England · HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS

Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in England: The 15 Best Routes

41 tours  ·  from $14

An open top and a 24-hour ticket is the cheapest way to fix a city in your head on day one. These 15 compare route coverage, whether a river cruise is bundled in, and how long the ticket really runs for.

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - Westminster, the London Eye, and St. Paul’s
Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

1.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Ride Big Bus London across three routes linking Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, St. Paul’s, Notting Hill, and the British Museum. Use a one-day, 24-hour, or 48-hour pass, with a Thames cruise included on the longer options. The 48-hour ticket can also include walking tours and an evening panoramic ride.

“great way to see london. i do this tour everywhere I go. I will say it takes a very long time for bus to complete loop.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - Coventry Street, Trafalgar Square, and Westminster
Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

2.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

See London from an open-top double-decker, using three routes that reach Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St Paul’s, museums, Covent Garden, and more. Your pass also covers a Thames sightseeing cruise and audio commentary for adults and children. Use the app to track buses, but allow extra time for traffic and changing service.

“The bus drivers are great. My only criticism is that the bus stop names do not match the actual stops. Super confusing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Liverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour - 24hr Ticket - Museums, Lime Street, and the civic quarter
Attraction Tickets in Liverpool, City Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Liverpool Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

Liverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour – 24hr Ticket

3.Liverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour – 24hr Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,555 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $19Best value

Ride Liverpool City Sights for a 50-minute loop covering the waterfront, Beatles landmarks, museums, cathedrals, Chinatown, and the Baltic Triangle. Use your 24-hour ticket to hop off and explore, then rejoin the route. Guides such as Kim add lively commentary, while the open top deck gives you the best views in fair weather.

“Short but sweet lacking a bit more detail given the history of the city. Long wait between re joining due to crews toilet break .”

Check availability →Read our full review

Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise - Start near the London Eye and Westminster
Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

4.Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,064 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $32

Use Golden Tours Gray Line buses to see the London Eye, Tower of London, St. Paul’s, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and more. Choose a 4-hour, one-day, or 24-hour ticket. The 24-hour option includes a one-way Thames boat ride between Westminster and Tower Millennium Pier. Audio commentary comes in 12 languages, with live guides on selected blue routes.

“Our guide, Mark, was wonderful! Extremely knowledgeable, excitingly entertaining story teller and historian. We were even fortunate enough to see King Charles on his way to Buckingham Palace. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames - Waterloo and the London Eye: handy, but check the pier
Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

5.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,256 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

Use a 24-hour City Cruises pass to ride the Thames between Westminster, Waterloo near the London Eye, Tower, and Greenwich piers. Sit in the heated saloon or open air, listen to recorded or app-based commentary, and hop off for sights along the way. Check the final sailing before you go, as the service can be limited later in the day.

“Smooth and easy; informative overview; easy access, polite staff and comfortable trip. Live commentary was excellent”

Check availability →Read our full review

City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras - Let the Thames do the heavy lifting
City Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

6.City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,224 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37

See London from an open-top double-decker on three routes covering Westminster, the Tower, Buckingham Palace, Kensington, the British Museum, and more. Choose a 1-day to 72-hour ticket, add Thames cruises and a Routemaster ride, and use the City Sightseeing app for live bus tracking. Expect flexible sightseeing, but allow extra time for traffic and route changes.

“Finding the bus stop was much harder than expected, even though the staff were helpful. The bus itself had no announcements for each stop, which made it confusing to know when to join the cruise portion. Overall, the experience felt very disorganized. The red line route just went around in circles, and we were expecting to see more for the price, especially considering the boat ride was included. On a positive note, the tour guide on the boat was engaging and entertaining, though they didn’t seem to get much appreciation from the other, less enthusiastic tourists.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London by Night Sightseeing Tour - Open Top Bus - St Paul’s Cathedral and the City after sunset
Evening Experiences, Evening Experiences in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London by Night Sightseeing Tour – Open Top Bus

7.London by Night Sightseeing Tour – Open Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,060 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Join Evan Evans Tours at Green Park for a 90-minute evening ride through London. A live English-speaking guide points out Piccadilly, St Paul’s, Westminster, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Harrods, and more. Open-top seats offer the best views, but bring warm layers and arrive early for a good spot.

“Great way to see London at night. Fun and informative tour, curated by very knowledgeable guide. Thank you for wonderful experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour - Stop-by-stop guide to the Oxford route
City Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Oxford Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

8.City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,042 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $27

See Oxford from an open-top bus with a 24 or 48-hour pass, audio commentary in 14 languages, and 18 stops near the station, colleges, Christ Church, Oxford Castle, and the Radcliffe Camera. The pass also includes a 45-minute walking tour led by guides such as Lesley or Martin, subject to seasonal availability.

“Our guide Martin was wonderful. He was so knowledgeable and funny, we enjoyed hearing his descriptions and history explanations!”

Check availability →Read our full review

London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide - Westminster Abbey and the Big Ben view
Evening Experiences, Evening Experiences in London, Guided, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide

9.London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 977 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Spend 90 minutes seeing London after dark from an open-top bus, passing Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly. A live English-speaking guide leads the ride when available, with audio guides in 12 languages. Choose pickup near the London Eye or Green Park.

“Olessa was very informative and friendly. She gave wonderful tips at the end of our tour. She was funny too!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Ciy Explorer: Hop On Hop Off Liverpool Sightseeing Bus Tour - Lord Street and Liverpool’s central streets
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Liverpool Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ciy Explorer: Hop On Hop Off Liverpool Sightseeing Bus Tour

10.Ciy Explorer: Hop On Hop Off Liverpool Sightseeing Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 915 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $19Top rated

See Liverpool from an open-top City Explorer bus with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass and live commentary in English. The route links Albert Dock, both cathedrals, Chinatown, St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, and more. Guides including Viv, Sean, Phil, David, and Garry add local stories and humor, though sound quality and bus timing can vary.

“Terrible! Hopped off and the bus never came back by. Called the office and they said to just keep waiting, that the bus comes by every 15 minutes and was nearby, but over an hour of waiting we had to get an Uber ourselves. If you just want to ride the loop and not get off, maybe it would be better.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure - Uber Boat - Embankment and Bankside for Central London
1-Day Tours, Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Day Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure – Uber Boat

11.Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure – Uber Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 707 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $34

Use an all-day Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pass between Putney and Barking Riverside. Board at Westminster, Tower, Greenwich, and other Thames piers, then hop off for sights such as the London Eye, Tower of London, Tate Modern, and Cutty Sark. Boats have indoor seating, covered outdoor areas, and a cafe-bar.

“Great time all the themes river in the middle of the night seeing all the lights in London and its greatest moments”

Check availability →Read our full review

Paris by Rail with Sightseeing Bus and River Cruise - Eurostar to Gare du Nord
Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Paris by Rail with Sightseeing Bus and River Cruise

12.Paris by Rail with Sightseeing Bus and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 578 reviews · 15 hours (approx.) · from $387

Travel from London to Paris by reserved-seat Eurostar, then see the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, and Sacré-Cœur by sightseeing bus and Seine cruise. The core trip is independent, with an information pack and no guide, though some booking options may include a guided day.

“It was raining day through out of the day ☹️ and during the day our tour bus broke down so we had to travel by under ground train to get to different places. Our tour guide was excellent 👌. So overall it was a good experience 😊”

Check availability →Read our full review

City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour - Starting at Exhibition Square
City Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, York Tours

City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

13.City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 545 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $23

Tour York by open-top double-decker bus on a flexible 24-hour pass. Ride the full 60-minute loop, then hop off near Clifford’s Tower, Monk Bar, York Racecourse, the station, and other key stops. Audio commentary is offered in several languages, with kids’ commentary and free headphones available.

“Very boring route. Only use this is you want transportation around the walls of York as the city is very walkable. There is lots of construction about and they play the commentary over speakers no earphones and only on English. I would not purchase unless have bad walking ability cause you miss 85% of York”

Check availability →Read our full review

Liverpool: River Cruise & Sightseeing Bus Tour - What you see from the Mersey ferry
Boat Trips, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Liverpool Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Liverpool: River Cruise & Sightseeing Bus Tour

14.River Cruise & Sightseeing Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 495 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $34

Pair a roughly 50-minute Mersey ferry ride with a City Explorer open-top bus loop through Liverpool. Sail past the Royal Liver Building and Albert Dock, then stop near the Cavern Club, cathedrals, China Town, Baltic Market, and museums. Bus guides may include Donna, Dave, or Colin, with a pass usable into the following day.

“We loved this Hop on Hop off tour around Liverpool. It was great to have a real, life guide onboard, and Dave and Colin were fantastic - very informative and engaging, with a good sense of humour. I would definitely recommend this!”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional Thames Cruise) - Route one: Westminster, the City, and the Tower
Boat Trips, Boat Trips in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

London Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional Thames Cruise)

15.London Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional Thames Cruise)

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 483 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48

Use a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour Tootbus pass to reach London icons including Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s, the Tower, Covent Garden, and the British Museum. You get three routes, four app-based walking tours, audio commentary for adults and children, free Wi-Fi, and the option to add a Thames cruise. Expect traffic, changing stops, and uneven audio quality.

“None we requested our money back they refused there was a demonstration in London on the 9 of December we only had that da6 in London so couldn't do 5he 10 of December ,. We waited 2hours ion the pouring rain down a bus from blue line to yellow line,meanwhile all the other hop on hop off busses came to this stopevery 10 to 15 minutes”

Check availability →Read our full review

Scroll to Top

Where next in England

Start from a city, a castle or a pair of boots.