Big Bus Tours

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Big Bus Tours (formerly Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company), is an operator of open top bus sightseeing tours 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.[1] Most of the cities it serves are in the United States. Typically, Big Bus Tours use open top double-decker buses in burgundy and cream-coloured livery.

History

File:Big bus co at speakers corner.jpg
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.[2]

"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.[3]

In May 2007, the Abu Dhabi company the Al Fahim Group purchased a 30% shareholding.[4][5]

In February 2015, the business was sold to Exponent Private Equity.[6][7] In February 2016, Merlin Entertainments bought a 15% shareholding.[8]

Overview of operation

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.[9]

Operations by country

Australia

Austria

Poland

China

Egypt

France

Germany

File:BigBusBerlin Hop on Hop off - Güleryüz Panora (2024).jpg
BigBusBerlin (Güleryüz Panora)

Greece

Hong Kong

File:SH6230 at Central Ferry Pier (20181009145722).jpg
Big Bus in Hong Kong

On 15 December 2008, The Big Bus Hong Kong was established. With the largest fleet of open-top buses in the city,[10] 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

Italy

India

Ireland

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 center including Docklands, Glasnevin Cemetery and Croke Park Stadium).

Singapore

File:PC1586P Big Bus Yellow Route.jpg
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 and MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL (A69) double-decker buses)

Big Bus Tours bought over local sightseeing tour operator Duck & Hippo in September 2018.[11]

Spain

Turkey

Russia

Norway

Mexico

Malaysia

United Kingdom

File:A sightseeing bus (Leyland Olympian).jpg
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.[12][13]

United States

File:Big Bus Washington DC.jpg
A Big Bus driving past the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Vietnam

Gallery

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  4. ↑ Al Fahim Group acquires 30 percent equity interest in the Big Bus Company Template:Webarchive ameinfo.com 29 May 2007
  5. ↑ Al Fahim Group buys 30% stake in Big Bus Company Gulf News 29 May 2007
  6. ↑ Private equity firms line up for 400m ticket to Big Bus Tours City A.M. 12 January 2015
  7. ↑ Double decker deal for Exponet Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours City A.M. 25 February 2015
  8. ↑ Merlin eyes Big Bus Tours takeover following £24.6 million state deal The Daily Telegraph 25 February 2016
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator TODAY 5 September 2018
  12. ↑ London Stops List Template:Webarchive Big Bus Tours April 2012
  13. ↑ Map Big Bus Tours Template:Webarchive February 2013

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External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Bus companies of Hong Kong Template:London bus operators Template:Tourism in the United Kingdom

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