Have you ever climbed on board a sight seeing bus? Have you ever climbed on board a sight seeing, movie themed, with a bar… bus?
Toot Bus have curated a bus tour dedicated to iconic movie locations across the capital. We started our tour at the famous Charles II Street, a stones throw from Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, a perfect spot to begin our Toot Bus adventure. Our driver greeted us with a warm welcome and introduced us to the guides before we took our seats on the top deck which turned many heads down below, with its floral decor and smash proof champagne glasses (they were plastic). They also have accessible access for those that require this on the lower deck.
As well as the flowing bar drinks, the tour guide was flowing too, she wasn’t reading off a script, and so it made the entire experience an enjoyable, more natural one. Her movie knowledge flowed and her enthusiasm definitely did too, which helped during the quiz rounds.
The tour is 90 minutes long and wasn’t at all “a bumpy ride” (appreciate that quote from Harry Potter). The bus weaved seamlessly through famous landmarks, awe-struck tourists and as we reached Westminster, the glow of the sun set hit off the river Thames, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much I love my city.
My plus one, recently came to the UK from Vancouver Canada and shared with me about how this tour was incredibly nostalgic for her. With memories of her and her sister exploring the sites she hadn’t visited since. “Seeing these places again is a reminder as to why I moved here.” This tour definitely captivated something deeper than just stunning views.
A bus tour is the perfect way to get around London. Having worked in the film industry for a while, it’s incredibly humbling to know there’s a tour sharing the wonderful works of the entertainment industry. There’s a sense of pride knowing some of these great film locations took place (and continue to) right under our noses, and even above us! Take for example, The Crown, they obviously couldn’t use the real Buckingham Palace during filming, so instead they recreated the balcony scene at Lancaster House, which is right opposite the starting location for the tour, look up, you won’t miss it.
Lastly, my favourite point of the tour was driving past my favourite bear, the gorgeous Paddington Mural in Waterloo.
So yes, you’re most certainly in for a fun filled, movie trivia ride. It’ll also have you falling back in love with a city you’ve maybe forgotten to explore in a while, or If it’s your first time, “welcome.”
And as Paddington Bear once said, “In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.”
How much are tickets for the Tootbus London Movie Tour and where can I buy them?
Tickets cost £49 for adults (16+) and include two alcoholic or soft drinks, children (5-15) are also welcome onboard and tickets cost £30 and include two soft drinks. Lights, Camera, London! The Ultimate Movie & TV Tour runs every Friday and Saturday from now until July, leaving Charles II Street at 6.30pm for a 90-minute tour of London’s landmarks.
Tickets are available at Tootbus.com.
