hop on and off busses...quick question
 

I was planning to use these busses for my first full day in london to get an overview of whats where.<BR><BR>Is there any main tourist thingy that I will not get to see using these buses? I don't mind walking a bit either.<BR><BR>And just to clarify, if I don't hop off then it'll take about 2 hours for the complete circuit and then get off where i got on right?

On the Big Bus Tour there are two routes; each taking about 2 hours. You won't miss much - at least as far as seeing things as you pass. It's a good idea to keep your map handy if you want to orient yourself. It also makes a huge difference whether you're on top or inside. One rainy day we were inside and saw a fraction as much.

What companies do you recommend?

JJ I've only been on Big Bus. There is also the Original Bus Tours. My understanding is that the Big Bus has a live commentary (with lots of jokes thrown in) and the Original Bus has a taped commentary. The both seem to have the same general routes and share stops.

Best advice I received re hop ons was to forget them. Two city buses - the red double deckers - pass by most tourist attractions. You can hop on, off with an all day ticket costing less than 5lbs vs. 15 lbs for the commercial tour bus. With jet lag, you'll probably fall asleep on whatever bus you take. Here's some specifics from a prior helpful poster.<BR><BR>Rather than attempting to orient yourself to London by taking a commercial tour bus with a bunch of other tourists from Idaho, Hong Kong and Sydney, first pick up a copy of the A-Z Visitors’ London Atlas and Guide. It’s about the size of a postcard and less than half an inch thick, but it lists every major attraction in London, opening and closing hours and nearest underground station. It also has a superbly detailed set of maps that identify every street, attraction on it, underground stations and bus routes identified by street. It’s available at bookstores, tourist information offices and most newstands. Now, purchase a London transport ticket for Zone 1and 2 (where almost all of the attractions are located). Costs will range from 4 pounds for a daily pass to 6 pounds for a week end pass. The passes allow you to hop on or off buses as you see fit. With A-Z Guide in hand, you have a couple of inexpensive sightseeing options. At Victoria Station, board one of the red enclosed double decker London Transport buses marked “11 Liverpool Street Station”. Sit up top up front. You’ll drive past Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, up Whitehall past 10 Downing Street, Horse Guards and Banqueting Hall to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, then onto the Strand past the Courtauld Institute, to Fleet Street and the Royal Courts of Justice, and on to St. Paul’s Cathedral. As an alternate, at Paddington Station or Marble Arch, board the city bus marked “15 Canningtown” and ride down Oxford Street past Selfridge’s department store to Oxford Circus then down Regent Street past Liberty’s and Josiah Wedgewood to Piccadilly Circus and on to Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s and the Tower of London. Get on and off as frequently as you please, your ticket is good all day. By combining both bus rides you will end up seeing every one of London’s major attractions except Buckingham Palace and Harrod’s. The advantages? You set the pace. You save considerable money. You can get on and off wherever you choose (for lunch, to explore, to shop) rather than just where the tour bus stops. You may have the opportunity to interact with a native Londoner (“Excuse me, ma’am, is that the British Museum to our left?) rather than a fellow tourist or tour guide. Disadvantages? You don’t have the benefit of a guide’s narrative, a small price to pay.<BR><BR>

I agree with what Daniel says to a certain extent. I had been to London several times and finally decided to take one of the bus tours - and was surprized at how much I enjoyed it.<BR><BR>Oh my first several trips we had walked, and walked, and walked and walked....literally across London. We also used the tube extensively and took several city busses. <BR><BR>On the last trip on a whim (we were worn out) we decided to take one of the "tourist bus." I saw parts of London I had never seen - heard lots of funny commentary - and actually was able to finally start to realize where things were in relation to one another (taking the tube you never realize where things are actually located.)<BR><BR>I wouldn't hesitate to recommend someone using these busses on their first day...you're already worn out from your transatlantic flight. Grab a bus, hop off once or twice, but enjoy sitting on the top deck enjoying the breeze and relaxing.<BR><BR>Have a great trip.<BR><BR>jpm

thankyou all.<BR><BR>I didn't realise that the hop on hop off bus even had comentary so your input was valuable, I just thought the buses went round and around.

We took the Original Bus Tour on our trip 3 weeks ago. Certain buses have taped narrations, but the majority are live and labeled by color. We got on and off quite a bit to see Tower of London, St. Paul's, etc. and were able to hear several different guides. They all had their own styles. It was a little rainy and I noticed that some of the Big Buses (the other company) had added canopies to protect from the rain. Most of the buses we were on had partially covered top sections which could get pretty crowded when it was wet. Both companies were giving a free Thames River cruise, but ours would have been a round trip cruise and we didn't have enough time for it.

Jughead, the commentary is hilarious!! Mine even made droll reference to the (before her death) Queen Mum's preference to gin. Lovely, lovely!!