The Red Bus (couple trip)
How Couple-Friendly is The Red Bus?
What makes it 87% Couple-Friendly: Top-deck dining, fizz, gin or whisky packages and twilight city views make a distinctive date; advance booking is essential and tables are close together, limiting privacy.
Positives:
- Themed onboard dining: Offers afternoon tea, gin and whisky tastings designed for couples.
- Flexible sightseeing: Hop-on hop-off stops let you explore landmarks at your pace.
Challenges:
- No baby facilities: Infants under 5 cannot board and there are no changing or stroller storage.
- Limited seating: Top-deck seats are scarce; reserve in advance or arrive early.
What is The Red Bus?
- A sightseeing bus service operating vintage double-decker Routemaster coaches on a scheduled loop of Edinburgh’s major landmarks
- A hop-on, hop-off network linking key sites such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile
- A transport operator providing multilingual audio commentary and live route tracking via a dedicated mobile app
What is so special about The Red Bus for couple trip?
- Taste Prosecco, gin or whisky onboard a vintage bus.
- Hop-off at Edinburgh’s top sights with a flexible 24hr ticket.
- Enjoy panoramic city views from the open-top deck.
- Choose private hire for a romantic dinner under city lights.
Recommended visit duration: 0.5-1 day
Why 0.5-1 day visit duration is ideal for couple trip: Allows time for a full bus loop, hop-off stops, and a themed tasting or tea service.
Couple-Friendly Activities in The Red Bus
Hop-on hop-off city tour:
Explore Edinburgh at your own pace with a 24hr bus ticket and audio commentary.
Tip: Download the app for live arrival times and onboard discount codes.
Afternoon Tea with Fizz:
Enjoy Prosecco, tea, sandwiches, and pastries aboard a vintage Routemaster.
Tip: Book early to secure top-deck seats for skyline views.
Whisky & Wine Discovery:
Taste three whiskies and three wines paired with Scottish nibbles.
Tip: Capture city views between tasting flights through the bus windows.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to The Red Bus
- Book online: Reserve themed tours and bus tickets on the website to guarantee availability.
- Use the app: Track bus arrivals, access audio guides and partner discounts in real time.
Reviews of The Red Bus
Joanna O'Connell
We had an amazing experience with the Red Bus transporting our guests for our wedding. All of our guests were raving about it. They loved the conductor handing out real tickets, the music and the drinks/snacks being handed out to our guests. We even got to personalise the entrance sign and take it home! We would highly recommend the red bus for anyone who wants to give their guests a fun and uniqu...
Hannah Fisher
The Red Bus were incredibly professional and helpful throughout our wedding planning process. All the guests loved the buses (as did everyone who apparently waved to them on their way to our wedding!) and the fact we got to keep our personalised signs after is a lovely bonus. Thank you!
Bri Jytta
We chose The Red Bus for our special day to get all our guests and the groom to the venue on our wedding. Everyone had so much fun and loved the bus as we had most of our guests coming from Italy. The journey to the venue was so memorable for the groom and our family. It was very nice to finally meet for few minutes Emma who I was in contact with during the wedding preparation and has been fantas...
Lorena & Danny
We hired The Red Bus to transport our guests from Edinburgh to Longniddry and back for our wedding, and they were absolutely amazing! The vintage Routemaster was not only a practical solution, it was a total highlight of the day. The bus was beautifully maintained, full of charm and character, and added such a fun, nostalgic touch to the experience. Our guests loved riding in it — it made the jou...
Phyllis Dickson
Myself and now husband Jamie had a truly memorable wedding day having hired The Big Red Bus for our wedding guests. It was a big surprise for all guests and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Very inclusive for guests as young as 2 years old and my Gran at 95. There was nothing we could fault and set the perfect vibe for the rest of the day. Big thanks to Emma who I was mainly in contact...
When is the best time to visit The Red Bus (Edinburgh, United Kingdom)?
In summer (June–Aug), arrive early to secure top-deck seats for open-air views. In cooler months, check if the roof is closed and bring a warm layer.
Explore These Activities
Typical Budget for a Couple (2 Adults)
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 24hr hop-on hop-off ticket (2 adults) | GBP 36 |
| Afternoon Tea with Fizz (2 adults) | GBP 89 |
| Total Estimated | GBP 125 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Content Notice: This content combines editorial expertise with AI assistance to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date information. Our team regularly curates and reviews all content for accuracy and relevance. Help Us Improve
Map of The Red Bus
Address: 28 W Harbour Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1PN, UK
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