One of the UK’s top sightseeing companies has launched a hop-on, hop-off open top bus service across Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Poole.

London-based Golden Tours is partnering with Yellow Coaches for the new summer service – complete with taped commentary – which began on Saturday May 29.

Tickets are valid for either 24 hours or 48 hours with passengers able to hop-on or hop-off at any of the 24 stops on the route.

Golden Tours is providing the buses, marketing and booking systems while Yellow Coaches is supplying the drivers.

Sister brand, Yellow Buses, is looking after the maintenance, cleaning and washing of the vehicles.

The new service comes as Dorset gears up for a record summer staycation season.

David Squire, pictured left, Managing Director of Yellow Buses and Yellow Coaches, said: “This summer will be a phenomenal year for staycations with Bournemouth set to benefit from increased visitors as lockdown eases.

“We are delighted to have partnered with Golden Tours, experts in sightseeing tours with taped commentaries for this summer.

“The new service operates through to the end of August.”

Mikesh Palan, pictured right, Managing Director, Golden Tours, added: “We are excited to reach new destinations around the UK.

“With this summer set to be a popular one for domestic holidays and day trips, Bournemouth is the perfect match for our next hop-on, hop-off open top bus service.

“We are proud to have partnered with the highly respected local operator Yellow Coaches on this new venture.”

The Golden Tours’ hop-on, hop-off open top buses will run daily with social distancing measures in place.

A 24 hours ticket will cost £15 adult; £12 senior/student and £8 child (five to 15 years) with a family ticket (two adults and two children) for £36.

A ticket for 48 hours costs £18 adult; £15 senior/student and £10 child. A family ticket is £46.

More information and bookings can be found here.

Golden Tours is London’s leading sightseeing company and part of the Gray Line Worldwide Association.

Since 1984, it has offered a range of luxury day excursions to destinations across the country including Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Canterbury, Liverpool and Edinburgh .

The company also operates its own open-top sightseeing bus tours in London, York, Windsor and now Bournemouth, as well as attraction tickets, airport transfers, and overnight trips by train to Paris and Brussels.

Other services offered by Golden Tours include walking tours, afternoon tea experiences, trips to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, river cruises and theatre tickets.

The new hop-on, hop-off open top service has been warmly welcomed by BH Area Hospitality Association (BAHA) and Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce (BCTC).

Tim Seward, pictured left, BAHA Chair, said: “This will be another fantastic addition for the area for our guests to enjoy and experience.”

Jacqui Rock, pictured right, BCTC President, added: “It’s great to see Yellow Coaches partner with Golden Tours.

“It’s the perfect example of diversification as we re-emerge from a difficult 15 months.

“Congratulations to all involved and I can’t wait to hear all about us on the taped commentaries!”

News of the Golden Tours/Yellow Coaches tie-up comes just days after Yellow Buses/Yellow Coaches partnered with megabus to launch new Thursday to Monday services to London via Heathrow Airport.

And from Saturday May 29, the Bournemouth-based and locally owned and run company began Buster’s New Forest Explorer, running between Christchurch, Highcliffe, Bransgore, Burley and Ringwood.

Simon Newport, pictured left, Commercial Director, said: “Buster’s New Forest Explorer is a bus experience, it’s a cross between a normal bus route and a tour.

“Customers will see some of the most fantastic views of the New Forest.

“The section between Bransgore and Burley, and past Picket Post towards Ringwood, are what I would describe as traditional parts of the New Forest, where you can really get the feeling that you are somewhere different.

‘Buster’s New Forest Explorer is a fantastic addition to our network offering our customers something new.

“We believe that Christchurch is an excellent gateway from the west to the New Forest and this route enables residents of the conurbation to get out into the countryside.”

The new route has four return trips per day and is operating every weekend during the summer and daily for all of the school summer holidays.

Details of all the summer services available from Yellow Buses can be found here.