Last Updated on 5 December 2025 by Colette
This post features a gifted experience & affiliate links
Last week my friend Cesca, who I lovingly refer to as my “London Correspondent” tried out the London Christmas lights tour with Tootbus:
If you’ve read any of my reviews before you’ll know that:
1. I love London (born and bred here, unashamedly biased)
2. I love Christmas
3. I love a light display
So when Colette asked if I’d like to try the TOOTBus Christmas light display in London I jumped at the chance!
This year, the Toot Bus is doing a 70 minute tour round the best bits of London, taking in the Christmas lights on Regent Street, Oxford Street and Grosvenor Square as well as seeing theatre town and a number of the iconic London sights.
Onboard the bus there’s a bar and a mixture of uncovered and covered seating. When you board the bus, you get a lovely warm blanket, which I was thought was a great idea!
The tour sets off and tootles round, before dropping you off at the same location (Haymarket, which is just off Trafalgar Square).
Here’s what we thought:
1. It’s a great way to see the lights. If you’ve ever tried to see all the lights in London, you’ll know to get round them all usually requires the tube, a whole day, provisions, blister plasters, etc. Getting the bus makes it so convenient – particularly if you have children.
2. We thought the bus was really comfortable – every set of seats had a table, good spacing between the seats…and the bus has a toilet!! I didn’t use it but I was so pleased there was one as I’d been put off afternoon tea bus tours before thinking there wasn’t one (side note to self, investigate afternoon tea bus tour for January).
3. The mulled wine and baileys hot chocolate were both nice. The mulled wine wasn’t overly sweet and both drinks were nice and hot. They also do a range of beers, wines, gin and tonics etc in cans should you fancy one (as well as soft drinks).
4. It makes you feel soooooo festive! It’s hard to not get into the swing of it when driving round with the festive music playing, in a bus festooned with lights and decorations!
The only thing I would say is the route misses some of my “must do” lights – notably Fortnum & Mason’s and Annabels. I guess though – thanks to the 24/7 London traffic, and the joys of the one way systems in London, it’s simply not possible to do it all – and if you do want to do them, you can always do them after the tour!
So overall, it’s a great way to spend 70 minutes and would definitely go back with family and friends so they get to experience it too!
Starting from Saturday 23rd November, the Bar Bus at Christmas runs on Saturdays in November and then every Friday and Saturday in December until 28th December 2024. Tickets cost from £48 for the festive bus ride and two drinks. More details can be found here.
Check out these posts next for more festive adventures:
Our ultimate guide to Christmas
Christmas at Kew – Review & Tips
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