Planning a family day out in London is always exciting, but it can also feel a little overwhelming. There are so many incredible landmarks and attractions to see that it can be difficult to know where to start. Add in little legs that tire easily, buggies, snack stops and the occasional “I’m bored!”, and getting around the capital can become just as much of a challenge as deciding what to visit.
That’s one of the reasons hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses have always appealed to me. Rather than trying to navigate the Tube or walking miles between attractions, you can simply sit back, enjoy the views and explore London at your own pace.
While researching different sightseeing options for our own family, I came across The Original Tour. It’s London’s original hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus company and has been helping visitors discover the capital for more than 75 years. Alongside its flexible sightseeing routes, every ticket now includes a Thames River Cruise, and there’s even a dedicated Kids Tour designed especially for younger visitors.
The Original Tour London With Kids
So, is The Original Tour worth considering if you’re visiting London with children? Here’s everything I’ve found out.
What Is The Original Tour?
If you’ve ever spotted one of London’s iconic open-top sightseeing buses driving past Buckingham Palace or crossing Westminster Bridge, there’s a good chance you’ve seen The Original Tour. In fact, it isn’t just one of London’s sightseeing bus companies – it’s the original one.
The company began life back in 1951 during the Festival of Britain, when the Round London Sightseeing Tour was launched by London Transport. It was the world’s first open-top sightseeing bus tour, creating a style of city sightseeing that has since been copied in destinations all over the world.
More than 75 years later, The Original Tour is still helping millions of visitors explore London’s most famous landmarks, combining its heritage with modern features that make sightseeing much easier for today’s travellers.
Whether you’re visiting London for the very first time or returning to tick off a few more attractions with the children, it offers a flexible way to see a huge amount of the city without feeling tied to a strict itinerary.
What’s Included With Your Ticket?
One thing I really like about The Original Tour is that it’s much more than simply a bus ride around London. Depending on which ticket you choose, you can hop on and off throughout the day, giving you the freedom to explore the attractions that interest your family most before catching the next bus when you’re ready.
Every ticket includes:
- Unlimited hop-on hop-off travel across multiple sightseeing routes
- Panoramic views from open-top double-decker buses
- Audio commentary available in ten different languages
- A complimentary Thames River Cruise
- Free onboard WiFi
- Flexible ticket options ranging from 24 hours to seven days
- Free cancellation and booking amendments up to 24 hours before departure
- Free travel for children under four
I think that’s particularly useful if you’re travelling with children because plans can change very quickly. One attraction might end up being a quick stop, while another could easily take up half your day. Having the flexibility to simply catch the next bus rather than rushing to keep to a schedule takes away a lot of the stress.
Why A Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Makes So Much Sense For Families
London is one of my favourite cities to visit, but it’s also much bigger than many people realise.
On a map, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral don’t look too far apart. In reality, getting between them often involves plenty of walking, Tube journeys and lots of time spent navigating busy stations. If you’re travelling with younger children, that can soon become exhausting. That’s why I think a hop-on hop-off bus is such an appealing option for families.
Rather than disappearing underground between attractions, you stay above ground, taking in London’s famous streets as you travel. Children can look out for landmarks from the top deck, parents get a chance to sit down for a while, and the journey itself becomes part of the day out rather than simply getting from A to B.
Because you can get off whenever you like, you’re not trying to squeeze everything into one long tour either. Fancy spending longer watching the Changing of the Guard? No problem. Want to stop for lunch near Covent Garden before carrying on? That’s entirely up to you.
Having that flexibility feels particularly valuable when you’re travelling with children, as anyone with kids will know that sometimes the best days are the ones where you don’t have to stick rigidly to a timetable.
Which London Landmarks Can You See?
One of the biggest draws of The Original Tour is just how many of London’s iconic sights you can see along the way. Depending on the route you choose, you’ll pass many of the capital’s most famous landmarks, including:
- Buckingham Palace
- Big Ben
- The Houses of Parliament
- Westminster Abbey
- The London Eye
- Tower Bridge
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- The Tower of London
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
Of course, the beauty of a hop-on hop-off bus is that you’re not simply looking at these landmarks through the window. If somewhere catches your eye, you can simply hop off, spend as much time exploring as you like and then continue your sightseeing whenever you’re ready. That makes it easy to build a day that suits your own family, rather than following someone else’s schedule.
The New Kids Tour
One feature that really caught my attention while researching The Original Tour is its dedicated Kids Tour.
Let’s be honest, while adults are often fascinated by the history behind London’s famous landmarks, younger children don’t always have quite the same attention span!
Instead of expecting little ones to sit through a full sightseeing route, The Original Tour has introduced a 45-minute open-top bus experience created especially for children.
Rather than focusing on historical facts alone, it combines fun storytelling with some of London’s best-known landmarks, helping to keep younger passengers entertained while introducing them to the city in a way that’s much more engaging for their age.
I think it’s a lovely idea, particularly if you’re visiting with younger children who might find a full sightseeing circuit a little too long.
Children under two travel free on the Kids Tour, making it an affordable addition for families with preschoolers.
There is currently an offer running of 25% off kids’ tickets on the Kids Tour.
It’s also great to see an attraction recognising that children don’t experience a city in quite the same way as adults. Sometimes it’s those smaller touches that make a family day out feel much more enjoyable for everyone.
One of the things that makes The Original Tour stand out is that it isn’t just about seeing London from the road. Every ticket also includes a hop-on hop-off Thames River Cruise, giving you the chance to experience the capital from a completely different perspective.
Personally, I think this is one of the biggest selling points.
Seeing London’s skyline from the River Thames is a very different experience to travelling through its streets. As the boat passes landmarks such as Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, you get a wonderful view that you simply can’t enjoy from the pavement.
The cruise operates between Westminster, the London Eye, Tower Pier and Greenwich, so it’s not just a sightseeing trip; it can also help you get between some of London’s most popular attractions.
If you’re visiting with children, I can imagine this becoming one of the highlights of the day. After a busy morning of sightseeing, it’s a lovely opportunity to sit down, enjoy the views and take a breather before deciding where to explore next.
Having the river cruise included in the ticket also adds excellent value, as you’re effectively getting two sightseeing experiences in one.
Audio Commentary That Everyone Can Enjoy
One of the nicest things about sightseeing buses is that you’re not simply looking out of the window; you’re also learning about the places you’re passing.
The Original Tour includes recorded audio commentary in different languages, including:
- English
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Italian
- Arabic
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Portuguese
- Polish
- Russian
Whether you’re visiting from overseas or simply want to learn a little more about London’s history, it’s a great way to add some context to everything you’re seeing.
I always think children pick up far more than we sometimes realise too. Even if they’re only listening with half an ear while watching the city go by, they’re still discovering interesting facts about some of Britain’s most famous landmarks.
Flexible Tickets to Suit Your Trip
Not everyone visits London in the same way. Some families are squeezing everything into one action-packed day, while others might be enjoying a long weekend or spending several days exploring the capital. The Original Tour offers a choice of ticket lengths, including:
- 24-hour tickets
- 48-hour tickets
- 72-hour tickets
- Seven-day tickets
That flexibility means you can choose the option that works best for your plans rather than trying to fit everything into a timetable that doesn’t suit your trip.
If you’re only visiting London for the day, a 24-hour ticket could be all you need. If you’re planning to explore museums, attractions and different parts of the city over a few days, one of the longer tickets may offer much better value.
Who Is The Original Tour Best Suited To?
Although I think lots of different visitors would enjoy The Original Tour, it feels particularly well suited to families. It could be a great option if:
- You’re visiting London for the first time.
- You’d like to see as many famous landmarks as possible in a short space of time.
- You’re travelling with younger children who may struggle with lots of walking.
- You’re visiting with grandparents and want a more relaxed way to explore.
- You’re travelling from overseas and would benefit from multilingual commentary.
- You’d rather spend your day sightseeing than trying to work out Tube maps.
One of the biggest advantages is the flexibility. If your children suddenly decide they want an ice cream, need a toilet stop or spot something they’d love to explore, you can simply get off the bus and continue your journey later. When you’re travelling as a family, that freedom is often worth its weight in gold.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book
As with any day out, a little planning can make all the difference. If you’re hoping to sit on the open-top deck (and let’s be honest, that’s where most people want to be!), it’s worth checking the weather before you travel. A sun hat and sun cream can be just as useful as a waterproof jacket depending on the forecast.
If you’re visiting during the summer holidays or over a bank holiday weekend, I’d also recommend booking in advance. London is always popular during peak periods, and having everything organised before you arrive means one less thing to think about on the day.
It’s also worth deciding roughly where you’d like to start your sightseeing. Because there are multiple boarding points across central London, choosing the most convenient one for your plans will help you make the most of your ticket.
So, Is The Original Tour Worth It With Kids?
Based on everything I’ve researched, I think The Original Tour certainly looks like one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to explore London as a family.
Rather than spending your day trying to navigate busy Tube stations or walking miles between attractions, it allows you to slow the pace slightly and enjoy the journey as much as the destinations themselves.
The fact that every ticket includes a Thames River Cruise adds even more value, while the dedicated Kids Tour is a lovely addition that shows real thought has gone into making the experience enjoyable for younger visitors as well as adults.
Of course, every family is different, and the best way to explore London will always depend on your own plans. But if you’re looking for a flexible, family-friendly way to see many of the capital’s most famous landmarks, The Original Tour is certainly one to have on your shortlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Original Tour suitable for young children?
Yes. The Original Tour has been designed with families in mind, and one of its newest additions is a dedicated 45-minute Kids Tour, which combines fun storytelling with London’s famous landmarks. Children under three travel free on the Kids Tour, while children under five travel free on the main hop-on hop-off service.
Is the Thames River Cruise included?
Yes. Every ticket includes a hop-on hop-off Thames River Cruise, with stops at Westminster, the London Eye, Tower Pier and Greenwich.
Can you hop on and off as many times as you like?
Yes. During the validity of your ticket, you can hop on and off throughout the day, giving you the flexibility to spend as much time as you like at each attraction.
How long are tickets valid?
The Original Tour offers several ticket options, including 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour and seven-day passes, allowing you to choose the option that best suits your trip.
Does The Original Tour have audio commentary?
Yes. Recorded audio commentary is available in ten different languages, helping visitors learn more about London’s famous landmarks and history as they travel around the city.
Do I need to book in advance?
Although it’s possible to buy tickets on the day, booking in advance is recommended, particularly during weekends and school holidays when London is at its busiest.
Other Posts –
75+ Free Things To Do In Kent During The Summer Holidays