If you're exploring London, you've probably heard of Golden Tours. They're a popular sightseeing tour operator that's been in the city for a while. They offer all sorts of tours, from hop-on hop-off bus tours to day trips to incredible places like Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle, among many others.
In this Golden Tours London review, I’ll break down the benefits and downsides of taking this tour and compare it to other popular tours for a better understanding of what they offer. For a more in-depth comparison with other tours, check out the travel tips section. Sit tight and enjoy the read!
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Summary:
Unique route design
Affordable tour options
Live guides (certain tours)
Extensive array of languages
Table of contents
2. Advantages over other tours
8. Conclusion of our Golden Tours London review
1. Why choose Golden Tours?
Golden Tours has quite a history behind it. While they didn't start with hop-on hop-off bus tours back in 1984, they've gained a lot of experience in the field since then. The fact that they've lasted this long is a good sign that they're doing something right.
I found Golden Tours' aproach to the route design quite unique. While most of the other tours are running almost identical routes, their unique approach could fit some travelers better.
2. Advantages over other companies
You'll notice that every company works to stand out from the competition, which is great for us tourists since it means constant improvements to the tours.
Summary:
Highly rated live guides
Cheapest Family ticket
Commentary in multiple languages
Live guides
Currently, Golden Tours stands as the primary tour bus provider offering live guides on selected blue route departures, with TopView being an exception by also offering this unique feature. According to highly positive reviews on TripAdvisor, Golden Bus Tours London is known for its exceptional live guides who provide an outstanding experience. (Remember to ask the friendly staff about their live guided bus options).
Affordable tickets
In this current market, every little helps. One thing I like about Golden Tours is that they cater to all budgets. They also have one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest family ticket out there when booked online.
Audio guides
When it comes to languages they are offering a more extensive array of languages for their commentary than Tootbus and Big Bus for example, their main competitors. With audio guides available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese, and Arabic, more international visitors can truly enjoy their London city tour.
Families
The most economic choice for families, you can purchase a ticket for the whole family for around £90 .
3. Things to consider
Summary:
longer waiting times
navigating the map
limited buses around Hyde Park
Longer waiting times
After observing them for a while and consulting other people's opinions, I've found that Golden Bus Tours London usually has longer waiting times than its top competitors. While there are cases when the difference is minimal, at most of the major stops, you can easily spot the difference. They do have a bus tracking app, so I advise you to download it, as it can save you some precious time.
Map
In my opinion sightseeing maps should be as easy to read as possible. The last thing you want is to waste a lot of time figuring out where the bus goes, or even worse, hopping on the wrong line. I've found that Golden Tours' map can be a bit more challenging and confusing to read compared to some of its competitors. To simplify your journey, I recommend relying on their app. The easiest way to do this is to remove all other routes except the one you're currently focusing on.
End of day
Another important thing that I have noticed is that Golden Bus Tours London usually concludes its services earlier in the day in comparison to many of its competitors. Additionally, as the day progresses, you might notice a reduction in bus frequency.
4. Getting the most out of your bus tour experience
You have to try the Red Route to experience the best of London! You get to see Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Madame Tussauds, King's Cross, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Piccadilly Circus and many more.
Blue Route: If you're short on time or love having a live guide (only selected departures), the Blue Route is the way to go! It’s all about Central London and its must-see landmarks.
If you have only one day in the city, check out this blog post: The best itinerary for one day in London.
5. Aditional tours on offer by Golden Tours
London by Night - Popular night open top bus
Afternoon Tea Bus: We have dedicated an entire blog post to this experience, make sure you check it here to find out more.
If you find yourself in Windsor or York, Golden Bus Tours extends their hop-on hop-off bus tours to these destinations.
6. Routes and Timetable
As of now, Golden Tours offers four distinct tours:
The Classic Tour (Blue Route)
The Essential Tour (Red Route)
The Museum Tour (Orange Route)
The Morning and Evening Drop-off Service (Yellow and Green Routes)
A detailed timetable for each route can be found here. Remember to always check the app for the latest updated information.
7. Available Tickets
Pro tip: If you're planning to book some incredible out-of-town experiences they are some of the best in the field with years of experience, and their tours are highly rated. Among the top ones are trips to Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath, and the most popular of them all, Harry Potter Tour.
8. Conclusion of our Golden Tours London review
Golden Tours undoubtedly adds its unique flair to the realm of London hop-on-hop-off bus tours. While its TripAdvisor reviews may not match those of the top companies, you can still enjoy a fantastic experience, perhaps even better than with others, especially if you are lucky enough to catch one of their live-guided tours.
If our Golden Tours London review captivated your interest, be sure to explore our assessment of other tours here and discover valuable travel tips here.
Getting tickets
Booking online is significantly cheaper than purcharsing tickets on the bus.