London Vintage Bus Tour with Thames River Cruise and the View from the Shard

Enjoy the highlights of London from a double-decker bus en route to Europe's tallest building, the Shard. You’ll see Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London, then take a short cruise on the Thames River. With a stop at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and fast-track tickets to The View from The Shard, you’ll cover many of London’s top sights on this 5-hour tour with an expert guide.

After meeting your guide at Victoria Coach Station, you’ll hop aboard an open-top double-decker bus to start your tour of London’s top attractions! Meander around central London and see Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben clock tower, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye while your guide tells stories about the city’s history.

You’ll continue to the Tower of London, built on the Thames River nearly 1,000 years ago. The imposing former palace was once a fortress and prison; note the Traitors' Gate where prisoners entered -- your guide will share tales of the royals and nobles who met their end inside. The Tower of London is now home to the Crown Jewels, which are protected by the Beefeaters.

After your introduction to the Tower, you’ll go down to the water for a short Thames River sightseeing cruise. On the boat, you’ll glide past famous spots like Shakespeare’s Globe, Cleopatra’s Needle and London Bridge before arriving at Embankment pier where you rejoin the bus and head for Buckingham Palace.

At Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen, you’ll walk to the gates to catch the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony. Have your camera ready to snap pics of the pomp and pageantry as the Guards, sporting their tall bearskin hats and red tunics, march to military music while coming on or off shift.

After your time at Buckingham Palace, you’ll go to the tour’s final stop: the Shard, London's newest architectural attraction and the tallest building in Western Europe! You’ll receive Fastrack tickets to the ‘The View,’ located near the top of the Shard, where you get breathtaking 360-degree views of London.

The tour ends at the Shard. Feel free to stay and enjoy the views at your leisure.

Please note: The Changing of the Guard only takes place on certain dates. When it does not take place, you will make a photo stop at Buckingham Palace

• Local guide
• Sightseeing tour by double-decker bus
• River cruise
• Entrance to the View from the Shard
  

• Gratuities (optional)
• Entrance fees
• Hotel pickup and drop-off