london duck tours services

London Duck Tours

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London Duck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

London Duck Tours

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London Duck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

London Duck Tours

Review Highlights

“ The tour start near to the London Eye , the vehicles, are really funny: They were used in the second World Wide and are amphibious! ” in 7 reviews

“ . Around Buckingham Palace and back through Westminster and along Millbank, we pootled over Vauxhall Bridg e taking in the MIs 5 and 6 ” in 2 reviews

“ Our ride was fun and informative as we passed all the major points of interest like Buckingham, Parliament, MI5 and MI6 . ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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55 York Road

London SE1 7NJ

United Kingdom

Waterloo, Southwark

About the Business

Amphibious Sightseeing Tours / Team Building Tours / Corporate Hire / Private Hire / Tailor Made Tours / Themed Tours …

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

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Overall rating

What a way to see London! The Duck Tour leaves from Chicheley Street behind the London Eye. The Ducks are refurbished original WWII amphibious vehicles, made by the American military to transport troops for the D-Day landings in 1942. We were surprised that it held up so well- especially when we entered the water with a splash! The tour was much better than a standard bus tour although we could have spent more time on the water and less time in traffic. Even if you have seen the sights before, this is an experience you cannot miss!

This was so much fun. Really a completely new way to look at the city as it goes from land right into water. You learn a lot of facts along the way and have a chance to see MI6 from the Thames. I highly recommend making a reservation through their website as they do fill up. We did the classic tour but there are so many options of different tours and what history you want to learn about. Lots of fun and again London is pricey so don't focus too much on the price.

Better than any other tour I took. Fun, informative and funny. Our guide was a treat and the boat itself was full of history. I would suggest this over any other tour including double-decker etc.

At first I thought it would be a tourist trap and I did have my reservations about this tour. However once the tour started I was pleasantly surprised. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining with a good balance of history, trivia facts and jokes. But the real fun begins when the bus get into the water. Very enjoyable and will recommend for both tourists visiting and even locals.

Recently on a trip to London I had the pleasure of going on a London Duck Tour. The concept is very simple, an original World War II amphibious vehicle that was used at the D-Day landing being used give both a tour on land and in the water. I for one think is different and therefore a great idea. The guide I had on my tour was fairly young but was so knowledgable that I was astounded at some of the historic facts she came out with and she also had a wonderful way of keeping it entertaining with little jokes etc along the way. For me it was one of the best tours I have ever been on..apart from the second bit, the water, I felt this lacked substance, that is quantity and quality of information. The ride is also not too smooth and I will admit that was partly to do with the weather on the day. That all said, if you are looking for a tour with a difference then this is for you or if not then its worth trying just for the quality of the land tour.

I had a wonderful time with the qype team on this yesterday. It was a fantastic experience and i learnt some new information about london. I would highly recommend this tour

I went on a Duck Tour with two of my friends and found it a very enjoyable experience. We had been somewhat concerned about previous bad reviews, but in our experience it was excellent, and money well spent. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave an excellent and very interesting commentary. We had lived all our lives in and around London but still learnt things that we had not previously known. Altogether it was a most memorable outing, and I would certainly like to do it again.

Been on one of these in Liverpool, and enjoyed it equally as much while in London. The tour is very informative, as well as exciting. It takes you around Big Ben, Parliament, and Traf. Square before taking a dive into the Thames! For the 15£ price tag, you get a lot out of it, and the tour guides are also really helpful and amusing!

This is a great tour and something different for all the family to enjoy. The commentary is fun and informative and a good part was all the attention we attracted as we did the road tour. The duck then enters the Thames and goes down to just about the London Eye before retuning to land. This was the best part and amazing that these D day landing vehicles still survive and are useable. A great our for just over an hour but not cheap!

The London Duck Tour is a must for anyone wanting to see a different side to London. Not many tour buses attract so much attention and have to change drivers at the half way point for a sailor to take over ! These converted D Day landing vehicles are Spartan inside but the novelty of driving into the river Thames is brilliant fun and so unique. You sail along beside the House of Parliament and can watch them having lunch, overtake a pleasure boat then head for the shore and hope it will drive out of the water and up a steep slope to dry land. Highly recommended !

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Opening Times & Prices

Please note that we are no longer able to operate our usual range of sightseeing tours due to thames water’s compulsory purchase of our slipway to build the next phase of the thames tunnel super sewer., watch this space, as we intend to be in a position to give an update on events in 2023, classic sightseeing tour.

Child/Youth (1-17 years): £19

Concessions (Students, senior citizens and people with disabilities): £23

Family (2 over 18s and 2 Child/Youth tickets or 1 over 18 and 3 Child/Youth tickets): £79

Infants under 1 go free (evidence maybe required)

There is a booking fee of £3 per booking for telephone and internet sales.

Prices valid from 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018

LIMITED EDITION THEMED TOURS

• D-Day Duck (London Blitz) Tour (1st Sunday each month)
• James Bond Tour (3 rd Sunday each month)
• Pirate Easter Adventure (Easter holiday)
• A Quackmas Carol (Christmas)

Child/Youth (1-17 years): £21

Concessions (Students, senior citizens and people with disabilities): £25

Tours depart from 10.00 (09.45 weekends and school holidays) at regular intervals throughout the day depending on demand and availability.

Last Tour Times

Last tours depend on sunset and vary slightly depending on demand but for general guidance:

January: 15:00 February: 15.30 (15.45 weekends and school holidays) March: 16.30 (16.45 weekends and school holidays) April to August: 18.00 Saturdays and school holidays, 17.30 Sundays, 17.00 all other days) September: 17.30 October: 16:30 November: 15:00 December: 14:45

Booking Office

Mon-Fri 09:30 – 17:00

Sat- Sun closed

Private Hire Department

Private Hire

On Hold. Update Coming 2024

Classic Sightseeing Tour

Sit back and let us show you a selection of central London’s best loved sights

City of London Tour

The ancient city, packed with world renowned landmarks.

D-Day Duck Tour

A road-only tour to whisk you back to the blitz and tell the story of the Normandy beach landings

Pirate Treasure Hunt Tour

Solve the pirate-themed puzzles in order to snatch the treasure from under your opponent’s noses!

James Bond Tour

Simply Bond, Fleming and spies. Nobody does it better!

Code Breaker Challenge

Work as team to crack the secret code and stop London’s Tourist Attractions from being stolen!

A Quackmas Carol

A festive Charles Dickens themed tour for all the family. The perfect Christmas land and river adventure.

Update Coming 2024

Please note that we are no longer able to operate our usual range of sightseeing tours due to Thames Water’s compulsory purchase of our slipway to build the next phase of the Thames Tunnel super sewer.

London Duck Tours

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

LONDON DUCK TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

London Duck Tours: Guided Adventure Through London

The amazing amphibious adventure begins with a land tour through the streets of London, as you explore the capital’s historical landmarks, such as 10 Downing Street, Nelson’s Column and St James’s Palace. After this, you head down to the water at MI6’s Secret Intelligence Service and cruise along the Thames to see the Houses of Parliament, the Buxton Memorial and MI5. Each landmark offers up its own highlights, stories and secrets. Perhaps the best part of the Duck Tour is the live-action commentary, which includes alternative titbits which you wouldn’t hear on ordinary sightseeing tours.

In addition to the standard land-and-sea package, you can choose a themed tour too, including a D-Day special where you’ll hear about your vessel’s interesting wartime history. There is also the James Bond commentary tour where you get to see all of the famous settings for the movies, plus some additional MI5 and MI6 extras. Whether you’re new to the city or you’ve done it all before, the London Duck Tours offer up a fantastic alternative way to explore famous London scenery while taking in the finest riverside views.

London Duck Tours

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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London Duck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

London's yellow amphibious duck buses get £250,000 makeover with River Thames return to come

The tourist favourites began life landing troops on D-Day

• 15:29, 13 JUL 2021
• Updated 15:39, 13 JUL 2021

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Most of us will count a trip down the Thames or stroll along the South Bank as a staple of a good day out in London .

The view from Westminster Bridge, the atmosphere around Waterloo Bridge, it's the place where historic sights and modern art all blends in to one. But true Londoners will know there's something missing.

Something big and yellow, with wheels and a hull - a London's duck buses.

READ MORE: 'I went on the London bus that only makes 2 journeys a week and it's the only route where everyone is happy'

They're the amphibious vehicles once used for tours of the city which go both on road and water.

Though they're currently having a little rest, we could expect a return soon according to their owners, the tour company London Duck Tours.

Unfortunately right now, you won't find the duck buses in their habitual home, the River Thames.

"We have 10 amphibious vehicles and they're all tucked up," says John Bigos, the owner and managing director of London Duck Tours.

"He explains that it was not Covid-19 or the economic slowdown which has forced his company to suspend their current tour route, but a sewer.

The duck buses use a ramp near Vauxhall to safely descend from the road into the River Thames. It's the safest place for this unusual operation which requires the bus-like vehicle to transform itself into the boat we're used to seeing glide along the river.

A sewer called the Thames Tideway Tunnel is being built underneath the ramp so the authorities have acquired the ramp to continue works, which blocks the route for the tours.

John said: "Safety is our absolute priority. The ducks have been totally and completely rebuilt. In effect, it's a brand new vessel, we've spent £250,000 per vehicle.

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"Two of them are now in Portugal, where we've been conducting sea trials." Some of his team are looking to set up duck tours in Porto so while London is on hiatus, John has been providing them with his help and expertise.

"Part of that exercise means we have been awarded a €220,000 grant by the European Union, said John.

"That was in 2019, after Brexit. We could potentially see Porto Duck Tours in 2021."

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The remaining eight duck buses, named after Shakespearean ladies, are currently in storage just off the M25.

Alistair Bigos, John's son and commercial director of London Duck Tours, described his work planning the return of duck bus tours to London:

He said: "The tour concepts will still stay the same. The core route which takes in Royal, Historic Central London will still exist. We're chatting with a few different partners about the possibility of augmented reality too."

Augmented reality is a long way from the beginnings of these incredible vehicles.

Alistair said: "They fought in the Second World War. They would drive onto the beaches to support the rapid landings at Normandy.

"They were a real, vital cog in the operations for D-Day."

The vehicles were originally military-classified and helped the Allies storm through thick mud, sand and water quickly before crossing land.

The vehicles, technically named DUKWs, were deployed from battleships in the English Channel and would drive through the water up the banks and provide back-up to the troops.

They were especially effective where there was no port. Their current role is worlds away.

In recent years, in addition to duck tours, they've starred in The Nativity 2 and were taken over by Minions in a promo for Despicable Me.

"They also served in the Korean War in the Battle of Incheon," John added.

The unusual nature of these vehicles mean there are additional operating challenges the company has to consider.

A bit like the current rules on e-scooters , there is no specific law for duck buses meaning they have to follow certain rules as if they were buses or boats even though mechanically they are neither.

Alistair said: "For a bus you would need your bus driver to be low and close to the road so they can see any last minute obstructions but on the water you need to be high up or you will be off-balance and splashed by waves."

The meticulous design means the vehicles, some of which date from the 1940s were well ahead of their time. "It's like an amphibious Ferrari," Alistair adds.

John explains how the rigid regulatory framework can lead to some bizarre situations. "There's no code in the system for a duck when you go for an MOT," he said.

"We've had to go to Swansea to speak with the DVLA and they provided us with an 18 point mathematical formula which allows the ducks' MOTs to follow the legal parameters."

He remains optimistic that the duck buses will continue to operate: "The regulators have been practical and pragmatic to be fair to them."

John and Alistair have a unique challenge trying to comply with Transport for London (TfL), Port of London Authority (PLA), Department for Transport (DfT) regulations as well as usual business laws.

When the tours start again, for example, he will have to negotiate with TfL which bus stops can be used again. In 2019, he submitted evidence to a parliamentary review on the matter .

"We are heavily regulated yet if your vehicle has fewer than 12 seats on the water, there's almost no regulations," he points out.

The company should get access back to its ramp to resume full operations at some point next year, September 2022 is the current working date.

In the meantime, you can still hire a duck bus privately and it will drive you around London, just not along the Thames. They are also continuing the trials in Portugal.

"It's something really unique in the capital," said Alistair.

"Of course, we want the support of Londoners, we know they [the duck buses] inspire people.

"We know they're popular and we know that London, the Home Counties and particularly school trips are significant markets."

Even before Covid, he explains there was a growing trend of people from outer London and the Home Counties who just wanted to spend time having fun, unique experiences in the capital, like a duck bus tour.

Almost two million people had taken a duck bus tour prior to the hiatus starting in 2017. The duck bus, much like the cable car, has great social media potential.

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Alistair said: "Second World War veterans love to go on the ducks due to the historical connection. That's why when we do restart operations we want to make the ducks as accessible as possible and will stick to any remaining Covid regulations."

The exact details of the tour revival are being hammered out now in this family-run business.

"Christmas is like a board meeting. We know it's gonna take time and we'll see where we get to," Alistair said.

"It's a niche skill to run such a unique operation so it's really a team approach. There's a lot of pride though."

Do you miss the duck buses? Want to see them back soon? Let us know in the comments below.

Got a quirky transport story MyLondon should know about? Email [email protected]

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