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Big Bus Tour in London was a waste of time and money

On our first full day last week in London, we joined the first BB tour of the day on the "Red" line to get the personal narration - it was our daughter's first trip, and we thought it would be good to get an overview. My husband and I had previously been to London and taken another hop on/hop off tour and our memory is that it covered A LOT more of the sites than this tour and also had a guide. We spent much of our time waiting a stops as there was no traffic early in the morning (surprise) and there evidently are rules about timing for the bus stops as well as how many busses can stop at each site at a time - so we spend a lot of time sitting perfectly still - and at Trafalger Square, got off the bus, went to St. Martin's in the Field, purchased concert tickets for later in the week, and got back on the same bus, which hadn't moved! Once it started moving, we were caught up in terrible traffic, and had we simply gotten off and walked, we would have beaten the bus by 10-15 minutes.

I would not recommend this company.

Posted by
3896 posts

Sorry to hear that this bus tour was not all you had hoped for.
"Once it started moving, we were caught up in terrible traffic, and had we simply gotten off and walked, we would have beaten the bus by 10-15 minutes."
The point of these tours is, unfortunately, not swift transportation around London. The point is the tour, the narration, going by each and every one of the so called "must see" sights. It usually takes awhile to make the full loop. Two hours, if you do not get off the bus but want to do the full tour.
If you are impatient and it drives you nuts to have delays such as you described, then these tours are not for you. Many people who come on here wanting advice on the buses end up saying they are not going to take the tour because of this.

On a brighter note, what was the name of the bus company you took last time?
"My husband and I had previously been to London and taken another hop on/hop off tour and our memory is that it covered A LOT more of the sites than this tour and also had a guide."

That information would help a lot of our readers to make a choice when visiting London between the bus companies.

Many thanks for giving your opinion of the Big Bus Tour and your experience with them. Maybe it will save another tourist the frustration you experienced.

Posted by
8 posts

Hi - this company was recommended to me during a 30 minute consultation with one of Rick Steve's travel consultants. I think the tour company we used previously was the Original Big Bus tour.

Frankly all the hoho buses in London spend most of their time either at stops or stuck in traffic. I've done them twice and both have been eye-gougingly boring and frustrating (I've been with relatives who thought they'd be fun).

I've never lasted more than two hours on one, and have come nowhere near even completing half a full circle.

And I love hoho buses almost everywhere else. Instead ride the 11 with a map/guidebook - or get chatting to a local on the bus and get them to explain the sights.