London’s bewitching right now, as it twinkles with Christmas lights.
You could walk around them all, or you could hop on a bus and watch the illuminations pass you by; several special bus tours operate during the festive season.
Note: the below are all organised tours. A cheaper alternative is to take London’s most festive TfL public bus route to see the West End’s Christmas lights.
Golden Tours’ London Christmas Lights bus tours 2025
Golden Tours offers a bus tour of the London Christmas lights with a live guide on an open-top bus, passing the lights of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus, as well as the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree.
For added audience participation, book onto the Singalong Christmas Lights Tour, and spend 90 minutes touring the sights while singing along to well-known Christmas tunes played on board. Mince pies, shortbread biscuits and festive drinks are included with this option. Note that this one is not an open-top bus.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and can’t be reserved in advance. And unlike other Golden Tours routes, these are not a hop-on, hop-off tours.
Duration: 70-90 minutes
Departure and return locations: Choose between the London Eye, Buckingham Palace Road (Victoria), or Green Park station, and take a full circular tour.
Dates: 7 November 2025 (singalong begins 8 November)-4 January 2026.
Prices: Lights tour from £24 | Singalong from £32.
TootBus Christmas Lights Tour 2025
Tootbus’ non-stop Christmas sightseeing tour starts close to Leicester Square. Board an open-top double-decker bus and pass the lights of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Trafalgar Square while a guide tells you stories of Christmases past and present in London. Alternatively, an audio guide is available in 10 different languages.
Duration: Approx 75 minutes
Departure and return location: Coventry Street (between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus)
Dates: 14 November 2025-4 January 2026.
Prices: Adult from £27.20 | Child from £17.60
London City Bus Tours’ Christmas Lights Tour 2025
London City Bus Tours offers a range of Christmas lights adventures on its double-decker fleet (as well as a few private taxi options, and a walking tour too). Pick the Christmas lights tours and enjoy the sights with live commentary, or take the city sightseeing Christmas tour and listen to festive tunes as you journey around town — with Santa joining you on board.
Note only some options guarantee you a seat upstairs, so check before you book.
Duration: 1-1.5 hours (taxi tours take up to three hours)
Departure and return locations: Various, including London Eye and Green Park
Dates: 14 November 2025-4 January 2026
Prices: From £21.60 adult | £14.40 child
London Christmas Lights Bus Tour 2025
For added retro glam, take a tour of the festive illuminations on a vintage 1960s Routemaster. The Christmas Lights Bus Tour provides you with live commentary as you pass Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, Hyde Park (home to Winter Wonderland during Christmas), Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben and the London Eye with festive music thrown in. You’re welcome to bring your own soft drinks.
Note: it’s a semi open-top Routemaster, so dress warmly. Though you’re guaranteed a seat on the top deck, specific seats are on a first-come, first-served basis and can’t be reserved in advance.
Duration: 75 minutes
Departure and return location: Round trip from Northumberland Avenue (just south of Trafalgar Square).
Dates: 15 November-30 December 2025
Prices: Adult £25/child £17
Brigit’s Bakery’s London Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus Tour 2025
Book a late slot (5pm or 5.30pm) on a Brigit’s Bakery afternoon tea bus throughout November and December, and be treated to views of the illuminations as you dine. Pass Marble Arch, Park Lane, Brook Street, Hanover Square, Cavendish Square, Wigmore Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall, soaking in the lights as you go.
You’ll need to specifically book for the top deck to get a seat there — make sure you choose that option when selecting tickets.
Departure and return locations: Victoria Coach Station
Dates: November-December 2025.
Prices: Adult £69 | Child £64
Santa’s Sleigh Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour 2025
There’s festive music on board the Santa’s Sleigh Christmas lights tour, which takes you through St James’s, Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square — to ogle the lights on an open-top bus.
Duration: 90 minutes
Departure and return locations: Board at Embankment station. Choose to get dropped off at Trafalgar Square or return to Embankment.
Dates: 21 November 2025-4 January 2026.
Prices: Adult £25.60, child £19.20
