Looking for a London Red Bus Tour and don’t want to pay through the nose for an overpriced tour? Have you thought of seeing London on a public bus?
A one day bus pass for an adult costs £5.25 and you can hop on and hop off all day long. Some bus routes are better than others for touring London. I recommend numbers 9, 11 and 75.
Let’s start our series of budget London red bus tours with the number 9 route which passes iconic London sights like Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden.
Photo credit: It’s No Game
Itinerary for the Number 9 London Red Bus Tour
The number 9 bus route can be seen on the Transport for London website. We are going to concentrate on the section from Kensington Palace to Covent Garden
Buses in central London leave every few minutes so there’s no need to get hung up on bus arrival and departure times.
You can get off the bus whenever you want and then simply go back to the same bus stop when you are ready to resume your journey.
The best seats for this London Red Bus Tour are the top of the double decker at the front…otherwise choose a window seat with uninterrupted views.
1. Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Obviously, you’d be mad to miss Kensington Palace . It was the birthplace of Queen Victoria and continues to be home to Royalty including Prince William and Princess Catherine. When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were courting they had a cottage in the grounds.
The state rooms are open to the general public. Kensington Palace’s forte lies in its display of court jewellery and costumes. There are beautiful clothing displays including Princess Diana’s much photographed dresses.
The controversial Princess Diana sculpture is the Sunken Garden which you can visit free of charge. You decide…does it do her justice?
The scones and cream in the cafe are particularly good and there is a nice outside courtyard area in which to enjoy them.
Now its time to begin your budget London red bus tour adventure…board the Number 9 bus at Kensington Palace.
2. The Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall
Our London Red Bus Tour goes past the Royal Albert Hall which is a famous concert space known for the annual classical music festival the Proms.
The Prince Albert Memorial
Facing the Royal Albert Hall, is the Prince Albert Memorial which Queen Victoria commissioned in memory of her husband Prince Albert with whom she had nine children. It’s our equivalent of the Taj Mahal; a tribute to enduring love.
The Royal Music College
Behind the Royal Albert Hall you will find the Royal Music College with its exciting programme of low cost music recitals. You can find out about their current programme here.
3. Knightsbridge Station
Harrods
Our third stop is Knightsbridge where you will find the ultra exclusive Harrods department store. Nestled inside is a shopping arcade of high-end brands, luxury designer handbags and a jaw dropping food hall.
Harrods food hall is just the place to pick up a sandwich, sausage roll, pork pie, quiche or any other portable delight to enjoy on your London red bus tour.
Harvey Nichols
Equally luxurious is the nearby Harvey Nichols department store with its focus on fashion and premium makeup.
Return to the bus stop to continue your budget London red bus tour as we are now going to chill out in London’s best known park.
4. Hyde Park Corner Station
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is the largest London Royal park. It has two outdoor cafes overlooking a man-made lake and is dotted with hire by the hour deckchairs.
The more energetic may enjoy a boating trip or an outdoor swim.
Hyde Park is just the place to decompress. Take a stroll through the Rose Garden or have an ice cream in the Italianate garden.
Get back on the bus as our next stop will involve art, more royal palaces and afternoon teas.
5. Green Park
Park Lane
The bus crosses the end of Park Lane, home to luxury 5 star hotels including the Dorchester, the Four Seasons and the London Hilton. Which has the most luxurious foyer? You decide.
The Wellington Arch and Green Park
On the right, you will see the Wellington Arch, Green Park and the walls of Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace
You can get off the bus here for Buckingham Palace which is a 10 minute walk through Green Park.
The Ritz
Look out for the world famous Ritz Hotel which has hosted celebrities and royalty for decades. Afternoon Tea is a spectacular affair but it will be necessary to book well in advance and adhere to their strict dress code.
We have a useful blog post on how to have a day out at Buckingham Palace and the Ritz. We include exploring the St James’s area.
The Wolseley
You are now on my favourite street, Piccadilly. It has the Wolseley with its beautiful monochrome interior and one of the best afternoon teas in London (a bargain compared with the adjacent Ritz).
It is almost worth visiting the Wolseley just to eat their banana split.
The Royal Academy
On the left you will see the Royal Academy which is home to the celebrated Summer Exhibition. Any artist can submit a piece of work for consideration…you will see the most bizarre ideas.
We reviewed Loneliness of the Soul by the controversial Royal Academician, Tracy Emin. This will give you a taste of what to expect.
The Royal Academy has free galleries and loos…the outdoor cafe with its tables and umbrellas is a nice place to sip cappuccino away from the bustle of Piccadilly.
The Burlington Arcade
Next door to the Royal Academy is the Burlington Arcade an indoor shopping street with luxury brands and a distinctive period feel.
Fortnum & Mason
Opposite the Royal Academy is Fortnum & Mason, the Queen’s Grocer. Pay a visit to see its beautiful food displays. Tourists beat a path here for its legendary loose tea and quality preserves.
No need to buy groceries, some say that afternoon tea at Fortnum’s is the best in London.
You may enjoy our post on Where to buy tea in London and you can get an idea of what they sell from our post on a Fortnum and Mason Hamper for for a Londoner.
Hatchards
If you walk up Piccadilly, past Fortnums, you will see the Royal book seller Hatchards. It has an old fashioned, very British style and service making it a fascinating place to browse.
There are a couple of notable book sellers in Piccadilly including Waterstone’s which is the biggest book store in Europe with 8 miles of books.
St James’s Palace
Behind Fortnums and Hatchards you will find Jermyn Street with its small artisan shops selling everything from cheese to toiletries, men’s clothing and chocolates.
From here you can walk to St James’s Palace and Clarence House, the London Residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
5. Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is London’s equivalent of New York’s Times Square.
If I am honest, it’s not my thing not least because it is crowded with young people enjoying raucous street entertainment.
Visit to take souvenir photos of the Eros Statue, Piccadilly Circus and the LED advertising which is especially spectacular at dusk.
If you are one of the gilded youth, you maybe able to pick up the man or woman of your dreams by sitting on the steps of the Eros Statue.
The Criterion Theatre and the Criterion Restaurant
The charming Criterion Theatre with its distinctive 20’s vibe faces the Eros statue.
Next door, you’ll find the preserved gold mosaic interior of the former Criterion Restaurant . Lately, it has gone downmarket and is now a chain Indian restaurant. Not all progress is improvement.
Brasserie Zedel
If you are hungry, I can recommend a hidden gem. Brasserie Zedel with its well priced set menus is a basement restaurant on the Regent’s Street Side of Piccadilly Circus. It looks like a small cafe above ground and nothing alerts you to its gleaming Gallic interior and crystal chandelier.
We have produced a detailed review of the Brasserie Zedel set menus.
At Brasserie Zedel you will also find the Art Deco American Bar which serves classic cocktails and the vibrant red and black Crazy Coqs night club.
Regent’s Street
Regent’s Street is less crowded than Oxford Circus with more style and class. It contains many mid priced stores like Zara and H&M alongside luxury brands.
At the top of Regent’s Street, you will find Liberty with its Revival Tudor frontage constructed from the timbers of three ancient battle ships.
Now return to Piccadilly Circus and get comfy on the bus as we are heading to a famous sight…one that screams London.
6. Trafagar Square
Trafalgar Square
This historic square was designed by John Nash to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. It is now a popular meeting point and site for political demonstrations. Look out for the fourth plinth which is a showcase contemporary art.
The National Gallery
At the north end of the square you will see the National Gallery with its free public exhibitions containing the works of almost every painter of any note from Rembrandt to the Impressionists.
The National Portrait Gallery
Around the corner from the National Gallery is the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery. This used to be a dusty mausoleum of an art gallery until they hired Sir Roy Strong as its flamboyant and creative director. He breathed a new life into its exhibitions and you will see all sorts of work that push the boundaries of what’s possible in portrait painting.
The London Coliseum
Opposite the National Portrait Gallery in Saint Martin’s Lane, you will find the London Coliseum which is home to the English National Opera.
The ENO is famed for its inclusivity with seats starting at £10. There are some fantastic offers for new opera goers, school children and the under 35s.
All of its operas are sung in English. Note the the opera season here is from Autumn to Spring.
7. Southampton Street/Covent Garden
Covent Garden Market
Now you are probably on your knees with exhaustion, so I would recommend making Covent Garden your final stop. This used to be a fruit and vegetable market but now it has a lively street market selling art, crafts and London souvenirs.
Covent Garden Street Performers
Covent Garden is just the place for a coffee, drink or ice cream while watching street performers. Last time I was in Covent Garden I stumbled upon the ice cream bar Milk Train. Their sundaes looked amazing. There were queues round the block so clearly they tasted amazing too.
Covent Garden Restaurants
Notable restaurants here are the historic Rules which specialises in British cuisine like pies and puddings and Balthazar – a stylish French restaurant.
Regular opera goers also recommend Le Garrick and Frenchie for their reasonably priced pre opera menus.
The Royal Opera House
A grand finale for your could be a trip to the opera. You can have the experience of a lifetime by visiting the Royal Opera House where you will hear world class performers singing opera in glorious burgundy velvet surroundings.
Concluding our London Red Bus Tour
Don’t you think that it is amazing what you can see for the cost of a £5.25 one day bus pass? If you take this tour as a single journey without leaving the bus it will cost £1.75. You can pay by Oystercard or credit card. If you have travelled in by tube, your budget London red bus tour will be part of your capped daily spend, therefore it may cost you no extra.
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