Edinburgh’s vibrant tourism offering is set to gain a major boost with the launch of Big Bus Edinburgh, a new joint venture between Big Bus Tours, the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing bus tours, and McGill’s Bus Group, the UK’s largest independent bus operator.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for both operators. For Big Bus Tours, Edinburgh becomes its 28th global destination. For McGill’s, it represents the next chapter for its Bright Bus Tours operation, which has steadily built a presence in the capital since its launch in 2019.

Big Bus Edinburgh marks the start of a new era for open-top sightseeing in the capital. The rebrand brings immediate benefits: increased visibility through Big Bus Tour’s global platform and a refreshed visitor experience. By combining McGill’s operational expertise and market knowledge with Big Bus’s international scale, the new service is already turning heads as it gears up for Edinburgh’s peak summer season.

Tony Williamson, CEO of McGill’s Group, said:
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for McGill’s. Bright Bus Tours has become a much loved part of Edinburgh tourism landscape and this new partnership with Big Bus Tours takes that offering to the next level. We’re proud to bring our local expertise to the table, and equally proud to join forces with a global leader in sightseeing. Together, we’re ready to create something exceptional for the city.”

For Big Bus Tours, known for operations in cities such as New York, Dubai, London, and Paris, the move into Edinburgh reflects the capital’s increasing draw as a year-round international destination. With multilingual commentary and a flexible hop-on hop-off service, Big Bus aims to bring its proven model to the heart of Scotland.

Pat Waterman, Executive Chairman of Big Bus Tours, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Edinburgh to our expanding network of world-class destinations. Edinburgh’s fascinating history, vibrant festivals, rich culture and architectural splendour make it an outstanding addition to our global offerings. Our goal is to give our customers a truly immersive experience as they explore this iconic Scottish city.”

Big Bus Edinburgh will operate two main tour loops: the City Tour, taking in key heritage sites such as the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse; and the Britannia Tour, featuring destinations like St Andrew Square and the Royal Yacht Britannia. The service offers, pre-recorded commentary in nine languages, and mobile ticketing via the Big Bus app.

This joint venture reflects a shared ambition to strengthen Edinburgh’s visitor experience by combining international brand power with local insight. With a refreshed service and enhanced global visibility, Big Bus Edinburgh is well positioned to contribute to the city’s vibrant tourism landscape.

For the Edinburgh business community, the arrival of Big Bus Edinburgh represents more than just a change in livery. It’s a commitment to delivering high-quality visitor experiences and helping Edinburgh maintain its position as one of the world’s top city-break destinations.