Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London

London’s royal interiors are the star here, but the clever part is how much ground you cover before reaching them. You ride a 1960s Routemaster, cruise the Thames, see Westminster Abbey from outside, and finish with Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms during their short annual opening.

I like the quick city orientation and the change of viewpoint from red bus to riverboat. I also like that the palace ticket is included, which saves you from planning a separate visit. The main catch is the schedule: the morning sightseeing ends well before your 2:30 pm palace entry, leaving a several-hour break that can feel awkward if your day is already packed.

Key points at a glance

• A classic London start: Meet at Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 am and board an iconic red Routemaster.
• Three ways to see the city: The route combines an open-top bus, a Thames cruise, and walking between sights.
• Buckingham Palace is independent: Your guide takes you to the entrance, then you visit the State Rooms with an audio guide.
• The timing needs planning: There is a long gap between the morning route and the palace visit.
• Best for a first London morning: You get a useful overview of Westminster, the City, and the river without arranging several separate tickets.
• Weather matters: The bus is usually open-top, so bring protection from rain and wind.

Why this tour works for a first London visit

At $59, this is not a full guided tour of every major sight. It is a sampler, and a useful one. You get a narrated ride through the historic core, a short river cruise, and admission to one of London’s most sought-after interiors.

That combination makes sense if you have only a day or two in the city. You can see Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the London Eye without working out several routes on the Underground or booking each piece separately.

The tour also gives you different views of London. From the upper deck, you look down onto streets and monuments. From the Thames, the city opens up around you. Inside the palace, the pace slows and the focus shifts to ceremonial rooms, furniture, chandeliers, and objects from the Royal Collection.

The limit is depth. You do not tour the Tower of London, enter Westminster Abbey, or explore St Paul’s Cathedral on this outing. These are sighting points or photo stops, not full visits. If you want serious time inside those attractions, book them separately.

Starting at Victoria Coach Station

Your morning begins at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, at 7:45 am. That is an early start, but it helps the tour reach several central sights before the streets become more crowded.

Allow time to find the correct bay. Directions have caused confusion for some people, with instructions referring to one bay while the actual departure was from another. The practical move is to arrive early and confirm the bus location with station staff or the tour team rather than assuming the printed bay number is current.

You travel independently to the meeting point, and hotel pickup is not included. Victoria is near public transport, so the start is workable from many parts of central London, but you should still allow extra time for a morning connection.

The group can reach up to 50 people. That is not a small private outing, so staying close to the guide matters, especially when getting off the bus or moving toward a photo stop.

Riding the open-top Routemaster

The vintage bus is more than a way to get from one stop to another. The old red Routemaster is part of London’s visual identity, and sitting upstairs gives you a clear view of monuments, streets, and passing neighborhoods.

The bus section is mainly a panoramic tour. You pass through the landmark-packed center and hear stories about the places along the route. Strong guides make a real difference here. Names praised in connection with this tour include Nick, Alan, Kevin, Mark, and an Irish guide whose name was not remembered. Nick was noted for theatrical storytelling, while Alan was described as witty and well informed. Kevin earned praise for handling the large bus through London traffic.

That personal style matters. A bus tour can become a list of names and dates, but a good guide connects the buildings to London life and helps you understand how the center fits together. The best reports of this experience consistently point to humor, useful facts, and guides who kept the group moving.

You should prepare for the possibility of rain. The bus is open-top, although it may be changed to a closed-top bus on rare occasions. An upper-deck seat offers the best views but also the most exposure to wind and wet weather. A waterproof jacket is more useful than an umbrella while the bus is moving.

Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Westminster

The morning route brings you past several of London’s essential landmarks.

Trafalgar Square is a natural orientation point. Nelson’s Column, fountains, and the surrounding buildings give you a quick sense of London’s ceremonial center. You may see the square from the bus rather than receiving a long stop, so treat it as an introduction rather than a full visit.

The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower containing Big Ben provide the grandest part of the Westminster section. The route gives you views of the Gothic buildings and a chance to take in how tightly the political and royal parts of the city sit together.

Westminster Abbey is listed as a 15-minute photo stop outside, with admission not included. That distinction is important. You can see the exterior and take photographs, but you do not enter the abbey as part of this tour. If coronations, royal tombs, and the interior are high on your list, you need a separate ticket and more time.

Some departures have also timed the route well enough for a view of the Changing of the Guard. That is not something to treat as guaranteed, since ceremonies and traffic affect the schedule, but an early start improves your chance of seeing palace activity before the crowds build.

The Thames cruise from the Tower area

The river section lasts about 30 minutes and begins from the Tower of London area. The boat gives you a useful reset after the bus ride. Instead of looking across traffic at buildings, you see London from the water, where bridges and riverside landmarks line up in a much clearer way.

This is where Tower Bridge earns its keep. The bridge has spanned the Thames since 1894, and the view from the river lets you appreciate its towers and position far better than a quick roadside glimpse. The Tower of London is nearby, with its fortress walls and famous Beefeaters, but the tour does not include admission to the Tower or the Crown Jewels.

You also see St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s great City church, from a different angle. Its dome is one of the most recognizable forms in London, and the river helps you understand its place among the modern buildings of the City.

Further along, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament appear from the water. The cruise is short, so do not expect a full commentary-heavy river expedition. It works best as a scenic link between the bus sightseeing and the palace visit.

This part divides opinion. Some people find the boat comfortable and especially scenic. Others find the 30-minute ride rushed or less useful than expected. I would treat it as a pleasant change of perspective, not the main reason to book.

The long pause before Buckingham Palace

The schedule is the tour’s biggest practical issue. After the morning sightseeing and cruise, you have a break of several hours before the 2:30 pm Buckingham Palace admission.

This can work well if you want to have lunch, rest, browse nearby streets, or add an activity of your own. It gives you freedom rather than forcing you to remain with the group all day. It also means you are not hurried through the palace immediately after the bus and river sections.

But the gap can disrupt a tightly planned London itinerary. Some people have had to cancel afternoon plans because they did not realize how much time would sit between the two parts. The advertised duration is about five and a half hours, yet the early morning start and fixed palace entry make this feel like a split-day experience.

Read the timing carefully before booking. If Buckingham Palace is the main goal and you can use the break, the schedule is manageable. If you want a continuous half-day tour, it may feel inefficient.

Entering Buckingham Palace at 2:30 pm

Your guide walks you to the palace entrance, then says goodbye. Guides are not permitted to accompany you inside, so the palace portion is self-guided rather than a continuation of the live commentary.

That arrangement has a benefit: you can move through the State Rooms at your own pace. Your included ticket gives you access to the opulent public rooms open during Buckingham Palace’s limited three-month annual season. The exact opening period is important, so check the available date before you commit to a booking.

Inside, expect ceremonial rooms, glittering chandeliers, sumptuous furnishings, and treasures from the Royal Collection. The rooms provide a direct look at how the monarchy presents itself through decoration, formal spaces, and grand entertaining rooms. The palace is not a casual home tour. It is a carefully preserved public route through rooms designed for state occasions.

An audio guide provides the explanation. That is useful for anyone who prefers to pause, listen, and look without staying with a large group. It also means the quality of your palace visit does not depend on the morning guide’s schedule.

Plan for the rules. Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the State Rooms. Photography, video recording, filming, and wearable-device recording for non-commercial purposes are also not permitted. You can enjoy the rooms more fully if you accept that this is a look-and-listen visit, not a place for constant phone use.

The palace experience finishes when you exit. From there, you can continue exploring London or return to your hotel independently.

What the $59 price really includes

The value is strongest when you compare the package with the cost and effort of arranging its parts separately. For $59, you receive the vintage bus tour, local guide, Thames cruise, and Buckingham Palace State Rooms admission.

The palace ticket is the key value item. The bus and river sections help you cover a broad area, but neither offers extensive time at a single attraction. You are paying for convenience, an overview, transportation between major areas, and access to the palace during its limited opening period.

I would not book this expecting a slow, expert-led examination of London. The group size can reach 50, the river ride is brief, and several major sights are viewed from outside. I would book it if you want a practical first look and prefer having the palace ticket built into the day.

The strongest value comes for people with limited time. A couple with only two full days in London can see a great deal early, then use the gap for lunch and a short independent outing. A repeat visitor who has already seen the major landmarks may find the bus portion less rewarding.

Who will enjoy it most

This experience fits you best if:

• You are visiting London for the first time.
• You want a guided overview without arranging several separate bookings.
• You are especially interested in Buckingham Palace.
• You enjoy seeing a city from both land and water.
• You can work around the early start and afternoon palace entry.
• You have moderate physical fitness and can manage getting on and off the bus and boat.

It is less suitable if you want long visits inside Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, or St Paul’s Cathedral. It is also a poor match if you dislike fixed schedules, open-top transport in uncertain weather, or a long break between tour sections.

The guide can shape the experience. Strong personalities such as Nick, Alan, Kevin, and the witty Scottish guide Mark have helped make the route lively. The guide is not a small detail here, since the bus commentary supplies much of the educational value. Service can vary, so keep your expectations centered on the structure of the tour rather than assuming a particular guide will lead every departure.

Practical advice before you book

Arrive early at Victoria Coach Station, especially if your confirmation gives unclear bay information. Bring a waterproof layer, even if the morning forecast looks friendly.

Wear shoes suitable for moderate walking and standing. The tour includes movement between transport sections, photo stops, and the palace entrance. The State Rooms themselves are not a place for food or drink, so plan your meal during the gap before the 2:30 pm entry.

Keep your afternoon flexible. The palace ticket is booked for a fixed time, and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations inside that window receive no refund.

Should you book this London combination tour?

Book it if you want a broad first look at London and Buckingham Palace is high on your list. The classic bus, short Thames cruise, useful guide commentary, and State Rooms ticket make a good package for a short stay.

Skip it if you need a tightly packed, continuous half-day or want detailed visits inside the Tower, Westminster Abbey, and St Paul’s. The long pause and outside-only stops will frustrate you.

For the right schedule, $59 is fair value. Just understand what you are buying: a fast city introduction followed by an independent palace visit, not a deep tour of every landmark.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TP. The start time is 7:45 am.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to the meeting point, and hotel drop-off is not included.

What transportation is used?

The tour uses a 1960s vintage Routemaster bus and a sightseeing boat on the Thames. The bus is usually open-top, although it can be changed to a closed-top bus in rare cases.

Is the Buckingham Palace admission included?

Yes. Admission to the State Rooms is included, with entry booked for 2:30 pm.

Does the guide enter Buckingham Palace with the group?

No. The guide walks you to the entrance, then you enter independently. Inside, you follow an audio-guided visit.

Can I enter Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London?

No. Westminster Abbey is an outside photo stop, and its admission is not included. The tour also does not include admission to the Tower of London or the Crown Jewels.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.