Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye Option

The best thing about this tour is the mix of old red Routemaster bus and Thames boat. You get London from street level, above the traffic, and from the river, where Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Houses of Parliament line up in one moving view. It is a smart way to get your bearings on a first visit.

I like the wide sweep of sights and the live commentary from guides such as Alan, Steve, Lisa, Magnus, and Michael. I also like that the boat ride gives your eyes a rest after the bus. The main caution is traffic: London roads can slow the bus, and an open top does not become less open when rain arrives.

Key points to know

• A classic bus, not a modern sightseeing coach: The 1960s Routemaster adds character and gives you a memorable view from the upper deck.
• The Thames cruise changes the pace: Travel from Tower Pier toward the London Eye with views of Tower Bridge, the Globe, The Shard, and Parliament.
• A fast introduction to central London: You pass Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, St. Paul’s, and the Tower of London.
• The London Eye is an optional add-on: You can continue to the Eye after the sightseeing portion with a prebooked ticket.
• Changing of the Guard is not guaranteed: If the ceremony is not taking place, the stop becomes a Buckingham Palace photo stop.
• Arrive early at Victoria Coach Station: The operator asks you to be there 15 minutes before departure and may leave only a few minutes after the scheduled time.

A London introduction from Victoria to the Thames

The tour begins at Victoria Coach Station at 1:00 pm. This is a busy place, so allow time to find the right departure area. Staff are used to directing people, but you will have a calmer start if you arrive at least 15 minutes early.

The group can include up to 40 people. That is large enough to give the tour energy, but small enough for a guide to keep the day moving. You are not getting a private tour, and the bus will not stop every time someone spots a side street worth photographing. The tradeoff is that you cover a lot of central London in one outing.

The main tour lasts about three and a half hours, though traffic and any selected add-on affect the total day. Your guide provides the history and points out details as you go. Names that appear in the guiding team include Alan, Steve, Lisa, Eugene, Magnus, Michael, Richard, John, Greg, and Elisa. The quality of the day depends partly on who leads your departure, but the strongest comments consistently focus on guides who make the history lively, answer questions, and adapt to what is happening around them.

Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard

Buckingham Palace is the first major stop, with about 30 minutes for photographs. You stay outside, and palace admission is not included. That matters because this is a sightseeing stop, not a palace visit.

The timing can work in your favor. An afternoon visit may feel less crowded than the morning, giving you a better chance at a clean photo of the palace frontage. If the Changing of the Guard is scheduled, the guide takes you to a useful viewing position and explains what is happening as the red-coated Foot Guards and their replacements move to military music.

Do not book this tour solely for the ceremony. The guard change is subject to the schedule, and when it is not taking place, you simply get the photo stop. That is still worthwhile, but it is a different experience from watching the full public ritual.

One useful detail is that the royal standard may be visible when the monarch is in residence. A guide may point this out during the stop, along with other details you could easily miss if you were exploring the palace frontage alone.

Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Big Ben from the bus

The Routemaster continues through Westminster, where the views come quickly. You stop outside Westminster Abbey for about 15 minutes. Admission is not included, so use this time for exterior photographs and for a quick look at the building’s striking Gothic details.

From the bus, you see the Houses of Parliament and the Clock Tower, commonly called Big Ben. The tour does not take you inside Parliament or Westminster Abbey. Still, this part works well as a first look, especially if you have only one day and want to decide which sites deserve a later, longer visit.

The route also goes along Whitehall, passing Downing Street, the official home and office of the Prime Minister. You continue through Trafalgar Square, with Nelson’s Column as the central landmark. These are short views rather than extended stops, so keep your camera ready and listen for the guide’s cue before the bus turns.

The law courts are another passing sight. Their Victorian Gothic Revival stonework is easy to spot, and the building opened by Queen Victoria in 1882 remains one of Europe’s largest court complexes. You also see St. Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt under Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666.

This is where the tour’s format helps. You do not have to plan a route between distant landmarks or work out which side of the street offers the better angle. The drawback is that the bus is moving, and commentary can be harder to hear from the rear of the upper deck. Sit closer to the guide if clear narration matters to you.

The Tower of London and a look at old and new London

The 30-minute stop at the Tower of London is another exterior photo stop. Entry to the Tower is not included, so you will not see the Crown Jewels or the interior exhibitions on this outing.

Even without entry, the location gives you one of London’s strongest combinations of old and new. The medieval fortress sits near Tower Bridge, the glassy Shard rises in the distance, and the river carries the scene forward. Your guide can supply the context while you take photographs.

This stop also sets up the next part of the experience. Instead of staying on the bus, you move to Tower Pier for the Thames cruise. Keep your belongings together during the changeover and follow the guide’s instructions, since the group is working around a scheduled boat service.

The 30-minute Thames cruise from Tower Pier

The boat ride runs from Tower Pier toward the London Eye and lasts about 30 minutes. It is included in the basic tour, not an optional extra, and it gives you a welcome change from sitting above the city traffic.

From the water, you see the Tower of London and Tower Bridge from a more useful angle than the road usually allows. The view continues past The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament.

This is one of the tour’s strongest features for photographers. The river opens up the sight lines, and several landmarks appear in the same broad scene. The boat also gives you a chance to sit down and absorb the city without watching for turns, traffic lights, or the next photo stop.

The quality of the view depends on the boat and conditions. One poor account described dirty windows that made sightseeing difficult, while other experiences praised the cruise as a relaxing highlight. You cannot control the exact boat conditions, but you can choose a seat with a clear view and keep expectations realistic: this is a short city cruise, not a full narrated river excursion with drinks or a meal.

The open top Routemaster experience

The vintage bus is more than transportation. The 1960s red Routemaster is an attraction in its own right, and people may photograph it as it moves through central London. The upper deck gives you a panoramic view in good weather, while the old design adds a bit of London character that a standard coach cannot match.

The ride is also part of the entertainment. One guide described the journey through packed London streets as more exciting than an amusement park ride, especially while watching the driver manage the traffic. That same traffic is the main practical weakness. The bus can slow down or get stuck, and a route that looks short on a map may take much longer at street level.

The open top is best on a dry day with clear visibility. Bring a waterproof layer, even if the forecast looks friendly, and dress for wind. In rare cases, the bus may be changed to a closed top vehicle. That protects the schedule from poor weather, but you lose some of the classic upper-deck experience.

Adding the London Eye after the bus and boat

The London Eye option is selected when you book. After Buckingham Palace, you are dropped at the Eye and use a prebooked ticket for entry. You then take one full rotation in a shared glass capsule, with 360-degree views across London.

This add-on works well if you want one high viewpoint after seeing the city from the road and river. The capsule gives you a broad view of the Thames, central London, and the landmarks you have just passed. It is especially useful for a short stay because it adds a major attraction without requiring another booking.

Be clear about the ending. If you choose the London Eye, you may not return to Victoria with the main group. One important practical issue is that you are on your own after getting off the Eye, so plan your route back to your hotel or the station. The meeting information also says the final drop-off can vary by option.

Technical problems can happen. On one occasion, the Eye was closed and the ticket was refunded through the booking service. That is reassuring, but you should still treat the Eye as an add-on rather than the sole reason for booking the day.

The Stonehenge alternative

The afternoon Stonehenge option is a separate extension after the London sightseeing portion. You return to Victoria, board a round-trip shuttle bus, and continue to Salisbury Plain. At Stonehenge, you receive entry and use a self-guided audio tour around the monument and visitor center.

This option changes the nature of the day. You are no longer taking a compact London overview with a scenic finale. You are committing to a longer excursion outside the city, with the extra road time that entails.

Choose it if seeing Stonehenge is a priority and your schedule is tight. Skip it if you want a relaxed London afternoon or prefer the London Eye. One useful point from the strongest practical advice is that the Stonehenge trip is a long coach journey, while the London Eye keeps the day centered in London.

What the $85.01 price buys you

At $85.01 per person, the basic price covers the vintage bus tour, local guide, and Thames cruise. Food and drinks are not included, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided.

I see the value in the transport and time saved. You can reach many headline sights without arranging several separate journeys, and the river cruise is included rather than added as an afterthought. If you have only one day in London, this can be an efficient way to see the city’s main symbols before choosing which places deserve a longer visit.

The value is lower if you want substantial time inside attractions. You do not enter Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London, and most landmarks are viewed from the bus. Independent sightseeing may cost less if you already know the Underground and are happy to plan each stop yourself.

The guide is a major part of what you are buying. Strong guides such as Alan, Steve, Magnus, Lisa, and Michael have been praised for humor, clear explanations, and useful historical detail. One caution is that commentary may be difficult to hear from the back of the bus, so choose your seat with that in mind.

Who should book this London tour?

I would choose this for a first day in London, especially if you have limited time or want a broad orientation before exploring on foot. Families, photographers, and anyone who likes classic vehicles should find the format appealing.

It also suits people who want history without spending the whole day inside museums. You see royal London, political London, religious London, financial London, and the riverfront in one continuous outing.

I would not choose it if you dislike group schedules, need long visits inside major attractions, or have little patience for city traffic. It is also not ideal for anyone hoping for guaranteed Changing of the Guard, since the ceremony depends on the schedule.

The tour has free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather or an insufficient minimum group can also lead to a new date or a full refund. For the departure itself, be punctual: the operator asks you to arrive 15 minutes early and may not be able to wait beyond a few minutes after departure.

Should you book the Routemaster and Thames cruise?

Book it if you want the London highlight reel without spending your first day working out transport and timing. The bus supplies the character, the guide supplies the context, and the Thames adds the best change of view.

Choose the London Eye if you want a high city panorama and are comfortable making your own way onward afterward. Choose Stonehenge only if the prehistoric monument matters more to you than having a relaxed London afternoon.

At $85.01, the tour earns its price through coverage and convenience, not through long attraction visits. Dress for rain, arrive early at Victoria, sit where you can hear the guide, and treat the schedule as an introduction rather than your entire London experience.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 1:00 pm.

How long does the main tour last?

The main experience lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Is the Thames River cruise included?

Yes. The basic tour includes a guided boat trip from Tower Pier toward the London Eye.

Which landmarks can I see from the boat?

The river section includes views of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament.

Do I enter the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey?

No. The tour provides photo stops outside both sites, and admission is not included.

Is the London Eye included in the standard price?

Only if you select the London Eye option when booking.

Can I choose a Stonehenge extension?

Yes. An afternoon Stonehenge option is available when booking. It includes the round-trip shuttle, Stonehenge entry, and a self-guided audio tour.

What happens if it rains?

You should be prepared for rain because the tour uses an open top bus. On rare occasions, the open top bus may be replaced with a closed top bus.