London - bus tours

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Thanks.

Yeah, I know I was snarky. But, I thought I was just asking a simple, specific question.

It looks like there are two main tour companies, the one you posted and the Big Bus. They both do go by the British Museum. Someone suggested checking out the routes and that may be what decides us.

And you expected a simple, specific answer?

Glad you got what you were looking for with a little redirection

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

There is a bus route--don't remember which one--which goes over the main tourist route. It's listed in the AAA pocket guide to London. The AAA guide also tells you exactly what you'll be seeing as you ride along on the bus. It costs practically nothing, and may well be all the overview you are interested in. (The AAA pocket guide is a very nice size guide and has a lot of good information in it; it's also cheap--under $10.00 I think--and it's a spiral, which I think improves usability tremendously.)

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

I did the HOHO bus circle it was a good orientation of the city. I took the first bus that showed-up at the Tower of London - the Original London Sightseeing Bus Tour - look for a yellow triangle if you want a live guide. The red triangle means that is a tape recording.

I think both tours include a Thames boat cruise - I enjoyed seeing the sites from the water and hopped-off at Greenwich.

I don't think it's too much to do when you arrive, I like to keep moving on my first day.

Maria

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I really do want to thank everyone for their input. I probably was kind of rude. I also wasn't clear at first what and why I was asking. Dh and I want to get on a tour bus on our first day, not have to think a lot and have someone tell us what we're seeing. It looks like both tours have stops near the British Museum, so we can just hop on whichever bus comes along first, or try to get choosy. Whatever happens, I'm sure we'll love it. Dh got official word, finally, that his theis has been approved and that he will be getting his Master's degree from the University of Liverpool (main reason for this trip). I'm very proud of him, and looking forward to this.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

I used the HoHo buses the first couple of times I was in London and they give a good view of the various sights in town. After you get settled, you might want to use the bus system which I usually use instead of the tube. This URL gives the major routes of the buses in central London. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf

I use the Number 9 as it stops just a block from The Allen House where we have our timeshare. It also is one of the two routes that have the old Routemaster Buses, the one you see in the old English movies with the spiral staircase in the back. The other route is No 15.

Cheers