City Sightseeing Oxford’s open-top tours are all set to show visitors around the city once more as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.
The open-top bus tour will return into service in Oxford on Saturday 18 July in a boost to the city’s visitor economy. It will run to a special timetable operating at least every 20 minutes on a hop-on hop-off basis during this summer and tickets purchased online will be valid for 12 months.
Owned by the Oxford Bus Company, City Sightseeing Oxford has 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 will be provided with PPE and face coverings will be made available to passengers to wear while on-board the open-top tours around the city, if required. Numbers on walking tours will be limited to 10 people per tour and only one group at a time will be permitted to climb the Carfax Tower. Live commentary will not be available on the bus tour in line with current government guidelines, but recorded commentary is available in fifteen different languages.
VisitEngland has 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.”
