London Bus Tour with Kids: A Family Guide

An open-top bus tour is one of the easiest wins for a family day in London — kids get the front-row seat on the upper deck, parents get to sit down, and a full sweep of landmarks happens in 90 minutes instead of a footsore full day. This guide covers the practical side of taking the See London by Night tour and other open-top tours with children: tickets, what to pack, buggies, warmth and choosing the right departure.

Why open-top buses work for families

Children generally love the open upper deck — it is the closest a sightseeing tour gets to a ride. The featured See London by Night tour explicitly welcomes families alongside couples, friends and solo travellers, and “Families” is one of its named reviewer categories. The big practical advantage over walking is simple: an open-top bus loops Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s and a dozen more landmarks in 90 minutes from a comfortable seat — no tired legs, no lost momentum, no “are we nearly there yet.”

A live guide also helps. On the See London by Night tour an English-speaking guide narrates each landmark in real time, often involving passengers and adding stories — far more engaging for a child than a recorded audio track.

Tickets: child fares and family pricing

Most London open-top operators sell discounted child tickets, so a family rarely pays full adult price across the board. Exact child-fare age bands and any “under-X travels free” rules vary from operator to operator, so check the age cut-offs when you book rather than assuming.

For reference, here is where the featured night tour sits against the other tour styles this site covers:

For young children, the fixed-loop open-top tour is usually the sweet spot: long enough to feel like an event, short enough to hold attention, and everyone stays seated together.

What to pack for kids

The upper deck is open and exposed, and the wind picks up as the bus moves — this matters more for children than adults. Pack:

• A warm layer for every child, year-round — even in summer the moving open deck is cooler than the street. In autumn a jacket and scarf is about right; in winter, proper layers.
• A rain layer in wetter months — the buses run with the roof open in all but the heaviest rain.
• Water — fine to bring; bins on the upper deck are limited, so keep snack wrappers to a minimum. The standard sightseeing bus is not a dining tour.
• A small entertainment backup for the youngest children, in case traffic slows the loop.

Buggies and strollers

A foldable buggy is the safe choice for a bus tour. Open-top sightseeing buses generally ask you to fold pushchairs and keep them with you, with limited lower-deck storage when the bus is not busy. A compact, quick-fold model makes boarding far smoother than a bulky travel system. If you have an infant in a buggy, plan to fold it before boarding and carry the child up — or stay on the lower deck, which is enclosed and still gives a fine view.

Day tour or night tour with kids?

Both work — it depends on your children’s ages and bedtimes.

The night tour’s floodlit Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the neon of Piccadilly Circus genuinely dazzle older children — but in summer, book a later departure so it is actually dark (earliest May–July slots can still be in daylight). In winter the night tour doubles as a Christmas-lights ride past the Regent Street and Oxford Street displays, which younger kids love. See our best time for a London bus tour guide for the seasonal detail.

A few practical tips

• Arrive at the Green Park meeting point 10–15 minutes early — seats on the open upper deck are first-come, and a family wants seats together.
• Sit toward the front of the upper deck for the clearest sightlines for shorter passengers.
• Pets are not allowed on board, so plan accordingly if you are travelling with an assistance animal — contact the operator ahead.
• Book in advance: the night tour frequently sells out the same day, and a family of four is harder to squeeze onto a busy departure last-minute.

Ready to Book?

The See London by Night open-top tour welcomes families, runs every evening, and is rated 4.5/5 by 5,686 guests — from $31.70 per person with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Pick a departure that suits your children’s day and check availability and book your family London bus tour.