
City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 10 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour worth booking?
City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from £15 per person. It scores 66 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 10 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 66 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (10)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- £15 per person
Enjoy a festive sightseeing bus tour around London, taking in the spectacular sparkling Christmas light displays on show. You'll travel through Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Westminster Bridge - all lit up for Christmas, with Santa expertly guiding you around. You'll start your festive journey at Haymarket (just outside Tiger Tiger restaurant) and enjoy unobstructed views from the top deck of the bus, which provides the perfect opportunity to snap some Christmas selfies with the whole of London lit up behind you! Get in the Christmas spirit by belting out festive Christmas songs with your fellow passengers, and listen to joyful and entertaining from Santa himself (in English only). Book your City Sightseeing ticket today and have yourself a merry little Christmas!
What you get
About this experience
Enjoy a festive sightseeing bus tour around London, taking in the spectacular sparkling Christmas light displays on show. You'll travel through Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Westminster Bridge - all lit up for Christmas, with Santa expertly guiding you around. You'll start your festive journey at Haymarket (just outside Tiger Tiger restaurant) and enjoy unobstructed views from the top deck of the bus, which provides the perfect opportunity to snap some Christmas selfies with the whole of London lit up behind you! Get in the Christmas spirit by belting out festive Christmas songs with your fellow passengers, and listen to joyful and entertaining from Santa himself (in English only). Book your City Sightseeing ticket today and have yourself a merry little Christmas!
What's included
Included
- Admire London's dazzling Christmas light displays
- 90-minute open-top bus tour through central London
- A unique Christmas sightseeing experience suitable for all ages
- Optional upgrade - add a hop-on hop-off bus and river cruise to your ticket
- Entertaining audio commentary from Santa (in English only)
Not included
- Food and drink
- Gratuities
- Entry to attractions
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- The Festive Lights bus tour is not a hop-on hop-off tour
What you'll see and do
Pass Oxford Circus
Pass by without stopping
Trafalgar Square / Embankment
Pass Trafalgar Square
Pass by without stopping
Piccadilly Circus
Pass Piccadilly Circus
Pass by without stopping
Westminster Bridge
Pass Westminster Bridge
Pass by without stopping
Regent Street
Delight in Regent Street's famous Spirit of Christmas offering with its beautiful angels soaring into the sky
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
Departure Point: Stop 22 (Haymarket, outside Tiger Tiger restaurant)
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Departure Point: Stop 22 (Haymarket, outside Tiger Tiger restaurant)
Options you can book
Christmas Lights + 24Hour HOHO
This option includes a 90-minute Christmas Lights tour, a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour and a River Cruise
Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour
Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus : This option includes a a 90-minute Christmas Lights open-top bus tour only
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- City Sightseeing Ltd - UK and Ireland
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Departure Times:
- 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th November
- Departure Point: Stop 22 (Haymarket, outside Tiger Tiger restaurant)
- Tour duration: 90 minutes
- Please select the time you would like to take the tour when booking your tickets. Tickets are only valid for the timeslot booked
- Mobile and printed paper vouchers are both accepted on this tour and must be redeemed at the departure point
- All sales are final: tickets cannot be exchange or money refunded
- Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time to allow for boarding the bus
- If the Christmas Lights Tour + Hop-On Hop-Off Bus + River Cruise is selected:
- Red Route: Features 25 stops. Stop 1 is Belvedere Road, Stand 3788, behind London Eye. First departure from Stop 1 is at 8:50am. Last departure from Stop 1 is at 5pm. Tour duration: 150 minutes. Frequency: every 20 - 30 minutes
- Blue Route: Features 16 stops. First stop is Stop 19 Marble Arch, Park Lane, outside Bob Forstner. First departure from Stop 19 is at 9:15am. Last departure from Stop 19 is at 4:35pm. Tour duration: 80 minutes. Frequency: every 30 minutes
- Green Route Shuttle: Features 13 stops. Stop 1 is Belvedere Road, Stand 3788, behind London Eye. First departure from Stop 1 is at 9:20am. Last departure from Stop 1 is at 4:18pm. Tour duration: 90 minutes. Frequency: every 90 minutes
- A City Sightseeing leaflet containing information about all the stops will be provided when you board the hop-on hop-off bus
- Vouchers can be redeemed at any of the stops along the routes
- River Cruise: Included in your ticket is a one-way cruise on the River Thames between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier. You can start the cruise from either pier. You will be given your cruise ticket when you redeem your voucher on the bus. Departures every 40 minutes. Duration: approx. 35 minutes. First departure (from Westminster) is at 10am. Last departure (from Westminster) is at 6:55pm
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
4 verified traveler reviews for City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Lovely way to see the Christmas lights of London
Excellent tour to see the Christmas lights. Great narrative by our guide ( Brennan from Canada?) He kept us entertained with accurate descriptions throughout. Also, well done to the driver negotiating some tricky traffic and tight bends. Great easy way to see the lights. Will defo recommend.
Response from the operator: Hi, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for the 5 stars! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Christmas lights tour and that Brennan kept you entertained with his informative commentary. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to him. We’re also glad to hear that the driver managed the tricky traffic and tight bends smoothly, making your experience enjoyable and stress-free. Your recommendation means a lot to us! We hope to welcome you again soon on another City Sightseeing tour. Best regards, The City Sightseeing Team
via Tripadvisor
Bof
So we spent more time stopped than en route it was long and tedious especially as we did not have much time in front of us to do than if you have the day!
Response from the operator: Merci beaucoup pour votre avis. Nous sommes désolés d’apprendre que votre expérience à Londres n’a pas été à la hauteur de vos attentes. Nous prenons note de vos commentaires concernant les temps d’arrêt et la durée du parcours afin d’améliorer notre service à l’avenir. Nous espérons avoir l’occasion de vous accueillir à nouveau pour une expérience plus fluide.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Christmas light tour
Today I was in Christmas light tour. Nabila and Sylvester was amazing sellers. CitySightseeing best tour in London highly recommend.
via Tripadvisor
I would recommend this tour
My friends and I really enjoyed the Christmas lights tour tonight our tour guide Harita !! she played all our song recommendations and she was very bubbly and fun to talk to Thank you Harita
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- £15 to £28
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by City Sightseeing Ltd - UK and Ireland, who run 7 experiences we rank across 7 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 72.3.
See everything City Sightseeing Ltd - UK and Ireland runsWhy this scores 66
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour cost?
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Prices start at £15 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.
Is City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 66 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 10 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour, Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in London?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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Included: Admire London's dazzling Christmas light displays; 90-minute open-top bus tour through central London; A unique Christmas sightseeing experience suitable for all ages; Optional upgrade - add a hop-on hop-off bus and river cruise to your ticket; and Entertaining audio commentary from Santa (in English only). Not included: Food and drink; Gratuities; Entry to attractions; and Hotel pick-up and drop-off. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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Departure Point: Stop 22 (Haymarket, outside Tiger Tiger restaurant) Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; and Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in London. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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Across 10 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for City Sightseeing London Christmas Lights Bus Tour?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Christmas Lights + 24Hour HOHO, Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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