London Tours - By Bus, On Foot, By River
By Bus
A good way to get an initial taste of what London has to offer is to take a guided bus tour of the city. There is a wide choice of tours and tour companies, which you will soon realize as you walk through central London and have tour pamphlets shoved at you.
Most guided bus tours are operated from traditional double decker buses, are hop on-hop off, and last from anywhere from 1 hour to a full day. Tickets can be bought from the uniformed ticket sellers that crowd the bus stops in central areas like Trafalgar Square, as you board, or in advance from Tourist Information Centres. Check out -
The Big Bus Company - one of the major players in the tour business, offering both recorded tours (in 12 languages) and live guided tours. Tickets include free walking and river tours, as well as discounted entry to some attractions.
Contact: 48 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RN. Phone 0207 233 9533; Fax 828 0638; Email . For more details, check out their great website at www.bigbus.co.uk.
The Original Bus Tour at Jews Row, London SW18 1TB. Phone 0208 877 1722; Fax 0208 877 1968. Check out their website at: www.theoriginaltour.com.
River Tours
The River Thames is one of the great waterways of the world, and flows right through the heart of London. The Thames has played a critical role in London's history - keeping invaders at bay, transporting the wealth of an Empire, and as the birthplace of the Royal Navy.
With the decline of Empire and changing trading patterns, the Thames' once-mighty quays have fallen silent, and the bulk of river traffic today is related to satisfying the needs of London's many tourists.
One of the most interesting ways to explore London is on a river cruise, and a number of operators offer this service:
City Cruises has a number of different services that incorporate sightseeing, lunch and afternoon tea cruises, and evening entertainment trips.
Contact: at City Cruises Plc, Cherry Garden Pier, Cherry Garden Street, LONDON SE16 4TU. Phone 0207 237 5134; Fax 0207 237 3498; Email: . Tube: Westminster.
Note that Travelcards now allow discounted river travel on many services - don't forget to ask when you buy your ticket.
Walking Tours
See London On Foot.
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