Big Bus Tours

Global operator of hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Big Bus Tours" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Big Bus Tours Group Holdings Ltd

Ankai G9 in Paris in 2023

Trade name

| Big Bus Tours
Type| Private
Industry| Open top bus operator
Predecessors|

* Les Cars Rouges
* Big Bus Company

Founded| 2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Headquarters| Belgravia, London, England,

United Kingdom

Areas served

* Abu Dhabi
* Berlin
* Budapest
* Chicago
* Darwin
* Dubai
* Dublin
* Hong Kong
* Istanbul
* Las Vegas
* Los Angeles
* London
* Miami
* Munich
* Muscat
* New York
* Paris
* Philadelphia
* Rome
* San Francisco
* Singapore
* Sydney
* Vienna
* Washington, D.C.

Key people

* Pat Waterman
(Chairman) [1]
* Sean Wilkins
(Chief financial officer)[2]

Revenue|  $269 million(2019)[3]

Operating income

|  $(2.3) million(2019) [3]

Net income

|  $(45.6) million(2019) [3]
Owners| Exponent Private Equity (85%)
Merlin Entertainments (15%)
Website| bigbustours.com

Big Bus Tours (formerly Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company), is the largest operator of open top bus sightseeing tours[citation needed] founded in May 2011 after "Les Cars Rouges" and the "Big Bus Company" merged. The company operates in 23 cities of 11 countries with more than 150 buses around the world.[4] The United States is the country with the largest number of cities with Big Bus Tours service. Typically, Big Bus Tours use open top double-decker buses in burgundy and cream-coloured livery.

## History[edit]

Big Bus company kiosk and bus queue at Speakers' Corner, London

"Les Cars Rouges" was founded in 1990 by Abdallah El Azm in Paris, France. Over the course of the next two decades, it went on to operate in Paris, Rome, Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, and Istanbul. The "Big Bus Company" first started operating in London, England in June 1991 with four buses by the Maybury family. It later expanded to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Philadelphia, and so on.[5]

"Les Cars Rouges" and "the Big Bus Company" merged in May 2011, and formed "Big Bus Tours". Les Cars Rouges was the larger of the two companies, but for international namesake purposes, the name "Big Bus" was retained.[6]

In May 2007, the Abu Dhabi company the Al Fahim Group purchased a 30% shareholding.[7][8]

In February 2015, the business was sold to Exponent Private Equity.[9][10] In February 2016, Merlin Entertainments bought a 15% shareholding.[11]

## Overview of operation[edit]

Buses travel near major landmarks around the town or city it tours. Pre-recorded or live commentary about the landscape is provided through small headphones worn by each passenger. Users may leave the bus and board again without limit (hop-on, hop-off) at special bus stops on a circular route. In large cities, buses go on more than one route. In some cities (such as Hong Kong) some variants of the ride include travelling by boat.[12]

## Operations by country[edit]

### Australia[edit]

* Big Bus Darwin
* Big Bus Sydney

### Austria[edit]

* The Big Bus Vienna

### France[edit]

* Big Bus Paris

### Germany[edit]

* Big Bus Berlin
* Big Bus Munich

### Hong Kong[edit]

Big Bus in Hong Kong

* Big Bus Hong Kong

On 15 December 2008, The Big Bus Hong Kong was established. With the largest fleet of open-top buses in the city,[13] it serves three sightseeing routes: Hong Kong Island (Red Tour), Kowloon (Blue Tour) and Stanley (Green Tour). The tour offers a wide range of packages which include free travel on the Peak Tram, entry to the Sky Terrace on Victoria Peak, a traditional Sampan ride, and a Star Ferry harbour tour.

### Hungary[edit]

* Big Bus Budapest

### Italy[edit]

* Big Bus Rome

### Ireland[edit]

* Big Bus Dublin

In August 2018, Big Bus Dublin was officially launched with the most up-to-date fleet in the city. It offers 2 separate tours: Red (city centre and Phoenix Park) and Blue (city centre including Docklands, Glasnevin Cemetery and Croke Park Stadium).

### Oman[edit]

* Big Bus Muscat

### Singapore[edit]

An open-top MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL bus on the Yellow Route in Singapore.

* Big Bus Singapore (operates 3 routes) (established on 14 January 2011, using Scania K230UB double-decker buses)

Big Bus Tours bought over local sightseeing tour operator Duck & Hippo in September 2018.[14]

### Turkey[edit]

* Big Bus Istanbul

### United Arab Emirates[edit]

* Big Bus Dubai
* Big Bus Abu Dhabi

In 2002, The Big Bus Tours Dubai was established. The buses used are traditional open-top double-decker buses. The tour visits numerous sights throughout the Emirate; including the Wafi Mall, Dubai Creek, Creekside Park, Dubai Museum, The Old Souq, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, Heritage & Diving Village, Dubai Gold Souk, Deira City Centre, Jumeirah Mosque, Souq Madinat Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, the Palm Dubai Mall, and the Burj Khalifa.[citation needed]

### United Kingdom[edit]

* Big Bus London

Dennis Condor of Big Bus

The Big Bus Tours London operates three routes with stops at these tourist destinations: Madame Tussauds, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Covent Garden, St Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens.[15][16]

### United States[edit]

A Big Bus driving past the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.

* Big Bus Chicago
* Big Bus Las Vegas
* Big Bus Los Angeles
* Big Bus Miami
* Big Bus New York
* Big Bus Philadelphia
* Big Bus San Francisco
* Big Bus Washington, D.C.

## Gallery[edit]

* The Big Bus Company shield on the side of a vehicle

* East Lancs Lolyne bodied Dennis Trident 2 in London

* The Big Bus Company in Hong Kong

* The Big Bus Company in Hong Kong

* The Big Bus Company in Shanghai

* The Big Bus Company in Abu Dhabi

* The Big Bus Company in Hong Kong (Aberdeen Shampan Ride)

## See also[edit]

* City Sightseeing
* List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
* Open top buses in the United Kingdom

## References[edit]

1. ^ Mkandawire, Vinjeru (9 February 2020). "Big Bus Tours chairman back aboard after chief executive steps off". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
2. ^ "Companies house directors report". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
3. ^ a b c "Companies house annual account". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
4. ^ "Sightseeing Bus | Hop-on Hop-off Bus | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
5. ^ "Big Bus Tours International | About Us". Retrieved 31 October 2016.
6. ^ "Big Bus Tours wants investors on board | The National". Retrieved 28 June 2016.
7. ^ Al Fahim Group acquires 30 percent equity interest in the Big Bus Company Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine ameinfo.com 29 May 2007
8. ^ Al Fahim Group buys 30% stake in Big Bus Company Gulf News 29 May 2007
9. ^ Private equity firms line up for 400m ticket to Big Bus Tours City A.M. 12 January 2015
10. ^ Double decker deal for Exponet Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours City A.M. 25 February 2015
11. ^ Merlin eyes Big Bus Tours takeover following £24.6 million state deal The Daily Telegraph 25 February 2016
12. ^ "Hop-on, Hop-off Bus | City Bus Tours | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
13. ^ "Open Top Bus Tours – Hong Kong Extras3". www.hongkongextras.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
14. ^ Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator TODAY 5 September 2018
15. ^ London Stops List Archived 24 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Big Bus Tours April 2012
16. ^ Map Big Bus Tours Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine February 2013

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Bus Company.

* Official website
* London Bus Routes Zenfolio
* Showbus gallery

* v
* t
* e

Bus companies of Hong Kong

* Bus services
* Bus route numbering
* History of bus transport

Franchised|

* Citybus
* Kowloon Motor Bus
* Long Win Bus
* New Lantao Bus

Non-franchised|

* Big Bus Tours
* MTR Bus (Northwest New Territories) / MTR Feeder Bus
* Park Island Transport
* Discovery Bay Transit Services

Former|

* China Motor Bus
* New World First Bus
* Stagecoach

* Transport in Hong Kong
* Public light bus
* Bus terminuses
* List of bus routes

* v
* t
* e

Bus operators in London

London|

* Abellio London
* Arriva
* Arriva Herts & Essex
* Arriva London
* Arriva Southern Counties
* Big Bus Tours
* Go-Ahead London
* Blue Triangle
* Docklands Buses
* London Central
* London General
* Golden Tours
* Hotel Hoppa
* Metroline
* RATP Dev Transit London
* London Sovereign
* London Transit
* London United
* RATP Group
* Tootbus London
* Redwing Coaches
* Stagecoach London
* East London
* Selkent
* Thameside
* Sullivan Buses
* Uno

National|

* FlixBus
* Megabus
* National Express

London transport portal

* v
* t
* e

Tourism in the United Kingdom

* Tourism
* Economy of the United Kingdom

Nations and
regions|

| England|

* Hotels in England
* Lists of tourist attractions in England
* List of National Trust land in England
* List of National Trust properties in England
* London Tourist Board
* Resorts in England
* Tourism in Leeds
* Tourism in London
* Tourism in Yorkshire
* VisitEngland
* Welcome to Yorkshire

|

Northern Ireland|

* Hotels in Northern Ireland
* List of museums in Northern Ireland
* Nature reserves in Northern Ireland
* List of tourist attractions in Ireland
* List of National Trust properties in Northern Ireland
* Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Scotland|

* Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise
* Resorts in Scotland
* ScotlandWhisky
* Scottish Youth Hostels Association
* VisitScotland

Wales|

* Capital Region Tourism
* Forgotten Landscapes Project
* List of museums in Wales
* South West Wales Tourism Partnership
* Tourism Partnership North Wales
* Visit Wales

UKOTs and Crown
Dependencies|

* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Antarctic Territory
* British Indian Ocean Territory
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Alderney
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Montserrat
* Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
* Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
* South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands

Companies|

| Current|

* ACE Cultural Tours
* Airtours
* Carnival Corporation & plc
* Cunard
* P&O Cruises
* City Sightseeing
* Co-op Ski, Co-op Travel, Co-op Holidays
* Cosmos Holidays
* Cox & Kings
* Ebookers
* Ffestiniog Travel
* Flight Centre
* Great Rail Journeys
* Hays Travel
* Holidaybreak
* NST
* Kuoni Travel
* Lastminute.com
* Martin Randall Travel
* PGL
* Superbreak
* Swan Hellenic
* NetFlights
* Thomas Cook Holidays
* TUI Group
* Trailfinders
* Traveleyes

|

Defunct|

* Clarksons Travel Group
* Club 18-30
* Court Line
* Directline holidays
* EasyCruise
* First Choice
* Hogg Robinson Group
* Horizon Travel
* Kiss Flights
* Lunn Poly
* Mark Hammerton
* MyTravel
* Palmair
* Thomas Cook Group
* Thomson Travel
* TUI Travel
* XL Leisure

Organisations|

* Camping and Caravanning Club
* Caravan and Motorhome Club
* Landmark Trust
* National Trust
* Youth Hostels Association

Industry bodies|

* ABTA
* Association of Independent Tour Operators
* Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality
* Tourism Concern
* VisitBritain

Tourist
destinations|

* Blue Badge tourist guide
* Holiday
* Les Routiers
* List of airlines of the United Kingdom
* List of airports in the United Kingdom and the British Crown Dependencies
* List of museums in the United Kingdom
* List of amusement parks in the United Kingdom
* List of past and present youth hostels in England and Wales

* Category
* Commons

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template