The Big Bus Company

Infobox Bus transit
name = The Big Bus Company

logo_size = 124

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image_size = 300px
image_caption = A Big Bus vehicle in Cannon Street, London
company_slogan =
founded =
headquarters = London
locale =
service_area = Worldwide
service_type = Sightseeing tours
destinations = London, Dubai, UAE and Philadelphia
fleet =
operator =
ceo =
website = [http://www.bigbustours.com/ www.bigbustours.com]

The Big Bus Company is a London based open-top bus sightseeing company.

A family owned company, Big Bus started in central London in June 1991 with 4 buses and now operates over 100 buses worldwide. With its bus livery of Burgundy and cream, the company has since expanded to Dubai, UAE and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA with a franchise operation in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The London operation has twice won the 'Visit London' award for "Best Sightseeing Tour of the Year" in 2001 and 2004.

Big Bus London

Big Bus London operates 3 different routes with live guided English commentary and recorded commentary in 8 languages. These are English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Russian.

A free river cruise is included from City Cruises, along the Thames down to Greenwich and back, as well as free walking tours. These currently are "The Royal Walk", taking in the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, "The Big Bus Beatles Walk" and "The Ghosts By Gaslight Tour" although previous tours have included "The Movie Location Walk", "The Da Vinci Code Walk" and "The James Bond Walk". All Big Bus guided walks are included within the price of the ticket. Tickets are currently valid for 24 hours.

Big Bus London has featured in many TV shows including So Graham Norton, The Big Breakfast Show and BBC TV's "Facing the Music" with David Grant and Carrie Grant (series nominated for the Royal Television Award). Other celebrities who became Big Bus Tour Guides for television and film projects include Shane Ritchie, Lorraine Kelly, Lauren Booth and Jerry Springer. In addition Jenny Platt who plays barmaid Violet Wilson in ITV's Coronation Street was once a Tour Guide with the company as was actress Georgina Sutcliffe who married actor Sean Bean in London on February 19th 2008.

The Company appeared with its Guide Manager, Miles Tredinnick, on BBC1 Television's Don't Get Done, Get Dom, presented by Dominic Littlewood, in December 2006.

Ant and Dec filmed their opening credits to ITV's Britain's Got Talent from the top of a Big Bus driving along London streets in June 2007.

Big Bus Dubai, Philadelphia and Baltimore

Big Bus Dubai was established in 2002 and runs a City tour and a Beach tour and is both live guided in English as well as having recorded commentaries in eight languages. These are English, Arabic, Hindi, Persian, German, Russian, French and Italian. The Dubai language tour was contracted, recorded and edited by Chapel Kensington.

Big Bus Philadelphia was added in 2003 and the Baltimore franchise in 2005.

Big Bus & Al Fahim

On May 29th 2007 it was announced that an Abu Dhabi company, Al Fahim, had bought a 30% stake in The Big Bus Company. With the extra investment from the deal, The Big Bus Company will be able to expand its operation quicker than previously planned. Hong Kong will see The Big Bus Company's distinctive buses on its roads shortly with Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore following thereafter. With The Big Bus Company's experience in bus operations, Al Fahim will now be able to bid for bus transport licenses within the United Arab Emirates.

Gallery

Dennis Trident bus being prepared to give full wheelchair acces

External links

* [http://bigbustours.com Official Website]
* [http://travel.yahoo.com/p-reviews-2798281-prod-travelguide-action-read-ratings_and_reviews-i;_ylt=AmU3VfmtJbVktJawsSEl6Mr.FWoL Customer Reviews]
* [http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-b8674-London-Big_Bus_Company_(The)_photos.html Customer Photos]
* [http://www.chapelkensington.com Producer of Dubai Language Tours Official Website]
* [http://www.carrieanddavidgrant.co.uk/tv_media.html David and Carrie Grant's Facing the Music Website]