I by no means tire of strolling London’s streets, discovering a few of the metropolis’s secrets and techniques, however there’s no query that probably the greatest methods for households to discover is by boarding one of many string of bus excursions in London with children.
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The hop-off hop-off bus routes in London are an effective way to get round – the open-top bus is all the time a success with my daughter, and it’s helpful for attending to A to B when you sightsee, if you happen to fancy a break from the tube.
However you’ll additionally discover themed excursions, together with enjoyable choices for teenagers and toddlers, and might even mix a visit with afternoon tea. Should you’re undecided the place to begin, I’ve picked out one of the best London bus excursions with children, plus a few of the finest methods to discover a low cost.
For extra concepts on how to save cash on days out in London with children, try my high ideas
TOOTBus London Hop On Hop Off Tour
With extra freedom and suppleness than continuous bus excursions (best with children), there are two predominant choices in order for you a hop-on hop-off tour of London.
TOOTBus is among the finest bus excursions in London with children, with a fleet of open high buses making 35 stops throughout two jam-packed routes, plus an app for real-time bus info and particulars of close by stops – scroll down for particulars of their different family-friendly excursions too.
The Yellow Route takes you across the West Finish and alongside the River Thames to the Metropolis of London and Tower Bridge. The Blue Route additionally covers the landmarks of the West Finish in central London earlier than travelling additional west to South Kensington, Hyde Park, Notting Hill and Paddington.
There’s presently 15% off Tootbus London Discovery Excursions and Should See London – legitimate to March 31, 2024 (excluding household tickets) Click on right here to ebook
Audio information commentary is on the market onboard, plus there’s a channel only for kids which is specifically designed to seize their consideration all through the journey.
You too can trade your Tesco Clubcard factors for TOOTBus vouchers to ebook your London tour with children.
London bus tour + Thames river cruise
You’ll be able to select both a one, two or three-day possibility for the Should-See London tour ticket, which additionally features a Thames river cruise. A 24-hour ticket prices £42 for adults and £24 for kids (5-15) if you happen to purchase on-line prematurely. Tickets are legitimate for 12 months.
Below 5’s journey without cost and are really useful to take a seat on an grownup’s lap. You’ll be able to carry buggies on board however are requested to maintain them with you – if the bus isn’t busy, you must have the ability to retailer them downstairs, however might have to have the ability to fold them.
London Discovery hop on hop off tour
Or the London Discovery ticket is cheaper at £35/£20 however the River Thames sightseeing cruise will not be included – if you happen to’re trying purely for the hop-on hop-off bus tour of London with children, go for this one.
There’s additionally an awesome 60-minute Christmas lights tour throughout November and December (and the primary few days of January) in addition to a 90-minute London by Night time tour which departs at 7pm, if you happen to fancy seeing town all lit up on a night tour.
Large Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
The opposite predominant possibility for hop-on hop-off bus excursions of London, Large Bus’s Hop-On Hop-Off Tour has open-top sightseeing buses that run often all through the day and allow you to leap on and off at any of their 37 stops across the capital, and embrace a river cruise alongside the Thames.
The excursions additionally characteristic pre-recorded commentary so you possibly can be taught extra concerning the websites you see alongside the way in which, with tickets permitting you to attempt each of the corporate’s three London sightseeing routes.
The Pink Route takes you round London’s most iconic landmarks, from Buckingham Palace and the Homes of Parliament within the west to St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London within the east.
Buses run round each 20 minutes – obtain the app to get reside bus occasions – and permit round two and a half hours for the total route (relying on site visitors).
The Blue Route takes you to discover London’s West Finish, with stops together with Marble Arch, Harrods, Kensington Palace and Notting Hill, and takes round 90 minutes, whereas the Inexperienced Hyperlink route runs between Waterloo and Kings Cross.
Ebook tickets with free cancellation, discover particular presents on Large Bus Excursions if you happen to ebook prematurely, or preserve a watch out for offers on websites akin to Wowcher for some enormous Large Bus reductions, which might make them rather a lot cheaper than the competitors.
London bus tour + Thames river cruise
Their basic 24-hour ticket together with a river cruise prices £31.50 for adults and £22.50 for kids between 5-15. Below 5’s journey without cost. Household tickets are additionally obtainable (2 adults & 2 kids), together with tickets together with further perks akin to an evening tour.
London bus tour + attraction entry
Or try the Large Metropolis Saver ticket if you happen to’re planning to go to London’s Merlin attactions, with choices together with the Large Bus Tour and London Eye entry (for normal entry, in order for you London Eye quick observe entry, you’ll must ebook that individually).
For extra hop-on hop-off bus excursions of London, try Metropolis Sightseeing and Golden Excursions
TOOTBus Youngsters Tour
Tootbus can be one of many few tour corporations within the capital that runs a devoted London children bus tour, aimed particularly at youthful kids.
The Tootbus Youngsters Tour is a brief 45-minute tour that takes you across the websites of London’s West Finish.
From the highest of the double decker bus, you get superb views of well-known sights akin to Large Ben, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus and extra. An enthusiastic information gives reside guided commentary for kids, full of fascinating details and enjoyable tales.
Youngsters excursions run at 2pm each Friday, Saturday and Sunday all year long and each day throughout college holidays, plus there are typically particular Christmas children excursions in December, for a enjoyable festive household day trip in London.
Tickets price £20 for adults and kids, and children beneath 4 go free.
Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Brigit’s Bakery is well-known in London for its themed afternoon tea bus excursions, which embrace seasonal menus together with spooky Halloween teas and festive Christmas teas.
However for youthful children, the massive hit is the Peppa Pig themed afternoon tea bus tour for teenagers, geared toward kids aged two and up.
Together with the colorful interiors, you’ll discover particular tablets on every desk that present a Peppa Pig guided animation of the London tour, plus themed candy and savoury treats, and an exercise ebook for little ones to take residence with them.
The bus additionally has a kids’s rest room (not obtainable on their different excursions) in case of any emergencies. For barely older children, there’s additionally a Paddington Afternoon tea bus tour, geared toward age 5+.
Whilst you get pleasure from your afternoon tea, Brigit’s Bakery classic Routemaster bus takes you on a 90-minute journey across the capital’s most well-known landmarks. Excursions run from Thursday to Sunday every week.
Harry Potter Bus Tour
Harry Potter followers each young and old are certain to like the Wizards London Bus Tour. You’ll spend just a little over three hours travelling round London’s high Harry Potter locations, together with filming places from the films and the muggle websites that impressed JK Rowling’s unique books.
The Wizard Bus Tour takes you previous magical places such because the inspiration for 12 Grimmauld Place, the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron, Gringotts Wizarding Financial institution and extra.
There are additionally a number of picture stops, together with Kings Cross Station the place you possibly can take the enduring picture pushing a trolley by way of the wall at Platform 9 ¾.
Excursions run on Sundays all year long and on Wednesdays throughout college holidays. Should you’re travelling to London by prepare with Nationwide Rail, you possibly can seize 2for1 tickets for the bus tour through the Days Out Scheme.
For extra Harry Potter places in London, try my high picks for followers to go to, together with guided strolling excursions
Ghost Bus Tour
Older kids and youths can get pleasure from listening to darkish tales from London’s previous on this Ghost Bus Tour, the UK’s solely comedy-horror theatre sightseeing expertise on wheels.
On the 75-minute London bus tour, you’ll go to town’s most well-known sights and listen to tales of murders and hauntings that the majority different excursions miss out on. So whether or not you’re an area or simply visiting the capital, you’re assured to be taught one thing new.
You’ll be guided by a reside ‘conductor’, and some thriller friends alongside the way in which, who’re there to verify the interactive tour is a enjoyable, spooky, and memorable expertise for all of the household.
The tour departs from a bus cease on Northumberland Avenue at 19:30 and 21:00 every night – appropriate for kids 5+, though realistically this one’s higher with older children.
Take a look at my overview of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with children, or with out
Classic London Bus tour
Should you’ve obtained your coronary heart set on travelling on one of many basic London Routemaster buses – the normal pink double-decker buses that are so iconic – you’ll must ebook a particular Classic London Bus tour.
The route is designed to begin in central London, boarding at Victoria and passing a few of the metropolis’s iconic sights together with Large Ben and the Homes of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, earlier than letting you be a part of a sightseeing cruise on the River Thames.
After eyeing up extra of town’s sights from the water, you board the bus as soon as extra and drive in direction of Buckingham Palace (though buses can’t go near the monarch’s residence, you possibly can hop off to take photographs). The tour has 5 stops and you will get on and off at any of those.
You too can improve your ticket to access the London Eye and even so as to add a tour to Stonehenge on to a morning tour. Tickets price from £52 for adults.
Create your personal London bus tour with children
Should you’re trying to save cash on a household vacation in London, the most cost effective bus tour in London with children is a DIY possibility.
Taking a trip on a iconic pink double-decker bus is all the time a favorite with children, however you should utilize the common Transport for London routes to see the sights as properly if you happen to select your route fastidiously.
Bus journey is free for teenagers beneath 11 (age 11-15 want a Zip Oyster card to get the free rides, in any other case there’s 50% off if you happen to add the Younger Customer Low cost to a normal Oyster card), and single Hopper fares for folks are £1.75 with limitless journeys inside one hour of touching in together with your Oyster move or contactless card – you possibly can’t purchase a bus ticket whenever you board.
Route 15
Head as much as the highest deck of Route 15 and also you’ll move the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Sq.. On financial institution holidays and at weekends from late March to the top of September, you may even discover the basic Routemaster buses working.
Route 26
Route 26 is one other nice possibility, travelling from Victoria to Horseguards Parade through Westminster Abbey, then on to Trafalgar Sq. and St Paul’s (the previous Route 11 has modified so now not stops right here).
Route 9
Should you’re travelling to the South Kensington museums, route 9 goes from Trafalgar Sq. previous Picadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and Kensington Palace.
Take a look at my ideas for utilizing the London Underground with children right here
PIN FOR LATER: THE BEST BUS TOURS IN LONDON WITH KIDS
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