The main, central starting point for most London hop-on hop-off bus tours (such as City Sightseeing and London City Tour) is Belvedere Road, behind the London Eye. While you can board at any designated stop, this is generally considered "Stop 1".
What is the blue route on the hop on hop off London?
The Classic Tour (Blue Route):
Taking you to all the main Central London landmarks, the Classic Tour passes the London Eye, the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, St Paul's Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods and much more.
As the two main hop-on, hop-off bus tours in London, you really can't go wrong with Big Bus Tours or Golden Tours; their routes are similar (though different colors/names) and visit the same main sights, and tickets are priced competitively. Big Bus Tours is included in the London Pass, whereas Golden Tours is not.
How long is the tour? The Red Route lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with buses departing every 10 to 20 minutes. The Blue Route lasts about 3 hours and 20 minutes, with buses running every 10 to 20 minutes. The Green Route lasts about 1 hour, with buses running every 20 minutes.
Thames River cruises vary, but popular ones often start/end at Westminster Pier, near the Houses of Parliament, or the London Eye Pier, offering circular routes or one-way trips to destinations like Tower Bridge (Butler's Wharf), Greenwich, or even further to Hampton Court, with operators like Thames Sightseeing, City Cruises, and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers providing various services from short sightseeing to hop-on/hop-off options.
London's "1 hour rule" refers to the Hopper Fare, which allows unlimited bus and tram journeys for a single £1.75 fare within one hour of your first tap-in, using the same contactless or Oyster card. It means you can switch between buses and trams as much as you like, even linking with the Tube or DLR (though the main benefit is bus/tram hopping), without paying again, provided your subsequent taps are within 60 minutes of the initial touch.
Blue Route - This is a carefully designed tour, covering all of the yellow route, plus showing you the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, home to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria Museum, plus the exclusive shopping district of Knightsbridge, home to Harrods department store.
For the most iconic sights, choose routes like the #9, #11, or #15, hitting Westminster, Trafalgar Square, and the Strand, while the #88 offers a mix from Camden to Parliament, and the #26 covers the City and South Bank, with the #148 giving Holland Park views; consider the #465 for Surrey Hills scenery if you venture outside central London for a nature escape, notes MyLondon.
How to get around the Blue Mountains without a car?
Once you're in the mountains, public transport options include trains and some buses, while the hop on/hop off Blue Mountains Explorer Bus runs in a loop between Katoomba and Leura.
The UK's £2 bus fare cap, originally ending in 2023, was extended multiple times and eventually transitioned to a £3 cap in England (outside London) from January 2025 to December 2025, funded by the government to help with living costs. However, some regions, like Liverpool City Region and Telford, have stepped in with local funding to keep their specific £2 caps running longer, with Liverpool aiming for 2026, while the national scheme shifted focus to the £3 cap to support bus services long-term.
Does the London Pass include the hop-on hop-off bus?
If you choose to upgrade to the The London Pass Plus, get access all our attractions plus four premium must-sees, including The View from The Shard, The London Eye, Madame Tussauds and the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour .
Tootbus London, formerly The Original Tour is a London bus tour operator using open-top double-decker buses. Based in Wandsworth, it is a subsidiary of First Bus London.
The Crown Jewels is a definite must-see – it's home to an impressive collection of diamond-encrusted state crowns alongside many other precious treasures, from historic gold chalices to royal robes.
Where can I purchase KL Hop On Hop Off tickets? Tickets can be purchased online, on the bus, at authorized hotels and agents, or at the kiosk at Sungei Wang Plaza (Stop No. 01). Additionally, tickets can be booked online at Trip.com.
How long does the London Hop On Hop Off bus tour take?
The main London bus tour takes approx. 2 hours, 20 minutes - However, please allow more time if you wish to hop on hop off. Q. Do the hop on hop off bus tours stop in front of Buckingham Palace?
While "prettiest" is subjective, Henley-on-Thames is widely considered a top contender for the most picturesque town on the Thames, known for its classic English charm, historic buildings, vibrant Regatta, and beautiful setting near the Chilterns. Other contenders for beauty include Marlow for its idyllic riverside setting, Windsor for its iconic castle, and charming spots like Richmond for riverside pubs and greenery.
Is there more than one hop-on hop-off bus in London?
Four routes (Blue, Red, Orange/Museum, Yellow) cover over 60 stops including central, north, and west London. River cruises are standard with 24+ hour tickets, operated through their City Cruises partnership. Free walking tours (Jack the Ripper, Royal Coronation) come included.
