LONDON CALLING! EXPLORE THIS ICONIC CITY FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME – WITH OUR 360 DEGREE VIRTUAL TOUR!

London has long been a magnet for travellers, offering a rich and varied tapestry of history, culture, and stunning landmarks. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to visit this vibrant city in person. Nevertheless, don’t let that deter your interest! Thanks to advancements in technology, you can now explore London’s famous attractions from the comfort of your own home, through the magic of our 360 degree virtual tour experience – the VR Tour Bus.

In this blog post, we will delve into the world of virtual travel, and how it provides an immersive experience that’s just a mouse click away. We will also take a deep dive into the advantages of exploring London virtually, guide you through our virtual tour platform, and take you on a digital encounter with some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Along the way, we will provide insights into the process of creating these virtual tours, and highlight the possibilities for the future of virtual exploration. So grab your virtual passport and get ready for an incredible, virtual journey through London!

Understanding 360 Virtual Tours

A 360 virtual tour is a technological marvel that offers a lifelike and immersive experience of a destination. Unlike traditional photographs or videos, which only provide a limited 2D perspective, our 360 virtual tour allows you to explore every angle of a location as if you were standing right there. This technology uses high-resolution cameras to capture multiple images in every direction, which are then seamlessly stitched together to create a 360º spherical panoramic image. As you navigate through the virtual tour, you can use your mouse or touchscreen to look around in all directions, giving you a real sense of being present in each featured location.

The immersive experience of our 24k resolution, 360 degree virtual tour is truly breath-taking. You can stand amongst the busy streets, gaze up at historic landmarks, and look inside London’s famous buildings to discover their hidden treasures. You can listen to real location sound recordings, including the romantic sound of the bells of Big Ben chiming seven o’clock at Westminster, the hussle and bustle of Covent Garden with its street entertainers, and the delightful bells of St Paul’s Cathedral striking the hour. Our 360 virtual tour technology transports you to a virtual London, where you can take your time absorbing the details and soaking in the atmosphere. Our ultra-high 24k resolution tour (yes not 4k but 24k!), allows users to zoom right in, to see intricate details and enjoy the views up close. Whether you’re a travel enthusiast yearning to explore new destinations, or simply curious about London’s iconic landmarks, the VR Tour Bus 360 virtual tour offers a unique and engaging experience.

The advantages of exploring London virtually are numerous. Firstly, it provides accessibility for individuals who may have physical limitations or are unable to travel. With just a few clicks or taps, anyone with a desktop, laptop, tablet, iPad or smartphone can embark on a virtual adventure through some of London’s most famous attractions. Secondly, our 360 virtual tour offers a cost-effective alternative to physical travel. You can save on expenses such as flights, accommodations, and dining while still enjoying the thrill of discovering a new city. Lastly, virtual tours provide flexibility and convenience. You can explore at your own pace, linger in places that captivate you, and revisit locations as many times as you like, all from the comfort of your own home. Our 360 virtual tour of London also features incredible real location audio, active hotspots with pop-up photographs, paintings, videos and information panels. If you’re planning a vacation or holiday in London, let the VR Tour Bus be your personal virtual travel guide in London!

Navigating the Virtual Tour Platform

To embark on your virtual journey through London, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the virtual tour platform. Our custom made platform provides a simple and user-friendly interface that allows for seamless navigation and exploration. Once you’ve arrived at the VR Tour Bus Station, you’ll be greeted with a selection of interactive icons and hotspots. Click the “Locations” icon in the main menu to open thumbnails images of London’s most iconic landmarks. From here, simply choose the specific location you wish to explore and mouse click or tap the screen. The desktop and tablet platforms also offer a Google Map of the city, complete with labeled points of interest, making it easy to navigate through the virtual tour and plan your own itinerary.

Once you’ve selected a location, the virtual tour will launch, teleporting you into a virtual world, and allowing you to stand at the heart of the attraction. You’ll have the freedom to look around in any direction by simply touch dragging your mouse or using your mobile’s touchscreen. As you explore, you’ll notice interactive hotspot elements that allow you to delve deeper into the history and significance of each landmark. From pop-up photos and classical artworks, to historical anecdotes and detailed information about architectural features, the virtual tour offers a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

Our 360 online virtual tour of London works with almost all devices, so no need to worry about upgrading your old computer hardware. Once you’re all ready, get set to immerse yourself in the virtual tour and to be captivated by the wonders of London. Don’t forget, you can try our online 360 VR demo for free!

A digital encounter with London’s great landmarks

Here are just a few of the locations featured in our VR Tour Bus virtual tour experience …

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is not only one of London’s most recognisable landmarks but also an architectural marvel with a rich history. The virtual tour allows you to stand beneath and admire the bridge’s intricate details, from its iconic towers to the grand bascules that lift to allow boats to pass through. You can also learn about the bridge’s historical significance through interactive elements that provide fascinating insights into its construction, as well as it’s important role in the city’s transportation network. Take your time and soak up the atmosphere, whilst exploring our virtual tour, because there are plenty more hidden gems to discover along the way…

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch, is a must-visit landmark in London. With the virtual tour, you can stand outside the opulent, golden palace at twilight, and admire its stunning architecture. We have added several interactive hotspots to give you a fascinating insight into the history of Buckingham Palace, as well as some incredible paintings and photographs that trace the rich history of the Crown. Our 360 virtual tour of London will give you a sneak peek at some of the world’s most famous historic attractions.

The British Museum

The British Museum houses an extraordinary collection of art, artifacts, and historical objects that span thousands of years. With our virtual tour, you can get a taste of the vast museum, discovering iconic treasures such as the Rosetta Stone and the Egyptian mummies. The virtual tour provides a unique opportunity to engage with exhibits, offering in-depth information about some of the artefacts and the cultural context in which they were created. Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious about the world’s cultural heritage, the British Museum is sure to leave you in awe, and wanting for more…

The Tower of London

The Tower of London stands as a testament to London’s medieval past and is shrouded in legends and intrigue. You can unlock the secrets of this historic fortress, from its role as a royal residence to its use as a prison. One of the highlights of the virtual tour is the opportunity to gaze upon the Crown Jewels, a collection of precious artefacts that includes the Crown of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. As you delve deeper into the virtual tour, you’ll also encounter stories of famous legends, such as the ravens that are said to protect the tower from doom. The Tower of London is a mesmerising location at the heart of London’s history, and one that should definitely not be missed!

Westminster and Big Ben

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben represent the very essence of British democracy. As you experience the virtual tour, you’ll be able to appreciate the beautiful Gothic architecture of these historic structures that have endured time. From the grandeur of the Palace of Westminster to the iconic Elizabeth Tower, the VR Tour Bus 360 virtual tour offers stunning views and insights into the significance of these landmarks. You can even hear the sound of the world-famous Big Ben bell ringing to announce the hour! Whether you’re interested in history, politics, or simply appreciating architectural wonders, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are a feast for your eyes, your mind and your ears!

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is not only a bustling public space, but also a symbol of London’s vibrant cultural scene. Through our virtual tour, you can delve into the history of the square and discover its hidden gems, including its famous architecture and the iconoic Nelson’s Column. As you explore, you’ll also see statues of notable figures from British history and learn about their significance, as well as contemporary art installations on the “Fourth Plinth”. Trafalgar Square is also a thriving hub of activity, and a testament to London’s rich heritage, and our virtual tour allows you to experience its energy and beauty from wherever you are in the world. Amongst all this hussle and bustel, you’ll be able to listen to the bells of St-Martin-in-the-Fields church, as they chime for a nearby wedding.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral is a symbol of London’s spirituality and a masterpiece of architecture. Through the virtual tour of London, you can marvel at the cathedral’s intricate details and stonework, from the majestic dome to the ornate interior. As you explore the virtual tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to see the Crypt where Lord Nelson was laid to rest, as well as the breathtaking view of the West facade, bathed in late afternoon Summer sunlight. St. Paul’s Cathedral represents both religious devotion and human ingenuity, and the virtual tour offers a glimpse into the buildings beauty, grandure and cultural significance.

Click here for a full list of all thirty-six locations, and to view our free online virtual tour demo.

Behind the Scenes: Creating the Virtual Tour

Creating a 360 virtual tour of a city is a complex and collaborative process that involves cutting-edge technology, talented content creators, and partnerships with local organisations and tourist attractions. First, our talented photographer captures high-resolution images of the city’s landmarks using specialised cameras equipped with 360 capabilities. These images are then processed using advanced software to create seamless spherical panoramic views. Our content creator team and copy writers work together to curate engaging and informative interactive elements, that provide additional context and historical insights. Finally, our web team of world leading coders generate the virtual tour, testing it on a multitude of different devices to ensure the experience is delivered to you with ease and simplicity. It’s a complicated and extensive process, but we think you’re worth it!

One of the biggest challenges in creating virtual tours is maintaining a balance between authenticity and accessibility. The goal is to recreate the experience of being physically present in a location while ensuring that the virtual tour is easy to navigate and understand. Innovations within the field, such as the integration of augmented reality and virtual reality technologies, are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of virtual travel – so stay tuned to our website, as this incredible technology continues to advance!

Our online virtual tour is a breath-taking introduction to London. However, for an even more immersive experience, we have also created the official VR Tour Bus virtual reality viewer. This simple and affordable 360 degree virtual viewer is inspired by Google Cardboard VR technology, and works with your mobile smartphone. Simply download our VR Tour Bus app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, and insert your smartphone into our VR viewer. Make sure you pump up the volume, and spin around to enjoy the incredible 360 degree views with real location audio recordings. Our VR Tour Bus viewers are currently sold at Amazon UK store, and are the perfect take home souvenir for tourists, or a unique gift for anyone who loves London. The VR viewers are also soon to be stocked in WHSmith travel stores and many other leading London retailers.