Brigit's Bus Tour is a local gem missed by many who visit London. Accessed from two locations (Victoria Coach and Northumberland stations) the fleet is comprised of 8 busses but on any given day only five buses are on the road. This tour will be more popular with the person who wants to experience London in a unique way while doing a very traditional London activity.
It is a highly recommended tour for those persons who want to sightsee and experience the main/iconic places in London but may only be available to travel in cold weather.
Service
If there is one aspect that this tour should be commended for is the excellent service provided from start to finish. When the tour operator announced the queuing for entrance to the bus, we were met by a friendly gentleman who took the time to engage with every person who came to the counter to confirm registration. He made them feel welcomed and excited while conducting his job efficiently.
When we arrived on the bus, we were met by another gentleman who continued the service excellence and made us feel more welcomed and excited to be on the tour.
Design
Even from the outside it was not the normal double decker buses more commonly seen. It was a vintage bus which was probably used in the 60’’s but it was well renovated and outfitted to give a quaint and nostalgic feeling. The bus tour is also known for its themed tours and we were a day after the Chinese New Year, therefore our tour was likewise themed. English tea in a setting with Chinese décor, and knowing the value the Chinese place on tea it all contributed to a very unique feel.
The interior of the bus besides the Chinese decorations was outfitted to accommodate safety of the tea while making the setting comfortable and relaxing. The tables contained cup holders to allow safety while the bus is moving. An important point to note is the height restriction on the top deck. A person taller than 5ft 6in will have slight difficulty standing upright and will have to crouch slightly to move around the deck.
Food
The food was already laid out on a three tier tea stand when we arrived on the bus and it consisted of the main, second course and the desserts. The menu comprised of savories and tea sandwiches. scones with jam and cream and desserts. The food is also placed based on the number of people sitting at the table. For example, if there are four persons sitting at the table, there will be four of each item.
As delicious as everything looked it’s important to note that what was placed before us on arrival was the entire tea, so eating all at once is not recommended, you should let the tour commence before digging in. We had the traditional afternoon tea, however, there are many other options available such as Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal and Gluten Free.
The Tea
The tea kept to tradition without ignoring the culture. There was a mixture of teas as well as coffee and also hot chocolate. On the point of tradition, the beverages will be served in plastic cups. This is to aid with safety in the moving bus. The cups however were quite tasteful with artwork depicting the culture of B-bakery which is the company responsible for the tour.
The Tour
The tour was a good one; it would have been great if I was able to sit at the window. This is best left to the photographer however. The tour visited many of the popular sites (Trafalgar Square, London Bridge etc), however due to roads being closed, not all the scheduled site was able to be shown. The driver did take alternate routes to help maximize the time and the hosts kept us entertained.
When we arrived at a site we would find a pre-recorded audio clip played to give information on that specific site.
I would say this tour should be highly recommended to everyone as it is a great way to experience London both visually and traditionally.
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