CITY SIGHTSEEING OXFORD OPEN-TOP TOURS RETURNED IN BOOST TO VISITOR ECONOMY

The City Sightseeing Oxford open-top tours returned to help show visitors the city, as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.

The popular open-top bus tour has returned to service in Oxford, in a boost to the city’s visitor economy. It currently operates every 20 minutes on a hop-on hop-off basis and tickets purchased online will be valid for 12 months.

Owned by the Oxford Bus Company, City Sightseeing Oxford have implemented an enhanced cleaning regime across its fleet. All buses are thoroughly cleaned every night and all tour buses will be taken out of service at the end of every trip for additional cleaning of touch points and commentary units.

Drivers and walking tour guides are provided with PPE and face coverings are made available to passengers to wear while on-board the open-top tours around the city, if required. Numbers on walking tours are limited to 30 people per tour with a maximum of 6 people in an individual group. As well as only one group, with a maximum of 6 people, at a time will being permitted to climb the Carfax Tower. Live commentary is not currently available on the bus tour in line with current government guidelines, but recorded commentary is available in fifteen different languages.

VisitEngland have awarded City Sightseeing Oxford a ‘Good to Go’ accreditation in recognition of the enhanced hygiene regimes in place to ensure visitor safety.

Jane Marshall, General Manager of City Sightseeing Oxford, said: “We’re looking forward to returning to service and welcoming visitors to our wonderful city. The visitor economy has been severely impacted by COVID-19 and it is great to now see more and more tourist attractions and associated businesses re-opening and welcoming visitors. We have introduced a comprehensive hygiene system and we are safe and ready for when tourists wish to enjoy a tour of Oxford.”

Hayley Beer-Gamage, Chief Executive of Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation for the county, said: “Experience Oxfordshire are delighted to see the City Sightseeing Oxford open-top bus tours return to service. It is great to see tours and attractions reopening to welcome local visitors to the city. We are pleased that City Sightseeing Oxford will be welcoming back visitors in an environment they feel safe and comfortable in, with cleaning and safety measures and the VisitEngland ‘Good to Go’ accreditation.”

City Sightseeing Oxford operate one hour guided open-top tours of the city. The tour takes in more than 20 of Oxford’s best tourist attractions. Each bus is fitted with multi-lingual recorded commentaries in 13 different languages. Customers are recommended to visit the City Sightseeing Oxford website to access the special timetable.