London’s open-top sightseeing buses are convenient, but the tickets can be expensive. If you do not need a recorded commentary or a planned tourist circuit, an ordinary red London bus can take you past many of the same landmarks for a fraction of the price.
The best London bus route for sightseeing is Route 9 from Aldwych towards Hammersmith. From the upper deck, you can see Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Harrods, the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace in one journey.
It is not the only good option. Routes 15, 24 and 139 cover different parts of the city, while Route 11 is useful for travelling from Westminster towards Chelsea.
The best sightseeing bus routes at a glance
| Route | Best section | Main sights |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Aldwych to Kensington | Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Harrods, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace |
| 15 | Charing Cross to Tower Hill | The Strand, Royal Courts of Justice, St Paul’s Cathedral, Monument and Tower of London |
| 24 | Westminster to Camden Town | Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and Camden Market |
| 139 | Waterloo to the Abbey Road area | Somerset House, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Baker Street |
| 11 | Waterloo to Chelsea | Westminster, Victoria, Sloane Square and the King’s Road |
1. Route 9: the best London bus for sightseeing
Best journey: Aldwych to Kensington Palace or Hammersmith
Time to allow: approximately 50–75 minutes, depending on traffic
Best for: first-time visitors and classic London landmarks
If you only take one sightseeing journey on a normal London bus, make it Route 9.
Board near Aldwych or the Strand and travel west towards Hammersmith. The bus begins close to Somerset House and the theatres of Covent Garden before passing Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square.
It then continues through some of central London’s most recognisable streets and neighbourhoods:
- Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus
- Green Park
- Hyde Park Corner
- Knightsbridge and Harrods
- Exhibition Road and the South Kensington museums
- The Royal Albert Hall
- Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace
- The Design Museum
- Olympia London
For the best view, go upstairs and sit near the front. The section between Aldwych and Kensington is the scenic highlight, so you do not need to remain on board all the way to Hammersmith.
Route 9 works particularly well because its landmarks follow one another naturally, without many long gaps between the interesting parts.
Check the current Route 9 timetable and stops
2. Route 15: best for the City and Tower of London
Best journey: Charing Cross to Tower Hill
Time to allow: approximately 35–50 minutes
Best for: historic London, St Paul’s and the Tower of London
Route 15 connects the West End with the historic City of London.
Begin at Charing Cross and travel east. The bus runs along the Strand, passing the Savoy and the Royal Courts of Justice before entering the City.
Look out for:
- The Strand
- The Royal Courts of Justice
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Cannon Street and the Bank area
- The Monument
- The Tower of London
Get off at Tower Hill for the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and St Katharine Docks. You can then walk west beside the Thames or cross Tower Bridge towards Borough Market.
Check the current Route 15 timetable and stops
3. Route 24: best for Westminster to Camden
Best journey: Westminster to Camden Town
Time to allow: approximately 35–55 minutes
Best for: Parliament, central London and Camden Market
Route 24 is an excellent choice if you want to connect London’s ceremonial centre with Camden.
Board near Westminster Abbey or Parliament Square, then travel north past Whitehall and towards Trafalgar Square.
The most interesting stops include:
- Westminster Abbey
- The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
- Horse Guards Parade
- Whitehall
- Trafalgar Square
- Leicester Square
- Tottenham Court Road
- Mornington Crescent
- Camden Town and Camden Market
This is one of the most useful routes for visitors because it links neighbourhoods that often appear on the same itinerary. Ride upstairs through Westminster, then get off in Camden for the market, Regent’s Canal and food stalls.
You can also make the journey in the opposite direction and finish near Parliament Square for an evening walk along the Thames.
Check the current Route 24 timetable and stops
4. Route 139: best for the West End and Abbey Road
Best journey: Waterloo to the Abbey Road area
Time to allow: approximately 50–75 minutes
Best for: the Strand, shopping streets and north-west London
Route 139 begins at Waterloo and crosses the river into the West End. It travels along the Strand before passing Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, then continues towards Baker Street and north-west London.
On or close to the route you will find:
- Waterloo and the South Bank
- Somerset House
- Covent Garden
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
- Regent Street and Oxford Circus
- Baker Street
- Madame Tussauds
- Abbey Road
Covent Garden is not directly visible for most of the journey, but it is a short walk from the Strand stops.
For Abbey Road, use the live TfL journey planner to choose the most convenient stop and walking route. Remember that the famous crossing is still a working road: do not block traffic while taking photographs.
Route 139 is longer and less consistently scenic than Route 9, but it is a good choice if your plans include both the West End and Abbey Road.
Check the current Route 139 timetable and stops
5. Route 11: best for Westminster and Chelsea
Best journey: Waterloo to Chelsea
Time to allow: approximately 35–55 minutes
Best for: Westminster, Victoria and the King’s Road
Route 11 was once regularly recommended as London’s unofficial sightseeing bus between Liverpool Street and Chelsea. That advice is now outdated because the route changed in 2023.
The present route still has an attractive central section. Travelling from Waterloo towards Fulham Broadway, it connects areas around:
- Westminster
- Victoria
- Sloane Square
- Chelsea
- The King’s Road
- Fulham Broadway
It is a good option if you want to travel from Westminster towards Chelsea, particularly if you plan to visit the Saatchi Gallery, browse the King’s Road or continue towards Fulham.
Be careful with old articles and videos: the current Route 11 no longer follows its former sightseeing route through the City to Liverpool Street.
Check the current Route 11 timetable and stops
A cheap self-guided London bus tour
You can combine several routes to create your own sightseeing day.
Morning: historic London on Route 15
Start at Charing Cross and take Route 15 to Tower Hill. Explore the Tower of London area, walk across Tower Bridge or follow the river west.
Afternoon: Westminster to Camden on Route 24
Make your way to Parliament Square, then take Route 24 north to Camden Town. Explore Camden Market and walk beside Regent’s Canal.
Evening: central London to Kensington on Route 9
Return to central London and board Route 9 near Aldwych or Trafalgar Square. Travel through Piccadilly and Knightsbridge, finishing near Kensington Palace or the Design Museum.
Provided that you pay with the same Oyster card or contactless device, the daily bus cap limits how much you will be charged. This makes it possible to spend much of the day travelling around London for considerably less than a conventional sightseeing ticket.
How London bus fares work
London buses do not accept cash. Pay with:
- A contactless bank card
- Apple Pay or Google Pay
- An Oyster card
- A valid Travelcard or bus pass
Touch the yellow reader once when you board. Unlike the Tube, you do not touch out when leaving a bus.
The fare is flat, so a long journey costs the same as a short one. Bus journeys are not priced according to London’s travel zones.
With the Hopper fare, you can make additional bus or tram journeys within one hour of first touching in without paying another fare. You must use the same card or device each time.
Once you reach the daily bus and tram cap, further eligible journeys that day are not charged. Every traveller needs their own contactless card, device, Oyster card or valid ticket.
For a complete comparison of payment methods, read our guide to the cheapest way to travel around London.
Are public buses really as good as a tour bus?
For value, ordinary London buses are difficult to beat. You can see many of the same streets and landmarks while travelling like a local.
They are not identical to an organised sightseeing tour, however.
Choose an ordinary London bus if:
- You want the cheapest possible sightseeing journey
- You are comfortable following a map
- You prefer exploring independently
- You want to combine sightseeing with getting somewhere useful
- You do not mind traffic, diversions or busy buses
Choose a tour bus if:
- You want recorded or live commentary
- You want stops specifically chosen for tourist attractions
- You prefer a clearly marked sightseeing circuit
- You want multilingual information
- You value convenience more than the lowest fare
Public buses also have roofs, so the view is less open than on an open-top tour. Front-row upper-deck seats are popular and cannot be guaranteed.
Tips for sightseeing on London buses
Travel outside rush hour
Try to avoid approximately 7:30–9:30am and 4:30–6:30pm on weekdays. Buses can be crowded and journeys noticeably slower.
Sit upstairs at the front
The front of the upper deck gives the broadest view. If those seats are taken, sitting beside a window is still worthwhile.
Follow the journey on your phone
Use TfL Go, Citymapper or Google Maps to identify the buildings you are passing and avoid missing your stop.
Expect delays and diversions
Central London routes can change temporarily because of demonstrations, roadworks, major events or traffic. Check live information immediately before travelling.
Do not try to complete every route
The central section is normally the interesting part. Get off once the bus leaves the sights you came to see.
London sightseeing bus questions
What is the best London bus route for sightseeing?
Which London bus goes past Big Ben?
Which bus goes past the Tower of London?
Is Route 11 still good for sightseeing?
Can you hop on and off London buses?
Do I need to book London buses?
The verdict
For the closest alternative to a London sightseeing tour, take Route 9 from Aldwych towards Kensington and find a seat at the front of the upper deck.
Add Route 15 for the Tower of London and St Paul’s, Route 24 for Westminster and Camden, or Route 139 for the West End and Abbey Road.
You will not receive commentary, a guaranteed view or a tourist-friendly circuit. What you will get is a remarkably inexpensive journey through some of London’s most famous streets—and a more authentic experience of the city than a dedicated tour bus can offer.
Routes and fares checked on 31 August 2026. Services, diversions and prices can change; confirm the latest details with TfL before travelling.