Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London

London is at its best when you change your point of view, and this tour does that three times: from the upper deck of a vintage red bus, from a boat on the Thames, and inside Buckingham Palace. In about five and a half hours, you get a quick survey of central London, a river cruise, and access to the State Rooms during their short yearly opening.

I like the early start and the mix of transport. You can see a lot before the streets fill up, and guides such as Alan, Nick, and Kevin have been praised for adding humor and useful stories. The main drawback is the split schedule: the morning sightseeing ends well before your 2:30 pm palace entry, leaving a break of roughly three hours that may disrupt other plans.

Key points to know before booking

• A rare palace visit: The State Rooms open to the public for only about three months each year, and admission is included.
• Three strong London viewpoints: See the city from a 1960s Routemaster, a Thames sightseeing boat, and on foot.
• An early start: Meet at Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 am, which helps you see major sights before the biggest crowds.
• A real midday gap: The bus and river portion comes first, then Buckingham Palace later in the day.
• A fast city introduction: You pass Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the London Eye.
• Weather matters: The bus is normally open top, so bring rain protection and a warm layer.

Why this combination works for a first London visit

If you have only two or three full days in London, this outing gives you a useful first look at the city. You are not spending hours inside one attraction. Instead, you keep moving past royal, political, religious, and modern London landmarks, then finish with one major interior visit.

That variety is the strongest reason to book. The bus gives you quick orientation, the Thames shows how the city developed around its river, and Buckingham Palace supplies the grand rooms and royal setting that a city drive cannot provide.

The tour is also useful if you do not want to solve London’s transport system on your first morning. You still need to reach Victoria Coach Station independently, but once you meet the guide, the route is organized for you.

You should not expect a slow, detailed tour of every sight. Most landmarks are viewed from the road or during a short photo stop. The Tower of London, for example, appears in the sightseeing portion and near the river cruise, but this tour does not include entry to the fortress or the Crown Jewels.

Starting at Victoria Coach Station

The meeting point is Victoria Coach Station at 164 Buckingham Palace Road. The listed start time is 7:45 am, so plan to arrive early rather than trying to locate the group at the last second.

One practical warning: the coach station can be confusing in the morning. Tour instructions have previously directed people to the wrong bay, with the actual departure at Bay 19 rather than Bay 0. Check the latest meeting details carefully and ask station staff if the bay is not clear.

There is no hotel pickup. You make your own way to the start, and the tour ends on Buckingham Palace Road after you leave the palace. The location is near public transport, so you can continue sightseeing afterward without needing to return to Victoria.

Riding a 1960s Routemaster through central London

The morning begins on a vintage Routemaster, the classic red double-decker associated with London. The upper deck gives you a better view over traffic and buildings, while the lower deck offers more shelter if the weather turns sour.

This is an open-top bus experience, not a modern enclosed panoramic coach. That matters. On a dry morning, the elevated seat is a fine way to photograph streets and monuments. In rain or cold, it can become tiring, so bring a waterproof jacket and dress in layers. On rare occasions, the operator may replace the open-top bus with a closed-top vehicle.

The guide provides commentary as you travel. The best guides bring the streets to life with short stories, jokes, and small details rather than delivering a long lecture. Several guides have been singled out for this balance, including Alan, Nick, Kevin, and an Irish guide whose name was not remembered. One guide was described as an older gentleman with silver hair and a pink duster, a useful reminder that the guide is often as memorable as the vehicle.

The route covers a lot of ground. You pass Trafalgar Square with Nelson’s Column and its fountains, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and other central London landmarks. You get a strong sense of how close many headline sights are to one another.

The speed is also the limitation. Traffic, cyclists, and short timing windows can make the morning feel hurried. You may get a good view and a story, but not the time to study a building or enter it. Think of this section as an introduction, not a full guided visit.

Trafalgar Square, Westminster, and Big Ben

Trafalgar Square is one of the clearest snapshots of central London. You see Nelson’s Column, the fountains, and the broad public space that links the National Gallery area with Whitehall and the river.

The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey give the tour its royal and political core. Westminster Abbey is a photo stop from outside, lasting about 15 minutes, and admission is not included. That is enough time for exterior photographs and a few comments, but not enough to explore the abbey’s interior.

Big Ben is housed in the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. From the bus, you get the classic view of the clock tower and the parliamentary buildings. If this is your first London morning, the sequence of Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Big Ben helps you understand the city center quickly.

Some tours are timed so that you can see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. That is not something you should treat as guaranteed, since ceremonies and traffic can affect the schedule. When the timing works, the military procession adds a lively public moment before the quieter palace visit later.

The Thames cruise from the Tower of London

The bus gives you street level views, then the boat changes the scale. You board a sightseeing vessel near the Tower of London for a cruise of about 30 minutes.

From the river, St Paul’s Cathedral is especially easy to appreciate. Sir Christopher Wren’s great dome rises above the City, and the river gives you a clean line of sight that busy streets often hide. You also see Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament from a different angle.

The cruise is short, but it is more than a transfer. London’s growth makes more sense from the Thames. You see the old fortress district, the City’s dome, modern attractions, and government buildings linked along one waterway.

Still, keep your expectations realistic. A 30-minute cruise is a quick sample, not a full river trip. Some parts can feel rushed, especially when the group is working toward the palace schedule. If the main attraction for you is the river, book a longer dedicated Thames cruise instead. If you want a pleasant change of pace within a packed sightseeing day, this length works well.

The tour passes close to the Tower of London, but there is no included visit inside. Do not plan to see the Crown Jewels or the Beefeaters on this outing. You can make a note of the fortress for another day.

The break before Buckingham Palace

After the morning route and cruise, you have several hours before entering the palace. The palace admission is booked for 2:30 pm, and this break is built into the day.

This pause is both useful and awkward. It gives you time to eat, rest, or explore on your own in central London. It also means you are not pushed straight from the bus into the State Rooms. On the other hand, if you have arranged another afternoon activity, the gap may force you to change those plans.

I would treat the break as part of the booking decision. You can use it for lunch near Buckingham Palace or Victoria, revisit a sight you passed in the morning, or simply slow down. Do not book a timed attraction elsewhere unless you leave a generous margin.

The guide does not accompany you inside the palace. After walking you to the entrance and helping you reach the admission point, the guide says goodbye. You then enter independently with your pre-booked ticket.

Inside Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms

The palace visit is the centerpiece of the experience. The State Rooms are used for official royal functions and open to the public only during a limited annual period of about three months. That short season makes this portion difficult to fit into a spontaneous London schedule, so a reserved entry can be useful.

Inside, you follow an audio-guided route through lavish rooms filled with chandeliers, fine furniture, ceremonial decoration, and objects from the Royal Collection. The visit gives you a close look at the public side of royal life, from grand reception spaces to carefully arranged interiors.

You should allow about two hours for the palace portion. The pace inside is your own, unlike the bus route, so you can pause where permitted and listen to the audio guide. The experience is formal and controlled, not a casual walk through a private home.

There are strict rules. Eating and drinking are not allowed inside the State Rooms. Photography, video recording, and filming are also prohibited, including use of wearable devices for non-commercial purposes. Put your camera away and focus on the rooms themselves.

After exiting, you are free to continue around London. The palace café may appeal if you want tea and dessert, and the shop offers royal souvenirs such as a Welsh corgi keyring. Those extras are not part of the tour price, but they fit naturally into the visit.

What the $59 price includes

At $59, this is a strong package if you want all three elements: the vintage bus, the river cruise, and Buckingham Palace admission. The palace ticket is the part that gives the price its most practical value, especially during the limited summer opening period.

You are also paying for a guide who handles the morning route and connects the sights with commentary. That can save you from piecing together a bus route, a river transfer, and a palace reservation on your own.

The value is less clear if you already plan to visit Buckingham Palace independently or want long stops at individual landmarks. The city portion is a survey, not a series of full admissions. Westminster Abbey is exterior only, and the Tower of London is seen from outside or near the river rather than visited inside.

For a first-time visitor with limited time, I think the package earns its price. For a returning visitor who has already seen the main sights, a focused palace ticket or a longer Thames cruise may suit you better.

Physical effort, group size, and timing

The tour lasts about five and a half hours in total, with a morning sightseeing section, a break, and the afternoon palace entry. The group can include up to 50 people, so you should expect a shared tour rather than a private experience.

You need a moderate level of fitness. There is boarding and leaving the bus and boat, walking between transport points, standing during photo stops, and walking through the palace. The exact amount of walking depends on how you use the break and how long you remain inside.

The early start can be tiring, but it is one of the tour’s better choices. Roads and major sights are often easier to manage in the morning, and an early departure may help the group reach the Changing of the Guard when the schedule allows.

Bring water for the outdoor portions, but remember that food and drink are not permitted in the State Rooms. A waterproof layer is more useful than an umbrella on an open-top bus.

Who should book this London tour?

I would choose this for a first visit, a short stay, or a visitor who wants a guided introduction without spending the entire day inside museums. It is especially useful if Buckingham Palace is high on your list and you are visiting during its annual State Rooms opening.

Families and couples who enjoy variety may like the changing rhythm. The bus is fun, the boat offers a calmer half hour, and the palace gives the day a formal finish. The commentary can also make the city easier to understand than a silent sightseeing ride.

I would hesitate if you dislike fixed schedules or want complete control over your day. The three-hour gap is the biggest issue, and the morning route moves quickly. You also need to be comfortable with the possibility of rain and with a group of up to 50 people.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a practical London sampler with a genuine palace interior visit included. The combination of a Routemaster, Thames cruise, and State Rooms is unusual, and the $59 price is fair when you use all three parts.

Skip it if you want detailed time at the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, or individual museums, since those are mainly seen from outside. Also skip it if the afternoon gap clashes with a firm schedule.

For the best fit, arrive early at Victoria Coach Station, confirm the correct departure bay, dress for an open-top bus, and keep your afternoon flexible. If you can accept the quick pace and split timetable, this is an efficient way to get your bearings and finish with one of London’s most sought-after interiors.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TP.

What time does the tour begin?

The listed start time is 7:45 am.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends on Buckingham Palace Road after you exit Buckingham Palace.

Is Buckingham Palace admission included?

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

How long is the Thames River cruise?

The included cruise lasts about 30 minutes and begins near the Tower of London.

Is Westminster Abbey admission included?

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

Is the bus open top?

Yes. The tour normally uses an open-top vintage bus. On rare occasions, it may be replaced by a closed-top bus, so prepare for possible rain.

Can I take photographs inside the State Rooms?

No. Photography, video recording, and filming are not permitted inside the State Rooms, including use of wearable devices for non-commercial purposes.