Big Bus Tours London - Reviews and experiences

no proper stops, just little glimpses of things with the commentary saying “it’s a short walk”, no map given so we had no clue what was next. We rattled through back streets — maybe roadworks, maybe not — but it didn’t feel like the tour we expected. When I checked my card on the bus, it was £98, not the roughly £58 I thought we were paying. We got off and went back to the same guy. He pointed to a City Tour hat under the Big Bus jacket and said the red line was only on Wednesdays. He tried to justify the price by saying a river cruise was included. We did the cruise — it was pleasant, short though — but that didn’t fix the feeling of being bamboozled. So yeah, my doubts before buying weren’t really eased, they were justified. If you’re thinking of doing this, double-check on the official kiosk or book online directly, ask for a printed ticket and a map, and don’t let anyone hustle you into “just hop on.” Small nice moments, but overall left a sour taste.

skip the bus and do a walking route if you can. We chose the bus because we had a sore back and only a long weekend in London, so wanted a sit-down overview. Sounded sensible. In practice it dragged out and frustrated more than it helped. Traffic slowed everything, sure—London traffic is what it is—but we looped past the same spots more than once and still missed decent on-foot time. Midway through the driver switched off, grabbed his bag and walked off. Engine off, people sitting there, twenty minutes of awkward waiting while a replacement showed up. I get shifts end, but that felt careless. The routes only go one way, so you can’t jump off and wander without risking being stuck later. That’s what stopped us from exploring the few places we actually wanted to see. The audio guide wasn’t great either. It would tell you about a landmark either minutes too late or while you were looking at something else, so it never quite matched what you were seeing. Some staff were friendly and the idea is fine on paper, but timing and execution were off. A little disappointed. If mobility is the reason you’d pick this, weigh the risk of delays and missed stops first.

a bus showed up, then it sat until it filled before leaving, so you end up waiting longer than you expect. For the money we paid, I guess I expected more engagement or at least a smoother cadence. Still, I’m kind of relieved it wasn’t worse — clean bus, decent views, no drama — and I’m glad we only tried it once. Next time I’ll take the subway or pick a tour with a live guide.