whoops, I always seem to do that- linking links that have already been posted- don't pay enough attention, obviously

Personally, I just would have much rather taken a regular city bus. Same sights to see, less money, and more normal. But I'm not a bus tour person in the first place, I much prefer walking. Saw way more interesting things on the ground than on the bus.

The Hop on buses are *so* loud, surely Londoners must find them irritating?

An amphibious tour bus sunk near Ottawa several years ago. Not sure I'd trust a thing like that that, D-Day vehicle or not.

The only thing more humiliating than being seen riding in one, would to be seen getting rescued from one.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

thereyet

A well kept secret- the number 11 bus. For route see TfL website but we found it great from Liverpool Street, all through the City of London, past St Paul's, Fleet Street, the Royal Courts of Justice, the Strand, Trafalgar Square. It goes all the way to Fulham via Chelsea's trendy Kings Rd. frequent too!

There are two "Heritage" routes utilizing the old Routemaster buses which pass many historic London sights.

#9 runs between Royal Albert Hall and Aldwych, and #15 goes from Marble Arch to Tower Hill.

We're just back from London and found the traffic very congested. Especially around tourist sites on the weekend when the congestion charge does not apply. And of course during the rush hour. We were last in London 3 years ago when the congestion charge seemed to be having some effect. But not now.

To the OP, the regular buses are double decker but the top deck is enclosed. It's not enclosed on the HOHO buses.

Apres_Londee

They are called hop-on hop-off because you are allowed to hop off.
You alight from the bus when you see something interesting, toddle off to look, lick an ice-cream and then hop on another bus to continue your journey.

I suggest that you next experience the delights of the Circle Line.
You hop on at any station and you can keep going round and round all day.

Many city buses ply historic routes. In fact, one of the &quot;do-it-yourself&quot; tours in the <u>AAA Spiral Guide - London</u> is a #15 bus expedition through the heart of historic London, with exhaustive commentary on all the sights along the route.

Throughout the day, a #15 comes along about every 5 minutes.

Josser, how do you do an emoticon for hrumph? ;-)

Actually, when I was a student way back when dinosaurs had just been cleared from the tube, I and a few others went round and round the Circle Line selling rag mags.

I too am rather tickled at the thought of those poor souls going round and round on a tour bus like Flying Dutch-persons.