Big Bus Tours

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.

Big Bus Tours Group Holdings Ltd

Ankai G9 in Paris in 2023
Trade name	Big Bus Tours
Company 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

History

 

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

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

Australia

• Big Bus Darwin
• Big Bus Sydney

Austria

• The Big Bus Vienna

France

• Big Bus Paris

Germany

• Big Bus Berlin
• Big Bus Munich

Hong Kong

 

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

• Big Bus Budapest

Italy

• Big Bus Rome

Ireland

• 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

• Big Bus Muscat

Singapore

 

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

• Big Bus Istanbul

United Arab Emirates

• 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

• 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

 

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

•  
  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

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

References

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. "Companies house annual account". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
4. . 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 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. . 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 24 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Big Bus Tours April 2012
16. Map Big Bus Tours 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine February 2013

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Bus Company.

• Official website
• London Bus Routes Zenfolio
• Showbus gallery