Philadelphia Tours

After more than a decade of offering highly popular tours in London, highlighted by their receiving the prestigious London Tourist Board sightseeing tour of the year award in 2000, the Big Bus Company has arrived in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is the company's first venture in the U.S. They also offer tours in Dubai.

The Big Bus Company offers 90-minute open-top tours of the city in authentic London double-deckers. Each tour includes live commentary from a fully-trained and friendly guide.

The great part about the tour is that your ticket is valid for 24-hours and you can get off and back on the bus as often as you wish at any of their 20 stops on a fairly expansive route. Buses run every thirty minutes.

The Big Bus makes stops as follows:

1. Stop 1. Terminal
2. Stop 2. Chinatown
3. Stop 3. Hard Rock Cafe
4. Stop 4. City Hall
5. Stop 5. Basilica of St Peter And St Paul
6. Stop 6. "Rocky's Steps" Philadelphia Museum of Art
7. Stop 7. Rodin Museum
8. Stop 8. Easter State Penitentiary
9. Stop 9. Philadelphia Museum or Art
10. Stop 10. Philadelphia Zoo
11. Stop 11. 30th Street Station
12. Stop 12. Franklin Institute of Science Museum
13. Stop 13. Logan Circle
14. Stop 14. Kimmel Arts Centre
15. Stop 15. Antiques Row
16. Stop 16. Head House Square
17. Stop 17. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
18. Stop 18. Penn's Landing
19. Stop 19. Independence Park
20. Stop 20. Betsy Ross House

While their main departure point or terminal is located on 5th Street between Market and Arch, you can actually join the tour at any of the twenty stops. Tickets can be purchased in advance from many hotel concierges, information centers or right on the bus itself.

The views of the city from the upper-deck of the bus are unlike any you may have seen before, but there is a extra price to pay for those seats - you need to beware of low hanging tree branches which occasionally sweep over the top of the bus. In fact the company's motto is "Watch your heads, don't lose your heads"

The buses operate seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children. All tickets are valid for 24 hours from time of purchase. For more information you can call 1-8663 BigBus (244287) or visit the Big Bus Company website.