Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Big Bus or Originl Tour ?

Search

Big Bus or Originl Tour ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 08:30 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Big Bus or Originl Tour ?

I plan to buy a ticket for a sightseeing in London. I could find two :
Big Bus ( free walk tours )
http://www.bigbustours.com/uk/html/uk_our_tours.html
and The Original Tour ( cheaper )
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour_information/

Which one is better ?
Thanks
Claudia
Claudia_Cruz is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 09:11 AM
  #2  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,244
Likes: 0
We did Big Bus and were very happy. Their walking tour was great, too.
Budman is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 09:17 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Thanks for the beer Budman. I´ll need one for sure ... I could not find how late the tours run ... Do you happen to know ? I´m considering a walk tours as well, but since my English is not very good I´m afraid it won´t work ... Which walk toura did you go ?
Claudia_Cruz is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 09:25 AM
  #4  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,244
Likes: 0
We did the GHOSTS BY GASLIGHT - The Spooky London Pub Crawl. As I recall, it lasted more than 1.5 hours. We stopped at, I believe, 3 pubs on the way, and one when it was over.
Budman is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 09:29 AM
  #5  
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Both times in London we did Big Bus tour which was great. Enjoy.
kprins is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 09:30 AM
  #6  
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Forgot one more thing. We purchased our tickets online which saved 2 pounds each.
kprins is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 03:01 PM
  #7  
MaureenB
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
For a less expensive option, simply purchase a day-pass on the bus and the tube. We had no problem finding our way around, even being first-time visitors to London. It's cheaper and the buses probably run later into the evening. Just a thought. Do try to take a Thames river cruise one evening as the sun sets.
 
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 05:27 PM
  #8  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,244
Likes: 0
I think the commentary alone was well worth taking the Bus, especially listening to some of the humor of some of the narrators joking about the sites we passed as well as providing a bit of local history.
Budman is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2005 | 05:32 PM
  #9  
lyb
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 0
I agree with Budman, the commentary by the tour guides on the Big Bus were very informative and something you wouldn't get on a regular bus. Of course, I wouldn't use the Big Bus as a mode of transportation, but for me the first in London, it was a great way to see the whole town in one day and to get history background on the sites.....the guide was very humorous....and quite cute.
lyb is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2005 | 02:26 AM
  #10  
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Although the Big Bus tour has the advantage of a person giving the commentary, Claudia may prefer the Original Tour which has the opportunity to plug into a Spanish commentary
londonengland is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2005 | 04:29 AM
  #11  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,244
Likes: 0
As I recall, Big Bus had plug ins for French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, and Portuguese.
Budman is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2005 | 06:07 AM
  #12  
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Yes, both two have Spanish commentary but it's a recorded one so I don't think it is as funny and informative as the live one in English. That's one of the reasons I am doubtful to take it for my trip (I hate headphones )
My other reason is my problems climbing stairs and whether the access to the buses is the same as in normal buses which seems to be easier, I really don't know because I haven't seen them.
kenderina is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2005 | 07:15 AM
  #13  
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
A problem with climbing stairs would preclude sitting outside on top, which is the principal added value the tours offer.

If sitting downstairs with a guide book rather than upstairs with an audio tour (live or recorded) is necessary, then creating one's own tour becomes an attractive alternative.

With a one- or seven-day Bus Pass (£3/11) and a bus map having the sights clearly marked (see link), it is possible to follow an itinerary at one's own pace.

<b>http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/cen_bus.pdf
</b>
Robespierre is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2005 | 07:34 AM
  #14  
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Thank you very much, Robespierre That is the answer I needed.
kenderina is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gabi895
Europe
32
Feb 12th, 2009 05:38 AM
momplaygroup
Europe
17
Jun 1st, 2006 04:10 PM
Kris
Europe
5
Oct 11th, 2002 10:49 AM
Barbara
Europe
4
Aug 20th, 2002 05:43 PM
jun
Europe
11
Jun 15th, 2002 10:59 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -