Golden Tours
![]() | |
Optare Visionaire bodied Volvo B9TL on Grosvenor Gardens | |
Founded | 1984 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Alperton |
Service area | London Windsor York |
Service type | Sightseeing tours |
Depots | 1 |
Fleet | 67 (November 2019) |
Website | www |
Golden Tours[1] is a British open top bus and coach tour operator based in Alperton, London.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/LF20AXG_Golden_Tours_206_Volvo_B8L_with_MCV_EvoSeti_bodywork_%2852412419034%29.jpg/220px-LF20AXG_Golden_Tours_206_Volvo_B8L_with_MCV_EvoSeti_bodywork_%2852412419034%29.jpg)
Golden Tours was established in 1984, initially operating airport transfers and day trips from London to tourist destinations across the United Kingdom, such as Stonehenge and the Roman Baths.[2] In 2001, Golden Tours acquired the business of Frames Rickards, which included the London franchise for Gray Line.
In June 2011, Golden Tours began operating open top bus services within Central London.[3] This operation was further expanded out to York in July 2020, with open top services operated in partnership with York Pullman, and later to Windsor in December 2020.[4] In June 2021, Golden Tours entered a partnership with Yellow Coaches to operate open top services in Bournemouth.[5]
Golden Tours became the preferred partner of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London in early 2012, offering transport on a branded bus to and from the studio tour from locations in central London by bus.[citation needed]
Fleet
Golden Tours' London operations are based out of a depot in Alperton, which was opened in July 2013.[3]
As of November 2019, the Golden Tours fleet consisted of 67 buses and coaches: 39 open top double-decker vehicles, consisting of Optare Visionaire and MCV DD103 bodied Volvo B9TLs,[6][7][8] 19 coaches and 9 closed top double deckers.[needs update] Eight closed top tri-axle MCV EvoSetis on Volvo B8L chassis were acquired for Warner Bros. Studio Tour work in 2020.[9]
References
- ^ Companies House extract company no 1792277 Golden Tours (Management) Limited
- ^ "Golden opportunity". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 1 September 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ a b Peat, Chris (22 May 2014). "Golden Tours celebrates – Tour operator opens new depot and marks 30 years". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ "Golden Tours to expand services with new Windsor tour". UKinbound. London. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Yellow Coaches partners with Golden Tours in Bournemouth". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "MCV wins Golden Tours double-deck order". Bus & Coach Professional. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ Challen, John (30 April 2013). "Open top Volvo buses added to Golden Tours fleet". Transport Engineer. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ "Golden Tours around London with London B9TL". Transport News Brief. 20 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ Deakin, Tim (13 November 2020). "Test drive: Volvo B8L MCV EvoSeti tri-axle". routeone. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
External links
Media related to Golden Tours at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- Arriva
- Big Bus Tours
- Go-Ahead London
- Golden Tours
- Hotel Hoppa
- Metroline
- RATP Dev Transit London
- London Sovereign
- London Transit
- London United
- RATP Group
- Redwing Coaches
- Stagecoach London
- East London
- Selkent
- Thameside
- Sullivan Buses
- Transport UK London Bus
- Uno
- FlixBus
- Megabus
- National Express
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Underground_sign_at_Westminster.jpg/16px-Underground_sign_at_Westminster.jpg)