Since the 1970s, London has developed rapidly as a tourist location. A
combination of factors have helped to facilitate this - visa-less travel
from Europe, cheap flights, faster long-haul flights, greater affluence
in key countries like China, and (at times) favourable exchange rates
have all contributed. To meet this demand, London Transport initially
developed their Round London Sightseeing Tour, which was first
introduced in 1951. Other companies tapped into the burgeoning market,
developing new facilities like hop-on, hop-off routes and providing
taped commentaries in a variety of languages. The London Coaches
division, responsible for tourist services, was the first part of London
Buses to be privatised. Since then, their successors and other operators
have continued to compete in this thriving market. This book examines
the various operators that have catered for tourists in the heart of our
capital since 1970 and the vehicles that they have used.