Big Bus Tours (formerly Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company), is an operator of open top bus sightseeing tours formed in May 2011 after "Les Cars Rouges" and the "Big Bus Company" merged. The company operates in 28 cities of 18 countries with 444 buses operating around the world. 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
"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 three buses by the Maybury family. It later expanded to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Philadelphia, and so on.
"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.
In May 2007, the Abu Dhabi company the Al Fahim Group purchased a 30% shareholding.Al Fahim Group acquires 30 percent equity interest in the Big Bus Company ameinfo.com 29 May 2007Al Fahim Group buys 30% stake in Big Bus Company Gulf News 29 May 2007
In February 2015, the business was sold to Exponent Private Equity.Private equity firms line up for 400m ticket to Big Bus Tours City A.M. 12 January 2015Double decker deal for Exponet Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours City A.M. 25 February 2015 In February 2016, Merlin Entertainments bought a 15% shareholding.Merlin eyes Big Bus Tours takeover following £24.6 million state deal The Daily Telegraph 25 February 2016
Overview of operation Buses travel near major landmarks around the 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.
Operations by country
Australia Big Bus Sydney Big Bus Darwin
Austria The Big Bus Vienna
Canada Big Bus Vancouver
Czech Republic
Big Bus Prague
France Big Bus Paris
Germany Big Bus Berlin Big Bus Munich
Greece Big Bus Athens Big Bus Thessaloniki
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, 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 Big Bus Budapest
Ireland Big Bus Dublin In August 2018, Big Bus Dublin was officially launched with the most up-to-date fleet in the city. It operates a single route (the Red Route), which covers the city centre and Phoenix Park.
Italy Big Bus Rome
Oman
Big Bus Muscat
Singapore
Big Bus Singapore Big Bus Tours Singapore operates two routes, the red and the yellow route, using Scania K230UB and MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL (A69) double-decker buses. Their future fleet includes 10 electric buses, with a planned deployment in 2027.
Big Bus Tours bought over local sightseeing tour operator Duck & Hippo (established 14 January 2011) in September 2018.Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator TODAY 5 September 2018
Spain Big Bus Madrid
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Big Bus Abu Dhabi Big Bus Dubai
United Kingdom Big Bus London
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.London Stops List Big Bus Tours April 2012Map Big Bus Tours February 2013 Big Bus Edinburgh
United States
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
See also City Sightseeing List of bus operators of the United Kingdom Open top buses in the United Kingdom
References
External links
London Bus Routes Zenfolio Showbus gallery