The Original Tour
Take the Bus for a Different Perspective!
I am a Londoner and I must admit I don’t do much of the tourist circuit. It’s always there for me. I take it for granted … and so I don’t go. But The Original Tour was a treat and now I have it pencilled in when entertaining visitors. Get on and off as you please! Perfect.
Truly you wouldn’t want to drive in London, and especially if you come from the majority of the world who suggest we drive on the wrong side of the road. Public transport is some of the best anywhere, but you don’t see a lot from the Underground. A regular red bus is slow and takes you through neighbourhoods rather than past anything Instagram-worthy. The Original Tour will allow you to see everything in the guidebooks, and you can get off at any time to linger and take a better look at any of the iconic sights.
There is a multi-language commentary which will offer all the historic background to famous spots, along with witty social commentary on us Londoners. Buses are frequent and there are several tours from which to choose – and a Thames river cruise is also available to give another view of London. There are 6 walking tours using the POP guide app, too.
Experience London from the top of a classic open-top double-decker bus with The Original Tour. You have the choice of a 1, 2 or 3-day tour pass. There are unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off options with access to more than 50 of the most convenient stops for tourist attractions. And there is that Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise as well.
Apart from the commentary in 10 languages there is access to fast, free 5G Wi-Fi on every bus. One can cancel or change the date up to 24hrs before your booked tour date. Kids under 5 go free!
Start the tour from any of the designated stops for bus or boat by presenting your ticket before boarding. Your ticket is valid for both bus tours and river cruises on any of your selected days.
We chose the Red Route which gave a fantastic overview of Central London and the City of London. Yes, there is an historic difference. We started in Coventry Street in Soho. (One can begin the day with a Chinese breakfast or snack – this stop is just around the corner from our celebrated Chinatown.) We passed Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, London Eye, Waterloo Station, which is worth a look if you are unfamiliar with train travel in your own country. Glance up when you are there: under the clock at Waterloo station was the meeting place for Laura and Alec in Noel Coward’s 1946 film Brief Encounter. The four-sided clock was installed in 1919.
Jump off the bus at Covent Garden for some antique shopping and a snack. It was once London’s largest fruit and veg market and a scene in the film My Fair Lady. St Paul’s Cathedral survived WW2 and is the heart of the City. The newish version of London Bridge hasn’t fallen down, and the previous incarnation was sold to Americans who, it is rumoured, thought they were buying Tower Bridge. The bus drives across that Tower Bridge and offers a unique view, and that bridge is right next to the Tower of London, another convenient stop. Buckingham Palace is always a crowd pleaser so get the early tour to arrive before the rest. These are just a few of the attractions of the Red Route which shows the classic London spots with flexibility and ease.
The river cruise element of The Original Tour allows views of famous sites from a different angle, along with a commentary covering the history of buildings which might have been the venue for hanging pirates – although we have not done that in the UK for years! There is always something interesting going on and you can take that relaxing trip as often as you like!
The Original Tour on an open-top bus was fun and a must-do for any Instagrammer wanting a remarkable selfie with the Elizabeth Tower (the tower of Big Ben). It’s perfect for families who might have members who want to see everything but are not keen on walking. There can be no better opportunity to get an overview of beautiful London and to make lovely memories.
First bus departure is at 8.30am and the last departure is at 8pm. There are buses every 10 to 15 minutes, then every 30 minutes from 4pm.
