Hop on Hop off Bus Tour (24h)

London’s best-known sights spread across a large area, and this semi-open-top bus gives you an easy first look from above street level. You can ride past Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the West End without learning a maze of Tube lines first.

I like the freedom to hop off at the sights that matter most to you, and I like having two routes in one ticket. The drawback is service reliability: some riders have faced long waits, full buses, poorly marked stops, and buses that needed better cleaning. At $44.02, the ticket makes the most sense if you use it for several hours and make multiple stops.

Key points to know before you book

• Two sightseeing routes: The Landmarks route covers central London, Westminster, St. Paul’s, the Tower, and Buckingham Palace, while the Parks and Palaces route reaches Harrods, the museums, Kensington, and Notting Hill.
• A useful first-day overview: You can see a wide sweep of London without planning separate Tube journeys between major sights.
• Good upper-deck views: The semi-open top deck gives you broad photo angles, though weather can affect comfort.
• Service needs patience: Reports of too few buses, long waits, full vehicles, and hard-to-find stops are the main caution.
• One ticket, many possible stops: You can treat the bus as transport between attractions or stay aboard for a sightseeing loop.
• Night views are limited in scope: The London Lights route lists only York Road and Haymarket, so do not expect the same coverage as the daytime routes.

How this 24-hour London bus ticket works

TopView London operates this experience with a ticket valid for one day. The main choice is between the Landmarks Tour and the Parks and Palaces Tour, with the ability to switch between them.

That flexibility matters in London. You may spend the morning around the Tower and St. Paul’s, then ride west toward Westminster and Buckingham Palace. Another day plan might focus on the Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrods, Kensington, and Notting Hill.

The bus is not a guided walking tour or an admission ticket to the attractions. It is a sightseeing ride and a way to cover ground. You still pay separately for places such as the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and the Victoria and Albert Museum if you choose to enter them.

The operating hours shown are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday. The ticket is booked about 55 days ahead on average, so this is not usually a last-minute purchase for many people. If you want a particular date, booking ahead is sensible, especially during busy periods.

Landmarks Route: from Marble Arch to Westminster

The Landmarks route begins at Marble Arch, near Speakers’ Corner and Hyde Park. This is a useful starting point if you are staying near the West End or want to pair the bus with a walk through the park.

From there, the bus heads to Piccadilly Circus, one of central London’s main crossroads. You can use this stop for the theaters, shops, and nearby Soho streets. It is a good place to hop off for a meal or an evening show, but the roads around Piccadilly can be crowded and confusing, so give yourself time to locate the correct stop again.

Next comes Trafalgar Square, with the National Gallery nearby and Whitehall leading south toward Parliament. This is one of the most useful stops for a first visit because several major areas connect here on foot.

The bus then reaches Craig’s Court, near Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue. This is a practical stop for government buildings, Trafalgar Square, and the walk toward Westminster.

At Big Ben and Westminster Pier, you are at the heart of the classic London picture: Parliament, the clock tower, the River Thames, and Westminster Bridge. This stop is also specifically marked for Westminster Pier, so it can help if you plan to connect with a river service. The bus ticket itself does not include admission to Parliament or a boat ride.

The next stop is the London Eye. From here, you can walk across Westminster Bridge for strong views back toward Parliament, or use the stop for the South Bank. The London Eye is a separate paid attraction, and queues can take up much of your day, so avoid hopping off here casually if you have a tight schedule.

The route continues along York Road, near the South Bank cultural area, before crossing back toward central London. York Road also appears on the London Lights route, making it a useful reference point if you are comparing the daytime and evening options.

St. Paul’s, the Tower, and the City

The stop at Aldwych puts you near Covent Garden, the Strand, and the theater district. It is a handy place to combine a bus ride with a walk, though the exact stop is near the Waldorf area rather than directly inside Covent Garden.

At St. Paul’s Cathedral, you can get off for one of London’s most important landmarks. The stop is on Ludgate Hill, near the City and within walking distance of several historic streets. If you plan to go inside, allow enough time for the visit rather than treating St. Paul’s as a quick photo stop.

The bus then reaches the Monument to the Great Fire of London on Pudding Lane. This stop places you near the City, the river, and the eastern side of the central sightseeing area. It also gives you a useful break between St. Paul’s and the Tower.

Tooley Street is convenient for the south side of the Thames and nearby river walks. The stop information lists Vine Lane, so check the exact curb location carefully rather than assuming the bus will stop at the most obvious part of Tooley Street.

The Tower of London is one of the strongest reasons to use this route. You can get off here and spend several hours inside, then continue west by bus later. The ticket does not cover entry, and the Tower deserves more time than a quick hop off and hop on.

The Landmarks route also lists Temple Place, Westminster Pier westbound, and a second London Eye stop. These stops are useful for piecing together a Thames-side day, but you should pay close attention to the direction of travel. A westbound stop may not serve the same purpose as the stop where you first got off.

Westminster and the royal route

After the river stops, the bus reaches Lambeth Palace, across the Thames from Westminster. This gives you a different view of the central area and a possible starting point for a riverside walk.

Parliament Square is the main stop for Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the broad ceremonial center of London. From here, you can walk to Westminster Abbey, though entry is separate. This is one of the best places to combine the bus with a focused walking visit.

Tothill Street offers another Westminster stop, followed by Buckingham Palace and Buckingham Palace Road. These stops are useful for the palace, St. James’s Park, and the route toward Victoria station.

The bus also lists Queen Elizabeth Gate, giving you another way to reach Hyde Park and nearby royal sights. The several palace-area stops can be helpful, but they may also make route planning less clear. Before getting off, note the exact stop name and direction so you do not wait on the wrong side of the road.

The Buckingham Palace section is most useful as part of a walking plan. Get off, see the palace exterior, and continue through St. James’s Park or toward Westminster. I would not use the bus only for a palace photo, since the nearby sights are close enough to connect on foot.

Parks and Palaces Route: museums, shopping, and Kensington

The second daytime route begins at Marble Arch and runs through Park Lane. It is a better choice if you want London’s parks, luxury shopping, museums, and Kensington neighborhoods rather than the City and Westminster.

Park Lane is near Hyde Park and several high-end hotels. It is more of a useful transport point than a destination itself, but it can work well at the start or end of a walk through the park.

The route continues to Brompton Road and Harrods. Harrods is a major department store, not a traditional sightseeing attraction, but the stop makes sense if you want a look at London’s grand shopping district. Expect this part of the route to feel different from the historic center.

The Victoria and Albert Museum stop is one of the most valuable on this route. The museum can easily occupy several hours, so it is a good place to hop off if you want indoor time and a break from the bus. The Natural History Museum and Science Museum are also in the same general museum area, though they are not named as stops in the provided route.

At Courtfield Road, near Gloucester Road Tube station, you can connect with Kensington and South Kensington. The stop at Kensington High Street places you near the palace area, shops, and parks.

The bus then reaches Clanricarde Gardens at Notting Hill Gate. This is a useful stop for exploring Notting Hill, though the route gives you a broad neighborhood connection rather than a tour of every street.

Palace Court is listed for the Diana Memorial Gardens. This is a quieter, family-friendly stop near Kensington Gardens. It may suit you if you want open space after museums and city traffic, but the gardens are only one part of the larger park area.

The northern stretch: Lancaster Gate to Baker Street

The Parks and Palaces route continues to Lancaster Gate, near Bayswater Road, then Gloucester Terrace and Praed Street. These stops serve the Paddington and Hyde Park area.

They are useful if your hotel is nearby or if you want to connect a park walk with the bus. They are less important as stand-alone sightseeing stops, so I would not ride the full route only to visit them.

The final listed daytime stop is Baker Street, a practical point for Regent’s Park, nearby museums, and the famous Sherlock Holmes association. The route information does not promise a specific attraction entry or a guided Sherlock Holmes visit, so treat Baker Street as a neighborhood stop.

The Parks and Palaces route is best used selectively. It gives you access to several separate areas, but you will lose time if you stay aboard for every stop without a clear plan.

What the upper deck adds to the ride

The semi-open top deck is the main sightseeing feature. You get higher views over traffic, better angles for photographs, and a clearer look at buildings than you would from a standard enclosed city bus.

That setup also leaves you exposed to London weather. A cool or wet day can make a long ride uncomfortable, and the weather policy says the experience requires good conditions. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The upper deck is most useful when you stay aboard through a stretch with several landmarks. It is less useful when you are trying to reach one attraction quickly, since regular buses or the Tube may be faster. The attraction here is the view and the simple route, not speed.

The London Lights option

The itinerary includes a London Lights Night Tour with listed stops at York Road and Haymarket. That gives you an evening sightseeing option, but the information provided does not describe it as a full second nighttime loop with the same stop coverage as the daytime routes.

I would treat it as an extra possibility, not the main reason to buy the ticket. If your priority is seeing London illuminated after dark, confirm the current departure details and coverage before relying on it for an evening plan.

Is $44.02 good value?

At $44.02 per person, this is not the cheapest way to move around London. The Tube and regular buses generally cost less for point-to-point transport, but they do not give you a sightseeing deck or a simple route past the major landmarks.

The value improves if you:

• Stay aboard for a long section of one route.
• Hop off at two or more major sights.
• Use both the Landmarks and Parks and Palaces routes.
• Want a first-day overview before choosing where to return.
• Prefer not to navigate Underground stations and transfers.

The value drops if you only need to reach one attraction, if you dislike waiting, or if your day is built around fixed entry times. A full Tower of London visit, museum visit, and palace walk may leave little time for riding.

The low overall rating of 2.9 from 57 posted ratings deserves attention. The strongest praise focuses on the route coverage and the ability to see almost everything in a short time. The clearest problems involve too few buses, long waits, full vehicles, hard-to-find stops, and cleanliness.

That mix tells me to buy this for the route, not for polished transport service. Build in spare time, avoid scheduling a timed attraction immediately after a planned bus connection, and confirm each stop before getting off.

Practical booking details

Confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Most people can participate.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded for a late cancellation. Since weather can cancel the experience, keep your schedule flexible if rain or poor conditions are likely.

The published hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Since the ticket lasts one day, start early if you want to combine both daytime routes. The operator is TopView London.

Who should book this London bus tour?

I would consider it for a first visit, especially if you want a broad look at London before deciding which areas deserve more time. It also suits families and anyone who prefers a raised sightseeing view over repeated Tube changes.

It is less suitable if you need dependable, fast transport. The service complaints are specific enough that you should not use this as the only way to reach a timed flight, theater performance, museum entry, or other fixed appointment.

Book it if you value orientation and sightseeing from the road and can accept some waiting. Skip it if your main goal is efficient transportation or if you have only a few hours in the city.

FAQ

How long is the hop-on hop-off ticket valid?

The ticket is valid for 24 hours, described as a one-day experience.

What are the main bus routes?

The main routes are the Landmarks Tour and the Parks and Palaces Tour. A London Lights Night Tour is also listed.

Which route visits Big Ben and the Tower of London?

The Landmarks Tour visits Big Ben, Westminster, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Monument to the Great Fire of London, and the Tower of London.

Which route visits Harrods and the Victoria and Albert Museum?

The Parks and Palaces Tour includes stops for Harrods and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Does the ticket include admission to the attractions?

No admission inclusions are stated. The ticket covers the bus sightseeing experience, while attractions such as the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and museums require separate arrangements.

Does the bus have an open top?

The bus has a semi-open top deck with 360-degree photo opportunities.

What are the operating hours?

The listed opening hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.