There is so much to see and do when visiting London. From exploring the iconic landmarks of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, to the glowing lights of London’s West End and Piccadilly Circus; it’s hard to fit everything in.
Bustronome offers the opportunity to see all of London’s top tourist attractions, while feasting on a 6-course gourmet extravaganza. This is perfect for those wanting to see London in a short amount of time, as the tour takes approximately 3 hours for the round trip.
When you live in a city, you often take for granted what that place has to offer, so when I was invited to review this one of a kind experience, I thought it would be the perfect chance to remember the reasons I moved here. I decided to take my housemate Alannah with me. Being Canadian and new to London, it was a chance to show her the sights and introduce her to what London has to offer.
What is Bustronome?
Bustronome began in Paris and has recently opened in London. The concept is genius, yet simple: ‘Fine dining aboard a sightseeing tour bus’. This converted double decker bus is equipped with a glass roof and large windows, offering panoramic views of London. Guests are seated on the top deck and food preparation takes place on the lower deck, meaning you are always guaranteed an amazing view.
The Tour
Bustronome caters for lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. Dinner starts at 7pm, so we headed to Victoria Embankment after work where the bus departs from.
My first impression was how well designed and laid out the ‘restaurant’ was. There were varying table sizes for all parties to enjoy, without over cramping people in. We also boarded the bus when it was 30 degrees outside, so were delighted that they had air con to avoid overheating.
What stood out for me, was the interactive map and audio guide that was waiting for us on our table. You were provided with an audio pen which you used to touch the landmark of your choice, and then the information about that landmark would be played out through the speakers. The audio can be configured to multiple languages and you are given total control over which landmark you wanted to learn more about; even able to dip in and out of the audio guide as you pleased.
We were taken around London’s most iconic landmarks including Tower Bridge, Harrods, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum, Piccadilly Circus, and many more!
The Food
Your six-course meal is paired with wines throughout, taking you on a gastronomical journey while touring the streets of London. The menu changes every 6-8 weeks, so be sure to check it before boarding.
Personally, the food wasn’t really my ‘type of food’. I am not a huge fan of seafood, which made up most of the menu, so I probably would have been better off waiting a few weeks until they changed the dishes. Saying that, the food was high class, and cooked very well. The dishes were beautifully presented, and it was good to try some new flavours and recipes.
Oh, and don’t worry about any spillages – there are specially designed glass holders for your drinks!
My Verdict
I would definitely recommend Bustronome for those wanting to make the most out of their visit to London. If you like fine dining or visiting quirky restaurants, then this should be right up your street. It’s the perfect way to have a whistle stop tour of London, while enjoying a delicious six-course meal.
Prices are quite expensive at £105 for dinner without drinks and then increasing to £150 for dinner and wine pairing.
For more information on how to book, please see their website: Bustronome
Disclaimer*
I received a complimentary ticket in exchange for a review. Views are my own.