Liverpool in the 21st century is moving beyond its fame as the home of the Beatles. This formerly industrial city is blossoming into one of England’s newest hotspots, boasting enough attractions to fill days of discovery.

Pair the need to get around the city with a live tour on a hop-on hop-off bus tour in Liverpool. Affordable tickets, abundant facts, wheelchair accessibility and affable guides make these tours a no-brainer.

Here's everything you need to know about hop-on hop-off bus tours, one of the best options for sightseeing tours in Liverpool.

What are the best hop-on hop-off Liverpool bus tours? What are their prices?

Travel to more than 10 places around Liverpool with a live guide on hop-on hop-off bus tours. Ideal for your first day in town, make the full loop to learn the layout of the town. Then, make a second loop once you’ve decided which locales you’d like to have a look at!

Liverpool has two companies offering hop-on hop-off bus tours. Both tour companies have partnerships with restaurants and points of interest in town. Showing your valid ticket at those places entitles you to useful and enticing discounts.

Liverpool City Sights

Liverpool City Sights tours have two routes: a general sightseeing circuit and a sightseeing and Beatles-themed tour. All tickets give perks like discounts at restaurants, museums and more plus a free glass of sparkling wine or soda at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms.

Red Route

Tickets for this hop-on hop-off bus tour bundles all of the quintessentially Liverpudlian spots into one tour. Take in city sights and hop off wherever you’d like. The route features 14 stops with live commentary about all you see along the way.

Timetable

Tours begin at Gower Street at the Royal Albert Dock. However, you can board the bus at any of the stops along the route. Tours begin at 9:50 AM with the last tour of the day beginning at 3:50 PM. Buses depart every 30 minutes, at 50 or 20 minutes past the hour.

Tickets

Prices for the red route are £12 per person. Students’ and seniors’ tickets cost £8 per person, and tickets for children ages 3 to 15 cost £6 per person. Infants ride for free. There are family packages from £30 per family of two guardians and two children and £35 per family of two guardians and three children.

Blue Route

Beatles fans, this route is for you. Not only will you see the major landmarks of Liverpool, you’ll also pause at points such as Penny Lane and the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. The Blue Route includes all of the Red Route’s 14 stops plus four additional attractions. You’ll have photo ops at all sites. Take advantage of a 5 to 10-minute pause to step off the bus for better shots at Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. Guides will gladly take photos of you.

Timetable

The Blue Route’s 90-minute tours run three times a day, beginning at 10:30 AM at Gower Street. Additional tours are at 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM. During busy seasons, additional tours are offered at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM. After your tour, use your ticket to access the bus at any time over the remaining 24 hours.

Tickets

Pricing for tours on the Blue Line are £18 per adult, £14 per person for students and seniors, and £12 per person for children 3 to 15. Family packages covering two adult and two children's tickets cost £45 per family. Add one more child to the package for an additional £5.

At some times, VIP skip-the-line tickets are available on-line only. These tickets are valid for 48-hours and start at £23 per person. Prices vary with the day and time.

City Explorer Liverpool

This local tour bus company has one official route that is led by a live guide and provides discounts at select restaurants and other draws with proof of a valid ticket. City Explorer Liverpool offers a wider variety of tours listed under “combined tours” on the company’s web page.

City Explorer Liverpool Route

Make the rounds to 11 of Liverpool’s most noteworthy locales. Absorb the scenery and history over the 50- to 60-minute tour.

Timetable

The route runs clockwise from Gower Street with the first tour of the day beginning at 10 AM. Tours begin every 30 minutes, on the hour and at half-past, with the last bus departing from Gower Street at 3 PM.

Tickets

Tickets for adults cost £12 per person. Students’ and seniors’ tickets are £9 per person, and tickets for children ages 5 to 15 cost £7 per person. Family passes that admit two adults and up to 3 children cost £35 per family. Tickets are valid for 24 hours. Take advantage of discounts at select restaurants and tourist sites by showing a valid ticket.

How do hop-on hop-off bus tours in Liverpool work? What is included?

A hop-on hop-off bus tour is perhaps the most affordable and convenient ways to get the most out of your time in Liverpool. You have the flexibility of taking a full tour of the city or simply accessing the bus when you’d like from one of the many stops. All tours are hosted by live guides who entertain you with facts, trivia and songs during your journey.

Staying on the bus for the full guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to Liverpool. As you pass attractions, choose ones that pique your interest for a later stop. Once you’ve taken in what the city has to offer, use your ticket to hop on or hop off wherever you’d like during the duration of your ticket.

City bus tours introduce you to Liverpool’s cultural and archaeological highlights. Spy the two cathedrals, shopping and museum districts, the Three Graces and Chinatown, and stop at any point for explorations, food or restroom breaks. Glimpse the Mersey River, the Cavern Club and the ruins of a church bombed in World War II.

Are there any combined tickets including hop-on hop-off bus tours?

If you’re looking for a more in-depth exploration of Liverpool, book a combination walking tour plus hop-on hop-off bus ticket. Choices of 24-hour or 72-hour bus passes afford you with hop-on hop-off bus access plus two walking tours.

Options for the 1- to 3-hour walking tours are “City Discover and Cavern Quarter,” and “Historic Waterfront and Beatles Tours.” Unfortunately, walking tours can not accommodate wheelchair users.

City Explorer Liverpool’s combined tours are a convenient way to add Beatles landmarks, a river cruise and/or a football-themed outing to your city tour. These tours provide you 48-hour access to the hop-on hop-off bus as well as discounts throughout the city.

Choose among City Explorer tours plus Beatles City Explorer tours, Mersey River cruise plus City Explorer tour or the City Explorer plus Anfield Stadium tour combinations. For the ultimate sightseeing package, opt for a Golden Ticket that includes city and Beatles tours plus a river cruise. Golden Tickets give you 72-hour bus access from the time of purchase.

Are hop-on hop-off bus tours included in any Liverpool sightseeing passes?

The Liverpool Pass is a must for anyone who wants to see the best of the city in a short period of time. Pick 24- to 48-hour passes that grant you access to a variety of Liverpool attractions, a riverboat cruise and unlimited rides on the City Explorer buses for the duration of your ticket.

Included in the price of your ticket is admission to four of Liverpool's best museums. Fab Four fans will be thrilled to snap photos of Ringo’s drum kit and a replica of Abbey Road Studios as well as much more at the Beatles Story. You’ll also have free entry to Strawberry Field, the children’s home-turned-Beatles museum that inspired John Lennon’s famed song.

Move beyond the Beatles to the British Music Experience. Take in displays dedicated to artists from Freddie Mercury to Adele, spanning many decades of British musical influence. Football fans will enjoy free entry to the Liverpool Football Club Museum at Anfield Stadium where you’ll spy team memorabilia that spans over a century.

Are bus tours they wheelchair friendly?

Yes, hop-on hop-off bus tours in Liverpool are wheelchair friendly.

What other sightseeing tours can you do in Liverpool?

Travel tips

Hop-on hop-off buses usually start in the morning, around 9 or 10 AM. Starting early will give you more time to explore and make the most of your ticket.
If the weather allows, try to get a seat on the top deck for the best views. But be aware that it can get windy, so bring a jacket or wrap.
Having some snacks and water on hand can keep you fueled between stops.
Make sure you know when the last bus runs so you don't end up stranded at a stop!

Hop on Hop off Bus Tours in Liverpool