Golden Tours London
The Golden Tours Company has been a legendary name in the travel industry in London and the UK. Started in 1984, it has decades of experience in running city tours, day trips, and open bus tours across London and the UK. They are also famous for their Hop-On Hop-Off tours.
The easily recognizable blue and white Golden Tours open-top buses can be seen across the city, stopping at over 70 bus stations near London’s major attractions and landmarks.
The London Golden Tours are one of the best Hop-on Hop-off experiences in the city and offer over 70 stops, excellent routing, comfortable coaches, and an array of freebies and services. Golden Tours also has special partnerships with attractions in London to offer discounts on entrance tickets.
A London Golden Tours HOHO ticket is one assured way of ensuring that you have a comfortable experience sightseeing while you save on money and time!
Why Choose London Golden Tours?
The London Golden Tours Hop-on Hop-off bus routes are designed in such a way that they are within close walking distance to major landmarks with more than 70 stops.
One of the best ways to avoid the stress of planning your transportation in a new city is by taking the Golden Tours HOHO bus tours. Their well-planned fixed routes make it easy to plan an itinerary.
The London Golden Tours operates along the Classic Tour (Blue Route), and the Essential Tour (Red Route) as well as morning pick-up and evening drop-off bus routes.
Get combo deals and discounts at popular attractions like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, and more.
With London Golden Tours you can save money on transportation while listening to pre-recorded commentary in 11 languages to learn about the attractions as you pass them.
Your London Big Bus Ticket Options Explained
HOHO Ticket
- Use hop-on-hop-off buses across London for either 1 day, 24, 48 or 72 hours along the various London Golden Tours routes.
- Enjoy a complimentary one-way river cruise on the Thames from Westminster Pier to Greenwich Quay. (available with the 1 day or 24 hours only with cruise ticket options).
- Utilize the pick-up and drop-off service from the popular hotel districts to Central London
- Listen to pre-recorded commentary in 11 languages on the bus.
Flexible Cancelation Policy: Get a full refund on canceling this ticket up to 24 hours in advance.
Discounted Ticket: Get tickets for children aged 5-15 and family tickets (for 2 adults and 2 children) at a reduced price.
HOHO Ticket with Add-Ons
- 1 day, 24, 48 or 72 hours passes that will let you see London’s highlights from a double-decker bus.
- Go on a complimentary Thames river cruise where you can hop on and hop off at Westminster Pier, the Tower of London, or Greenwich Quay.
- Pick-up and drop-off service from the popular hotels in West London
- Ticket includes entry to an attraction: either St. Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey.
- Listen to an audio guide in 12 languages and learn more about the city’s landmarks.
Flexible Cancelation Policy: Get a full refund on canceling this ticket up to 24 hours in advance.
Discounted Ticket: Get tickets for children aged 5-15 and family tickets (for 2 adults and 2 children) at a reduced price.
Audio guide languages are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.
London Golden Tours Timetable
Red & Blue Routes
- Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Frequency: Every 20 minutes
- Loop: 3 Hours
Yellow & Green Routes
- Morning Timings: 8 AM to 9:30 AM
- Evening Timings: 6 PM to 7:30 PM
- Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes
River Tour
- Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Frequency: Every 30 minutes
- Duration: Approx. 30 minutes
London Golden Tours Routes
Classic Tour (Blue Route)
The Classic Tour/Blue Route)takes you to all the main Central London landmarks, including Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, the London Eye, the London Eye, Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, Madame Tussauds and many more
It also covers the museums near South Kensington, such as the Museum of Natural History, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Science Museum.
The first bus starts at 9 AM from Victoria all year round and the last bus is at 5 PM (April to October) and 4:30 (November to March). The entire route takes around 3 hours to finish.
Essential Tour (Red Route)
The Essential Tour/Red Route is perfect for visitors that want to see the best of Central and North of London. It's an excellent way to go for those looking to travel around the heart of London and see its most famous landmarks,
It covers Hyde Park, Regents Park, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, the British Museum, and Kings Cross, as well as many of the Central London, highlights like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye.
The first bus departs from Hyde Park Corner at 10:00 AM and the last bus is at 5:00 PM all year round. The entire loop takes approximately 3 hours to finish.
Yellow and Green Routes
The Morning (Yellow) and Evening (Green) Drop-off Service is a way for you to conveniently travel from the hotel region of West London, including Bayswater Road, Notting Hill, and Holland Park, into Central London.
In the morning, the first bus leaves from Holland Park at 8 AM, while in the evening the first bus leaves from Hyde Park Corner at 6 PM.
River Tour
This complimentary one-way River Tour takes you down the River Thames. It departs from Westminster Pier near The Houses of Parliament and stops at Tower Bridge Quay near The Tower of London, and at Greenwich Quay.
The first boat departs from Westminster Pier at 11 AM the last one leaves at 6:30 PM. The entire cruise takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Suggested London Big Bus Itineraries
Here are some suggested Big Bus HOHO routes you can follow in London:
Choose the 1 day/24-hour ticket and opt for the complimentary river cruise. Start your day by taking the Essential Tour or the Red Route which will take you through all the iconic sights in London. You can take time and explore Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye. You can also see the British Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and the London Zoo. End the day with a cruise down the Thames and stop at the Tower of London to see its sights.
Day 1 – You should start your day by taking the Classic Tour or the Blue Route. Visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the other attraction in central London. Then head to the museum district including Victoria & Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, and Gardens.
Day 2 – Use the day to spend time on the Essential Tour or the Red Route. Head to Madame Tussauds or the Sherlock Holmes Museum and then take the long route towards British Museum. Later on, spend the afternoon at London’s attractions like the London Eye, and the SeLife Aquarium. End the day with a relaxing cruise on the Thames and watch the sunset over London’s skyline.
Day 1 – Start by going on the Classic Tour or the Blue Route which will take you to Buckingham Palace and through the museum quarter. You can visit the Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and Kensington Palace and stroll through Hyde Park to end your day.
Day 2 – Use this day to go on the complimentary River Cruise and start exploring all the sights along the Thames. Start at Westminster Abbey and the nearby Downstreet and Churchill War Museum before hopping on the boat at Westminster Pier and heading to the Tower of London. Finally, spend time at iconic landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral and go up to the observation deck at the London Eye. Don't miss the SEA LIFE Aquarium and London Dungeon.
Day 3 – Spend the last day in London by taking the Essential Tour or the Red Route. You can visit attractions like the British Museum, Regent's Park, the London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and the Sherlock Holmes Museum. End your day by heading to Oxford Circus and browsing the shops and restaurants around Oxford Street and Regent Street.
Buy London Big Bus Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour Tickets
Highlights of the London Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Westminster Abbey
One of the UK’s most important religious buildings, Westminster Abbey the burial and memorial site of writers, actors, scientists, thinkers, and other famous historical significant figures.
Parliament Square
Parliament Square has some of the capital’s most iconic buildings including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and statues of famous leaders and historical figures.
London Eye
Experience a breathtaking view of London from atop the 443-feet high London Eye observation wheel located near the River Thames, for a unique perspective of London.
London Bridge
Just off the banks of River Thames, the London Bridge area is famous for its restaurants and the Tower Bridge. Often confused with the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge has stunning river views.
River Thames
Explore the beautiful River Thames on a River Cruise. Travel under the London Bridge, see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and admire the Festival Hall and the London Eye.
Buckingham Palace
Visit the Queen’s residence at Buckingham Palace. Stroll through the vast palatial gardens and witness the Change of Guards ceremony, at this treasure trove of royal experiences.
St. Paul's Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is one of Europe’s largest cathedrals Listen to the haunting acoustics in the Whispering Gallery and soaking in the breathtaking views offered by the cathedral's galleries.
Madame Tussauds
Home to lifelike wax figures of over 250 celebrities, at Madame Tussauds you can see the Royal Family, Benedict Cumberbatch, James Bond, and more.
London Big Bus Visitor Tips and Guidelines
- Golden Tours is the only operator which offers both variants – 1 Day and 24 Hours, be mindful of which variant you are purchasing. The 1 Day variant is valid for a calendar day, which means if you activate it on 10 AM Monday it will work only until 11:59 PM Monday. The 24 Hours variant is valid for 24 hours, which means if you activate it on 10 AM Monday it will be valid till 10 AM on Tuesday.
- Audio Guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese and Arabic.
- Each bus has space for one fold-away pushchair and a wheelchair on the lower deck.
- Children under 5 years of age travel free.
- Golden Tours offers a river cruise pass which is valid for 24 hours. When you plan your itinerary make sure to activate it according to when you might use it to the maximum. The best thing about the pass is that it works like a hop-on and hop-off pass, you can get on and off as many times you want.
- Make sure to pre-book tickets and check the holiday schedule for the attractions. Golden Tours has online maps that will help you plan your journey in advance.
- If you are short on time, the best way to soak in all the sights is to take a round loop of the Grand Tour or the Orange Tour. It covers all the main tourist attractions in London except for the museum quarter.
- Golden Tours HOHO has an exclusive treasure hunt app that will allow you to collect points as you travel across the city. At the end of your journey, you can redeem the points for discounts, freebies, and other gifts.
- The top deck seats are much in demand and if you are looking forward to completing a loop it is best to board the bus at the first point of departure, as you can get the seat of your choice. Also, remember that buses drive on the right side of the road and you will get better views if you seat on the right side of the bus.
- There is no predicting London weather; while there is enough covered space on the bus it is best to carry rainproof gear. Umbrellas are usually not allowed to be opened on board for the safety of other passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions About London Golden Tours
A. Golden Tours is one of the top hop-on hop-off tours in London.
A. Hop-on hop-off buses are tourist buses that allow you to board and leave whenever you like and sightsee at your own convenience.
A. You can purchase London Golden Tours hop on hop off bus tour tickets online.
A. Yes, you can buy London Golden Tours hop-on-hop-off tickets online here.
A. There are multiple hop-on hop-off bus tours, most of which begin from £28.80.
A. London Golden Tours hop-on hop-off bus tours run at a frequency of 30 to 60 minutes.
A. There are four Golden Tours tour routes in London - the red, blue, and the yellow & green links.
A. Yes, you will get access to audio guides available in up to 11 languages to learn more about the city.
A. Yes, the London Golden Tours hop-on hop-off tours are accessibility-friendly for wheelchair users.