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At The English Bus, we believe that a great day out is more than just ticking boxes on an itinerary — it’s about how you experience it. Our award winning, small-group tours (never more than 16 guests!) are designed to feel personal, flexible, and full of character. You won’t find megaphones or crowded coaches here — just hand-picked guides who are passionate storytellers, comfortable minibuses, and a relaxed pace that gives you time to actually enjoy each stop. We go beyond the guidebook — discovering hidden gems, sharing local secrets, and making sure you come away with stories you’ll want to tell. Whether it’s sipping tea in a village pub, exploring ancient ruins, or simply soaking up the countryside views, every tour is crafted to feel like a day out with friends rather than a checklist of sights. In short: smaller groups, better guides, and unforgettable experiences. That’s what makes The English Bus a little bit different — and a lot more memorable.

Our cancellation policy is super flexible, so you can book with peace of mind. Booking direct will give you the best prices and we can be most flexible with bookings made through our own website. Bookings will be 100% refundable (less a £5 per person admin fee) if we, The English Bus, are notified at least 24 hours before departure. Bookings cancelled within 24 hours of departure will be non refundable and non transferable, and no shows will also be non refundable. We can move you to an alternative date, at no extra cost, provided we have availability, and are given more than 24 hours notice before the date of the original departure.

We offer a carefully curated selection of small group tours from London, each one designed to show you the very best of England — with a touch of storytelling, humour, and heart. Every tour runs in our comfy minibuses (maximum 16 guests!), accompanied by one of our passionate, friendly and highly regarded guides for the day. Our most popular London day trips include: Stonehenge, Bath & a Secret Place Tour – This is one of our most popular small group day trips from London, taking you through the quintessential English countryside to some of England’s most fascinating and beautiful spots. Discover the prehistoric mystery of Stonehenge, marvel at the gorgeous Georgian architecture in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, and enjoy a visit to one of our highly coveted secret places — a surprise stop that’s always a highlight! It’s a perfect blend of history, scenery, and storytelling — a Stonehenge and Bath tour with a twist, designed to feel personal, relaxed, and truly memorable. If you’re looking for a Stonehenge tour from London that goes beyond the ordinary, this is the one to choose. A Cotswolds Village, Bath and Stonehenge Tour - A delightful twist on our beloved Secret Place tour, this small group day trip from London swaps the mystery stop for a visit to one of England’s most beautiful villages — Castle Combe. Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is often called “the prettiest village in England”, and it’s easy to see why. With its honey-stone cottages, cobbled streets, and olde worlde charm, it feels like stepping back in time. You’ll also explore the ancient wonder of Stonehenge and the elegant Georgian city of Bath, making this a perfect mix of history, countryside and classic English beauty. If you’re looking for a Cotswolds day trip from London that includes Stonehenge, Bath, and Castle Combe, this tour offers it all — with the personal touch and storytelling that make The English Bus truly special. The Cotswolds, Oxford & Stratford upon Avon Tour –Discover the heart of the English countryside — a delightful mix of history, beauty, and quintessential charm. This small group day trip from London explores the world-famous University city of Oxford, the picturesque Cotswolds villages, and Stratford-upon-Avon, the charming market town forever linked with William Shakespeare (though you don’t need to be a fan to fall in love with it!). Along the way, you’ll wander cobbled streets, admire honey-stone cottages straight from a chocolate box, and soak up the timeless scenery that makes rural England so unforgettable. If you’re looking for an Oxford day trip from London with a personal touch — one that also includes Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cotswolds — this tour is the perfect way to experience the best of England in a single, story-filled day. Canterbury, Dover & Kent Villages Tour –travel through Kent — the “Garden of England” and journey through some of England’s most picturesque countryside, dotted with oast houses, historic villages, and sweeping coastal views. We’ll visit the world-famous White Cliffs of Dover, where you’ll enjoy one of the best land views of this iconic landmark, and explore the magnificent Dover Castle — a true highlight and great fun for all ages. Then it’s on to Canterbury, a charming city packed with history, beautiful architecture, and a wonderful atmosphere. Along the way, we’ll wind through quintessential Kentish villages, soaking up the scenery and stories that make this part of England so special. If you’re looking for a unique White Cliffs of Dover tour, or a Canterbury day trip from London with a personal touch, this is the perfect way to experience the best of Kent in a single, unforgettable day. Stonehenge, Avebury & Prehistoric England Tour - Step back thousands of years on this small group day trip from London, exploring the prehistoric wonders of England in comfort and style. This fascinating journey takes you deep into Britain’s ancient past, visiting some of the most extraordinary sites in the world. Discover the vast Avebury stone circle, older and even larger than Stonehenge. Explore the mysterious Silbury Hill, an ancient man-made mound shrouded in legend, and walk inside the Neolithic tomb of West Kennet Long Barrow — one of the oldest in Europe. And of course, no prehistoric England tour would be complete without a visit to the world-famous Stonehenge, where you’ll stand in awe before its iconic standing stones. Expertly guided and full of fascinating stories, this Stonehenge and Avebury tour offers an unforgettable deep dive into Britain’s ancient history — a day that brings the prehistoric landscape to life. Whether you’re after a relaxing countryside escape, a historic adventure, or a unique small group experience, our tours are crafted to feel personal, unhurried and unforgettable. Find out why guests call us one of the best day tours from London — and see England the way it should be seen: up close, off the beaten path, and with a few laughs along the way.

All availability on our website is 100% live, up to date and you’ll get instant confirmation after booking. Booking direct cuts out the middle-man, which means we can spend more money on making your experience perfect, while keeping our prices as low as possible for you. We guarantee to offer the cheapest prices direct - if you find a tour operated by us anywhere else advertised for cheaper - we will refund the difference. Please support our small business by booking direct! 

It’s very simple and secure to book your tour on our website. Select the “Book a tour” link on the menu, select the tour from the drop down list, the number of people, and the date. You will then be prompted to enter the passenger details, before proceeding to checkout where you can pay with either a credit or debit card. After your payment has been processed, you will receive both an email receipt and an automatic booking confirmation. If you don't see your booking confirmation please check your spam folder as they sometimes end up there depending on your email provider. Alternatively, you can reach the booking process within each tour page.

As we are a fairly small tour operation running small group tours, some of our tours sell out months in advance, particularly at busy times of the year. Some don't, but we'd recommend booking as soon as you can to guarantee your seats so as not to be disappointed. If you need a clearer idea of how much availability there is please contact us direct.

All of our tours depart from near the London Eye at 8.45am - more specifically from the coach drop off and pick up point for the London Eye, which is on the corner of Belvedere Road and Chicheley Street, here: London Eye departure point The closest street address is 5 Belvedere Road This is a short walk from Waterloo, Westminster, or Embankment Stations. Our tours from London to Bath & Stonehenge and from London to Oxford, Stratford and the Cotswolds also pick up at 9.10am from outside the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Victoria here: Victoria departure point  This is a short walk from Victoria Station. See our departure point page for more information, and the tour pages for more information on times.

For our Bath & Stonehenge tours, and our Oxford, Stratford and the Cotswolds tour, we have 2 departure points to choose from, either near the London Eye, or by the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Victoria.  We really recommend using Google maps to plan your route to either of our departure points. Just enter your start location into the following templates and it will give you multiple options of how to get somewhere using public transport. London Eye departure point directions Victoria departure point directions If you are still unsure, just drop us an email and we'll help you decide. If you have not yet booked your accommodation, and so don't know yet which spot will be best for you, don't worry - you can always change your chosen departure point at any time. All you need to do is let us know before the tour - either by email or phone, so that we can make the change, and so we know where to expect to meet you.

Of course, no problem! We understand that people's plans can change, and if you decide our other departure point works better for you for your tour, all we ask is that you let us know before 6pm the day before the tour, so that we can make the guide know where to expect you. Please note that not all tours and dates offer both departure points so this is subject to approval.

London is a huge city, with such unpredictable and dynamic traffic conditions, that offering hotel pickups would take many hours off the time we have for the tour.  We only have 2 departure points, both very centrally located and very simple to get to, which makes it easier for everyone and means that we don’t waste any precious tour time doing multiple pickups around London. Our route out of London from the departure points takes us past some wonderful sights, which your guide will tell you all about.

Tours to Kent and Bruges only depart from the London Eye departure point as they leave London in a south easterly direction.

We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. All via secure online checkout processed by Stripe - the world's leading online payment gateway. If you prefer to pay with Paypal, get in touch, and we can send an invoice for payment.

As of 2025, we have a small fleet of new, 16 seat, luxury Mercedes Benz mini-coaches, purpose built to our specifications. Because we don’t operate overnight tours, unlike other companies, we have removed much of the luggage space, adding even more leg room and space to the cabin. All side windows are panoramic, as well as a panoramic glass roof and a huge panoramic windshield, which means you can see everything either side of you, as well as everything in front of you… and even the sky! Each row of seats has a USB A and C port. All seats are leather, and recline. Each seat has its own A/C vent and LED reading light. Our vehicles are fitted with a high quality audio PA system, so you can hear your guide clearly, wherever you are sitting. Your comfort and safety is very important to us. As our vehicles are new - they all have the latest Euro 6 spec engines - offering the cleanest, greenest and most efficient drive on the market. 

Never more than 16 people. This means we can guarantee small groups, a friendly atmosphere and a highly personable tour experience. However, it does also mean that space is limited - so book early to avoid disappointment.

Yes. Once you have booked your seat(s), you will be sent an automatic confirmation, and a receipt. If you don't see your confirmation in your inbox straight after booking then please check your spam folder, and if not in there please contact us so we can check your details and resend it.

For a number of reasons. Firstly we tailor each and every tour to you, so we like to know a bit more about the age ranges we have on each tour so we can make your tour as appropriate to you as possible. Each and every tour is different and all of our guides adapt the tour to their audience, as best they can. Knowing age ranges in advance helps us to plan. We also need to know whether we will be carrying any children under 12 - as it is a requirement that we provide them with a booster seat if so, and to make sure we don't have any children under 3 on our list as we can't take children younger than 3 years old.

We will always do our best to accommodate changes, but we can’t guarantee that we will be able to. Contact us as soon as you can with your requirements and we will do our best to help. If you do want to change your tour date we can make that change, subject to availability, free of charge as long as we are notified at least 24 hours before your original departure time.

You can see our cancellation policy, along with all the other terms of booking HERE Our cancellation policy is super flexible, so you can book with peace of mind. Booking direct will give you the best prices.  Bookings will be 100% refundable (less a £5 per person admin fee) if we, The English Bus, are notified at least 24 hours before departure. Bookings cancelled within 24 hours of departure will be non refundable and non transferable, and no shows will also be non refundable. We can move you to an alternative date, at no extra cost, provided we have availability, and are given more than 24 hours notice before the date of the original departure.

Your guide will plan the route back into London based on where everyone wants to go and will do their best to get you as close to your destination as possible. Depending on traffic conditions and timings, we typically offer a number of different drop offs around central London. Your guide will advise on the day and will make absolutely certain you know exactly how to get to where you are going if we are not able to drop you at your door. Ultimately, you will always be able to return to the area where your tour started if you would like.

Yes. We can put together a tour for your requirements. Please get in touch with us with your requirements and we can advise on our availability and prices. We can either use one of our set day tour itineraries or you can create a custom itinerary subject to our approval. Please see our “Groups” page HERE

Many other tour companies offer a day tour from London to Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge. For many of our competitors, this is their best selling tour. The English Bus thinks differently about this particular tour, and there are many reasons why we have decided not to follow in their footsteps... To enjoy a visit to Windsor, we really think you need to spend at least half a day there. Bath, Stonehenge AND Windsor are all places where you need to spend a good amount of time to get the most out of them, and by combining Windsor with a day tour to Bath and Stonehenge, it means spending very little time in each destination and rushing between them. With a group at Windsor Castle, there is not much a tour guide can add to the experience over and above the excellent audio guide that is available at the entrance, without forcing you to stay with the group at all times, and go at their pace. This is in contrast to Bath, which can be enhanced enormously with a great guide. One of 2 different tour routes to Bath and Stonehenge includes a stop at a wonderful “secret place”. We can’t tell you where or what it is, but it means that we have a tour that is so much more than “just Bath and Stonehenge” and we have carefully calculated the timings to allow enough time at both Bath and Stonehenge to do them justice, in a leisurely way. Windsor is very close to London and it is very easy to travel there independently. Trains leave regularly from London and take just 30 minutes. See our blog page for a dedicated blog on how to get to Windsor.

On our main Stonehenge & Bath tour, we also include a stop at a “secret place”. This gives your guide the opportunity to take you somewhere that they love and that you will love too, but that you may have never heard of. Where we visit varies from tour to tour and from guide to guide, and we can’t reveal any of these locations, so you’ll have to join us to find out for yourself. We can be sure, however, that you will love whichever "secret place" you get to visit! Read our reviews to see what others thought.

It may be possible to accommodate a folding wheelchair/stroller/some luggage, but we have limited storage space, so please get in touch with your requirements before booking so that we can advise accordingly. If you have the dimensions of any larger items this will help us let you know whether we will be able to accommodate them.

English weather can be temperamental, and therefore it is a good idea to bring some warm clothes with you (essential in the winter months). London is usually warmer than the places we visit outside of London, and from our experience, you will be much more comfortable if you’re not battling the elements! Layers are a good way to adapt with the often changing weather conditions. Comfortable shoes are a good idea too, as we do some walking on all of our tours. England is famous for its rain, but it typically rains much less than you probably imagine! However, it would still be a good idea to bring an umbrella and/or waterproofs with you, just in case. Stonehenge, in particular, is very exposed so please come prepared just in case!

Bring a camera, and some cash/card for entrance fees, coffee, lunch, souvenirs etc (most places take card, but for some small purchases, you may need to pay cash). If you are planning to join our tour to Bruges, don’t forget your passport, and visa if your nationality requires it. Feel free to bring snacks with you, you are welcome to eat and drink on board. We do provide complimentary bottled water though so you won't need to bring water with you.

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