There are so many touring options for the visitor to London. The most common way to get a quick overview of the more popular attractions London has to offer is to join a coach tour for an orientation, then return later on your own to places you'd like to examine more leisurely.
Alternatively, some companies offer an unlimited hop-on, hop-off services. With these, you can get off at an attraction, then hop on a later coach when you've done sightseeing, all for the price of one ticket (current prices run about £12 for an adult ticket).
Coach and Bus Tours
Harrods in Knightsbridge offers a 90-minute coach tour around the city (recommended by Britain Express columnist Frederic Davies). Sign up at the store.
The Big Bus Company offers double-decker bus tours featuring hop-off service. They also have an all-night service if you just can't wait to see the sights after you arrive (or you are suffering from jet-lag and your body hasn't caught up to local time).
The Original London Sightseeing Tour has a similar hop-on/off service to the Big Bus company. They are on the web at www.theoriginaltour.com. For a more custom-made experience, Timebus offers tours tailored to your interests using refurbished London buses, both double and single-decker versions.
Convenient places to board these tours include St. Martins-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, Baker Street underground station, Haymarket Street just off Piccadilly Circus, and opposite Victoria Station at Grosvenor Gardens.
Other options
Walking Tours - details in our Walking in London section.
River Tours - details in our London Waterways section.
Taxi Tours - Some companies offer you the chance to tour London in a black taxi, or use one for a personalised shopping trip. Some of these touring taxis are "open-top" versions. Try the London Tours web site for details of tours by taxi.
Helicopter Tours - Here's something different; Redhill Helicopters offer a spectacular tour of London from above, leaving from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, near Gatwick Airport.
