London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

The best feature here is the three-part view of London: from an open-top bus, from the top of the London Eye, and from the Thames. You can cover a lot of ground without planning every Underground connection, then hop off when a palace, museum, or market catches your eye.

I like the flexibility of the 24-hour and 48-hour bus tickets, and I like the river cruise for giving you a fine look at Tower Bridge and the riverfront from a different angle. The main caution is traffic. A bus ride that looks quick on the map can crawl, especially near central London or during a parade, protest, or road closure.

Key points at a glance

• Three ways to see London: Take in the city by open-top bus, from the London Eye, and along the Thames.
• Start where it suits you: Board at any Big Bus stop, with the London Eye stop at Westminster Bridge a practical starting point.
• Book the Eye early: Your bus voucher does not automatically give you a London Eye time. Reserve a slot after booking.
• Use the 48-hour ticket wisely: It adds three guided walks, including Royal, Jack the Ripper, and Harry Potter routes.
• Expect traffic delays: The buses are excellent for sightseeing and orientation, but not always fast transport.
• Track your ride: The Big Bus app shows stops and real-time bus locations, which makes the network much easier to use.

Why this London combination works

At $74 per person, this is not simply a bus ticket. You are paying for a 24-hour or 48-hour sightseeing pass, entry to the London Eye, and a one-way Thames cruise. The value improves if you use the bus several times and make good use of the included attractions.

I see this as a particularly useful first-day plan. London can feel scattered at first. Westminster, the West End, the City, the Tower, South Kensington, and Notting Hill each have a different character, and the bus routes connect them in a way that helps you understand the city.

The bus is not the cheapest way to get from one address to another. The Tube usually wins for speed. But the open top gives you a running introduction to London, with audio commentary in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. You can look up instead of looking at a transit map.

The package has a rating of 4.4 from 5,332 reviews, which fits the experience well: the attractions are strong, the app and staff help, and the biggest weakness is the effect of London traffic on the bus schedule.

Start at Westminster and get your bearings

Stop 12, the London Eye on Westminster Bridge Road, is a sensible place to begin. It is beside the Lion Statue, outside the London Marriott County Hall, and close to both the Eye and Westminster Pier.

Starting here lets you combine the three main pieces without much backtracking. You can ride the London Eye, board a bus for Westminster and Buckingham Palace, and later take the boat from Westminster Pier toward Tower Pier.

The bus routes also serve useful starting points at Marble Arch, Victoria Station, and Trafalgar Square. You may board at any Big Bus stop, but check the stop location carefully. London has many sightseeing buses, and the Big Bus vehicles are cream and dark red. A few stops can be confusing, especially if you are arriving from a major station.

The open upper deck is the best place for clear views and photographs on a dry day. In poor weather, the lower deck provides shelter, though your view will be less open. Complimentary headphones are supplied, and every bus has free Wi-Fi.

The London Eye, London from above

The London Eye is the centerpiece for many people, and the timing matters. You must pre-book a time slot after buying the package through the Big Bus Manage My Booking portal. The link is sent with your confirmation.

Do not treat the Eye as a walk-up extra. Secure your preferred time before you arrive, then reach the boarding area early. One useful strategy is to book the first available morning slot, when queues can be lighter. Another is late afternoon, when you may rise in daylight and return as London begins to glow after sunset.

The ride makes one full rotation. From the glass capsule, you get a broad view of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames, and the central city. The height gives you a sense of how Westminster fits into London, something that is hard to grasp from street level.

The standard experience can still involve a busy queue, but the boarding process is described as orderly, and the capsules are not necessarily packed once you are inside. Give yourself time for the attraction itself, photographs, and the walk back to your bus stop or pier.

The Eye is worth more to a first-time visitor than to someone who has already had a similar high city view. It is also a good choice for families. The ride is calm, easy to understand, and gives children a clear visual tour of the city without a long museum visit.

Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace

The red and blue Big Bus routes pass the heavyweight sights of Westminster. You will see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, with Westminster Abbey nearby. The bus is useful here because these sights are close together but spread along busy roads.

You can hop off to walk around Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey. This ticket does not include Abbey admission, so plan on seeing the outside unless you purchase a separate entry ticket.

From Westminster, the route continues toward Buckingham Palace, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, and Harrods. If the Changing of the Guard is a priority, check the schedule for the day and allow extra time. The bus may be affected by police controls, crowds, or road closures around palace events.

Whitehall and 10 Downing Street add political London to the route, while Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, and Oxford Street shift the mood to shops, theaters, and city life. Trafalgar Square makes another useful hop-off point, with Covent Garden and the British Museum within reach on foot or by another bus connection.

I would not try to visit every listed sight in one day. Use the first bus circuit to mark the places you want to return to, then spend your second circuit hopping off selectively.

The Thames cruise from Westminster to Tower Pier

The one-way Thames cruise takes about 40 minutes between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, in either direction. Boats leave roughly every 15 to 40 minutes in summer and every 30 to 40 minutes in winter, though conditions and operating changes can affect the service.

You need to download the City Cruises ticket and show it to staff at Westminster Pier or Tower Pier. The cruise is not a round trip, so decide which direction fits your day.

I prefer using it from Tower Pier back toward Westminster after seeing the Tower of London. This gives you a relaxed ride toward the Houses of Parliament, with the river opening up the city. Going east from Westminster is just as useful if you want to reach the Tower, Tower Bridge, and the City.

Tower Bridge is one of the best sights from the water. You also get a different look at the Shard, City Hall, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the riverfront buildings. The boat gives your feet a break after walking and bus riding.

The live commentary adds character. Bill has been singled out for making the journey especially entertaining, while Pasquale is known for lively commentary, and Dave has also made the cruise memorable. The style can vary by crew, but the live narration is a pleasant change from recorded audio.

There are practical limits. A boat cancellation is possible, and engine fumes may bother anyone sensitive to them. Check the departure board before building a tight schedule around the cruise.

The bus routes and the sights beyond Westminster

The ticket covers three Big Bus routes, giving you access to more than the central royal sights. The City route reaches the Bank of England, Monument, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, and City Hall.

This is where the bus works best as a sightseeing ride rather than a commuter service. Traffic can turn a short journey into a long one, but you are looking at the streets and listening to the commentary instead of standing in an Underground tunnel.

The route also reaches the London Dungeon and Sea Life London Aquarium. These attractions are not included in the package, but the bus can make them easier to fit into a day with other stops.

The green route serves places such as the British Museum, Marble Arch, Mayfair, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Harrods, and the South Kensington museums. Kensington Palace and Notting Hill add another side of London, though you should allow plenty of time if you plan to hop between distant areas.

The audio commentary is generally informative and covers all three routes. Some listeners enjoy the jokes and banter, while others may find the recorded humor repetitive after several hours. Bring your own plug-in headphones if you have them, especially for children, since the supplied earbuds may not fit small ears well.

How to plan one day

A one-day plan needs discipline. Start with a pre-booked London Eye slot, ideally in the morning. Then take the bus through Westminster toward Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

Hop off for a short walk around Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, or St James’s Park. Reboard and continue toward the Tower of London, but keep an eye on the clock. If traffic is heavy, do not spend the whole day riding from one end of the route to the other.

A better afternoon plan is to use the bus to reach the Tower area, walk around the outside of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, then take the river cruise back to Westminster. If the boat schedule changes, you still have the bus as a backup.

You will not see every attraction properly in one day. You will, however, get a useful city overview, a high viewpoint, and a river ride. That is a fair trade for a first look at London.

How the 48-hour ticket earns its keep

The 48-hour option gives you breathing room. You can use one day for Westminster, the London Eye, and the Thames, then reserve the second day for the City, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, museums, or Notting Hill.

It also includes a choice of three guided walking tours:

• Royal Walk: Departs from Stop 8 at 10:00.
• Jack the Ripper Walk: Departs from Stop 19 at 13:00.
• Harry Potter Walk: Departs from Stop 21 at 16:00.

These walks are included only with the 48-hour ticket. The Harry Potter walk has been especially good for families, and guide Lea has been praised for making it informative and enjoyable for children.

The 48-hour pass is also useful because the bus validity begins when you first activate and board, rather than necessarily when you purchase it. That gives you more control if you arrive late in the day.

I would choose 48 hours if you have two sightseeing days, want to use the bus as a gentle alternative to the Tube, or plan to join one of the walks. If you only have a few hours, the extra day will not add much.

The Big Bus app and real-world timing

Download the Big Bus app before you set out. It shows stop locations, route information, and real-time bus tracking. The live map can tell you how many minutes remain until the next bus, which is far more useful than guessing from a printed timetable.

The app takes a little getting used to. Stop numbers are not always obvious, and the map can be difficult to follow at first. Look for the marked Big Bus sign and ask a street representative if you are unsure.

Most of the time, staff at busy stops can point you in the right direction. They also help when a route changes. Still, allow extra time for traffic, especially late afternoon.

Do not rely on the last bus for a must-make connection. Service hours can feel short when London gives you too much to see, and some buses finish around early evening. Parades, protests, celebrations, and diversions can force you off sooner than expected or send you on a long walk to another stop.

Who will get the most from this ticket

This package suits first-time visitors, families, older visitors, and anyone who wants a simple introduction to London without planning every journey. It is also useful during a Tube strike or when you prefer to stay above ground.

You will get the most value if you:

• Use the bus for several rides, not just one circuit
• Pre-book the London Eye promptly
• Add the Thames cruise to an area you already plan to visit
• Choose the 48-hour ticket for the walking tours
• Keep your schedule loose enough to absorb traffic delays

It is less suitable if you need fast transport between appointments. It is also less appealing if you already know central London well and plan to visit indoor attractions all day. In that case, a regular transit payment method may be cheaper and quicker.

The package is wheelchair accessible, with ramps on all buses. Infants under two travel free. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you make your own way to the first stop, pier, and attractions.

Should you book the London Eye, bus, and cruise package?

Book it if you are new to London and want the city explained from three angles without juggling separate reservations. The London Eye and cruise add real value to the bus ticket, and the 48-hour version is a strong choice for a two-day visit.

Choose the 24-hour option if your schedule is tight and you mainly want the major sights. Choose 48 hours if you want the walking tours, more time at the Tower and museums, or a slower pace.

My main advice is simple: reserve the London Eye early, download the app, and treat the bus as sightseeing rather than speedy transport. With those expectations, this is an efficient and enjoyable way to get your first feel for London.

FAQ

How long is the bus ticket valid?

You receive either a 24-hour or 48-hour Big Bus hop-on, hop-off ticket, depending on the option selected.

Do I need to reserve a London Eye time?

Yes. You must pre-book a time slot after booking the package. Instructions and a link to the Big Bus Manage My Booking portal are provided with your confirmation.

Where can I board the bus?

You can board at any Big Bus stop during operating hours. Suggested starting points include the London Eye, Marble Arch, Victoria Station, and Trafalgar Square. Stop 12 at the London Eye is recommended as a practical starting point.

Where does the Thames cruise travel?

The one-way cruise runs between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, in either direction, and takes about 40 minutes.

Are walking tours included?

Walking tours are included only with the 48-hour ticket. The choices are the Royal Walk, Jack the Ripper Walk, and Harry Potter Walk.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All buses have ramps for wheelchair users, and the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.