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

London is easiest to grasp when you see it from three angles: street level, river level, and high above the Thames. This package joins an open-top Big Bus, the London Eye, and a one-way river cruise, giving you a useful first look at a very spread-out city.

I like the freedom to hop off at Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, or St Paul’s Cathedral, then continue when you are ready. I also like the London Eye and cruise pairing: one gives you a bird’s-eye view of Big Ben and Westminster, while the boat gives you some of the best views of Tower Bridge. The catch is London traffic. A bus route that looks quick on the map can crawl, and waits can lengthen late in the day.

Key points to know before you go

• Book the London Eye time slot early: Your bus ticket does not automatically give you a boarding time. Reserve the Eye through the Big Bus Manage My Booking portal after booking.
• Use the bus for orientation, not speed: It reaches the major sights, but traffic can make the ride slow.
• The Thames cruise links two excellent stops: Sail one way between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, a trip of about 40 minutes.
• The 48-hour ticket earns its keep: It gives you two days of bus access and includes three guided walks, including Royal, Jack the Ripper, and Harry Potter themes.
• The Big Bus app matters: It shows stop locations, routes, and real-time bus positions, which can save you from standing at the wrong corner.
• The best starting point is by the London Eye: Stop 12 is on Westminster Bridge Road, near the Lion Statue and the London Marriott County Hall.

The best way to use this London combination ticket

At $74 per person, this is not the cheapest way to move around London. The value comes from combining three paid sightseeing experiences with transport between many of the city’s main sights.

A separate London Eye visit, a Thames cruise, and a sightseeing bus can quickly add up. You also get audio commentary in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, plus Wi-Fi and access to the Big Bus app. If you plan to use all three parts, the price is reasonable.

I would choose the 24-hour option if you have one full sightseeing day and want a quick introduction to London. Pick 48 hours if you want to stop at museums, palaces, markets, and landmarks without rushing. The longer ticket also includes three guided walking tours, which makes it the better choice for a first visit lasting several days.

Your ticket is valid for 24 or 48 hours from activation, depending on the option selected. That gives you some flexibility. You can activate it when you first board rather than starting it at the moment of purchase.

Start at Stop 12 beside the London Eye

The recommended starting point is Big Bus Stop 12, beside the Lion Statue on Westminster Bridge Road. This is a practical place to begin because you can connect the bus with the London Eye and Westminster sights.

You can also board at stops near Marble Arch, Victoria Station, or Trafalgar Square. The important thing is to look for the Big Bus vehicles and the marked stops. London has several sightseeing bus companies, so it is easy to wait for the wrong bus if you are not paying attention.

Show your mobile or printed voucher to a Big Bus team member or driver. You can also add the booking to the Big Bus app using the Activity Provider Reference number. I recommend the app. It shows the routes, stop locations, and live bus positions, although the map can take a little getting used to.

The stops are placed near major sights, but they are not always as obvious as you might expect. Stop numbers may not be clearly displayed at every location. Ask the Big Bus staff when in doubt. Staff members are positioned at many stops and can point you in the right direction.

The open-top bus gives you London in one broad sweep

The bus is most useful on your first day, when you want to understand how London fits together. From the upper deck, you can see the fronts of major buildings without spending the day underground or trying to decode the city’s many bus routes.

The main route takes you past:

• Westminster Abbey
• Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
• Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
• Downing Street and Whitehall
• Trafalgar Square
• Piccadilly Circus
• Oxford Street and Regent Street
• Covent Garden
• St Paul’s Cathedral
• the Tower of London
• Tower Bridge
• The Shard and City Hall
• Hyde Park, Mayfair, and Marble Arch
• Kensington Palace and Notting Hill
• Harrods and the South Kensington museums

The digital commentary fills in the sights as you go. It covers the history and landmarks along all three routes, and the supplied headphones let you listen without straining to hear. Some of the commentary is playful, which many people enjoy, though you might find the jokes repetitive during a second complete circuit.

The upper deck is excellent for photographs, especially around Westminster and Tower Bridge. On a rainy day, however, the open top is less appealing. You can still use the bus, but bring a waterproof layer and keep in mind that wet windows and gray skies will affect photos.

Traffic is the main weakness. This is central London, where roads can slow to a crawl near Westminster, Oxford Street, the Tower, and during parades or demonstrations. The bus is a poor choice if you need to reach a timed attraction quickly. Use the Underground or walk when time matters, then return to the sightseeing bus when you want the view and commentary.

Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace: hop off for the landmarks

Westminster is the natural heart of this route. Hop off for Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the broad river views from Westminster Bridge.

The bus gives you a good exterior look, but the ticket does not include entry to Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace. If you want to visit either, allow extra time and arrange any separate admission yourself.

Buckingham Palace is especially easy to combine with the bus. You can use the route to reach the palace area, then walk around Green Park or St James’s Park. The Changing of the Guard is included as a route highlight, but the schedule and public access conditions can vary, so treat it as something to check rather than the sole reason for choosing a particular departure.

The 48-hour ticket’s Royal Walk adds more detail here. It departs from Stop 8 at 10:00. This is a useful choice if you prefer a person-led walk over recorded commentary.

The London Eye is the visual centerpiece

The London Eye is the part of the package you should schedule first. After booking, use the link in your confirmation to reserve a specific time. Do not assume you can simply arrive whenever you like.

The wheel rises above the South Bank, opposite Westminster. From the glass capsule, you get a 360-degree view across central London, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The changing view is the point: you see the river bend through the city, the dense center spread toward the horizon, and landmarks that are harder to understand from street level.

You might enjoy booking a slot near sunset. One particularly smart timing is late afternoon, when you can see London in daylight on the way up and the city lights as the ride continues. Morning can be calmer, too. One useful tip is to go early if you want to reduce the chance of a long queue, even with a reserved time.

The standard admission is one rotation. That is enough to take photographs and get a clear sense of London from above, but do not expect a long ride. The capsules can feel busy around popular times, although the ride itself is managed in an orderly way.

Allow time for the entrance area and security. The Eye is not a quick hop off the bus and back on again if your schedule is tight. Build in a buffer before your reserved slot and do not place it between two attractions with fixed opening times.

Take the Thames cruise from Westminster or Tower Pier

The one-way City Cruises trip runs between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier. It takes about 40 minutes and can be taken in either direction.

If you begin at the London Eye, board at Westminster Pier after your visit. You can then cruise toward Tower Pier, near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. This direction works well because you move from the government center toward the old City and the river’s most dramatic bridge.

You can also do the trip in reverse. Start near the Tower, visit the area, then take the boat back to Westminster. Show the digital or printed cruise ticket to City Cruises staff before boarding.

The Thames gives you a different view of London. From the water, the city’s bridges, river walls, warehouses, towers, and historic buildings make more sense as one connected story. Tower Bridge is particularly photogenic from the boat, and the cruise offers a welcome break after walking and waiting for buses.

There is live commentary aboard the boat. The quality depends partly on who is speaking. Bill, Pasquale, and Dave have been singled out for lively and entertaining commentary on different departures. The boat can be a little less pleasant if you are sensitive to engine fumes, so choose a seat with good ventilation if that affects you.

Cruises generally leave every 15 to 40 minutes in summer and every 30 to 40 minutes in winter. Still, check the current departure information on the day. The boat is an included one-way ride, not an unlimited ferry pass, so choose your direction carefully.

Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and St Paul’s

The route from Westminster toward the Tower takes you through the older commercial heart of London. Hop off for St Paul’s Cathedral, the Monument, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.

The bus gives you a strong overview, but the sights need separate visits if you want to go inside. The Tower of London can take several hours, especially if you want to see its main exhibits, so do not try to squeeze it into a short hop-off break.

Tower Bridge works better as a shorter stop. You can walk across it, photograph its towers, and continue by bus or boat. The Thames cruise is especially useful here because it lets you see the bridge from below and from the river approach.

St Paul’s is another major stop with a large time commitment if you enter. If your schedule is tight, stay on the bus for the exterior view and save the interior for another visit. This is where the 48-hour pass helps: you can use one day for a broad circuit and the next for selected stops.

What the 48-hour ticket adds

The 48-hour option includes three guided walks:

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

These walks give you more than a passing view from a bus window. The Harry Potter walk has been praised for its clear explanation and appeal to children, and guide Lea has led it. It also lets you see a good portion of the city on foot.

The walks run at set times, so you cannot treat them as completely flexible. If you choose one, plan the bus and London Eye around it. The 48-hour pass is especially useful for families and first-time visitors who want both a broad city overview and a few themed walks.

Timing, accessibility, and practical details

All buses have ramps for wheelchair users, and the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Infants under two travel free.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You make your own way to a Big Bus stop, then use the network from there. That is normal for a city sightseeing pass, but it matters if your hotel is far from central London or if you are traveling with a tired family.

The buses usually make the most sense during daylight. Some operating hours may feel short for London, especially in winter, and one practical limitation is that you cannot count on sightseeing buses late into the evening. Plan your final ride before you need to return to your accommodation.

Public events can change the route. Parades, protests, road closures, and Underground disruptions have all affected bus travel. During diversions, you might need to walk to another stop or find a different way back. The app helps, but it cannot remove the traffic problem.

Who should book this package?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors, families, and anyone with one or two days who wants to see the main sights without planning every connection. It is also a good fit if you enjoy commentary and photography more than rushing from one indoor attraction to another.

The package is less suitable if you already know London well, prefer public transport, or need to move quickly between distant neighborhoods. The Tube will usually beat the sightseeing bus for speed. The bus earns its place when you want to look around as you travel.

The strongest plan is to use the bus for orientation, schedule the London Eye early or near sunset, and take the river cruise between Westminster and Tower Pier. If you have 48 hours, add one guided walk and use the second day for the Tower, St Paul’s, a museum, or Buckingham Palace.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want one simple ticket covering London’s main sights by road, river, and sky. The London Eye and Thames cruise make the $74 price easier to justify, while the bus gives you flexible access to a long list of central landmarks.

Skip it if your priority is fast transport or if you dislike fixed attraction times. For most first visits, though, it is a practical way to get your bearings, collect memorable views, and save the planning for the moments that matter.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

You can choose a 24-hour or 48-hour Big Bus ticket. The ticket is valid for the selected period after activation.

Is the London Eye included?

Yes. Entry to the London Eye is included, but you must reserve a specific time slot after booking through the Big Bus Manage My Booking portal.

Where can I board the Big Bus?

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

Is the Thames cruise included?

Yes. Each ticket includes one one-way cruise between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, in either direction. The trip takes about 40 minutes.

How often do the river cruises run?

Cruises depart every 15 to 40 minutes in summer and every 30 to 40 minutes in winter, subject to the current operating schedule.

Are walking tours included?

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

Can wheelchair users take this tour?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to a Big Bus stop or to Westminster Pier or Tower Pier for the river cruise.