If you’re local to London and love playing the tourist, or you are visiting from further afield. Jumping on a panoramic bus tour is a fantastic way to see London’s historic sights.  

If, you were then to combine this with a British dining experience with a petite French twist as well, then ‘oh la la’. 

This is a unique concept that Bustronome has crafted, which all began in Paris.

I used to work in London for many years, and often I kept telling people to look up as the architecture in this incredible city is beautiful. So, the idea of a voyage around the bustling heart of England’s capital city was my cup of tea.

There is certainly something different about Bustronome’s tours. The concept that they have created is for you to enjoy a cultured luxury experience on a high-end double-decker bus. All the while, your attentive waiter serves you with delicious, seasonal, dishes.

There is no squabbling for a window seat as all the tables are located on the upper deck, with 360-degree panoramic views through the glass roof. Come, rain or shine you are protected, and the transport is fully air-conditioned.

As the city tour began, Jerome, our Parisian waiter, talked us through how to use the multilingual audio guide. To make the experience a little more discreet, your audio guide is actually through an audio pen. 

You are given a map of the route, and you just tap on the location with your audio pen when you pass nearby the historical site or significant monument, and your commentary begins.

For me it was like a trip down memory lane, passing by old haunts, some I choose to remember and others I’ve tried to blank from my mind.

From the moment we picked up the bus from Victoria Embankment, it was a cultural trip from start to finish, I really didn’t want it to end.

Gary and I chose the lunchtime tour, which consisted of 4 courses along with, wine, water (still or sparkling) and tea or coffee. 

Jerome made us feel very relaxed, described all the dishes and also the wine served with them.

To start with we were also given an amuse-bouche of green olive tapenade on small pieces of toasted bread.

Our first dish was a crab and artichoke “gateau” with tobiko and wasabi sauce.  The crab was delicious, incredibly light and tasted very fresh.

This was then followed by a crispy roll filled with goats’ cheese and beetroot prepared in three different ways.

Accompanying these two courses, we were served a glass of crisp white French Picpoule.

While enjoying your food you’re leisurely passing national treasures like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. While weaving your way back and forth across the River Thames.

Our main course was seared tuna, carrot puree, girolle mushrooms and tarragon sauce. We were given the choice of continuing with another glass of white wine or choose to switch to a glass of red.

The quality of food is incredible, you forget that this is being prepared for you on a double-decker bus.

All the while you’re relishing the experience pleasant music is being played, some of which transports you to a street-side Parisian café. 

Our dessert, and my favourite dish of the tour, was the strawberries and ginger pavlova, accompanied by ginger sorbet, it was delicious. 

Gary and I really enjoyed our London Bustronome experience. The only thing I would add is that I would have liked one other choice of dishes rather than a set menu. Although I do appreciate that the limited facilities put a constraint on this.