Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London

The best part of this outing is its mix of viewpoints. You see central London from the upper deck of a vintage Routemaster, from the Thames, and on foot outside Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. The final treat is a visit to the palace State Rooms during their short annual opening.

I like the way this tour covers a lot in one morning, especially if you have only a day or two in London. I also like the combination of classic red bus and river cruise, followed by the palace’s glittering rooms and royal collection.

The main drawback is the long break built into the schedule. The palace entry is booked for 2:30 pm, leaving roughly three hours between the morning sightseeing and your afternoon admission. The early pace can also feel rushed.

Key points to know before booking

• A three-part London sampler: Ride a 1960s Routemaster, cruise the Thames, and tour Buckingham Palace.
• The State Rooms are the star attraction: Your palace ticket includes an audio-guided visit, but your guide cannot enter with you.
• The morning starts early: Meet at Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 am, with the main sightseeing packed into several hours.
• The river cruise is scenic but brief: The boat ride lasts about 30 minutes and gives you views of Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, the Tower of London, and the London Eye.
• The itinerary has a built-in gap: Plan for free time before the 2:30 pm palace entry rather than booking another fixed activity.
• Weather matters: The bus is open top when conditions allow, so bring rain protection and a warm layer.

Why this tour works for a first London visit

London can feel scattered at first. Buckingham Palace is west of the City, Tower Bridge is far to the east, and the Thames links them through the center. This tour gives you a quick orientation without asking you to work out every train, walking route, and ticket on your own.

You begin with a local guide on a vintage red bus. The format is part sightseeing ride, part moving history lesson. From the upper deck, you get the broadest views, though the bus may be changed to a closed-top vehicle in poor weather.

The day then shifts to the river. A boat gives you a different sense of London’s scale, with bridges, domes, towers, and modern buildings lined up along the water. Finally, you enter Buckingham Palace on your own and follow an audio guide through the State Rooms.

At $59, the price is appealing if you want all three pieces. The value is less clear if you only care about the palace, since the morning bus and boat take up much of the day. For a short London stay, though, the fare covers several paid elements and saves you from arranging them separately.

Starting at Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 am

You make your own way to Victoria Coach Station, at 164 Buckingham Palace Road. The meeting time is 7:45 am, which means you need to allow extra time to find the correct bay inside a large transport hub.

Check your confirmation carefully. One practical problem reported with this outing involved directions pointing to Bay 0, while the bus was actually at Bay 19. That sort of mistake is especially unpleasant before breakfast, so ask station staff if the bay is not clear.

The coach station is close to Victoria rail and Underground connections, and the area has public transport nearby. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so this first and final connection are yours to manage.

The group can include up to 50 people. That is a fairly large party for a walking segment, but the bus and palace entry keep the day organized. Stay close to the guide when leaving the bus, especially near busy roads and major sights.

Riding the vintage Routemaster through central London

The bus portion is the tour’s most distinctive way to get your bearings. The classic Routemaster is one of London’s best-known symbols, and an upper-deck seat gives you a high view over traffic and nearby buildings.

Your guide points out Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and other central landmarks. The useful part is not only seeing them, but learning how they fit together. You can begin to picture the walk from Westminster to Trafalgar Square or the route from the palace toward the river.

Trafalgar Square is a natural highlight, with Nelson’s Column, fountains, and the National Gallery nearby. You may not have time to visit the gallery, but the square makes a good photo stop and helps explain London’s ceremonial center.

Westminster brings the most famous views. You see the Houses of Commons and Lords, Big Ben in its clock tower, and Westminster Abbey. The tour includes a 15-minute photo stop outside the abbey, but admission is not included. That distinction matters, since a quick exterior visit is very different from seeing the coronation church inside.

The guide quality can shape this section. Several guides received strong praise for mixing facts with humor. Names mentioned in the feedback include Alan, Nick, and Mark, a Scottish guide, while Kevin was praised for handling the large bus through city traffic. The assigned guide can vary, so treat those names as examples rather than a promise.

The best guides make the ride feel personal, adding small stories and practical context instead of reciting a list of dates. The weaker experience can feel hurried, particularly when traffic and the palace timetable press the group forward.

The Thames cruise from the Tower area

After the bus sightseeing, you board a boat for about 30 minutes on the Thames. The cruise is included, and it gives you a welcome change from sitting in city traffic.

The route offers views of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament. You also pass newer parts of the city, which helps show how old and modern London share the same riverfront.

The Tower of London is identified along the route as the old royal palace and fortress associated with the Beefeaters and Crown Jewels. The tour does not include entry to the Tower, so do not expect time to see the Crown Jewels or walk its grounds. You are viewing it from the river.

The same applies to Tower Bridge. You see the bridge and cruise near it, but crossing the glass walkways or visiting the engine rooms is not part of this outing. One useful suggestion is to return another day if those sights matter to you, since the boat ride only gives you a short look.

I would keep expectations sensible here. Some people find the cruise a lovely and relaxing part of the day, while others find 30 minutes too short and the overall transfer rushed. Its value is the change of angle, not an in-depth river tour.

Try to sit where you can look outside easily. The boat is comfortable, but this is a sightseeing ride, so the best moments come from watching the skyline and bridges rather than treating it as a full museum-style commentary.

Buckingham Palace and the 2:30 pm entry

The tour continues by bus toward Buckingham Palace. Your guide walks you to the entrance, explains the next step, and then says goodbye. Guides are not allowed inside the State Rooms, so the palace visit is independent.

Buckingham Palace has been the official London home of Britain’s monarchs since the 19th century. Its State Rooms open to the public for only about three months each year, which makes this the most time-sensitive part of the experience.

Inside, an audio guide leads you through the ceremonial rooms. Expect chandeliers, formal furnishings, and objects from the Royal Collection. The palace visit provides the grand interior experience that the morning’s exterior stops cannot offer.

The transition into the palace is reported to be well organized, with the guide taking the group directly to the entrance. Once inside, you set your own pace within the palace visit. You can listen to the audio commentary and study the rooms without needing to stay with a group.

Do not plan to eat or drink inside the State Rooms. Photography, video recording, and filming are also prohibited, including non-commercial recording with wearable devices. You can save photos for the exterior, gardens where permitted, or the palace cafe area after the tour.

If the Changing of the Guard takes place during your visit, it may add a memorable ceremonial touch. Several experiences were timed well enough for people to see parts of the procession. It is not wise to treat the ceremony as guaranteed, since schedules and crowd conditions can affect what you see.

Handling the three-hour gap

The schedule is the main planning issue. The morning tour finishes before your 2:30 pm palace entry, leaving a few hours to fill.

That gap can work well if you want lunch, a rest, or some independent sightseeing near Victoria and Westminster. It works less well if you already have afternoon tickets elsewhere. One person had to cancel other plans because the palace timing left too little flexibility.

I would avoid booking anything that requires a strict arrival time during the gap. Use it for a meal, a relaxed walk, or a nearby museum only if you are confident about the timing. London traffic can slow the bus, and you do not want to rush back to the palace entrance.

The gap also gives you a chance to visit the Buckingham Palace cafe or shop after the State Rooms. A cup of tea, dessert, or a small royal souvenir can make the schedule feel less awkward, though those purchases are not included in the tour price.

Comfort, weather, and physical demands

This is not a hard walking tour, but you need a moderate level of fitness. You will board and leave a bus, walk between transport points, stand during photo stops, board the river boat, and walk through the palace.

The open-top bus is a major part of the appeal and a real weather risk. London rain can arrive without much warning, so pack a waterproof jacket rather than relying on an umbrella alone. A warm layer helps on the upper deck, even when the morning looks pleasant.

In rare cases, the open-top bus is replaced by a closed-top vehicle. That may reduce the panoramic view, but it is preferable to sitting in cold rain for several hours.

Wear shoes you can manage comfortably through the full five-and-a-half-hour experience. The morning has a fairly tight rhythm, and the day includes more standing than the basic transport description might suggest.

Who will get the most from the $59 price

I think this tour suits three types of people especially well:

• You are visiting London for the first time and want a quick orientation.
• You have only one or two full days and need to combine several major sights.
• You want Buckingham Palace State Rooms but also prefer a guided introduction to central London.

The price is strong if you count the vintage bus, river cruise, palace admission, and local guide as separate parts. You also gain the convenience of having the palace ticket arranged for the fixed 2:30 pm slot.

It is less attractive if you prefer slow sightseeing. The bus and boat give you brief views, not long visits. You also pay for transport to several sights without entering most of them. Independent visitors may prefer to choose one or two sights and spend more time at each.

The tour is also not ideal for a tightly planned afternoon. The break is not a flaw for everyone, but it is a serious consideration if you have theater tickets, restaurant reservations, or another timed admission.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Your ticket is mobile, and confirmation is provided at booking. Keep the ticket easy to open on your phone, especially for the palace entry.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. Inside that 24-hour window, cancellations and changes are not accepted and the amount paid is not refunded.

The experience ends when you leave Buckingham Palace. From there, you are free to continue around London or make your own way back to your hotel. Hotel transport is not included at either end.

Should you book this London tour?

Book it if you want a broad first look at London and the Buckingham Palace State Rooms are high on your list. The mix of classic bus, river views, Westminster landmarks, and a royal interior gives you a lot for $59.

I would book it with two conditions. First, accept that the morning is brisk and the Thames cruise is short. Second, keep the three-hour gap free before the 2:30 pm palace entry.

Skip it if you want long visits inside the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, or St Paul’s Cathedral, since none of those admissions are included. For a short stay, though, this is a practical sampler with a memorable finale, provided you arrive early, dress for the weather, and do not cram another fixed activity into the afternoon.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TP. The start time is 7:45 am.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately five hours and 30 minutes, including the morning sightseeing and the Buckingham Palace visit.

Is Buckingham Palace admission included?

Yes. Admission to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace is included, with entry booked for 2:30 pm.

Can the guide enter Buckingham Palace with the group?

No. The guide walks you to the palace entrance, then you enter independently with your pre-booked ticket and use an audio guide.

Is Westminster Abbey admission included?

No. The tour includes a 15-minute photo stop outside Westminster Abbey, but entry to the abbey is not included.

What happens if it rains?

The tour normally uses an open-top vintage bus, so you should prepare for rain. On rare occasions, the bus may be replaced with a closed-top vehicle.