Open-Top Bus, Live Guide

London: Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour with Live Guide. Rated 4.1 across 531 reviews. Runs 1.5 hours. From $40.

Overview

A guaranteed seat on the open-top upper deck is the core promise of this 90-minute seasonal ride. Big Bus Tours runs a Christmas-decorated bus through central London after dark, with a live English-speaking guide on board telling festive stories and city facts as the streets roll past. The tour is non-stop and panoramic, so you stay seated the whole way and simply watch.

The route threads through the main illuminated shopping streets. You pass the displays on Oxford Street and Regent Street, see Piccadilly and Bond Street lit up, and pass the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Landmarks along the way include Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, all viewed from the top deck.

It suits travellers who want the lights without fighting the foot traffic on Oxford Street, and one reviewer named exactly that as the appeal. It is less suited to anyone wanting to hop off, browse or linger, since the bus does not stop. Christmas music plays on board, and the guide's commentary carries the history side of things. Dress warmly, because the upper deck is open to the winter air.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meeting pointThere are 2 starting locations depending on the option selected: Big Bus Stop 12 at the London Eye, or Big Bus Stop 1 at Green Park next to The Ritz. Arrive 15 minutes before departure.
2. London Eye and Waterloo BridgeThe bus sets off past the London Eye and across Waterloo Bridge, with the city lights opening up on either side.
3. Covent Garden and Trafalgar SquareYou pass Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, where the guide points out the Christmas tree.
4. Piccadilly, Oxford and Regent StreetThe bus runs past Piccadilly Circus and along Oxford Street and Regent Street, the heart of the Christmas light displays, with decorated shop windows along the way.
5. Westminster landmarksThe route continues past the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben lit up at night.
6. Return and drop-offThe tour ends at one of 2 drop-off locations depending on the option selected, after approximately 90 minutes of non-stop riding.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how much you enjoy this tour, and most of them come up repeatedly in traveller feedback.

• Wrap up warm. The listing tells you to dress warmly, and one reviewer who went well wrapped up said it was okay despite the cold. Hats, gloves and a proper winter coat make the top deck comfortable.
• Photography limits. The open top gives good sightlines, but one reviewer noted a roof cover at the front of the upper deck sometimes blocked the view of the lights, so they had to stand for photos. Expect to shoot around the cover rather than through it.
• Guide quality varies. Reviewers repeatedly praise the guides as funny, knowledgeable and easy to listen to. One mentioned a guide who spoke quickly and held the microphone too close, which made the commentary harder to follow.
• Seated the whole way. This is a non-stop panoramic tour with no stops to get off. If you want to browse the lights on foot or linger anywhere, plan that separately before or after.
• No food or drink. Food and drinks are not included, and gratuities are not either. Eat before you board, since there is no break during the 90 minutes.
• Pick your departure point. Two options exist, one from the London Eye and one from Green Park, each with its own departure times every 30 minutes through the evening. Check the booking calendar for the times available on your date.

Common issues. The main downsides are the cold and the audio. The listing advises dressing warmly for the open top, and the review summary notes that clearer, louder audio, especially downstairs, would improve things. One reviewer found the roof cover at the front of the top deck obstructed photos at times. Gratuities and food are not included in the ticket. The tour does not stop anywhere, so it is purely a ride-through experience.

What To Decide Before You Go