Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye Option

London’s best feature on this tour is its variety: you see the city from an open-top 1960s Routemaster, from the Thames, and from Buckingham Palace’s forecourt. In about three and a half hours, you get a fast introduction to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and more.

I like the classic red bus, which turns ordinary traffic into part of the show, and I like the Thames cruise, where several landmarks line up in one smooth view. Guides such as Alan, Lisa, Steve, Magnus, Michael, and Greg have been praised for lively stories and strong local knowledge.

The trade-off is time. This is a highlight tour, not a museum visit, and London traffic can slow the bus. You may also find the coach station busy and the open top chilly or wet, so arrive early and dress for the forecast.

Key points to know before booking

• A 1960s Routemaster gives you a memorable city ride: The bus itself is a major part of the experience, especially on a clear day from the upper deck.
• The Thames cruise links Tower Pier with the London Eye: You see Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, The Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Parliament from the water.
• Buckingham Palace is the longest photo stop: You have about 30 minutes outside the palace, with a chance to see the Changing of the Guard when it is scheduled.
• The base tour costs $85.01 per person: That price includes the bus, river cruise, and local guide, but not food, drinks, or the optional London Eye and Stonehenge additions.
• The tour starts at Victoria Coach Station at 1:00 pm: You finish on Victoria Street unless your selected option sends you elsewhere.
• The London Eye add-on changes the ending: After Buckingham Palace, you are dropped at the Eye for your prebooked flight, and you make your own way onward afterward.

Why this tour works for a first look at London

If you have only one day in London, this tour gives you a sensible first sweep of the center. You will not enter Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London, but you will see where they fit into the city, hear the basic stories, and get a river view that is hard to reproduce on foot.

I especially like the mix of guided movement and short stops. The bus keeps you moving past Parliament, Whitehall, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, the Law Courts, and St. Paul’s. Then you get time outside Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London for photographs.

The group can reach 40 people, so this is not a private sightseeing outing. Still, that size is manageable for a standard city tour, and the strongest guides make a real difference. Alan has been praised for being funny, prompt, and good at positioning the group for the Changing of the Guard. Steve is described as especially strong on London’s history and guest safety, while Magnus kept one group informed throughout the full three-hour experience.

Guide quality can vary from departure to departure, of course. Commentary may also be harder to hear from the back or upper deck, so sit as close to the guide as practical and ask questions when you can.

Riding a red Routemaster through central London

The tour begins at Victoria Coach Station, at 164 Buckingham Palace Road. Coach stations can feel confusing, so give yourself extra time. The stated departure is 1:00 pm, and missing the bus can mean losing the full fare. One late arrival reported missing the departure, while the operator explained that the bus cannot wait beyond a few minutes because of its schedule.

Once aboard, the vintage bus becomes part of the sightseeing. The open upper deck gives you a wide view above much of the traffic, a useful angle for rooflines, monuments, and quick photographs. On sunny days, it is the best seat in the house. On rainy or windy days, it can be much less pleasant.

Bring a waterproof layer even if the forecast looks promising. This is an open-top tour, though the bus may occasionally be changed to a closed-top vehicle. The vehicle is also a working old-style bus in central London, not a silent viewing platform. Traffic, tight streets, and sudden stops are part of the ride, and one enthusiastic description compared the busy journey to an amusement park attraction.

The guide provides live commentary as you pass the sights. Some guides tell long historical stories, while others adjust their remarks to the group and current events. Greg, for example, was praised for adapting his commentary to what was happening around him, including whether the Royal Standard was flying at the palace.

Westminster, Parliament, and Whitehall from the bus

The route brings you past the Houses of Parliament and the clock tower commonly called Big Ben. The tower itself is Elizabeth Tower, while Big Ben is the name of the great bell inside. You will see these landmarks from the bus rather than enter the parliamentary complex.

Westminster Abbey receives a photo stop of about 15 minutes. The abbey is one of London’s most important historic churches, but admission is not included. That distinction matters. If you want to see coronation spaces, memorials, and the interior in detail, plan a separate visit on another day.

The bus then travels along Whitehall, where you see Downing Street, the official residence and office associated with the prime minister. You continue through Trafalgar Square, with Nelson’s Column at its center, and past the Law Courts of England and Wales, a large Victorian Gothic Revival building opened by Queen Victoria in 1882.

You also see St. Paul’s Cathedral from the route. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt the cathedral after the Great Fire of London in 1666, and its dome remains one of the defining sights of the city. Again, this tour gives you the outside view and the story. It does not include entry.

This stretch is useful because the guide connects separate sights into one readable picture. Instead of treating Parliament, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and St. Paul’s as isolated stops, you see how they sit within central London. The drawback is that some views pass quickly, so keep your camera ready and do not wait for a long photo pause.

The Tower of London and the city’s eastern landmarks

The Tower of London receives a photo stop of about 30 minutes. From outside, you can appreciate its walls, towers, and position beside the Thames. You do not enter, and admission is not included.

If the Tower is a priority, allow another half day for it on your own. The building is far too large for a quick exterior stop, and the Crown Jewels and interior rooms require time. Still, the photo stop gives you a useful orientation before you move to the river.

This is also where the tour shifts from road to water. The group boards at Tower Pier for a guided boat trip toward the London Eye. The change of pace is welcome after the bus, and the Thames offers a cleaner line of sight to several major landmarks.

The Thames cruise from Tower Pier to the London Eye

The cruise lasts about 30 minutes and is included in the standard tour. From the river, you see the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament.

I consider this the strongest part of the basic package. London’s riverfront is difficult to understand from street level because bridges, embankments, and large buildings block your view. From the boat, the city opens up. Tower Bridge is easier to appreciate as a working crossing, while the Globe and the riverside churches make more sense in relation to the water.

The boat is not a meal cruise, and food and drinks are not included. Depending on the boat and conditions, windows may limit photographs, so an open outside area can be useful if available. One poor experience involved dirty windows and an unappealing boat, but that appears to be an occasional issue rather than the stated design of the tour.

The river segment also creates a practical transition. You leave near the London Eye, but the tour then returns to the bus for Buckingham Palace. Pay attention to your guide’s instructions during boarding and unloading, especially if the pier is crowded.

Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard

Buckingham Palace is the main stop, with about 30 minutes outside the residence. This is your best chance to slow down, take photographs, and see the palace gates, forecourt, and famous facade.

The Changing of the Guard is included only when it is taking place at the time of the visit. If the ceremony is not scheduled, the stop becomes a palace photo opportunity. Do not book this tour solely for the guard change unless you are prepared for that possibility.

When the ceremony does take place, the guide can help you find a useful viewing position. Alan was specifically praised for getting the group to a good spot and explaining what was happening. The Foot Guards’ red tunics, bearskin hats, and military music provide the classic London scene, though crowds and timing still affect your view.

The afternoon timing may help with palace photographs, since the stop is not necessarily at the busiest part of the day. Even so, you should expect other sightseers around the gates. The guide’s commentary adds value here, since the palace can otherwise become a quick photograph and a return to the bus.

After Buckingham Palace, the standard tour finishes with a drop-off near Victoria Street, close to the starting area but not necessarily at the exact coach station entrance.

Adding the London Eye or Stonehenge

You can select a London Eye flight when booking. After the palace stop, the bus drops you at the Eye, where you use a prebooked ticket for entry to a shared glass capsule. The wheel makes one complete rotation and gives you 360-degree views over central London.

This is a convenient add-on because the bus places you at the attraction instead of requiring a separate cross-city trip. It also works well if you want one elevated view after seeing the city from the street and river.

There is an important catch: the London Eye option changes the end of the day. You should not assume the bus returns you to Victoria afterward. One person expected a ride back to the starting station but had to arrange a taxi after the Eye, and the tour information makes clear that you are on your own once the Eye visit ends.

The London Eye can also feel repetitive if you have already had a clear upper-deck seat and a good river view. I would choose it for the experience of the glass capsule and broad skyline, not because it replaces the ground-level tour.

A separate afternoon Stonehenge option is also offered. After Buckingham Palace, you return to Victoria and board a shuttle for Salisbury Plain. At Stonehenge, you follow a self-guided audio tour around the monument and visit the visitor center. This is a long add-on and changes the day from a city overview into a much longer excursion.

Choose Stonehenge only if the prehistoric monument is high on your list and you have limited time for a separate visit. One guide praised the London tour but felt the Stonehenge drive was a long adventure, while another person preferred the London experience to spending hours on a coach. The choice depends on whether you want more London or one major site outside the city.

Is $85.01 a fair price?

At $85.01 per person, the standard package is not the cheapest way to ride around London. You could use public transport and visit several sights from the outside for less. That approach, however, requires route planning, timing, and your own historical research.

The price makes more sense if you value a guide, the vintage bus, and the included Thames cruise. You see a large number of landmarks without repeatedly checking a map, and you avoid arranging a separate river trip. The tour also saves time for a first day, when learning the city’s layout has real value.

The tour is less appealing if you want long visits inside attractions. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are outside stops only. If your plan is to spend hours at either one, book them separately and use this tour only if the bus and river experience still appeal.

The optional London Eye and Stonehenge upgrades can improve the value for the right person, but compare the total cost with buying those experiences separately. Also remember that food, drinks, and hotel pickup are not included.

Practical advice for a smoother afternoon

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a rain jacket. You are not walking continuously, but boarding the bus and boat, standing for palace photographs, and moving between stops call for reasonable fitness.

Keep valuables secure and your camera ready on the upper deck. The best views can appear suddenly between buildings, bridges, and traffic. If you are sensitive to cold or rain, the lower deck or a closed-top replacement may be more comfortable, though the upper deck gives the wider view.

Public transport is nearby, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided. Check the exact meeting point at Victoria Coach Station before leaving your hotel. The end point can differ if you select the London Eye or Stonehenge option.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and poor weather or an insufficient minimum group can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who should book this London tour?

I would book it for a first-time visitor, a photographer who wants many exterior views, or anyone with one free afternoon and no desire to plan every connection. It is also a good opening tour for a longer London stay because it shows you where to return for deeper visits.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the variety, though the open top and long commentary are not ideal in bad weather. The tour suits people who like stories and broad orientation more than those who prefer quiet, independent sightseeing.

I would skip it if you already know central London well, dislike group schedules, or want interior access to the abbey and Tower. Traffic can reduce the time spent looking at sights, and the tour cannot control the exact timing of the Changing of the Guard.

For most first visits, the basic bus and river package offers the clearest value. Add the London Eye if you want the capsule experience and are comfortable arranging your own onward transport. Choose Stonehenge only when seeing the stones matters more to you than spending that extra afternoon in London.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TP. The scheduled start time is 1:00 pm.

Where does the tour finish?

The standard tour ends on Victoria Street, London SW1E 5ND. The final drop-off can differ if you choose the London Eye or Stonehenge option.

Is the Thames cruise included?

Yes. The standard tour includes a guided boat trip from Tower Pier to the London Eye, lasting about 30 minutes.

Does the tour enter Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London?

No. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are photo stops from outside, and admission tickets are not included.

Is the London Eye included in the base price?

No. The London Eye is an optional add-on selected during booking. If you choose it, you receive a prebooked ticket and are dropped at the Eye after Buckingham Palace.

What happens if it rains?

The tour is open top, so you should prepare for rain. On rare occasions, the bus may be changed to a closed-top vehicle. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.