Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in London
What is the best way of sightseeing in London especially when you’re visiting the city for a couple of days? If you’ve limited time as well as travelling around on a budget then a London hop-on hop-off would be perfect. To catch a glimpse of the key attractions in and around the capital of England book a hop-on hop-off London bus tour.
With a London open-top bus tour, you’ll have complete leeway to discover the most visited sites at your leisure. There are so many places of interest to explore in London that selecting the must-see attractions becomes a challenge particularly when time is limited. And this is exactly when a London double-decker bus tour comes to your aid, enabling you to get more bang for the buck.
You can choose from different London sightseeing bus options including a 1-day, 2-day or 3-day ticket that offers distinct benefits. For instance, there’ll be an audioguide on each city sightseeing London bus offering you detailed information about the momentous landmarks. You’ll also have the option of selecting from four separate London hop-on hop-off bus routes-the blue route, red route, yellow-, and green routes.
Places/Attractions to Explore with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in London
A hop-on-hop-off London open-top double-decker bus tour takes you around the most visited attractions in the city. The hop-on-hop-off London sightseeing bus will drive you around Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and many other distinguished landmarks. A London hop-on hop-off bus trip typically covers the following prime tourist sites:-
1. London Eye
The London Eye is also known as the Millennium wheel is a gigantic Ferris wheel that was built to celebrate the dawn of the 3rd millennium. Located on the Thames’ South Bank, the London Eye attains a height of 443 ft at its zenith and has a span of 394 ft. The colossal revolving wheel offers you stunning views of the cityscape and some of the most famous landmarks such as the Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
A single rotation (equivalent to a trip) of the London Eye takes approximately half an hour.
2. Westminster Abbey
The Westminster Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is essentially a church that was established 1062 years ago in 960. Officially known as the ‘Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster the Westminster Abbey is juxtaposed to the west of the Palace of Westminster. Straddling the Thames’ western bank, the abbey mainly served as a venue for royal weddings, the burial site for British monarchs, and coronations.
The Westminster Abbey functioned as a house of worship till 1560 following which its jurisdiction was passed onto the sovereign monarch. Several other well-known London signposts lie close to the abbey including the Buckingham Palace, Parliament, and the Big Ben.
3. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the governmental headquarters of the sovereign monarch of the UK as well as the ruler’s official residence. Lying in the city of Westminster, the Buckingham Palace by and large serves as a venue for hosting presidents and prime ministers of countries around the world. The palace is a major draw for tourists chiefly because of the ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony which takes place usually at 11.30 a.m.
The palace contains 19 massive rooms that are thrown open for commoners and tourists between July and September.
4. The British Parliament and Big Ben
Officially called the Elizabeth Tower, the Big Ben is a huge bell of the giant clock situated to the Palace of Westminster’s north. Big Ben standing at an imposing height of 316 ft (94 meters) has been chiming since 1859 when its construction was completed. Of the five bells in the tower, the Big Ben is the largest and heaviest bell weighing 13.5 tons.
5. Hyde Park
Of the eight majestic and sprawling parks in London, Hyde Park is one of them, frequented by millions of tourists and locals every day. Hyde Park with a total acreage of about 142 hectares (352 acres) is one of the world’s largest parks. Every day thousands of people flock to the park which contains more than 4000 trees, numerous flower gardens, the Prince of Wales Memorial Fountain, and Serpentine Lake.
Visitors can participate in a wide range of activities inside the park including but not limited to swimming, skating, and cycling.
6. Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public plaza located bang in the middle of the city of Westminster and has served as an important signpost since the 13th century. The public square was named Trafalgar in the early 1800s after the historic Battle of Trafalgar that broke out on 21st October 1805. There are numerous galleries, museums, cultural centers and institutions situated on the perimeter of Trafalgar Square.
The central location of the public square renders the piazza a significant marker, enabling you to conveniently access several tourist attractions.
7. Tower Bridge
Constructed in the years between 1886 and 1894 to provide improved access to East End, the Tower Bridge is a suspension-cum-bascule bridge. The Tower Bridge which lies close to the Tower of London serves as a strategic landmark for the city. This suspension bridge transforms into a bascule bridge or a viaduct for allowing barges and large boats to pass safely.
Visitors can access the bridge’s deck for enjoying sweeping views of the city while the engine rooms, towering walkways, and the twin towers constitute the Tower Bridge exposition.
8. British Museum
The British Museum set up almost 270 years ago (in 1753) and situated in London’s Bloomsbury area permanently houses eight million artifacts. As a public national museum, the British Museum has a huge collection of historical and cultural relics documenting human civilization. The vast compilation of artworks and relics underscores the intellectual development of man right from inception till the present times.
Why Should You Take Hop-On Hop-Off Tour in London?
Following are some good reasons why you should opt for booking a hop-on hop-off London bus tour :-
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Take pleasure in getting majestic and striking vistas of London
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Reasonable ticket price
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Make the most of additional services like night tours and walking tours based on your ticket type (helps save huge on activities)
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Hop-on hop-off as many times you wish to
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Free onboard Wi-Fi
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Free recorded/live audio commentary in multiple languages
Tips to Make Your Hop-On Hop-Off Tour in London Enjoyable
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Stick to exploring less familiar landmarks, smaller museums and attractions (that'll leave you with more time to view additional sites)
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If you’re visiting London for the first time and have just a single day in hand, opt for the red route (that way you’ll be able to cover the main attractions; also red route is the only tour offering a live commentary)
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Spend more time on the bus especially if you’ve taken a little too long to see specific sites like the Tower of London or the British Museum
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Find ways to save on your hop-on hop-off London bus tour like booking a ticket online or buying the London Pass
Best Time to Take Hop-On Hop-Off Tour in London
The opportune time to book a hop-on hop-off tour in London is during the late spring and summer. The weather stays pleasant during these seasons but on the downside, the city is crowded with visitors.
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