"We discovered a small shopping street while passing through and decided to explore it. Having the freedom to change plans made the day feel personal and unhurried."
The Original Tour: London Christmas Lights Bus Tour with Thames River Cruise
Best Seller
Overview
Make your festive visit to London unforgettable with a Christmas Lights Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise. Enjoy an evening journey through the capital’s most beautifully decorated streets aboard an open-top sightseeing bus, with views of spectacular displays around Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and the West End. Then take to the River Thames for a relaxing sightseeing cruise past illuminated landmarks and London’s famous waterfront. With sparkling Christmas decorations, iconic sights and atmospheric nighttime views, this combined experience is perfect for families, couples and anyone wanting to enjoy London’s festive spirit.
Tour's Features
Free Cancellation
Mobile Voucher
Wheelchair Access
Family Friendly
Instant Confirmation
Audio Guide
English
French
German
Italian
Spanish
Russian
Polish
Japanese
Chinese
Brazilian
Highlights
- See London’s spectacular Christmas lights from an open-top sightseeing bus.
- Travel through festive areas including Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and the West End.
- Cruise along the River Thames and enjoy illuminated views of London after dark.
- See famous landmarks such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral from the river.
- Enjoy a festive sightseeing experience combining a Christmas bus tour and Thames cruise.
- Take fantastic nighttime photographs of London’s decorated streets and illuminated skyline.
Itinerary
Step Into London’s Christmas Magic
Meet at 1–5 Coventry Street in central London and arrive around 10 minutes before departure. Once boarding begins, take your place on the open-top red double-decker and prepare for an unforgettable journey through London at Christmas.
The 75-minute tour is designed as a continuous sightseeing experience, taking you through the capital’s most festive streets and past spectacular Christmas light displays. From the comfort of the top deck, enjoy a unique panoramic perspective of London as the city shines with seasonal decorations.
Discover the Capital Under Christmas Lights
Watch London’s iconic landmarks come alive after dark as you travel through the heart of the city. The carefully planned route showcases some of the most impressive festive streets and illuminated sights, giving you plenty of opportunities to take photographs and enjoy the atmosphere.
A live local guide accompanies the tour, sharing fascinating stories about London and adding a personal touch to your sightseeing experience. Audio commentary is also available in 10 languages.
The open-top bus makes it easy to sit back, relax and enjoy the festive atmosphere without having to navigate London’s busy streets. Families are welcome, and children under five go free. There is also space for prams and buggies, making the tour suitable for visitors travelling with young children.
Experience London from the Thames
Make your festive day even more memorable with the included River Thames Cruise. Choose from convenient boarding points at Westminster, Tower, London Eye or Greenwich Pier, according to the operating schedule.
Cruising along the Thames lets you admire London’s historic waterfront, bridges and riverside landmarks from the water. It’s the perfect complement to your Christmas lights bus tour and provides a quieter way to appreciate the capital’s scenery.
Discover More with Walking Tours
Your ticket also gives you access to six self-guided walking tours, allowing you to continue exploring London after your bus journey. Follow themed routes at your own pace and discover more of the capital’s history, landmarks, parks and hidden stories.
With an illuminated London Christmas Lights Bus Tour, Thames River Cruise and self-guided walking experiences, this festive package is a fantastic choice for families, couples and anyone looking to experience the magic of London during the Christmas season.
What's Included
What's Included
- 75 Minute Magical Christmas Lights Tour
- Cruise the Thames River
- Audio Guide in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Brazilian, Chinese, Japanese, Polish and Russian
- Live guide English speaking
- 6 Self guided walking tours
- A Storybook London Christmas
- 5G Wifi on board
- Top Deck Guaranteed
Schedule
London Christmas Lights Tour:
- Departures: Please refer our calender (Days & timings depending upon season)
- Duration: 75 minutes.
- Meeting Point:1-5 Coventry Street, London W1D 6BH.
- Please arrive to the meeting point on at least 15 minutes before the tour departure.
Thames River Cruise (Operated by City Cruises):
- First Cruise: 10:00AM, Last Cruise: 07:40PM
- Westminster Pier: Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH
- Tower Pier: Tower Millennium Pier, Lower Thames St, London EC3N 4DT
- Greenwich Pier: King William Walk, London SE10 9HT
- London Eye: London Eye (Waterloo) Pier, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 7PB
- Duration: 45 Minutes Approx.
- The cruise timetable is available on City Cruises website.
Redemption Info
- You must board the bus at: 1-5 Coventry Street, London W1D 6BH.
- Use the same ticket for both the London Christmas Lights Tour and Thames River Cruise.
- Enjoy hassle-free boarding with mobile tickets accepted on both the bus and cruise.
- Your booking voucher will expire after you exchange it for a ticket.
- The company or bus operator will not provide a refund if a voucher or ticket is misplaced.
Know Before You Go
Voucher Validity:
- Remember that your vouchers will remain valid for the date and time selected at the time of purchase.
- If you miss your booked date and time, your ticket will be treated as a no-show and cannot be changed or rescheduled after the booked date has passed.
- Your ticket is valid for one use only on the date and time selected at the time of booking.
Important Info:
- Buses that are 100% environmentally friendly.
- This tour is NOT a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour.
- Please arrive in advance of the departure time to secure your seat.
- Luggage: Luggage is allowed on the bus. Large suitcases may need to be kept on the lower deck. Please make sure your luggage does not block seats, aisles or other passengers.
- Animals: Only registered service dogs are permitted on the bus. Other pets are not allowed.
- There may be disruptions due to weather, traffic, and events. Refunds due to weather will not be issued unless the service is suspended due to weather.
- Infants will continue to travel free of charge and without a ticket while placed on the lap of a paying adult (up to two infants per adult). If the infant needs a separate individual seat, a kid category ticket must be ordered.
- Road closures and heavy traffic can result in delays, reduced trips, and route modifications. We'll make every effort to deliver a seamless and regular service! Under these circumstances, there will be no refund.
- Seats are allocated on a first-come first-served basis, we highly recommend customers to arrive to the meeting point at least 10 minutes before the tour departure.
POPGuide Mobile App: (You will find the QR code to access the POPGuide app for free via this: Link)
Discover London at your own pace with the POPGuide mobile app and explore the city like a local. Enjoy 6 expertly curated self-guided walking tours, featuring London's most iconic landmarks and hidden gems:
- Best of London – Explore the city's must-see attractions and historic highlights.
- Towers & Bridges – Uncover the stories behind London's famous towers and river crossings.
- Jack the Ripper Walk – Follow the trail of London's most notorious mystery through the East End.
- Kensington Gardens Tour – Stroll through one of London's most beautiful royal parks.
- The Wizard Walk – Discover magical locations that inspired famous wizarding tales.
- Parks & Palaces – Experience London's royal heritage, grand palaces, and scenic green spaces.
Service & Traffic Update:
- London is one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic cities, hosting an exciting calendar of events throughout the year. From iconic parades and sporting races to cultural festivals and seasonal celebrations, there’s always something happening across the capital.
- While these major events add to London’s unique atmosphere, they can occasionally affect traffic conditions and lead to temporary changes in our bus tour routes. To help you enjoy a seamless sightseeing experience, we recommend checking upcoming London events before your visit and planning your journey in advance with The Original Tour.
- For the latest service updates, route changes, and travel information, please speak with a member of our team at any bus stop or onboard our buses. You can also visit our updates page to stay informed about current service disruptions and operational changes: Click Here
Cancellation Policy
- To get the full refund, you must cancel your booking at least 24 hours before the activity/tour start time.
- If you cancel your booking less than 24 hours before the activity/ tour start time, you will not get any refund.
- Modifications/ changes are allowed at least 24 hours before the activity/ tour start time.
- You must contact us through email. The activity/tour's local start time determines the cut-off times.
Disclaimer
- There may be unexpected changes in the route or timetable due to traffic, public holidays, weather conditions, cruise ship arrivals, or other unanticipated situations. During major events, summer vacations, and weekends, the city will be quite busy. We will do everything we can to provide a smooth and consistent service! In such cases, no reimbursement is allowed.
- Tours run regardless of the weather. Weather-related refunds will not be issued unless the service is discontinued due to inclement weather.
- The service provider preserves the right to amend or cancel the itinerary due to city events or force majeure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Redemption instructions specific to the tour booked are systematically indicated in the tour ticket. Please make sure you read them before your arrival. General redemption instructions are as follows: If you booked a hop-on hop-off tour, you redeem your ticket and start the tour at any of the bus stops.If you booked a dated and/or timed tour, the departure point and time is indicated in your ticket.
A thematic tour is a specially curated experience focused on a specific subject, offering a unique and enriching perspective of a city. These tours are designed to fully immerse you in the selected theme, carefully chosen stops, and a more intimate and focused city experience. Whether you’re an enthusiast of history, art, or culture, our thematic tours offer a fantastic way to explore the city from a new and captivating angle.
Group Booking
For groups of 8 or more, please submit a group inquiry at booking@activity-crest.com. While discounted rates are not available for all tours, selected tours may qualify for special group pricing. Standard tours & activities are eligible for group discounts; however, attractions, passes, combo tickets, and related products are excluded.
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours:
Due to the operational nature of hop-on hop-off bus tours and fluctuating daily demand, we cannot guarantee that all members of a group will be accommodated on the same bus at the same time. Seat availability varies by stop and service demand, and groups may be required to split across multiple buses and/or wait for subsequent departures.
All group members must redeem their vouchers together initially. Once redeemed, individual tickets will be issued, allowing travellers the flexibility to explore independently thereafter. The requirement to remain together applies only during the voucher redemption process when tickets are booked under a single reservation.
As we are unable to guarantee that larger groups can travel together as one unit, bookings will be divided into smaller groups of approximately 5-7 passengers per ticket allocation, depending on the overall group size.
Customer Reviews
4.6
based on 2,515 reviews
Rating Distribution
"I booked the bus mainly to save time, but the experience offered more than convenience. Seeing the city's character change from one neighbourhood to another was fascinating."
"Usually, travelling between attractions feels like wasted time. Here, the views along the way were interesting enough that we enjoyed the journey as much as the destinations."
"Travelling with family was easier when we had a straightforward way to move between areas. Everyone enjoyed the scenery, and we could choose stops together as we went."
"We completed the route without getting off initially and enjoyed seeing the city from beginning to end. It helped us choose which places deserved a closer visit."
Choose Date, Ticket & Participants
Select Date
Choose Your Ticket
Choose Participants
Explore more
more tours in London
Best Seller
Best Seller
Best Seller
Best Seller
Best Seller
Best Seller
Best Seller
Best Seller
Travel guides
