Live Guide, 1.5-Hour Ride

London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide. Rated 4.0 across 5,439 reviews. Runs 1.5 hours. From $33.

Overview

An open-top bus, live commentary, and London dressed for the season. This tour from Golden Tours, Gray Line London drives through the heart of the capital during the festive period, passing the Christmas lights on Regent Street and Oxford Street plus landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Strand, Big Ben and the London Eye. The guide talks throughout, mixing seasonal colour with historical facts and stories about the buildings sliding past the windows.

Riders can sit on the top deck to get close to the displays or stay in the warm lower deck and watch through the glass. Photo opportunities come up along the route, and the perspective from the bus is a different one from walking the pavements below. Departures run every evening of the festive period from three points: the London Eye, Victoria and Green Park.

The tour suits families, visitors and locals alike. It is a seated experience, so it works for people who would rather not fight the crowds on foot, though it is not a hop-on hop-off service and there is no restroom on board. Children aged 0 to 4 travel free but do not occupy a seat, and every bus carries an English-speaking guide.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at departure pointJoin the bus at one of three departure points: the London Eye, Victoria or Green Park. The exact meeting spot depends on the option booked.
2. Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly CircusThe route drives through the heart of London, passing Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and the Strand.
3. Regent Street angelsThe bus passes the famous festive displays on Regent Street, with views from the top deck or through the lower deck windows.
4. Oxford Street starsThe tour continues along Oxford Street's star displays. Note that the 4:15pm departure from Victoria skips Oxford Street.
5. Landmark viewsAlong the way the guide points out landmarks including the London Eye, Big Ben and historical buildings, with photo opportunities from the bus.
6. Tour endsThe tour lasts roughly 60 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic on the day. The listing does not specify where the bus finishes.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the experience, from deck choice to December traffic.

• Dress for cold. The top deck is open to the air in December, and reviewers who rode up top were glad they bundled up. Warm layers, a hat and gloves make the difference between enjoying the lights and counting the minutes until the end. The lower deck is the warmer option if the weather turns.
• Pick a deck. Upper and lower deck options are booked separately, and some travellers said clearer information on the difference would help. The top deck gets closer to the lights; the lower deck trades that for warmth. Decide before booking, since the meeting point is the same for both decks at each departure location.
• Seated, easy pace. This is a bus tour, so there is no walking involved and no fitness demand. It is not a hop-on hop-off service, so riders stay on board for the whole route. There is no restroom on the bus, which matters for families with small children.
• Bring nothing edible. Food and drinks are not allowed in the vehicle, and no refreshments are provided. Eat before departure. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included either, so plan the journey to the meeting point separately.
• Expect traffic. London gets congested around Christmas, and the operator warns that the route may alter slightly on some days to keep the bus moving. On lighter days the tour can run 60 to 70 minutes rather than the full 90. The guide keeps the commentary going while the bus works through the busiest streets.
• Photos from the bus. Reviewers describe the tour as a good way to see the lights and get into the Christmas spirit, with photo opportunities along the route. The listing notes the displays can be seen from a new perspective on the bus. The top deck sits you closer to the lights.

Common issues. The main frustrations are seasonal rather than organisational. Traffic in central London is heavy around Christmas, so the route can change slightly and the tour may finish in 60 to 70 minutes instead of the full 90. Some travellers felt the upper versus lower deck choice was not explained clearly enough at booking, and the two decks give quite different views and temperatures. There is no restroom on board, no food or drink allowed in the vehicle, and no hotel pickup or drop-off. One departure, the 4:15pm from Victoria, does not go down Oxford Street at all.

What To Decide Before You Go