myguideBritain Blog

Cure Jet Lag on the London Sightseeing Tour

January 16th, 2008

As both my daughters now live in London I find myself visiting frequently, generally using the underground to get around. On my last visit however, my eldest who has only just moved there, persuaded me to buy tickets for one of the hop on hop off CitySightseeing buses (that we actually sell here at myguideBritain).

I’m ashamed to say that although I’ve enjoyed these bus tours when I’m touring abroad (Paris, Rome, Berlin and New York) but had never been on the London CitySightseeing tour. It’s for the tourists I said walking the other way mumbling something about being almost a local. Anyway daughters being daughters, she got her own way in the end and onto the bus I trudged flanked by three Germans and a few Italians. Up the stairs to get on the top deck and found a couple of seats from which we could see the world around us. At this point I was reflecting that I had never been on the top deck of a London bus. I know London well, but only from ground level when I’m driving or walking. I was now beginning to enjoy myself and look forward to the tour. We’d embarked at Marble Arch and the whole trip took around an hour and a half and in that time we saw all the major attractions with a real live English speaking guide to entertain us. Make sure you get on the buses with the T1 yellow route signs for this.

The whole experience was a real eye opener and I’d rank this tour second only to the sightseeing tour of Rome. I didn’t introduce me to any new sights but it did give me a totally different view of the ones that already knew.

If you’re new to the city this is a great way to get your bearings. Don’t hop off on your first trip stay on and get the whole experience. You won’t regret it as it will really help you to see the scale of London and really help with your planning for the few days that you will have in London. It will also make sure that you will have at least seen all the major attractions before you move on.

When you arrive in London you’ll have probably flown over on a “red-eye” flight that will get you into London Heathrow or Gatwick early morning. If you can’t check in to your room till early afternoon then leave your luggage in the hotel and head straight out to find a Sightseeing tour . Sit on the(open) top deck, relax and let the fresh air revive you after your flight and transfer to central London. I’ll guarantee that your jet lag will disappear.

Finally don’t forget that your ticket is valid for the whole day so after doing the circuit, by which time your jet lag will have gone, you can get back to your hotel to check in and freshen up before getting back on the bus to do a few hop offs to get close up and personal with some of the great attractions.

Entry Filed under: All of Britain, Cities, England, London, Sightseeing