London is full of things to do and attractions to see, from historic buildings to modern marvels. But if you’ve ever been tempted to hop on a tour bus, we’re here to tell you there’s a better way.
Save money by ditching the tour guide and taking things in to your own hands. The London bus is iconic around the world and often the routes they take around the Capital city pass the same places the tour buses do and getting on will cost you a fraction of the price. An adult ticket for a popular tour bus could cost as much as £26. A single fare on a regular bus is just £1.50 with a daily cap of £4.50.
To help save you some time we’ve mapped out four of the best London bus tours you can do yourself for under £5 per person!
The Essential Bus Tour of Central London
Top things to see in London include Big Ben, Westminster Cathedral, The Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, The London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and London’s impressive financial district. They’re the classics and essential viewing for anyone visiting London for the first time. The best thing is all of these landmarks can be seen from bus route 11.
All you need to do is get on near Sloane Square Tube station and ride the number 11 all the way to the end of the route, or until you spot St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The Alternative Westminster Bus Tour
There’s another route that passes Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square, where you can see Nelson’s column. But this one takes you through the theatre district and then goes on to Camden Town where you can have a look around the famous Camden market.
For this one you just need to catch the 24 from Victoria station. If you want to visit the markets, get off the number 24 at Camden Town, otherwise you can stay on until the route ends at Hampstead Heath.
The 9 for 9 Bus Tour
Catch the number 9 from Hammersmith and you’ll be able to see 9 top attractions on this DIY London bus tour. This one has a royally good start with Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall and the monument to Prince Albert.
Get a taste of London’s fancy side when the bus passes Kensington, Harrods, St. James’s Palace and the Savoy Hotel. Then finish the tour at Somerset House, an incredible historic building that’s home to art, music, fashion and big cultural events.
The Bus Tour of Culture
To start the tour, catch the number 73 bus at Victoria station. Get on the top deck for this one if you can because the bus passes Buckingham Palace gardens and you’ll need to be up high for the best view.
Also along the route you’ll see Wellington Arch and Marble Arch (hence our title). But there are also a couple of points where you will want to hop off and explore. Get off the bus at Hyde Park and take a stroll. Then when you’re done catch the same bus to Oxford Street and shop to your heart’s content.
Keep going on route 73 and you’ll pass the British Library and the British Museum. After this we recommend hopping off at King’s Cross St Pancras where you can find Harry Potter’s trolley to platform 9 and ¾.
We’re celebrating a whole month of Discovering London so be sure to check back for more blogs and information and search #DiscoveringLondon on Twitter for more helpful tips and advice on what to do in London.
To make the images above we used the Route Map feature in our Bus Times London (Android) app. Also available on iOS. For live bus times and route information download Bus Times London for free today.
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