Which is the Best London Bus Tour?
Which is the best London bus tour? If you're going to spend a fun day out with family and friends, you'll want the best bus tour on the market. We get that. And we might be biased, but we think our Afternoon Tea Bus Tours are the best you can find out there. Want to know why?
Sightseeing in elegance and comfort
We often get asked whether our London bus tours are hop-on-hop-off, and the answer is no. A sightseeing tour that allows you to board or jump off at designated stops is a completely different experience from what we offer. Yes, we drive you through the streets of London so you can admire the most famous landmarks in the City. But that's not our main focus.
Our aim is to deliver a fantastic afternoon tea experience like no other. We want to make you feel welcome and appreciated, put a smile on your face, and gift you with a great time. And our dedicated drivers and friendly staff will do just that.
We see hop-on-hop-off tours as a great option for people who have limited time in London and want to see as many landmarks as possible for a full-on tourist experience. But our afternoon tea bus tours are for those who want to kick back and relax in total comfort. For 90 minutes, all you have to think about is to indulge and enjoy.
That's why we don't offer open-top bus tours either - all our Routemaster vintage buses are covered. And that's no small feat when you consider the weather in London can often be unkind - too cold, too wet, too windy, too hot... you name it! So the minute you board our elegantly decorated, signature vintage buses (they're not just sightseeing buses!) you won't have to worry about a thing. For the duration of your trip with us, we'll make you feel like royalty. There's no waiting around (you book in advance, and our tours depart at designated times) and no getting wet or sunburnt. All you have to do is have a good time!
Combining the sightseeing experience with an afternoon tea menu to die for!
While we still provide a sightseeing experience, when you book with us, you won't be able to get off the bus to take a closer look at Big Ben or the London Eye. But we can guarantee that (rain or shine), we'll drive you past the most famous landmarks in London, and you'll get to admire them.
Unlike hop-on-hop-off tours where you're expected to (literally) jump on and off a double-decker bus several times a day, we combine a tour of the City with an absolutely lush afternoon tea with a twist. That's right - choose to join us, and we'll serve you food! And not just any food. We combine the quintessential British experience of afternoon tea with a French touch to reflect our founders' origins.
Our full Afternoon Tea experience comes with a unique selection of sandwiches, delicious cakes and mini cupcakes, freshly made scones with clotted cream, and a great choice of hot drinks. We also have a wonderful wine list, should you wish to treat yourselves to a glass (or bottle) of bubbly alongside the delicious high tea.
And if you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, we offer a variety of afternoon tea menus, including Traditional, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, and Gluten-free.
Strength in numbers - check out all our Afternoon Tea Bus Tours!
We don't just run one afternoon tea bus tour. We run several! Our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is the most popular and frequent with 7 tours running daily from either Victoria Coach Station or Trafalgar Square.
We also run a unique panoramic evening tour for adults only (18+), which is perfect for gin lovers. It's the Bombay Sapphire Gin Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Bus Tour. It's available every Friday and Saturday (plus on occasional Thursdays) twice a day at 17:30 and 18:30. What's so special about this bus tour? We serve Bombay Sapphire-infused cakes and tarts (you won't find these anywhere else) and a selection of Bombay Sapphire G&Ts during the tour. If you like gin, it's one you won't want to miss!
Children- and family-friendly bus tours
We also have afternoon tea bus tours designed with children and families in mind. Our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour runs 2-3 times a day between Thursdays and Sundays. It departs from Somerset House and is perfect for any little fan of Peppa Pig and her friends and family! We have a fun, themed menu and lots of goodies for the little one. To find out more about the afternoon tea menus and book your place, head over to this page.
Another popular tour with the little ones (and grown-ups alike) is the Paddington Bear Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. Available Wednesdays to Sundays twice a day from Trafalgar Square, the tour is Paddington-themed from top (deck) to toe. Its stunning design attracts a lot of attention from passersby through the streets of London. But we also serve a Paddington-themed menu, which, of course, includes the best marmalade sandwich in the whole wide world. And while on board, you'll be entertained by a Paddington-led commentary of the tour. Who wouldn't want to experience London through the curious eyes of the most famous and adored bear of the nation?
Themed afternoon tea bus tours
We also run themed afternoon tea bus tours to mark special occasions, holidays, and important dates. From Mother's and Father's Day to the 4th of July, if there's something to celebrate, Brigit's Bakery's on it. With beautifully decorated double-decker buses and specially designed themed menus, these tours tend to run on limited dates. They are so much fun and definitely not to be missed!
During the Christmas period (typically between November and January), our evening bus tours also take a detour so you can admire the Christmas lights. And we even have Christmas-themed tours - check out our Christmas Lights Bus Tour. To find out what tours are running during this festive period (and beyond) head over to our London Bus Tours page and get the full breakdown.
Please note we don't run any night bus tours - the latest departure time for the Classic tour is 17:00, for the Christmas Lights tour is 17:30, and for the Bombay Sapphire tour is 18:30 (on selected days only).
What about the best hop-on-hop-off tours?
If you've been wondering which London bus tour is best, we hope you'll try one of our options. But if you'd like to check out some of the best hop-on-hop-off or open-top London bus tours so you can explore the City by stopping over at the landmarks of your choice, take a look at the following sightseeing bus tours:
And if you're out and about in London (perhaps on a walking tour?), pop over and see us at Brigit's Bakery in Covent Garden. If you're looking for a place to stop over and eat while out sightseeing, we are the perfect choice. You'll be able to enjoy our afternoon tea experience (or grab some lunch) and rest your feet. Isn't that just what you need after a busy day out in the City?
We believe we're up there at the top with the best London bus tours. So, are you ready to grab yourself and a few friends or family a few London bus tour tickets? Simply head over to our London Bus Tours page. Pick the month you're interested in, and voilà - the choice is all yours!
