The world's largest operator of city-based sightseeing excursions is being put up on the market in a deal that might be valued at about £600m.

Sky News has learnt that Big Bus Tours, whose open-top automobiles are a well-known sight in areas comparable to London, Paris and Hong Kong, might change arms throughout the subsequent 12 months.

City sources stated on Wednesday that Exponent Private Equity, which has owned the enterprise since 2015, had employed Bank of America to advise on a sale.

Big Bus Tours is claimed to be extraordinarily worthwhile, with demand rebounding strongly for the reason that pandemic.

It additionally trades in cities together with Dubai, Istanbul, New York and San Francisco.

The firm was shaped in 2011 from the merger of UK-based Big Bus Company and Paris-headquartered Les Cars Rouges.

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Exponent's acquisition of the enterprise was reported on the time to have valued it at about £300m.

A minority stake in Big Bus Tours is owned by Merlin Entertainments, the multinational theme park operator which owns Chessington World of Adventures and Madame Tussauds.

Sources stated different buyout corporations have been anticipated to look at provides for the corporate.

Exponent declined to remark.