Best for
Visitors who want high frequency and a dedicated Leith route. The City Tour runs every 10 minutes, making it easy to hop off and rejoin quickly. The Explore ticket adds the Britannia Tour for a full day out to the waterfront.
2 routes, 22 stops, Britannia Tour to Leith
Discover 24h (City only), Essential 48h (City only), Explore 48h (both routes) · 9 audio languages · 22 stops
Discover 24h (City only), Essential 48h (City only), Explore 48h (both routes)
Compare prices for this operatorVisitors who want high frequency and a dedicated Leith route. The City Tour runs every 10 minutes, making it easy to hop off and rejoin quickly. The Explore ticket adds the Britannia Tour for a full day out to the waterfront.
Pre-recorded audio only — no live guides on board. The Britannia Tour runs just once an hour, so plan that leg of the day in advance. The Discover ticket covers only the City Tour; for both routes you need Explore.
City Tour (Red) times from stop 1 at Waterloo Place. Britannia Tour (Blue) departs hourly from the same starting point. Times may vary during Edinburgh Festival and winter months.
| # | Stop | First bus | Last bus | Nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo Place 27 Waterloo Place | 09:00 | 18:05 | Calton Hill · Princes Street · Balmoral Hotel |
| 2 | St Andrew Square 28a St Andrew Square | 09:07 | 18:12 | Harvey Nichols · New Town · George Street |
| 3 | Lothian Road 5 Lothian Road | 09:14 | 18:19 | Usher Hall · Traverse Theatre · West End |
| 4 | Bread Street 29 Bread Street | 09:16 | 18:21 | King's Theatre · Tollcross |
| 5 | The Mound The Mound (west side) | 09:28 | 18:33 | Scottish National Gallery · Princes Street Gardens · Edinburgh Castle |
| 6 | George IV Bridge George IV Bridge | 09:30 | 18:35 | Edinburgh Castle · Greyfriars Bobby · National Library |
| 7 | Lauriston Place 45 Lauriston Place | 09:35 | 18:40 | National Museum of Scotland · Greyfriars Kirkyard |
| 8 | Grassmarket 58 Grassmarket | 09:40 | 18:45 | Grassmarket · Edinburgh Castle (south) · Victoria Street |
| 9 | Chambers Street 25 Chambers Street | 09:46 | 18:51 | National Museum of Scotland · University of Edinburgh |
| 10 | John Knox House 63 High Street | 09:50 | 18:55 | Royal Mile · Scottish Storytelling Centre · Museum of Childhood |
| 11 | Canongate Kirk 145 Canongate | 09:53 | 18:58 | Canongate Kirk · People's Story Museum |
| 12 | Holyrood Palace 53 Canongate | 09:56 | 19:01 | Palace of Holyroodhouse · Scottish Parliament · Holyrood Abbey |
| 13 | Dynamic Earth Holyrood Road | 09:59 | 19:04 | Our Dynamic Earth · Arthur's Seat trailhead · Salisbury Crags |
| 14 | Abbeyhill Abbeyhill | 10:04 | 19:09 | Holyrood Park · Meadowbank |
| 15 | Regent Road Regent Road | 10:08 | 19:14 | Calton Hill · Nelson Monument · National Monument · Burns Monument |
| # | Stop | First bus | Last bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo Place 27 Waterloo Place | 09:05 | 18:05 |
| 2 | Gallery of Modern Art Belford Road | 09:19 | 18:19 |
| 3 | Royal Botanic Gardens 7 Arboretum Place | 09:27 | 18:27 |
| 4 | Newhaven Harbour Pier Place | 09:35 | 18:35 |
| 5 | Royal Yacht Britannia 74 Ocean Drive, Leith | 09:38 | 18:38 |
| 6 | The Shore, Leith The Shore | 09:44 | 18:44 |
| 7 | N. St David Street Outside Malmaison Edinburgh | 09:55 | 18:55 |
9 audio languages available via personal device or on-board screens, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean.
Save by bundling your Big Bus ticket with top Edinburgh experiences.
The Explore 48h ticket covers both Big Bus routes: the City Tour through the Old Town and the Britannia Tour to Leith.
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