The London Christmas guide
Compare nine London Christmas lights experiences by deck, duration, price basis, departure point and inclusions.
Researched 19 October 2026 · Independent tour comparison
Open-top double-deckerGolden Tours – Gray Line London
Classic sightseeing & departure choice.
1960s open-top RoutemasterThe Classic Tour
A vintage bus & guaranteed top deck.
Vintage open-top RoutemasterTransporaBus
Vintage character, live guiding and festive music.
Open-top double-deckerBig Bus Tours - London
Guaranteed top-deck views with live commentary.
Open-top busTransporaBus
An Embankment departure with Christmas music.
Open-top busSee London By Night
A shorter ride with guaranteed upper-deck seating.
Santa-themed open-top busTransporaBus
Santa-themed decorations and Christmas music.
Converted vintage RoutemasterTransporaBus
Festive snacks and hot drinks in a cosy interior.
Vintage open-top double-deckerPremium Tours
A restored vintage bus departing Victoria Coach Station.
| Tour & operator | From / duration | Rating / reviews | Seats & departure | Guide & refreshments | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Lights Bus Tour with Live Guide Golden Tours – Gray Line London | £25 per person 75–90 minutes | 4.1 / 5 5,442 reviews | Upper/lower deck depends on booked option; an individual seat is not reserved. London Eye, Victoria or Green Park; selected option controls the meeting point. | Live English guide Food and drinks excluded | Check dates ↗ |
| Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Open-Top Bus The Classic Tour | £22 per person 75 minutes | 4.0 / 5 1,138 reviews | Top deck guaranteed; individual seats allocated first come, first served. Outside the Grand Hotel, 8 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BY. | Live English guide Food and drinks excluded | Check dates ↗ |
| London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus TransporaBus | £29 per person 90 minutes | 3.9 / 5 780 reviews | No explicit top-deck guarantee established; check the selected option. Embankment Stop 40b, London WC2N 6PB. Confirm boarding instructions on your voucher. | Live English guide No refreshments listed | Check dates ↗ |
| London: Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour with Live Guide Big Bus Tours - London | £30 per person 90 minutes | 4.1 / 5 532 reviews | Guaranteed top-deck seat; no promise of an individual front-row seat. Big Bus Stop 12, London Eye: Westminster Bridge Road beside the Lion Statue outside Marriott County Hall; or Stop 1, Green Park beside The Ritz and the Tube entrance. Arrive 15 minutes early; use your selected option. | Live English guide Food and drinks excluded | Check dates ↗ |
| London: Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour TransporaBus | £28 per person 90 minutes | 3.7 / 5 303 reviews | First come, first served; no seat reservations or priority boarding. Embankment Stop 40b, London WC2N 6PB. Confirm boarding instructions on your voucher. | English-speaking driver; live guide not listed Food and drinks excluded | Check dates ↗ |
| See London: Christmas Lights by Open-Top Bus See London By Night | £24 per person 60 minutes | 3.9 / 5 136 reviews | Guaranteed upper-deck seat according to the listing; check your selected option. London W1J 9DZ. Confirm the exact boarding stop and arrival time on your voucher. | Live English guide No refreshments listed | Check dates ↗ |
| London: Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour TransporaBus | £26 per person 90 minutes | 3.5 / 5 233 reviews | First come, first served; no seat reservations or priority boarding. Embankment Stop 40b, London WC2N 6PB. Confirm boarding instructions on your voucher. | English-speaking driver; live guide not listed Food and drinks excluded | Check dates ↗ |
| London: Christmas Lights & Bites Tour TransporaBus | £36 per person 90 minutes | 4.1 / 5 186 reviews | Cosy interior in a converted vintage Routemaster; confirm seating arrangements when booking. Embankment Stop 40b, London WC2N 6PB. Confirm boarding instructions on your voucher. | Live English guide Savoury and sweet snacks; tea, coffee and hot chocolate | Check dates ↗ |
| London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus Premium Tours | £32 per person 90 minutes | 4.2 / 5 246 reviews | Top-deck seating is not guaranteed. Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, Belgravia, London SW1W 9TP. This is different from Golden Tours Stop 8. | Live English guide Food and drinks excluded | Check dates ↗ |
Listing-wide starting prices, not selected-date quotes. Ratings belong to each exact listing. Checked 19 October 2026. Scroll sideways to compare all details.
Prices and ratings checked 19 October 2026. All displayed amounts are listing-wide starting prices per person.