Free
Support
Arcelormittal Orbit Zoom high into the clouds and explore London’s famous skyline from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit – UK’s tallest sculpture. Enjoy a breath-taking panorama of up to 20 miles across London through stunning floor to ceiling windows before experiencing the city’s landmarks from the outside observation walkway suspended 262ft above the ground. Discover sights including Wembley Stadium, St Paul’s Cathedral and Canary Wharf and get a bird’s eye view of the iconic venues of London 2012. The Slide Are you brave enough to ride the twists, turns and drops of the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide? Relax and enjoy stunning views of up to 20 miles across London before challenging your friends and family to a 40 second descent in the 584ft long slide. Travel through light and dark sections at speeds of up to 15mph as The Slide loops its way around the ArcelorMittal Orbit 12 times taking visitors through gentle curves, thrilling drops and a tight corkscrew! The Original London Sightseeing Tour Routes and Times With your Original Tour ticket, you have access to 6 bus tour routes around London. Four of these routes (Yellow, Red, Blue and Orange) are sightseeing tour routes and buses run at a 15-20 minute frequency. The Green Route is The Loop Line around central London. The Orange and Purple Routes operate as a shuttle service and connect you with our sightseeing tours from the train stations and popular hotel districts of the capital. The information below is designed to help you plan your day out in London. Do also check our timetable for specific stop locations and route times. All times are subject to change and if you have any questions on the day, please do ask our friendly and knowledgeable on-street staff who are on hand to help you plan your perfect day in London! Yellow Route The Yellow Route presents the key sights and top attractions of London including the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye and Marble Arch. Crossing the river four times, you are guaranteed some spectacular views of London’s stunning scenery along the Thames. The main departure point for this tour route is located at Coventry Street, Piccadilly Circus but you can board the bus at any stop along the route. Red Route The Red Route offers multilingual commentary in 11 different languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic &Brazilian; Portuguese) as well as a unique Kids’ Club channel (in English) for our younger guests. With 35 conveniently located bus stops around London, sit back, relax and enjoy the sights as they pass you by – Hyde Park, the Houses of Parliament, The Shard and Madame Tussauds are all featured on this tour route. The main departure point for this tour is located at Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria Train Station but you can board the bus at any Original Tour bus stop along the route. Blue Route - The Royal Borough Route The southern section of the Blue Route remains unchanged, covering the popular shopping district of Kensington with the world famous Harrods and Harvey Nicholls department stores as well as the museums in Kensington including Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the newly relocated Design Museum (opening 24 November 2016). The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the smallest borough in London but also one of the most densely populated. Nicknamed ‘Albertopolis’ after the husband of Queen Victoria, the area contains some of the most expensive residential properties in London along with a large number of museums (many with free entry) & cultural institutions. We invite you to hop-off The Original Tour anywhere along the route or stay on-board to view the impressive architecture of this beautiful area. Orange Route: The British Museum Tour The British Museum is the most popular attraction in London with over 6 million visitors per year. Dedicated to human history, art & culture, the museum houses over 8 million exhibits (not all of them on show at one time!) from all over the world. The new Orange Route also provides easy access from Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston train stations. Clients arriving at these major train stations can now easily get into central London to switch onto the Red & Yellow sightseeing tours which cover all the major sights and attractions of central London. Green Route The Green Route is a useful route to hop-on if you need to cross town quickly to get from one place to another. The Green Route operates at a frequency of every 20 minutes (20-30 minutes in winter) with the first bus departing Charing Cross Road (Leicester Square) at 9.15am and the last bus at 2.35pm. Purple Route - Capital Connector (T6) The Purple Route is useful if you are staying in a hotel located in Bayswater, Notting Hill, Holland Park or Lancaster Gate or wish to go shopping at Westfield Shepherds Bush. Operating in both eastbound and westbound directions, the Purple Route operates more frequently in an eastbound direction, enabling you to join our Yellow sightseeing route at Marble Arch. Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes. EXPLORE LONDON FREE WALKING TOURS Get up close to London's incredible history. Included FREE with every bus tour ticket! Three fabulous walks put you at the heart of the world's most exciting city: Changing the Guard Walk: See Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the regiments that guard them in this exciting walk as you march alongside the guards at Buckingham Palace.* Departs daily 10:00am from The Original London Visitor Centre Rock ‘n’ Roll Walk: Take a 90 minute walk through the heart of London’s rocking heritage: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols – it’s only rock ‘n’ Roll, but I like it! Departs daily 13:00 from The Original London Visitor Centre Jack the Ripper Walk: Walk in the footsteps of the world's most infamous serial killer as we reveal his murderous tale from the dark street of Whitechapel in 1888. Departs daily 16:00 from The Original Tour bus stop 11 at the Tower of London on Tower Hill * On non-guard change days (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) the walking tour will take you to see the Changing of the Horse Guard (at horse guards parade) and will then visit Buckingham Palace. The guard change does not take place if it is raining. ** All tours take approximately 90 minutes. Please note that the Jack the Ripper walk will finish at Aldgate East tube station and not at one of our bus stops. *** Walking tours are included FREE with an Original Tour ticket but can be purchased separately at £9 GBP each. MAIN DEPARTURE POINTS: The Original London Visitor Centre The newly opened London Visitor Centre is your one-stop-shop to the Capital and beyond. Visit us at our Trafalgar Square address for expert help from our excellent travel advisers. You can also purchase tickets for a range of exciting activities. Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 08:30 to 18:00 Sunday & Bank Holidays 09:00 to 17:30 Address: 17-19 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square Nearest Tube: Charing Cross or Piccadilly Circus Start Point 1 - PICCADILLY CIRCUS Directions: Yellow Route From Coventry Street: The stop is by the McDonald's between KFC Circus and Leicester Square. Red Route From Haymarket: The stop is outside the Theatre Royal. Green & Blue Routes From Rupert Street: The stop is outside 'Yo Sushi' restaurant on Rupert Street No.19. Timetable - Frequency approx. 10 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 18:00 Red Route: First Bus 09:15, Last Full Tour 16:20 Green Route: First Bus 09:52, Last Full Tour 14:10 Blue Route: First Bus 08:45, Last Full Tour 17:15 Start Point 2 - TRAFALGAR SQUARE Directions: Yellow & Red Routes From Trafalgar Square (North Side): The stop is located opposite The Original London Visitor Centre at Stop 'Z', by the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery. Green Route From Northumberland Avenue: The stop is opposite 'Garfunkel's' restaurant at Stop 'W'. Timetable - Frequency approx. 15 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 08:35, Last Full Tour 15:50 Red Route: First Bus 09:20, Last Full Tour 15:04 Green Route: First Bus 09:18, Last Full Tour 14:35 Start Point 3 - RUSSELL SQUARE & WOBURN PLACE Directions: Blue Routes From Woburn Place: The stop is located just off Russell Square on Woburn Place outside the Royal National Hotel. Timetable - Frequency approx. 15 mins Blue Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 16:30 Start Point 4 - VICTORIA & GROSVENOR GARDENS Directions: Yellow Route From Buckingham Palace Road: The stop is located outside the Thistle Victoria Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road. Red Route From Grosvenor Gardens: The stop is located beside Grosvenor Gardens outside STA Travel. Timetable - Frequency approx. 10 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 09:05, Last Full Tour 16:15 Red Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 17:20 Start Point 5 - MARBLE ARCH Directions: Yellow & Red Routes From Speakers' Corner: The stop is located at Speakers' Corner at Marble Arch on Park Lane. Take subway exit number '3', turn right at street level and go over pedestrian crossing. Our bus stop is the last on the right hand side
Take two nights for two in a beautiful calming spa retreat of your choosing at Champneys
The first stop is Holy Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway which leads into the quaint island village of Lindisfarne, where there are stunning views of Lindisfarne Castle* (dating back to 1550). Spend time wandering through the ruins of its Priory* where the magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels were produced, sample some of the world-famous Lindisfarne ‘Mead’ brewed by Monks on the island, and enjoy the tranquility for which the island is renowned. Then continue south by the pretty coastal village of Bamburgh, “Ancient Capital of Northumbria,” overlooked by its imposing castle, then on to the bustling market town of Alnwick, whose greatest building is the medieval Alnwick Castle*. Enjoy time in the town centre or visit the castle complex where there is something for everyone. Home of the Percy Family for over 700 years, Alnwick Castle is considered one of the finest castles in England and is proudly known as “The Windsor of the North”. Visitors can step into the unexpected in the spectacular Alnwick Garden* with its Grand Cascade fountain and Poison Gardens. The castle grounds were also used in the Harry Potter films. In the mid-afternoon we begin the drive north to cross the River Tweed and back into Scotland at the historic border town of Coldstream. If time permits during this journey there will be a stop at Flodden Field, one of the best preserved battlefields in Northern Europe and scene of the infamous battle of 1513, which ended in victory for the English and the death of James IV, King of Scots. *OPTIONAL EXTRA. PLEASE NOTE: that the tour routing and availability is subject to the tidal timetable at Lindisfarne, which may occasionally result in the tour having to run in reverse. Tue & Fri | April - October Departs: 08:45 Returns: 18:15
Empire State Building Observatory
The world-famous 86th and 102nd floor Observatories offer unmatched views of New York City and on a clear day one can see to New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Delaware. 1,050 feet above the city’s bustling streets, the 86th floor Observatory offers panoramic views from within a glass-enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade. 200 feet higher, our 102nd floor Observatory is a private and serene perch in the middle of the greatest city in the world.
The Observatories have been a “must visit” for millions each year since it opened to the public in 1931. Each year approximately four million people are whisked to our 86th and 102nd floors, consistently one of New York City’s top tourist attractions. Visit the Observatories 365 days per year, day and night, rain or shine, for magnificent views of Manhattan and beyond.
The Empire State Building embodies the feeling and spirit of New York City. It is recognized not only as an iconic landmark offering some of the most spectacular views on earth, but also as an international symbol of shared hopes, dreams, and accomplishment.
Accessibility: The Empire State Building is fully ADA compliant. We have handicapped restrooms on the 86th Floor Observatory and also have lowered viewing walls and binoculars. Service dogs are allowed throughout the building. Motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs are permitted. The 86th Floor has ramps to make getting around easier and lowered viewing walls so that visitors in chairs can still take in the view.
Additional Options:
102nd Floor Observatory: Upgrade available at Observatory ticket office (2nd floor) or 86th floor kiosk for an additional $20.00.
Express Pass: Purchase exclusively from the official Empire State Building onsite ticket office on the day of arrival to move to the front the line.
Dining: State Grill and Bar offers a prix fixe dinner package to observatory guests with fresh locally sourced foods prepared in our glass enclosed kitchen and unique, local craft beers and cocktails. There are also two Starbucks, a café, Chipotle, Sushi-teria, and the budget minded Heartland Brewery.
Building Information
1,050 feet to the 86th floor Observatory
1,250 feet to the 102nd floor Observatory
1,453 feet, 8 9/16 inches to the tip of the broadcast tower
Broadcast tower adds 203 feet 8 9/16 inches
103 floors
1,872 steps to the 103rd floor
Sits on 79,288 square feet, approximately 2 acres
Weighs 365,000 tons
Volume is 37 million cubic feet
200,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone & granite exterior cladding
An estimated ten million bricks were used in construction
730 tons of aluminum and stainless steel were used in construction
57,000 tons of steel were used in construction
Contains 473 miles of electrical wiring and 70 miles of pipe
6,514 windows
210 columns at the base support the entire weight of the building
Construction was completed in one year and 45 days
Seven million man-hours went into constructing the Empire State Building
Final cost of property and construction was $41 million
73 elevators
Five entrances
2.85 million rentable square feet
New York Water Taxi
Do the complete ride alone in 90-minutes - or go at your own pace, hopping on and off as many times as you like at any one of the four convenient piers (listed below), and have a blast exploring!
Some of the popular sites to visit along the route:
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
Times Square / Broadway
Hudson River Park
National Museum of the American Indian
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Financial District /Wall Street
South Street Seaport
DUMBO
Brooklyn Bridge Park
...and much, much more!
All-Day Access Pass service stops at:
Midtown: W. 42nd Street
Downtown: Battery Park
Downtown: South Street Seaport
Pier 1 - Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO
Your river cruise on London's oldest thoroughfare - the Royal Thames - is an opportunity to take a truly different view of London, passing some its best of historical landmarks the Thames offers including: Cleopatra's Needle — It is known as Cleopatra's Needle as it was brought to London from Alexandria, the royal city of Cleopatra. The Needle arrived in England after a horrendous journey by sea in 1878 South Bank — The South Bank is the cultural heart of London, home to the South Bank Centre, Old Vic, Young Vic, National Theatre, BFI IMAX, BFI Southbank as well as art galleries, such as the.gallery@oxo and Bargehouse. St Paul's Cathedral — designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London Millennium Bridge — London's Millennium Bridge is the first pedestrian river crossing over the Thames in central London for more than a century Tate Modern — the Tate Collection comprises the national collection of British art from the year 1500 to the present day and international modern art The Globe Theatre — Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work HMS Belfast — HMS Belfast is the largest surviving example of Britain's twentieth century naval power and is now a museum moored on the Thames between Tower and London Bridge Tower of London — the Tower of London is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses Tower Bridge — Tower Bridge was completed in 1894, after 8 years of construction. Originally, London Bridge was the only crossing over the Thames. You can then visit the Victorian Engine Rooms, home to the original steam engines that used to power the Bridge lifts Docklands — Walk alongside the Tower walls and suddenly you are thrust into the most modern area of London. From Tower Bridge to the Royal Docks and the Isle of Dogs is one of the oldest areas of London, containing the wharfs, warehouses and ports along the River Thames. Canary Wharf — Canary Wharf is planned on a grand scale, yet with meticulous attention to detail. The estate extends to over 97 acres and is so called because when in use as a dock, many of the imports were from the Canary Islands. Approximately 14.1 million square feet of office and retail space has been constructed to date. Greenwich — Greenwich is recognised for its cultural heritage: the grandeur and sheer beauty of its buildings; the magnificent vistas and views across London;-its royal history, as the birthplace of both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, among others;
Departing in the heart of Historic Fisherman’s Wharf, at Pier 43 ½, sail past the San Francisco skyline and view the lively neighborhood of North Beach, the famous swimming clubs of Aquatic Park, the historic vessels at Hyde Street Pier, the San Francisco Maritime National Park, and numerous other exciting sights. As you head west towards the Golden Gate Bridge, cruise along Fort Mason and the Marina District which was devastated in the 1989 earthquake. Next, enjoy views of Crissy Field and the lush hillsides of the Presidio—both former army installations—that are now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Don’t miss incredible photo opportunities when sailing directly under the massive 4,200-foot span of the 746-foot tall San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. As you steam back into the Bay, travel past the wildlife reserves of the Marin Headlands and the legendary town of Sausalito, once home to the 1960s’ flower generation. With Angel Island State Park to your left, slowly cruise around the infamous Island of Alcatraz. On your way back to Fisherman’s Wharf, see the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and Coit Tower in the distance. After a full hour of exciting sights on Red and White Fleet’s Golden Gate Bridge boat tours, the barking sea lions at Pier 39 welcome you back to Pier 43 ½. Here, you can visit two National Historic Landmarks, the WWII submarine USS Pampanito and merchant vessel USS Jeremiah O'Brien.
