecture interest you.

Kensington Palace adds another royal residence to the day. It is a sensible choice if you want indoor history and royal stories rather than another panoramic ride.

The Afternoon Tea Bus combines a double-decker city tour with cakes and tea. Food is included only when specified by the selected option, so do not assume the basic pass includes meals.

The London by Night Bus Tour is a separate 90-minute evening experience. It can work well after the daytime routes, since illuminated landmarks give you a different view of London. But it also makes your schedule longer, so I would choose it only if you have enough energy for a late finish.

The Tastecard and Coffee Club membership is included with all Golden Pass options and lasts one month. It offers deals such as 2-for-1 meals, 25 percent off at participating restaurants, and 25 percent off barista-made drinks at Caffè Nero, Black Sheep Coffee, and independent coffee shops. Its value depends on where you eat and how often you use it. It should be treated as a bonus, not a reason by itself to purchase the tour.

A realistic one-day plan

With one day, resist the urge to force every attraction into the schedule. I would begin with a central red-route circuit, using the ride to see Westminster and Buckingham Palace.

Next, get off for one major attraction. The Tower of London is the clearest choice because it is a core part of the package. Spend enough time inside to see the Crown Jewels without watching the clock every few minutes.

Use the Thames boat ride as your scenic transfer if the boat schedule fits. Afterward, return to the bus for another section, or choose one additional attraction such as the London Eye or Westminster Abbey.

This plan gives you actual time at the Tower and a worthwhile bus ride. Trying to add Madame Tussauds, the London Eye, the Dungeon, and the Tower in the same day would leave you spending too much time in queues, on buses, or checking departure times.

What a 48-hour ticket changes

The 48-hour option is a better fit if London is new to you or you want several paid attractions. You can use the first day for the main bus circuits and Westminster, then reserve the second day for the Tower, the Thames ride, and one or two selected attractions.

This longer ticket also gives you protection against traffic. If a bus is delayed or you arrive late, you have another day to recover. One booking arrived after 7 p.m. because of flight delays and had almost no useful time on the first day. The second day went better, but access problems still affected the Tower and river cruise.

That experience points to an important rule: do not count an arrival evening as a full tour day. If your flight or train arrives late, book the longer validity period or plan the bus for the following morning.

The promotional extra 24 hours can make a qualifying ticket more useful. The supplied details say it applies to 24, 48, or 72-hour tickets used before February 28. Check the travel date and ticket type carefully, since the promotion is time-limited.

Price, value, and the main risks

At $90 per person, this is a convenience package rather than a cheap bus ticket. I see the best value when you use the Tower admission, boat ride, bus routes, and at least one additional paid attraction.

The package also saves you from arranging each part separately. That matters in London, where moving between the Tower, Westminster, the London Eye, and attractions near Madame Tussauds can take time.

The weaknesses are operational. A bus may be delayed by traffic, a route or stop may change, and ticket instructions may not be explained correctly at street level. One booking waited an hour at stop number 2 before learning that the stop had been canceled. Another could use only the blue route after other routes closed earlier than expected.

I would keep your itinerary loose, especially after 5 p.m. Check the route hours on the day, leave space between bus travel and timed admissions, and save the confirmation for every included attraction.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance in the main activity details, while another supplied condition says cancellation up to seven days before travel earns a full refund. Because those terms differ, check the exact booking conditions attached to your option before paying.

Who should book this London combination?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants a broad introduction to London and prefers a sightseeing bus over planning every connection. Families may also like the choice of attractions, especially the aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure, London Zoo, and the London Eye.

It is less suitable if you already know London’s transport system, prefer walking, or need precise connections. The bus is exposed to traffic, and the 20 or 30-minute service intervals can become longer in practice.

The Tower of London makes this package more useful than a basic city bus ticket. Just prepare the Tower admission in advance and give yourself room for delays.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a ready-made first look at London, plan to visit the Tower, and will use at least one or two other included attractions. The 48-hour option offers the safest value because it gives you time to handle traffic, queues, and a late arrival.

Choose a shorter ticket only if your schedule is firm and you can start early. For the smoothest day, ride before rush hour, keep the Tower documents downloaded, check which routes are operating, and use the Thames boat as a scenic bonus rather than a guaranteed all-day transport service.

FAQ

How long is the hop-on hop-off ticket valid?

You can choose a 1-day, 24-hour, or 48-hour bus ticket, depending on the option booked. Some qualifying tickets used before February 28 may receive an extra 24 hours.

Is admission to the Tower of London included?

Yes, admission to the Tower of London is included. The Tower is closed from December 24 through December 26 and on January 1.

Are the Crown Jewels included?

The Tower of London visit includes access to see the Crown Jewels.

How often do the buses run?

The red and blue routes are scheduled about every 20 minutes. The orange route is scheduled about every 30 minutes.

Is a River Thames boat ride included?

Yes. The activity includes a free River Thames boat ride. The detailed ticket information lists a one-way ride with the 24-hour option and a return ticket with the 48-hour bus option.

Which languages are available on the bus?

Audio commentary is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Polish in the supplied language details.

Can I choose other London attractions?

Depending on the selected Golden Pass option, you can choose between one and five attractions. Options include the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, London Dungeon, Shrek’s Adventure, London Zoo, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, and others.

Are food and drinks included?

Food and drinks are not included unless your selected option specifically includes them. The Afternoon Tea Bus is one listed option that includes a food experience.

Where does the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour begin?

It departs from Golden Tours Bus Stop 8 at the Tower of London, Tower Hill, opposite Tower Hill Station. It starts at 3:30 p.m. daily, and you should arrive 15 minutes early.

Where does the Royal London Walking Tour begin?

It departs at the tourist bus stop outside The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Gate, SW1A 1AA. It starts at 10 a.m. daily, and you should arrive 15 minutes early.