I read the old post about the hop on hop off tours - I am going in March and wondering if the tours bus is recommended or just using the oyster card and walking. are there double decker buses with the public bus??

Most TfL buses are double-deckers, although the old Routemasters with the suicide platform have been phased out on all but two "Heritage Routes" (see below). The reason given was that the new design was safer for the passengers, but I harbor the suspicion that they actually did it to get rid of the overhead of having a conductor.

The new public buses are a fine way to see the sights following a bus tour from a guide book (sit in the front row upstairs), but some people appreciate the opportunity to lay out thirty dollars to ride in the open air and have the history spoon-fed to them.

With a one-day bus pass loaded on your Oyster, you can do the whole of Greater London for £3.

<b>Heritage Routes</b>
Bus route 9: between Aldwych and Royal Albert Hall (returning from Prince of Wales Gate)
Bus route 15: between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill

We took one of the hop-on, hop-off tours last year after we arrived in London. Honestly, we were so tired that it was nice to just sit down on the bus and not have to think too much about planning a route. By the time we got to the Tower of London, we were falling asleep, so we got off and walked around a bit.

If we go back, though, I think I would follow Robespierre's advice.

Lee Ann

I too would suggest following Robespierre's advice. I've never understood putting out all that money for the HoHo buses when the city buses cover the same routes and more. With an Oyster or 1 day pass You can get off where you like and save a bunch of money

The H-o-H-o buses are usually better for first-timers. Sure the regular buses do take one to and past all the major sites for <u>much</u> less &pound;&pound;. But the vast majority of first-timers will have absolutely no idea what it is the bus is passing. The H-o-H-o buses have running commentary, and open tops for better views.

I take buses a lot in London - but if I'd not been there before, the H-o-H-o's would be a better way to see things.

I have heard all manner of tourists telling their companions/families that &quot;Ooh look - that bldg over across the street is [such and such]&quot; when in fact it is something completely different.

I take the public bus in London all the time. But like janis says, if this is your first time to London (and esp if you're not familiar with taking public transportation), the HOHO bus will be a better option for you if you don't mind spending the money on it.

Reading the London bus maps and figuring out which stop is for which bus takes a bit of practice.

There are any number of printed tour guides - many of them free - that describe the city's historical sights. Many of them include bus itineraries, such as the excellent AAA Spiral Guide: London

Knowing when to get off the bus consists of watching the annunciator panel in the bus, or reading the name off the bus shelter. The names of the stops are shown on this printable map: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf

i like the hop on and off buses
obviously depends on the city
vienna wasnt as interesting as london
i was in london by myself so the tour was great for me
helped to orientate myself
you got to watch that the history the guide tells you isnt the 'tourguide version' though - it's funny when you do it a couple of times different guides tell you different things and even monuments get different names lol

still
id do it again
if you dont know a city and you just want your hands free to take pics then id recommend it
it was about 16 pounds for an alldayer including a cruise on the thames
that was back in 05