Tootbus positions itself as London’s modern hop-on hop-off option. Electric buses, themed tours, and tech features distinguish it from traditional sightseeing services.
The company targets families, solo travelers, and groups looking for flexibility beyond basic city tours. Their approach blends classic London sightseeing with contemporary touches like AI-powered apps and eco-friendly transport.
Quick Breakdown: Which Tootbus Tour is Best for You?
🚌 London Discovery (Hop-On Hop-Off)
The classic flexible sightseeing option with 24, 48, or 72-hour passes. Covers all major London landmarks across three routes with audio guides in 10+ languages. Best for travelers who want maximum flexibility and comprehensive city coverage at their own pace.
⛵ London Discovery + River Cruise
Combines the standard hop-on hop-off experience with a Thames boat ride. See London from both street and water level. Ideal for first-time visitors who want the complete sightseeing package with varied perspectives of the city.
Full-day sightseeing plus the evening illumination tour. Hop on and off during the day, then join the night tour from Coventry Street. Best for travelers with limited time who want both daytime exploration and nighttime atmosphere.
🍻 Bar Bus
London’s first rooftop bar on wheels with drinks, music, and floral decorations. Operates Fridays and Saturdays for 90 minutes passing major landmarks. Ideal for celebrations, date nights, bachelorette parties, or social groups wanting a unique experience.
45-minute live-guided tour designed specifically for children with interactive storytelling, royal stories, and quizzes. Local guides share fun facts and educational content. Perfect for families with young travelers who need engaging, shorter experiences.
How Tootbus Works
Three main routes (Yellow, Blue, Green) connect 46+ stops across central and west London. Buses run regularly from 8:30am until 6-7pm depending on the route, with the Yellow central route operating every 10-20 minutes.
Your ticket activates when you first board. Choose between 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour passes for unlimited hopping. Mobile tickets work on smartphones without printing required.
Audio guides are available in 10+ languages with a dedicated kids’ channel. The routes cover essential attractions: Tower Bridge, Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Covent Garden, and the Museums District.
Ticket Options & Pricing
Ticket Details:
- Duration: 24, 48, or 72 hours from first use
- Price: From approximately €35
- Cancellation: Free until 24 hours before tour
Operating Information:
- Hours: 8:30am – 6:00pm daily
- Routes: Yellow, Blue, Green (46+ stops)
- Frequency: Every 10-20 minutes (Yellow route)
What’s Included:
- Unlimited hop-on hop-off access
- Audio commentary in 10+ languages
- Kids’ commentary channel
- Free Wi-Fi and Tootie App
Ticket Details:
- Duration: 24 or 48 hours for bus portion
- Price: Higher than standard Discovery ticket
- Cancellation: Free until 24 hours before tour
Operating Information:
- Bus: Same schedule as Discovery tour
- Cruise: Operates between Westminster and Tower piers
- Duration: 30-minute river cruise
What’s Included:
- All Discovery tour features
- One-way Thames River cruise
- Audio guide on cruise
- Interactive maps via Tootie App
Ticket Details:
- Duration: 90 minutes fixed experience
- Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays only
- Cancellation: Free until 24 hours before tour
Operating Information:
- Fixed 90-minute circuit (not hop-on hop-off)
- Floral decorations and themed music
- Limited availability – advance booking essential
What’s Included:
- Drinks and rooftop bar experience
- Views of major London landmarks
- Themed playlists and social atmosphere
- Instagram-worthy setting
Ticket Details:
- Duration: 90 minutes fixed tour
- Schedule: Evening departures (seasonal)
- Cancellation: Free until 24 hours before tour
Operating Information:
- Single evening circuit of illuminated landmarks
- Multilingual audio commentary
- Starts from Coventry Street
What’s Included:
- Guided tour of London’s night lights
- Views of Big Ben, The Shard, Piccadilly Circus
- Audio guide explaining nighttime transformation
- Open-top evening sightseeing experience
Ticket Details:
- Duration: 24 or 48 hours after activation
- Price: From €40.49
- Cancellation: Free until 24 hours before visit
Operating Information:
- Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 daily
- Frequency: Every 10-20 minutes
- Routes: 3 routes covering 50+ stops
What’s Included:
- Hop-on hop-off bus access
- One-way Thames river cruise
- 3 guided walking tours
- Evening panoramic tour (Explore ticket only)
- Free WiFi
Children under 5 travel free. All buses and cruises are wheelchair accessible. The evening tour starts at 19:30 from London Eye and runs for approximately 2 hours.
- 24-hour passes
- 48-hour and 72-hour options available
- Children under 5 ride free, with family discounts for older kids
Express Options:
Combination Tickets:
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before most tours provides booking flexibility.
Themed Tour Options
Tootbus goes beyond standard hop-on hop-off with specialized experiences:
London by Night: 90-minute guided evening tour showcasing illuminated landmarks like Big Ben, The Shard, and Piccadilly Circus. The night tour operates seasonally and requires separate booking.
Bar Bus: London’s first rooftop bar on wheels, combining sightseeing with drinks and music. Available Fridays and Saturdays with floral decorations and themed playlists. This experience caters to celebrations, date nights, and social gatherings.
Kids Tour: 45-minute live-guided tour designed specifically for children, featuring interactive storytelling and educational content about London’s history. Local guides share royal stories, fun facts, and quizzes to keep young travelers engaged.
Christmas Lights Tour: Seasonal live-guided tour focusing on London’s holiday illuminations.
Routes & Major Attractions
Yellow Route (Central): Covers core London attractions including Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Blue Route: Includes museum districts and northern areas like King’s Cross.
Green Route: Focuses on western London including Hyde Park and Kensington areas.
Key stops include Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, and St. James Palace. The routes provide access to both tourist highlights and local neighborhoods for shopping, dining, and exploring.
Things to See
Book tickets to the attractions within your route.
Major Landmarks:
Practical Information
Family Features
Tootbus caters specifically to family travelers:
- Children under 5 travel free with family discounts for older children
- Dedicated Kids Tour with live guides and interactive content
- Kid-specific audio commentary in multiple languages
- Wheelchair and stroller accessible buses
- Service animals accommodated
The 45-minute Kids Tour works well for shorter attention spans while the longer hop-on hop-off tickets let families explore at their own pace.
Technology & Apps
The Tootie App provides live bus tracking, self-guided walking tours called “Tootwalks,” and AI-powered location-based tips. This goes beyond basic route maps to offer personalized exploration suggestions.
Interactive maps show nearest stops and monuments in real-time. The built-in audio guide works through the app, eliminating the need for separate devices.
Free Wi-Fi operates onboard buses. The app’s walking tours continue the sightseeing experience after you hop off.
Eco-Friendly Features
Tootbus operates as the world’s first low-emissions sightseeing bus company, with four fully electric buses in their London fleet. They’re introducing 30 additional repowered electric buses to achieve a fully electric fleet by 2030.
This environmental focus appeals to eco-conscious travelers who want to reduce their carbon footprint while sightseeing.
Know Before You Book
✅ Operating Hours:
Buses typically run 8:30am to 6-7pm, with the main Yellow route operating every 10-20 minutes.
✅ Accessibility:
Electric buses are wheelchair accessible with space for strollers and service animals.
✅ Booking:
Mobile tickets available online with instant confirmation. No printing required.
✅ Cancellation:
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before tour departure.
✅ Additional Services:
River cruise combinations available through City Cruises partnership. Walking tours included with some ticket types.
Is Tootbus Worth It?
Tootbus works best for travelers who value modern amenities and environmental responsibility. The electric fleet and app features appeal to tech-savvy visitors.
Choose Tootbus if you want:
- Eco-friendly sightseeing options
- Family-specific features like Kids Tours
- Themed experiences beyond basic hop-on hop-off
- Advanced app functionality with walking tours
- Flexible cancellation policies
Booking Your Tootbus Experience
Compare ticket options and add river cruises or museum entries during purchase if desired.
Popular combinations include the Discovery Tour with Thames cruise and the evening Discovery + London by Night package. The Kids Tour books separately for shorter family experiences.
Book ahead during peak tourist seasons, especially for themed tours with limited availability. The Bar Bus operates only weekends and the Christmas Lights tour runs seasonally.