London Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour

The tour was fantastic, coming from London myself it was interesting to know some facts that was mentioned. A special mention to Dave the tour guide and also to the driver, it was his first time driving the bus for the Christmas route and both done amazing. Well done guys ❤️ I promised my review to the staff so here it is.

Our experience on taking the Hop hop off Christmas light tour of the London sights in December 2023 has been an awful experience and one that me and my family will never forget and we will never ever do any tours with this company. I rate this company 0 out of 5 and advise all travellers to avoid this company and choose a better bus tour operator. Our experience left us mentally traumatised and horrified. It all started when half way into our tour when the conditions on the tour bus got worse to say the least. Sitting on an open top bus we were given ear phones to hear running commentary on audio system which having tried several times did not work at all a total waste of time. We then opted to move down stairs in order to sat warm but this made seeing the Christmas lights even worse as nothing could be seen. As we had already paid £120 for 8 of us in our group, a large amount for a tour which should have lasted an hour with guidance, non of which had happened, instead we ended up seeing the residential parts of London when the driver took the wrong turn and ended getting lost and driving on the footpath and driving the bus full off people with on coming traffic., going down the wrong way on a one way street just I try and get back on to the tour route. The bus driver was even seen driving and talking to the head office over the phone while driving, when on of the passenger requested to stop and drive the bus,which was totally ignored. We were frightened for our safety. Even after complaining and writing several emails to and through Tooth bus only gave back £30;00 with an apology of inconvenience blaming the night had faced planned protest marches which they were not aware at the time and as a result the driver took the wrong turn which ended the tour taking an unplanned diversion, and a route which under normal circumstances would have not been taken. Such a disgraceful awful experience. 1st let down by the tour bus driver and then .eat down by the management. On-any of Toot Bus, with a Mosley compensation of £30;00 when we asked for a full refund we were advised that this is the best the can offer under the circumstances. I ask what would you do ? Is it worth the anxiety and trauma it has caused and the disappointment of not seeing the Christmas lights tour.. I advise all fellow travellers to avoid this Bus company in future sight seeing visits not us there in London but any where in the world as they are a budget company with no customer care at all. AVOID AT ALL COST - ITS NOT WORTH THE MONEY AT ALL.

Pros - bus stop central and easy to find. Seats uncomfortable, advertised as Xmas songs playing, instead we had to listen to the "guide" all the way round. Uninteresting and talked about his wife for the 80 minutes duration. Thought the planned route wasn't good and last year we.used a different bus company which was really enjoyable and showed us The Ritz and other Xmas themed hotels. At £80 for a family, it wasn't worth it.