England · CITY TOURS

The 15 Best City Tours in England

51 tours  ·  from $17 a head

Every English city sells a first-morning orientation and some are far better than others. These 15 cover London, Liverpool, York, Oxford and Manchester, priced by length, with a note on which are bus and which are boots.

Liverpool: "Blue Route" - City & Beatles Tour - Penny Lane: a quick photograph with a famous name
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Liverpool: “Blue Route” – City & Beatles Tour

1.“Blue Route” – City & Beatles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8,562 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27Our pick

Ride Liverpool’s open-top Blue Route from Gower Street, with a live guide, Beatles music, city commentary, and photo stops at Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, John Lennon’s Mendips, and Paul McCartney’s childhood home. Guides such as Chris, Tommy, and Damion add songs, jokes, and local stories. The bus returns to the starting point.

“This ride is absolutely brilliant. Could not fault one bit of it. It was Very informative and enjoyable”

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The Manchester City Stadium Tour - Walking the glass players’ tunnel
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The Manchester City Stadium Tour

2.The Manchester City Stadium Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,176 reviews · from $35

Spend about 75 minutes behind the scenes at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. You’ll visit the home and away dressing rooms, walk through the players’ tunnel, sit in Pep Guardiola’s dugout seat, and question a virtual Pep in the press room. Guides such as Martin, Hannah, Tim, and Gary keep the tour lively and family-friendly.

“Excellent, informative tour with guides Hannah and Tim. Grandsons loved sitting in the various seats in the Team dressing rooms and also in Pep’s seat in the dugout. Pitch looked amazing. Press conference experience with virtual Pep also a highlight. Thoroughly recommend this tour. It will be such a shame if this tour becomes self-guided as the personal guides add so much to the tour which cannot be replicated with handheld devices.”

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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London - From Big Ben to the London Eye
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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

3.Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,969 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $22

Sail east from Westminster Pier to Greenwich in about an hour, passing Big Ben, the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. Live commentary adds history and humor, while a return ticket lets you explore the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, the Royal Observatory, and Greenwich Market before sailing back.

“Excellent guide He gave over the sights in an enjoyable way with good knowledge of sights we passed by”

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London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option - St. Paul’s Cathedral gives the morning real weight
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London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option

4.London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,672 reviews · 4 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $95

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a guided London overview with St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. Choose the full-day route for the Tower of London and a Thames cruise, then add London Eye views or Harrods cream tea. Guides such as Peter, John, Frank, and Derek are known for lively local stories.

“I can’t recall a more enjoyable experience where it rained all day. Derek was an excellent guide. The journey ended at the London Eye. The only thing I would adjust is end time. Ending at 5PM was at the height of rush hour. We had to wait for several overcrowded trains at Waterloo Station to pass before we were able to board.”

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Liverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour - 24hr Ticket - Start at Gower Street or the waterfront
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Liverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour – 24hr Ticket

5.Liverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour – 24hr Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,555 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $19Best value

See Liverpool from an open-top or enclosed bus, with commentary, 14 stops, and a 24-hour ticket. You’ll pass the Cavern Club, Beatles statues, cathedrals, museums, China Town, and the Baltic Triangle. Guides such as Kim add lively local stories, while a free glass of bubbly awaits at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms.

“Ended up upgrading to the Beetles blue line tour. This hop on hop off was very affordable because you got the route to see must see places in Liverpool regarding the Beetles and then you were able to get off and do the hop on hop off of Liverpool. Truly got a very good perspective of the city historically and as the home of the Beetles”

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1.5-hour Oxford City and University Walking Tour - The guide is the heart of the experience
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1.5-hour Oxford City and University Walking Tour

6.1.5-hour Oxford City and University Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,383 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $38

Meet at Trinity College’s blue gates for a 90-minute Oxford walking tour led by a local guide. You’ll hear college stories, see historic courtyards, and may enter New College, Balliol, or other sites depending on access. The tour covers about 1.5 km, costs $38.14, and ends where it begins.

“Really enjoyed this tour. The guide was so knowledgeable and interesting. Was great to see inside the colleges and learn about the history and lovely buildings. Would highly recommend!”

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Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames - Westminster Pier: the classic starting point
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Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

7.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,256 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

Use a 24-hour City Cruises pass to explore London from the Thames, boarding at Westminster, Waterloo near the London Eye, Tower Pier, or Greenwich. Sit in the glass saloon or open air, hear onboard commentary, and hop off for sights such as Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and Greenwich. Boats run from 10am until the last sailing.

“Was only brief trip at 4pm from Tower Hill to Westminster. Nice weather and great commentary. But ticket said was for 24hrs but disappeared on Viator site next day so could not use. Not good if sold as 24hr ticket.”

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Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York - Beyond the landmarks, the scenery becomes quieter
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Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

8.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,256 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $20

Cruise the River Ouse from King’s Staith for about 45 minutes, with views of York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, city walls, bridges, pubs, and riverside parks. A live captain’s commentary adds local history and humor. Choose an open-air or indoor seat, and buy hot or cold drinks on board.

“The app sent us to the wrong meeting spot on the wrong side of the river! We missed our boat but they were very accommodating and let us take a later boat. The tour was very nice and a relaxing way to see some of the city!”

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City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras - Red Route: London’s greatest hits in one loop
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City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

9.City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,224 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37

See London from an open-top double-decker across red, blue, and green routes. Hop off at Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Harrods, the British Museum, and more. Choose a 1-day, 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour ticket, with Thames cruises, a heritage bus, and a night tour included on longer options.

“Very informative, unfortunate the strike caused the tour to be 5 hours instead of 2.5. It gave us lots of ideas on what we wanted to go see”

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Oxford Official University & City Tour - Balliol College and the friendly Oxford age dispute
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Oxford Official University & City Tour

10.Oxford Official University & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,134 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $41

Walk Oxford with a local guide for about two hours, seeing Trinity College, Balliol, the Martyrs’ Memorial, Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, and more. Afternoon departures may include a college visit, subject to availability. Guides such as Nigel, Becca, Adam, and Richard are praised for lively stories and Oxford insight.

“Nigel, the tour guide, was enthusiastic, funny, and very knowledgeable. He understood the broad sweep of Oxford’s history, but also gave us lots of little anecdotes that fleshed out the narrative.”

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London by Night Sightseeing Tour - Open Top Bus - Tower Bridge and golden views over the Thames
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London by Night Sightseeing Tour – Open Top Bus

11.London by Night Sightseeing Tour – Open Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,060 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Join Evan Evans Tours at Green Park for a 90-minute evening ride through London. A live English-speaking guide points out landmarks including St Paul’s, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Harrods, and the Royal Albert Hall. Sit upstairs for the best views, but dress warmly and arrive early for a seat.

“Amazing tour all around London. There’s a live tour guide with lots of jokes and info. The drive is slow enough to have multiple photo ops. You’ll see much more than what’s listed on the itinerary. 10/10 recommend. Dress warm”

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City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour - Stops 7 through 10: Christ Church and the famous university core
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City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

12.City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,042 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $27

See Oxford from an open-top bus with a 24 or 48-hour pass, audio commentary in 14 languages, and 18 stops from the railway station to the colleges. Guides such as Lesley and Martin lead the included 45-minute walking tour, a helpful extra for first-time visitors with limited time.

“It was a rainy day but there were patches of sunlight and we got to see Oxford, walk around, and see this colorful town had a good time!”

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London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide - Buckingham Palace and the royal center of London
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London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide

13.London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 977 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

This 90-minute Golden Tours ride takes you past Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly after dark. You’ll hear live English commentary, with audio guides in 12 languages. Guides such as Joe, Tim, Emma, and Dominic are known for lively stories and humor. Dress warmly and arrive early for top-deck seats.

“Tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a great deal on the tour. Weather was an issue but we were able to sit under an overhang on the top of the bus.”

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London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up - Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s begin the route
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London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up

14.London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Ride through London with a private guide and driver in a classic black cab, stopping at Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and more. Guides such as Greg, Paul, David, Lee, and Perry tailor the route, add photo stops, and share stories beyond the usual highlights.

“Lee was our driver , he was very knowledgeable, eloquent and fun to be with while being extremely comfortable in the taxi, it was a rainy day in London and would have been a waste if it wasn’t for Lee showing us all the important sights , land marks and history in the most fun way.❤️”

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Ciy Explorer: Hop On Hop Off Liverpool Sightseeing Bus Tour - Stop 2: Liverpool Canal Link and Albert Dock
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Ciy Explorer: Hop On Hop Off Liverpool Sightseeing Bus Tour

15.Ciy Explorer: Hop On Hop Off Liverpool Sightseeing Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 915 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $19

City Explorer Liverpool takes you around the city’s main sights on a 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass. Expect live commentary from guides such as Viv, Sean, David, Phil, and Garry, with stops near Albert Dock, both cathedrals, Chinatown, and St Luke’s Bombed Out Church. The city tour does not include the Beatles route.

“Very clean buses. The staff were really friendly & a good commentary. Buses turned up on time. It was warm enough to sit outside on the top deck.”

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New in City Tours

★ 4.5Immersive Murder Mystery in York, A City Treasure Hunt ExperienceFrom $2054 reviews
★ 5.0Daily Nottingham City Centre Walking Tour (10:30am)From $1981 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Walking Tour of Bristol Old City and HarbourFrom $29166 reviews
★ 4.5York City Pass: Access 35+ Attractions for One Great PriceFrom $88122 reviews
★ 4.5Manchester Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden GemsFrom $5476 reviews
★ 5.0Daily Manchester City Centre Walking Tour with Local GuideFrom $19107 reviews
★ 5.0Stonehenge and Bath City Tour – Private tour from BathFrom $45433 reviews
★ 5.0Bridgerton Tour and Bath City Highlights with MusicFrom $23167 reviews
★ 4.5London Luxury Dinner Experience with Panoramic City ViewsFrom $166174 reviews
★ 5.0Eating London: The Heart of ‘The City’ Food TourFrom $131206 reviews
★ 5.0Private London Highlights Tour in a Black Cab: 2, 4, or 6 Hours203 reviews
★ 4.0London Big Bus Evening Sightseeing Tour by Open-Top BusFrom $50197 reviews
★ 4.5Lake District Adventure Sightseeing Day Trip from LiverpoolFrom $81211 reviews
★ 5.02 Hour Leeds Highlights Walking TourFrom $16206 reviews
★ 4.0City Sightseeing Cambridge Hop-On Hop-Off Bus TourFrom $23185 reviews

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Tower of London & Tower Bridge Tours20Royal London & Palace Tours28Westminster Abbey & Parliament Tours19London Eye & Viewpoints9Museums17
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