Christmas Lights By Bus Tour

 

Crowning Glory.

Sunday November 27, 2022.

As a treat my mum booked tickets for herself, my grandson Theodore, Erin, Keilyn, Emma and myself.

After meeting up at Watford Metropolitan line station, we made our way to Finchley Road, where we changed to a Jubilee line train and continued on to Waterloo.

As we had arrived early we had time to grab a warm drink and a quick snack, form one of the many stalls along the Embankment.

A little something to warm us up.

Suitably fed and watered we made our way to our stop, on Belvedere Road, and waited in line for our bus. Being at the front of the queue enabled us to pick the best seats. Erin, Keilyn and Theodore sat at the front of the top deck, below the covered area while Emma, mum and myself sat in the open air, which allowed for a better view.

Our Carriage Awaits.

The weather, which had been unsettled and drizzly for most of the morning, was dry with a mild temperature, until we boarded the bus and the drizzle started again. 

Thoughtfully, we had brought empty carrier bags with us to sit on, as we expected the seats to be wet. The Golden Tours Team supplied everyone with a poncho, to help keep everyone dry, which was nice.

My mum sports a Golden Tours poncho.

Once our guide, Johnny, had introduced himself and our driver Al, and run through a brief safety talk, we waited for Big Ben to strike four and pulled out of Belvedere Road.

The tour began by crossing Waterloo Bridge and turning on to Strand before heading to Fleet Street, down Ludgate Hill, passing St Paul's Cathedral and on to Cannon Street. 

St Paul's Cathedral.

This took us to King William Street and across London Bridge to Southwark.

Tower Bridge from London Bridge.

From here we turned on to Tooley Street and headed towards Tower Bridge Road, continuing across Tower Bridge and round on to Tower Hill passing All Hallows By The Tower, before turning on to Lower Thames Street.

His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London.

This led us on to Upper Thames Street and through the Blackfriars Underpass and on to the Victoria Embankment, where we took Northumberland Avenue towards Trafalgar Square.

Approaching Trafalgar Square.

As the bus wound its way along London's streets, which were full of tourists and shoppers in equal measure, we finally approached the West End proper, where the majority of the Christmas Lights were installed.

Waterloo Place Christmas Tree.

From here we went along Pall Mall and took a right up Waterloo Place and then along Piccadilly, passing, Waterstones, Fortnum and Mason and The Ritz.

Approaching the West End.

The lights, strung across the road, were beautifully lit and, from our vantage point, looked spectacular.

Christmas Lights.

We then headed up Stratton Street, up Berkeley Street and around Berkeley Square and on to Bruton Street and then Conduit Street.

An Angel.

Then it was down Regent Street towards Piccadilly Circus.

Branching Out.

Christmas Lights.

Haymarket took us to Pall Mall East and Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately, the Christmas Tree, which had arrived, was not up, but the Christmas Fair in the square lit up the area quite well.

A treeless Trafalgar Square.

Then it was along Strand, where we passed The Savoy. 

Travelling along Strand.

The Savoy.

Before long we were heading back across Waterloo Bridge to our finishing point on Belvedere Road.

Heading across Waterloo Bridge.

Until this point, with the weather being so mild in recent months, it had not really felt that we were just four weeks from it being Christmas Day. Now I could definitely feel the Christmas spirit.

Our guide was very knowledgeable, although he did get two pieces of information wrong;

• Only six people died in the Great Fire of london, NOT eight
• City Hall is no longer near Tower Bridge, as it moved to Docklands in March 2022

The bus tour to see the Christmas Lights is the perfect way to go, especially if you have young children, or wish to avoid the crowds. They also do other bus tours all year round.

Golden Tours