London in one morning, then royalty up close. This tour strings together three ways to see the city: a vintage Routemaster bus ride for landmark views and a Thames cruise for skyline photos without the street traffic grind. It ends with a rare chance to tour the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace during their limited public opening.

I like how the day is built for time-pressed people who still want real context from a local guide. One thing to plan around: the palace visit happens later (your Buckingham Palace entry is booked for 14:30), so you’ll have a break after the morning sightseeing, and the bus portion can be rain-prone since it’s usually open-top.

Key Highlights That Matter

• Vintage Routemaster bus through the classic London core, with big-panorama photo stops
• Thames cruise with a relaxed change of pace and skyline sightlines from the river
• Buckingham Palace State Rooms during the short annual public season
• Small group size (max 50), which usually keeps the pace manageable
• Local guide storytelling on and off the bus (you may have guides such as Alan, Nick, Kevin/Mark, or Peter)
• Mobile ticket for smoother check-in

Victoria Coach Station to a Classic Routemaster Experience

The day starts at Victoria Coach Station, in central London, with a morning departure around 7:45am. You’ll want to arrive early enough to find your correct starting bay—and yes, people have found the bay instructions confusing in the early rush. If you’re staring at the station board wondering what to do, don’t guess. Ask on-site staff or other tour groups where your specific bus is pulling in.

Once you’re aboard, you’re in a red, double-decker Routemaster-style bus. If you’ve done London before, you know the streets can feel like stop-and-start chaos. This bus format flips that: higher seats, wide views, and a simple route through the iconic sights.

It also helps that the route is paced for photos. You’ll catch big names like Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey from the road. The guide adds stories that make the scenery easier to recognize, even if you’ve never studied a single British trivia fact.

Practical tip: bring layers. This is an early start, and London weather can go sideways fast. Since the bus is typically open-top, you’ll feel it if rain rolls in, even if conditions are still calm.

The Morning Route: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Views

The morning part is designed to help you map London fast. You don’t just drive past sights—you build a mental picture of where everything sits relative to each other.

Here are the key stops and what to look for:

Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column

You’ll roll past Nelson’s Column and the famous Trafalgar fountains area. It’s one of those places where the landmarks are easy to identify, but the surrounding details are what make the photo worthwhile—look for the square layout and how it lines up with major streets.

City of London: St. Paul’s and Sir Christopher Wren

You’ll also see St. Paul’s Cathedral, the famed masterpiece associated with Sir Christopher Wren. Even if you can’t get out for long, you can still read the scale from the bus. This is the moment you’ll understand why London’s “city” and “Westminster” feel like two different worlds.

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament area

From the street, you’ll get views tied to the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the clock tower commonly associated with Big Ben. If you’re into architecture, this is a good window. The bus gives you enough distance to see the buildings as a group, not as scattered postcard pieces.

Westminster Abbey: the quick photo window

There’s a brief photo stop outside Westminster Abbey. This is not a long visit, so treat it like a “get your bearings” moment. If your goal is to walk inside, you’d need a separate plan, since this stop is about exterior views and quick pictures.

Tower-of-London area context (from the route and later cruise)

The tour content includes the Tower area context, including a theme that later shows up strongly on the Thames boat portion (and the look of the riverfront landmarks). Even from the bus, you start to connect what you’ll see on the water with the city blocks around it.

Why this morning works: you leave with a sense of orientation. You’ll know what’s central, what’s ceremonial, and where the big riverfront sights fit into the same day.

The Thames River Cruise: Where London Looks Like London

After the bus sightseeing, you transition to the Thames River for a boat ride of about 30 minutes. This is one of the best parts of the value equation because it’s not just another “pass-by.” It’s a change in viewpoint—river-level sightlines that you just can’t get from the street.

As you cruise, you’ll see the skyline from a calmer angle. Expect views tied to:

• St. Paul’s Cathedral (you’ll often spot its massive dome from the river)
• Tower Bridge and the Tower of London area
• The London Eye
• The Houses of Parliament area

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes photos but hates rushing, this portion is your breather. The pace feels different on the water, and your camera has a steadier target than street scenes.

One consideration: the cruise can feel rushed if your day is tightly timed. Still, the river does what it’s supposed to do—makes the city look grand and unified, with fewer bottlenecks than the roads.

Buckingham Palace State Rooms: What You’ll See (and What You Can’t)

Now for the main event: Buckingham Palace. The key detail here is that the State Rooms are only open to the public for a limited period (during their short annual public season). This is why this tour stands out from the typical “see the gates” experiences.

When you arrive, you’ll walk with your guide to the entrance, then you go in independently. Guides are not permitted inside, so you’ll rely on your ticket and an audio-guided tour inside the palace.

Inside the State Rooms

You’ll view the lavish ceremonial spaces tied to the Royal Collection. The highlights you can expect from the tour description include:

• glittering chandeliers
• sumptuous furnishings
• priceless treasures from the Royal Collection

Even if you’re not a museum person, these rooms tend to land well because they’re designed for drama and ceremony. It’s not just paintings on walls. It’s scale, materials, and a sense of theater.

Rules that affect your experience

A few important do-not-miss points:

• Eating and drinking aren’t permitted inside the State Rooms.
• Photography/video recording/filming is not permitted inside the State Rooms, including wearable devices for non-commercial use.

That rule shapes how you move. You’ll enjoy the rooms more if you treat your phone like it’s off limits and instead take mental notes. If you want photos, the better play is to get your pictures outside the palace and keep the interior visit focused on atmosphere.

The timing reality

Your palace entry is booked for 14:30. You’ll finish the earlier sightseeing, then you’ll have a break before the State Rooms visit. Some people run into scheduling friction if they planned the entire afternoon already. If you can, keep that window flexible or plan a nearby activity you can swap easily.

The Big Timing Gap: How to Plan the Break After the Morning Tour

This tour has a built-in rhythm: morning bus + river cruise, then a mid-day pause, then the palace visit.

The break can be a deal-breaker for people with fixed afternoon plans. In some cases, it can stretch to around a few hours depending on how the day flows. That’s why I recommend treating the palace entry time as the anchor, not the entire morning.

How to handle it:

• Plan something close to Buckingham Palace for later, since the end of the tour is at the palace.
• If you’re meeting friends or joining another activity, pick something that can start after 14:30 or has an easy fallback.
• Pack a light snack for outside time, since you cannot eat inside the State Rooms.

Also note the practical flow: the tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off. You’re responsible for getting to the meeting point and then getting yourself back after the palace. The upside is flexibility, but it does mean you should keep your transit plan simple.

Price and Value: Why $59 Can Make Sense Here

At about $59, you’re paying for a three-part combo:

1) Vintage bus sightseeing with a guide

2) A Thames cruise with included admission for the ride

3) A Buckingham Palace State Rooms ticket plus an audio-guided visit

The value is strongest when you would otherwise pay separately (or skip one of these pieces). Many London sightseeing plans either focus on the palace or focus on the river. This one tries to hit both, plus the bus route that helps you place everything in the same geographic story.

Where it can feel less like a bargain is if you’re expecting a long, guided walkthrough inside Buckingham Palace. Because guides can’t go in, your experience inside is self-paced with audio. You still get access and the State Rooms themselves, but it’s not the kind of fully narrated interior tour some people want.

Still, given that Buckingham Palace State Rooms are the part that typically requires planning and timing, bundling it with the transportation and river cruise makes the price feel more justified.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want Something Else)

This is a smart match if you’re:

• Visiting London for a short time
• Wanting the big sights without building a full day of tickets and routing
• Interested in a small-group approach (up to 50 people)
• Okay with a blend of guided time and self-guided palace time

It might be less ideal if you:

• Hate waiting around between activities
• Want a deep, time-heavy museum experience with extended time inside the palace
• Prefer a bus tour that’s fully weather-proof every day (since it’s open-top unless changed due to rain)

If you’ve got limited mobility or stamina, the tour says it requires moderate physical fitness level, so you’ll want to consider walking times, stairs on a double-decker, and the pace shifts between bus, boat, and the palace grounds.

Should You Book Buckingham Palace and a Vintage Bus + Thames Cruise?

I think you should book this if you want an easy way to hit the big classics in one day and you specifically care about seeing the Buckingham Palace State Rooms during the public season. The mix of Routemaster bus views, a Thames skyline cruise, and palace interiors for about $59 is a practical setup for first-time Londoners and anyone squeezing sightseeing into a tight schedule.

I’d hold off—or at least plan carefully—if your afternoon plans are strict. The later 14:30 entry creates downtime, and the open-top bus means you should pack for weather and expect rain as a possibility. If you can stay flexible and enjoy a “sightseeing + river reset + palace audio tour” flow, this tour is a solid use of your time.

FAQ

How long is the Buckingham Palace and vintage bus tour?

The tour runs for about 5 hours 30 minutes.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UK.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 7:45am.

What happens at Buckingham Palace?

You enter Buckingham Palace independently for the State Rooms using your pre-booked ticket and an audio-guided tour. Your guide won’t accompany you inside.

Is the State Rooms visit included?

Yes. Buckingham Palace State Rooms entry is included, and it’s during their limited three-month annual public opening.

Can I take photos inside the State Rooms?

No. Photography and video recording are not permitted inside the State Rooms, including wearable devices for non-commercial purposes.

Is the bus open top?

It’s usually an open-top bus. You should be prepared for rain, and on rare occasions it may be swapped for a closed-top bus.

Does the tour include a Thames River cruise?

Yes. The Thames cruise is about 30 minutes and is included with admission.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You’ll make your own way to the start point and then onward after the tour ends.