Big Bus Tours
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| Big Bus Tours | |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Open top bus operator |
| Predecessors |
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| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Belgravia, London, England, |
Areas served | |
Key people |
|
| Revenue |  $269 million(2019)[3] |
 $(2.3) million(2019) [3] | |
| $(45.6) million(2019) [3] | |
| Owners | Exponent Private Equity (85%) Merlin Entertainments (15%) |
| Website | bigbustours.com |
Big Bus Tours (formerly Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company), is an operator of open top bus sightseeing tours 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] 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
[edit]
"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
[edit]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
[edit]Australia
[edit]- Big Bus Sydney
Austria
[edit]- The Big Bus Vienna
Poland
[edit]- Big Bus Warsaw
China
[edit]Egypt
[edit]France
[edit]- Big Bus Paris
Germany
[edit]Greece
[edit]- Big Bus Athens
Hong Kong
[edit].jpg)
- 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
[edit]- Big Bus Budapest
Italy
[edit]India
[edit]Ireland
[edit]- 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 center including Docklands, Glasnevin Cemetery and Croke Park Stadium).
Singapore
[edit]
- 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]
Spain
[edit]Turkey
[edit]- Big Bus Istanbul
Russia
[edit]- Big Bus Moscow
- Big Bus St Petersburg
- Big Bus Volgograd
Norway
[edit]Mexico
[edit]- Big Bus Mexico City
Malaysia
[edit]- Big Bus Penang
United Kingdom
[edit]- Big Bus London
.jpg)
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]
- Big bus Edinburgh
- Big Bus Manchester
United States
[edit]
- Big bus Boston, From 2023, officially launched in Boston, MA.
- Big bus Charleston
- Big Bus Chicago
- Big bus Detroit
- Big Bus Los Angeles
- Big Bus New York
- Big Bus Philadelphia
- Big Bus Sacramento
- Big Bus San Francisco
- Big Bus St Louis
- Big Bus Washington, D.C.
- Big Bus Williamsburg, Virginia
Vietnam
[edit]- Big Bus Ho Chi Minh City
Gallery
[edit]-
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)
_18-07-2017.jpg)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Mkandawire, Vinjeru (9 February 2020). "Big Bus Tours chairman back aboard after chief executive steps off". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "Companies house directors report". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "Companies house annual account". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "Sightseeing Bus | Hop-on Hop-off Bus | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ "Big Bus Tours International | About Us". Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "Big Bus Tours wants investors on board | The National". 12 October 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ Al Fahim Group acquires 30 percent equity interest in the Big Bus Company Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine ameinfo.com 29 May 2007
- ^ Al Fahim Group buys 30% stake in Big Bus Company Gulf News 29 May 2007
- ^ Private equity firms line up for 400m ticket to Big Bus Tours City A.M. 12 January 2015
- ^ Double decker deal for Exponet Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours City A.M. 25 February 2015
- ^ Merlin eyes Big Bus Tours takeover following £24.6 million state deal The Daily Telegraph 25 February 2016
- ^ "Hop-on, Hop-off Bus | City Bus Tours | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ "Open Top Bus Tours – Hong Kong Extras3". www.hongkongextras.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator TODAY 5 September 2018
- ^ London Stops List Archived 24 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Big Bus Tours April 2012
- ^ Map Big Bus Tours Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine February 2013
External links
[edit]
Bus operators in London | |
|---|---|
| London | |
| National | |
