Big Bus vs Tootbus London: Which Hop-on Hop-off Bus to Pick

If you are picking one hop-on hop-off bus in London, it usually comes down to these two. Big Bus and Tootbus cover almost the same central loop, so neither is a mistake; they are just built around different priorities. Big Bus is the premium all-rounder for frequency and polish. Tootbus is the variety operator, family-friendly and usually better value. Here is the side by side, then where each wins.

Big Bus vs Tootbus at a Glance

	Big Bus	Tootbus
Routes	Three interlocking sightseeing routes	Five routes: a central loop plus themed and shuttle routes
Stops	Close to 60 across the network	Around 65 across the network
Frequency	The most frequent buses in London, short waits on the core routes	Good on the central loop, the wider routes come round less often
Walking tours	Included on the longer tickets	Not included
River cruise	One-way Thames cruise included	Available as a river-cruise combo
Families	Solid, but not the specialism	The widest range, including a live-guided Kids Tour
Fleet	Standard open-top double-deckers	Part electric and hybrid
Value	Premium end	Often better value

Where Big Bus Wins

Big Bus is the one to beat on the two things people actually notice on the day: how long you wait at a stop, and how put-together the whole operation feels.

The frequency is the headline. These are the most frequent hop-on hop-off buses in the city, and when you are standing at a stop in the drizzle deciding whether to wait or walk, that matters more than any brochure feature. Three interlocking routes and close to 60 stops mean you can plan a day around the bus rather than around the timetable. The app is genuinely good too, with live tracking, so you can see where your next bus actually is instead of guessing.

Then there is what is bundled in. The longer Big Bus tickets fold in a one-way Thames river cruise and a set of live guided walking tours. Take it from someone who has led walks in this city for years: a proper guided walk is where London opens up, and having a few thrown in with your bus ticket is real added value. You do pay for all this, and Big Bus sits at the premium end. But if you want the smoothest, best-supported day and the walks appeal, it earns the money.

Where Tootbus Wins

Tootbus is the operator I point families and repeat visitors towards, because it does more and usually costs less doing it.

The variety is the real draw. Alongside the standard Discovery loop, Tootbus runs the widest range of tours of any London operator: a live-guided Kids Tour built for younger passengers, evening and night tours, a seasonal Christmas Lights tour, and a river-cruise combo. If you are travelling with children, that Kids Tour is a genuine point of difference rather than a marketing line. This is also the greener fleet, with a good chunk of the buses electric or hybrid.

Worth knowing: Tootbus was formerly The Original Tour, and your ticket is valid across both liveries, so if an older-branded bus rolls up, you still hop on. The one honest caveat is frequency on the wider routes. The central loop turns up often enough, but the further-flung themed routes come round less frequently, so check the timings if a specific route is the reason you are booking. On value, though, Tootbus is usually the stronger all-rounder, and for a lot of visitors that settles it.

The Verdict: Which Should You Pick?

There is no single winner here, so pick by what your day actually looks like.

If I am honest, most people would have a good day on either. Choose Big Bus for polish and frequency, Tootbus for variety and value.

Other Operators Worth a Look

Big Bus and Tootbus are not the only names on the road. City Sightseeing and Golden Tours both run hop-on hop-off routes in London too, and depending on your dates and the deal, either can be worth comparing before you book. If you want the full picture across every operator, start with our hop-on hop-off guide or the routes and map.

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