As a traveler, it is important to get off the beaten path. It is also so fun to see all of the tourist spots and get your photo in front of historical landmarks. If you are short on time and want to see all of London in 1 day, here is the easiest way to do it!

The City Pass

Hop On/Hop Off Buses

in London

You know the iconic buses in London? The big double decker, red ones? Yeah, those! One of the easiest ways to see all of the top destinations around London is to grab a pass for a Hop On/Hop Off bus tour. There are multiple companies that provide these options and they often provide different time allotments. We chose the 1 day pass.

***See the red headphones? Those were free and big tip, keep them!!! I used them for multiple audio guided tours over multiple countries.***

To use this pass, we ordered our tickets here – London 1-10 Day City Pass.

Where Does It Go?

These buses go all over Central London. There are tons of stops that allow you to choose which route you would like to take. At any point, you can hop off to see the attraction you are most interested in and spend as much time there as you choose. Here is a list of places we went with the bus:

City of Westminster

1. Big Ben – There was a stop on one side of Westminster bridge and it was an easy walk to the other side. Depending on the goal of your photo, I’d recommend wandering down the bridge a bit further to avoid crowds. It is also possible to go across the river to get a different angle for your photo.
2. London Eye – Right by the Westminster Bridge provides easy access to this amazing view! It takes roughly 30 minutes if you plan to ride the London Eye.
3. Westminster Abbbey – This is also right by Big Ben. This is included in you City Pass so you get free entrance with an audio guide!

City of London

1. Tower of London – Such an amazing castle with a deep history (like centuries!). Entrance was also included in our City Pass!!
2. Tower Bridge – If you aren’t afraid of heights, going up inside the tower and walking over the glass portion of the bridge is a blast. City Pass covers your entrance fee!
3. Shakespeare’s Globe – The original location and the new location are close together. Entrance fee is included in City Pass! (Just plan ahead so you get there early enough to take a tour). I got my favorite souvenir from just outside of the Globe! A man was sitting with a type writer and was writing poems for any topic for whatever amount you choose to pay. The poem was beautiful.
4. Bourough Market – Sadly we arrived right after they closed. It is a large market with tons of small shops and food.

The bus goes to many other places including the Natural History Museum and by Mayfair.

Recommendations

Determine what is most important to you and try to start your day there! We didn’t get to go on a couple of tours because we hadn’t realized how long it would take us to get around (we tend to wander more than planned). Keep the list of which attractions are included in the City Pass. This was great because we got to go into so many more places and it was a huge money saver! Still plan to wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket/umbrella. Though we did way less walking than the previous day, we tended to stray from the bus stop and have to make our way back. My final and always rec, take the photo and do the silly thing. Yes, it is just like everyone else. But it is so fun!

Listed below are links for different tours in the London area with hop on/hop off bus that’s not included in the pass:

Want to hear more about London?! Check out our other posts here — 5 Free and Amazing Things to do in London and here How to Have a Great First Experience in London.

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