Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London

The rare treat here is the Buckingham Palace State Rooms, open to the public for only about three months each year. Before entering the palace, you sweep through central London by classic red Routemaster bus, then see the city from the Thames and finish among royal chandeliers and priceless furnishings.

I like the efficient mix of transport and sights, especially the morning start, which can help you reach the Changing of the Guard before the streets fill up. I also like the freedom inside the palace: your guide gets you to the entrance, then you explore at your own pace with an audio guide. The catch is the three-hour break between the morning sightseeing and your 2:30 pm palace entry, which can disrupt other plans.

Key points to know before booking

• 1960s Routemaster ride: See central London from an open-top vintage bus, with a closed bus used rarely in bad weather.
• Thames cruise included: Spend about 30 minutes on the river with views of St. Paul’s, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Parliament.
• Buckingham Palace entry: Walk into the State Rooms independently after your guide escorts you to the entrance.
• Early start: Meet at Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 am, a useful time for seeing central London before the heaviest crowds.
• Long midday gap: The palace ticket is booked for 2:30 pm, so plan several hours between the morning tour and palace entry.
• Strong guide element: Guides such as Nick, Alan, Mark, and an Irish guide have been praised for humor, stories, and clear explanations, though the quality can vary.

A fast, broad introduction to London

This is a sightseeing sampler rather than a slow, single-site tour. In roughly five and a half hours, you use three classic London viewpoints: a vintage bus, a river boat, and your own two feet around Buckingham Palace.

That makes the tour especially useful if you have only a day or two in London. You get a first look at the city’s ceremonial heart, the Thames corridor, and the royal district without spending the whole morning figuring out public transport and routes.

The trade-off is pace. You are collecting views and short stops, not spending hours inside each attraction. The Tower of London appears as part of the route and river setting, but its Crown Jewels and Beefeaters are not part of your admission. Westminster Abbey is a photo stop outside, and admission is not included there.

The tour accepts up to 50 people, so this is not a tiny private outing. A good guide can make a large group feel lively and organized, while a less engaged guide can make the bus portion feel like a basic city circuit. The guide is an important part of the value.

Starting at Victoria Coach Station

You meet at Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 am and make your own way there. The meeting point is central and close to public transportation, but leave extra time to find the correct bay.

One specific warning matters here: the instructions have caused confusion when the assigned bay changed from Bay 0 to Bay 19. Ask station staff if the bus is not immediately obvious, and check your confirmation on the morning of departure. A stressful scramble before sunrise is an unnecessary way to begin a sightseeing day.

Once aboard, be ready for an open-top ride. London weather can change quickly, so bring a waterproof layer even when the forecast looks kind. On rare occasions, the vintage open-top bus is replaced by a closed-top vehicle. You still see the city, but the classic bus experience and clear upper-deck views are less certain.

The bus itself is part of the appeal. A 1960s Routemaster is not simply transport from one attraction to another. Its red body and open upper deck are closely tied to London’s public image, and the ride gives you a nostalgic way to get your bearings.

Trafalgar Square, Westminster, and Big Ben

The first part covers the landmark-packed center of London. You see Trafalgar Square, with Nelson’s Column and its fountains, then continue toward Westminster.

Trafalgar Square is a fine orientation point because it connects several major parts of central London. Your guide can place the surrounding streets and monuments in context while you watch the city move around you. Do not expect a long walking stop here, though. The focus is on seeing the major sights from the bus and hearing stories along the way.

The route continues past the Houses of Parliament and the famous clock tower that houses Big Ben. The name Big Ben properly refers to the bell, but the tower is the image most people come to photograph. From the bus, you get a quick view rather than a detailed architectural visit.

Westminster Abbey is a 15-minute photo stop outside, with no admission included. This is enough for a useful exterior look and a few photographs, but not enough to see the coronation church’s interior. If Westminster Abbey is high on your list, plan a separate visit on another day or before your booking.

The morning schedule can also work well for the Changing of the Guard. Some departures have arrived in time to see several parts of the military ceremony, while traffic can always affect timing. Treat it as a welcome bonus, not a guarantee. The early start gives you a better chance than a late-morning visit, but London traffic remains London traffic.

The Thames from Tower Bridge to the London Eye

At the river, you leave the bus and board a sightseeing boat for about 30 minutes. This is a short cruise, but it changes your view of London in a useful way.

From the water, you can see the massive dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and newer landmarks such as the London Eye. The river puts the city’s old and new landmarks into one frame. Keep your camera ready, since the boat portion moves quickly.

The cruise is not a guided visit to the Tower of London. You see the fortress from the outside and understand its position beside the river, but there is no entry to the Crown Jewels or the rooms inside. The same applies to Tower Bridge: you see this iconic crossing from the river, but the bridge exhibition is not included.

Several people have found the boat to be one of the most pleasant parts of the day. I can see why. After the traffic and commentary of the bus, half an hour on the Thames gives you room to look, take photographs, and reset before the palace visit.

Still, expectations matter. If you want a long, leisurely river trip with extensive commentary, this cruise may feel brief. The schedule is designed to connect major sights, not replace a dedicated Thames cruise.

The afternoon at Buckingham Palace

After the river portion, you continue by bus toward Buckingham Palace. Your guide walks you to the entrance, confirms the route, and then says goodbye. Guides are not permitted to accompany you inside, so the palace visit is self-guided.

Your pre-booked entry is set for 2:30 pm. Inside, you follow an audio-guided tour of the State Rooms, the grand public rooms used for official occasions. Expect glittering chandeliers, lavish furnishings, and works from the Royal Collection.

This is the tour’s strongest admission. The State Rooms are not open throughout the year, so the limited seasonal opening gives the visit a special edge. You are seeing the formal rooms rather than the private working areas of the royal residence, but the scale and decoration make this more than a quick photo stop.

The palace segment lasts about two hours. That gives you time to move through the rooms without the guide rushing you from one display to the next. The audio guide also lets you control the pace, which is a nice contrast to the timed bus and cruise sections.

There are strict rules inside. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the State Rooms, and photography, video recording, and filming are prohibited, including use of wearable devices for non-commercial purposes. Put the camera away and pay attention to the rooms themselves. At the end, you exit Buckingham Palace on Buckingham Palace Road and continue independently.

The palace also has a cafe where you might stop for tea and dessert after the tour, along with a shop carrying royal souvenirs. Those purchases are not included, of course, but they can turn the final part of the afternoon into a pleasant, unhurried finish.

How the schedule affects your day

The advertised duration is about five hours and 30 minutes, but the day is split into a morning sightseeing section and an afternoon palace visit. The several-hour gap is the detail most likely to affect your plans.

You cannot simply finish the bus and river sections, then enter Buckingham Palace whenever you like. The palace ticket is booked for 2:30 pm. If you already have a lunch reservation, theater booking, or another timed attraction, the gap may force you to rearrange it.

The break is not entirely a problem. You can use it for lunch, a rest at your hotel, or independent sightseeing near Westminster, Victoria, or St. James’s. You are responsible for filling the time and returning to the palace entrance on schedule.

Some people have found the transition too rushed, particularly when trying to reach the palace on time after the bus and boat. Others have liked receiving palace entry on their own, since it allows more freedom once inside. My advice is simple: do not add another fixed appointment during the break unless you have plenty of leeway.

You should also expect a moderate level of physical activity. You will board and leave vehicles, walk between transport points and attractions, stand during parts of the day, and spend time on your feet inside the palace. Comfortable shoes matter more than dressy ones.

Guides can shape the whole experience

The strongest accounts of this tour give much of the credit to the guides. Nick has been praised for theatrical storytelling, Alan for wit and clear facts, and a Scottish guide named Mark for giving the group the practical information it needed. Another guide, an older man with silver hair and a pink duster, was remembered for humor and care with the group.

Those details tell you what a good departure feels like: not just a list of dates, but stories that help you notice what you are seeing. A lively guide can make a traffic delay less painful and help you understand why Trafalgar Square, Westminster, the Thames, and the palace matter.

Guide quality is not perfectly consistent. One departure had a guide who repeatedly complained about working on his day off, which understandably hurt the mood. Another felt rushed and under-explained during the cruise. You should book this knowing that the guide is a major variable.

The bus driver also matters. Driving a large vintage bus through central London takes skill, particularly around cyclists and tight streets. One especially well-regarded driver was praised for handling the vehicle with confidence and still keeping the group on schedule.

Is $59 a good value?

At $59, the package includes the vintage bus tour, local guide, 30-minute Thames cruise, and Buckingham Palace State Rooms admission. That is a fair price for a first look at London, especially because palace entry is the costly and seasonal centerpiece.

The value is best if you would otherwise pay separately for a city sightseeing tour, a short river cruise, and palace admission. You also save time by linking them in one booking, although the schedule has less flexibility than arranging each visit yourself.

The price is less attractive if you want depth. You do not enter Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London, and the river cruise is brief. A visitor who already knows central London may prefer to spend the same day inside one major attraction rather than moving quickly among several.

For a first-time visitor, I think the combination earns its price. You see many famous places, hear local stories, and finish at one of London’s hardest-to-time seasonal attractions. The package works best as an orientation day, not as your only exploration of London.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this for a first London visit, a short stay, or a family group that wants several major sights without a complicated transport plan. It also suits anyone visiting during the Buckingham Palace State Rooms opening period who wants a ticket tied into a larger city tour.

It is a good match if you enjoy guided context in the morning but prefer to explore an important interior at your own pace. The mix of transport keeps the day varied, and the early start can help you see central London before the biggest crowds.

I would hesitate if you dislike fixed schedules, long gaps, or large groups. It is also a poor fit if your main goals are an interior visit to Westminster Abbey, the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, or a long Thames cruise.

Final verdict: book it for breadth, not depth

Book this tour if you want a practical taste of London with Buckingham Palace as the main prize. The vintage bus gives the morning character, the Thames provides a refreshing change of view, and the State Rooms offer the most substantial visit of the day.

Skip it if you need a tightly packed half-day with no waiting period or if you prefer to explore every landmark in detail. Before booking, check the meeting bay, prepare for rain, keep the 2:30 pm palace entry free, and plan something flexible for the midday gap. With those details handled, $59 buys a useful and memorable introduction to the capital.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TP. The meeting time is 7:45 am, and hotel pickup is not included.

Where does the tour finish?

The experience finishes at Buckingham Palace Road after you exit Buckingham Palace. You make your own way back to your hotel or continue sightseeing.

What transport is included?

The tour includes a 1960s vintage Routemaster bus and a Thames River sightseeing cruise. The bus is normally open-top, but it may rarely be replaced by a closed-top bus in poor weather.

Is entry to Buckingham Palace included?

Yes. Admission to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms is included, with entry booked for 2:30 pm. You enter independently after your guide walks you to the palace entrance, and an audio guide is provided inside.

Are Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London included?

No. Westminster Abbey is an exterior photo stop lasting about 15 minutes, and admission is not included. The Tower of London is viewed during the route and river cruise, but entry is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refundable.