We are visiting London this summer and are rather daunted by the tubes and buses. Are there any sightseeing tours that you could recommend? Joyce Harrison, by email

Doc Holiday responds: A good way to take in the main sights, especially if you find the tube and bus system confusing, is to use one of the tour bus companies.

The Original London Sightseeing Tour (020 8877 1722, www.theoriginaltour.com) has operated tours on open-topped double-decker busses since the 1951 Festival of Britain. There are five different circuits, each including a good sample of the main sights. One ticket is good for any, or all, of the routes. There’s live commentary, and you can hop on and off as many times as you like along the way. Busses run every 15 minutes or so, which means you won’t have to wait long for a ride to the next sight. There are six starting points; Baker Street, Embankment, Piccadilly Circus, Victoria, Trafalgar Square, and Marble Arch, and the cost is £18 per adult (£16.50 if booked on the net), and £12 per child (£10.50 via the net).

Or contact The Big Bus Company (020 7233 7797, www.bigbustours.com). In either case, you can buy your ticket on the day from one of the start points, although if you book in advance via the internet the cost is a little cheaper (as above).

For something more eccentric, London Duck Tours (020 7928 3132, www.londonducktours.co.uk) use bright yellow amphibious vehicles (originally known as DUKWS and used at the D-day landings to carry troops ashore). The tour takes 75 minutes, starts near to the London Eye, and includes driving down a slipway at Vauxhall for a ride on the Thames.

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