Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sentially the same route but with recorded narration, a kids' soundtrack option, and a stop at
Madame Tussauds; bus marked with a red triangle). Other routes include the blue-triangle
MuseumTour (connectingfar-flungmuseumsandmajorshoppingstops),andgreen,black,
and purple triangle routes (linking major train stations to the central route). All routes are
covered by the same ticket. Keep it simple and just take one of the city highlights tours
(£26, £22 with this topic, limit four discounts per book, they'll rip off the corner of this
page—raise bloody hell if the staff or driver won't honor this discount; also online deals,
info center at 17 Cockspur Street, tel. 020/8877-1722, www.theoriginaltour.com ) .
Big Bus London Tours
For £29 (up to 30 percent discount online—requires printer), you get the same basic over-
view tours: Red buses come with a live guide, while the blue route has a recorded narra-
tion and a one-hour longer path that goes around Hyde Park. These pricier Big Bus tours
tend to have better, more dynamic guides than the Original tours, and more departures
as well—meaning shorter waits for those hopping on and off (daily 8:30-18:00, winter
until 16:30, info center at 48 Buckingham Palace Road, tel. 020/7233-9533,
www.bigbustours.com ).
London by Night Sightseeing Tour
This tour offers a 1.5-hour circuit, but after hours, with no extras (e.g., walks, river cruises),
and at a lower price. While the narration can be pretty lame, the views at twilight are
grand—though note that it stays light until late on summer nights, and London just doesn't
do floodlighting as well as, say, Paris (£19, £15 online). From June through late September,
open-top buses depart at 19:00, 20:00, 20:45, 21:30, 22:10, and 22:55 from Victoria Station
(Jan-May and late Sept-late Dec departs at 19:00, 20:45, and 22:10 only with closed-top
bus, no tours between Christmas and New Year). Buses leave from near Victoria Station (in
front of Grosvenor Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road; or you can board at any stop, such
as Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, or Tower of London; tel. 020/8545-6110,
www.london-by-night.net ). For a memorable and economical evening, munch a scenic pic-
nic dinner on the top deck. (There are plenty of take-away options within the train stations
and near the various stops.)
▲▲▲ Walking Tours
Several times a day, top-notch local guides lead (sometimes big) groups through specific
slicesofLondon'spast.LookforbrochuresatTIsoraskathotels,althoughthelatterusually
push higher-priced bus tours. Time Out, the weekly entertainment guide, lists some, but not
all, scheduled walks. Check with the various tour companies by phone or online to get their
full picture.
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