The Original Tour identity has made a return to the London open-top bus sightseeing market after reintroduction by First Bus.
First gained ownership of what is once again The Original Tour through purchase of RATP Dev’s sightseeing businesses in London and Bath during late 2025, a move that followed acquisition of the seller’s red bus operations in the capital earlier that year.
Returning The Original Tour branding to London comes as the operation celebrates 75 years since its creation by London Transport in 1951. At that time, service J for the Festival of Britain commenced, carrying passengers on a circular tour of the capital for two hours at the charge of half a crown.
Arriva London is among operators to have later owned The Original Tour. More recently under RATP Dev ownership, the Tootbus brand was used. A revival of The Original Tour name in 2026 brings “one of London’s oldest tourism experiences back to its roots,” First Bus says.
Although the AEC Routemaster was once part of The Original Tour fleet, it has a long history of running high-capacity tri-axle double-decks in the capital.
MCW Metroliner coaches, unsuccessful in their original express application, were converted to open-top by Ensignbus and proved successful on much lower-speed work, and they ran next to MCW Metrobuses returned from Hong Kong. The Original Tour fleet now includes Volvo B9TLs with Optare bodies in that format, some of which have been repowered to battery-electric.
Before that, the business became the first sightseeing operator in London to run a zero-emission open-top bus, and has invested in what it says are “more sustainable ways to help visitors explore the capital.”
To mark a return of The Original Tour, on 30 June First Bus hired the services of several celebrity lookalikes and drove them around London on one of its vehicles. Lookalikes of David Beckham, King Charles, Ed Sheeran and Joanna Lumley were among those.
Today The Original Tour runs four sightseeing routes and a shuttle service. River cruises are also included within its offering, while multilingual commentary is provided in 11 languages.
Speaking about the return of The Original Tour, General Manager of the brand Terry Gabriel says: “Over the past 75 years, London has changed beyond recognition, but the desire to discover and experience this incredible city has remained constant.
“Since our first tours in 1951, we have seen 17 prime minister serve in Downing Street and witnessed the reigns of two monarchs, while London’s skyline, culture and global reputation have been transformed.
“Bringing back The Original Tour name is a celebration of that heritage, but it is also about looking ahead. As we invest in new technology, more sustainable vehicles and even better visitor experiences, we are proud to continue helping millions of people explore London for generations to come.”
