Big Bus hop-on hop-off vs a private car tour of London: what each costs in 2026 and who each suits
The open-top bus is a London institution and, for one or two people on a sunny day, good value. For four people, in the rain, with a flight this evening and a list of things to see, the arithmetic flips: a private car with a driver who knows the city costs about the same per head, sees more in three hours, and drops you at the airport at the end. Here are both, priced honestly.
Big Bus Tours London: 2026 tickets and what's in them
| Ticket | Validity | Adult price (online) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Day | Same day | £32.00 | Red, Blue and Green routes, hop-on hop-off |
| Discover | 24 hours | £36.99 | Routes + one-way Thames cruise, flexible date |
| Essential | 48 hours | £46.99 | + three guided walks (Royal, Harry Potter, Jack the Ripper) + cruise |
| Explore | 48 hours | £56.99 | + evening panoramic tour |
| London Sizzler | 48 hours | £89.00 | + Tower of London and London Eye entry |
| Evening tour only | One evening, 19:30 | £36.99 | Panoramic night tour |
Prices from bigbustours.com, September 2026; child fares are lower and prices change with promotions. Tootbus runs a comparable product.
What the bus is good at, and where it struggles
Good at: orientation on day one, the commentary, the top deck on a dry day, and the river cruise thrown in. It also comes bundled with the London Pass. Where it struggles: buses follow fixed loops through the most congested streets in Europe, so a full circuit takes two to three hours; stops fill up on summer weekends and you can wait 20 minutes for a bus with space; and it does not go to Windsor, the Studio Tour, Greenwich by road, or your hotel.
A private car tour: how it works and what it costs
You get a saloon, MPV or 8-seater with a driver, an agreed route and a fixed price per car for the time booked. The driver stops where you want (a photo at Tower Bridge, twenty minutes inside Westminster Abbey, coffee in Notting Hill), adjusts to traffic in real time and returns you to the hotel — or takes you to the airport with the luggage already in the boot. It is not a licensed Blue Badge guide tour: drivers know the city and its stories, but a professional guide can be added by arrangement.
| Private car tour (fixed price per car) | Saloon (up to 4) | MPV (up to 6) | 8-seater (up to 7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-minute highlights loop (Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, St Paul's) | from £120 | from £150 | from £180 |
| 3-hour city tour with stops | from £220 | from £270 | from £320 |
| Half-day: London + Greenwich or Hampton Court | from £300 | from £360 | from £420 |
| Heathrow layover tour (pickup and return to terminal, 4 hours) | from £280 | from £340 | from £400 |
Illustrative from-prices; quoted as a fixed total when you book. Entry tickets are not included.
Per-head comparison
| Party | Big Bus Discover (24h) | Private 3-hour car tour | Per head, car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 adults | £73.98 | from £220 | £110 |
| 2 adults + 2 children | about £130 | from £220 | £55 |
| 4 adults | £147.96 | from £220 | £55 |
| 6 adults | £221.94 | from £270 (MPV) | £45 |
| 7 adults | £258.93 | from £320 (8-seater) | £46 |
Family of four on the bus assumes child fares around £28. From four people upwards the car is within £20–£30 of the bus for the group and covers more ground; from six it is cheaper.
Which to pick
- Solo traveller or couple, two or more days in London, fine weather
- Big Bus Discover or Essential. Sit on top, get off at the Tower, take the cruise back.
- Family with young children, or grandparents in the group
- Private MPV. No stairs, no waiting at stops, car seats fitted, a loo stop when you need one.
- One day in London between flights, or a cruise stopover
- Private car from the airport or Southampton, tour, back to the terminal. See Heathrow layover tours.
- Christmas lights, or evenings in December
- Private car — see Christmas lights tour by car.
- Corporate guests, incentive groups, VIPs
- Private car or minibus with a Blue Badge guide added; one invoice. See booking multiple cars.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
- How much is Big Bus Tours London in 2026?
- Online: One Day £32, Discover (24h) £36.99, Essential (48h) £46.99, Explore (48h) £56.99, Sizzler (with Tower of London and London Eye) £89. Gate prices are higher.
- Is a private car tour of London worth it?
- For four or more people, for families with small children, for anyone short of time or mobility, and for bad-weather days, yes — the per-head cost is close to the bus and you see more with no waiting.
- Can the driver act as a guide?
- Drivers give commentary and know the city, but are not licensed Blue Badge guides. We can add a qualified guide for a fully guided tour.
Private car tour of London: get a fixed price
Two, three or four hours, up to 8 passengers, fixed price per car. Add a hotel or airport pickup at either end.