Introduction
Trying to decide between City Sightseeing and TopView London for your open-top bus adventure? You're not the only one! Both give you a fantastic way to explore the city, but they’ve got their own unique angles.
City Sightseeing is the established global brand, while TopView is shaking things up with a fresh, New York-style approach. So, which one's the better fit for you? Let’s dive in and figure it out!
DoubleDeckerLondon is reader supported. If you make a purchase through some of the links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Check ticket deals for City Sightseeing or TopView
Table of contents
1. Brief overview of the open-top bus tours
A little background before we dive in - City Sightseeing took over the City Tour London service about three years ago, giving it a much-needed glow-up. Since then, they’ve become a solid competitor overtaking more established brands like Tootbus and Golden Tours.
TopView, on the other hand, only started 1 year ago. They kicked things off with a bang by offering live guides on every bus. Recently, though, they've scaled that back, with only a few live-guided departures per day. Still, they’ve got some cool features worth looking at.
2. Head-to-head: City Sightseeing vs TopView London
City Sightseeing
✅ More frequent buses (second only to Big Bus)
✅ A green route that hits up the British Museum and King's Cross
✅ Discounts for other cities if you use their London ticket
✅ Includes a river cruise to Greenwich on the 48-hour ticket
✅ Bus tracking app to see where your ride is
✅ A classic Routemaster single ride from Trafalgar Square to the Tower with a 48-hour ticket
TopView
✅ Live guides on select tours
✅ Generally more space on the buses
✅ More language options for commentary
✅ Blue route extends to Notting Hill and Bayswater
✅ Three free walking tours with a 48-hour ticket
Let's go into more detail:
Service & Frequency
If you’re not a fan of waiting at the bus stops, City Sightseeing is the way to go. They have more buses on the road, especially during peak hours. TopView is still building up its presence, so there’s a chance you might be waiting longer for a bus. Plus, City Sightseeing has a bus-tracking app, while TopView doesn’t. That can be a game-changer when you’re trying to plan your day.
Route Coverage
Both companies share an identical red route covering the main attractions. The real difference comes with the extra routes:
TopView’s blue route is a win if you're staying in Notting Hill or Bayswater since City Sightseeing doesn’t go there.
City Sightseeing’s green route gives you easy access to the British Museum and King's Cross, plus it extends to the London Eye (something no other company does).
City Sightseeing’s Routemaster ride from Trafalgar Square to the Tower on the 48-hour ticket is a nice bonus.
Attraction Tickets & Discounts
City Sightseeing has been around a bit longer, so they’ve managed to score deals with some top attractions. They are nowhere near to Big Bus, but every little helps. TopView? Not quite there yet. If you’re planning to bundle in some attractions, City Sightseeing has the edge.
Commentary & Language Options
Both offer recorded audio guides, but TopView has a slight advantage by including Korean and Hindi as extra language options. TopView offers some live guided departures. Check the dedicated blog post for more details regarding departure times.
Walking Tours
This is where TopView shines. They offer three walking tours with their 48-hour ticket:
Changing of the Guard Tour
Rock & Roll Tour
Jack the Ripper Tour
City Sightseeing doesn’t include any walking tours, so if you love a guided stroll, TopView is the better choice.
Price
If you're just looking for a quick and relatively cheap ride, TopView offers a 24-hour ticket for around £32 (weekdays, it’s pricier on weekends). City Sightseeing’s cheapest ticket is £39 for one day.
Pro Tip: Due to City Sightseeing's popularity, it's harder to find upstairs seats during busy times compared to TopView. However, this isn't always the case. If TopView buses run less frequently, they’ll face the same issue. The trick? Start early or hop on later in the day.
3. User reviews
I did the research so you don’t have to! Both tours have a solid 4-star rating on TripAdvisor, but TopView has fewer total reviews since they’re newer.
City Sightseeing: The Good & The Bad
Most positive reviews highlight frequent service
Most complaints come from longer waits during off-season but that’s true for all hop-on hop-off tours. If you're visiting in winter, check the app and plan ahead.
If reliability is your top priority, Big Bus might be a better option check out my full Big Bus review.
TopView: The Good & The Bad
People love the live guides and walking tours.
Complaints tend to focus on inconsistent service, especially during off-peak times since there’s no bus-tracking app.
Some reviews mention that the audio commentary isn’t the best.
4. The final verdict
So, which one’s better? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for.
Go for City Sightseeing if:
You want more frequent buses with a reliable schedule.
The bus tracking app is a must-have.
You like the idea of the British Museum & King’s Cross route.
You want a river cruise to Greenwich included (only on the 48hr ticket)
Go for TopView if:
You really want to experience a live guide on your tour.
Walking tours sound fun—they’ve got three included!
You need to get to Notting Hill or Bayswater.
You’re on a tighter budget and want the cheapest possible ticket.
At the end of the day, both have their strengths, so it really comes down to your personal travel style. Hope this guide helps make your decision easier. Happy sightseeing!