London Loop
London Loop in Mario Kart Tour
View of Big Ben and the starting line
Information
Appears in Mario Kart Tour (2019 (1), 2020 (2), 2021 (3))
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass, Wave 3) (2022)
Cup(s) Rock Cup
Tour(s)
Based on London and Westminster, England
Online play Available (Switch)
Music sample
Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (frontrunning)
Course map
Mario Kart Tour
London Loop
London Loop from Mario Kart Tour
London Loop 2
Map of London Loop 2 from Mario Kart Tour.
London Loop 3
Map of London Loop 3 from Mario Kart Tour.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Map of Tour London Loop in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Staff ghost(s)
8DX 150cc Nin★Frank
2:20.500 Mario's head icon in Mario Kart 8Comet body from Mario Kart 8SlimSuper Glider from Mario Kart 8
8DX 200cc Nin★Alice
1:38.896 Red Yoshi iconSports Coupe body from Mario Kart 8StandardSuper Glider from Mario Kart 8

London Loop is a race course in Mario Kart Tour. It is set in London, England, and makes its debut in the city’s namesake tour, the London Tour. London Loop has three routes, named London Loop, London Loop 2, and London Loop 3, each with its own R, T, and R/T variants. The second route made its debut in the Baby Rosalina Tour, due to Baby Rosalina's detective outfit, which is a reference to Sherlock Holmes, a fictional resident of London, while the third route debuted in the 2021 Halloween Tour. The course features various landmarks from the cities of London and Westminster, with the first route focusing on the main metropolitan areas, the second route focusing on the outskirts, and the third route focusing on the River Thames. The first and second routes have the racers go around London clockwise; however, the third route has them go around counterclockwise instead.

The music for this course bears similarities to that of Rock Rock Mountain, as well as being a reference to 1960s British rock music.

London Loop appears in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass as the first course of the Rock Cup.

Mario Kart TourEdit

The city course's routes in relation to each other.

London LoopEdit

The course begins to the right of Big Ben, followed by a gradual right next to a double-decker bus. The road then weaves its way around Nelson's Column, then makes another gradual right through Charing Cross and a part of Trafalgar Square before making a sharp left at St Paul's Cathedral. The player then reaches Leadenhall Market, which they exit after making a single slight right. After another sharp right with a Chain Chomp in a green space in front of the Tower of London, the player crosses Tower Bridge, then takes another sharp right past City Hall and The Shard with the London Eye in the background. After a left sigmoid curve, the player returns to the finish line. This specific route was the only European city course route that was not brought back in the Metropolitan Tour.

The course also appears as London Loop R (reversed), London Loop T (with ramps), and London Loop R/T (reversed with ramps). In the T and R/T variants, there are several stationary double-decker buses on the track.

AppearancesEdit

For this course's tour appearances, see List of London Loop tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour § London Loop.

Top-tier and middle-tier itemsEdit

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which London Loop and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of London Loop tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                                                     
           *  
      
 
R variant
                                             **        **  *           *   
             
       
 
T variant
                                                    *                        
           
   
 
R/T variant
                                              *     **      *            *      
             
     
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challengesEdit

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Shy Guy
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 10
  • 25
  • 40
London Tour  
Toad Cup
  • 18
  • 30
  • 38
2nd Anniversary Tour  
Baby Luigi Cup
Glider Challenge
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star distances Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Luigi
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 200
  • 350
  • 650
London Tour  
Shy Guy Cup
1st Anniversary Tour  
Peach Cup
Do Jump Boosts
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Ludwig
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 15
  • 20
London Tour  
Ludwig Cup
Vs. Mega Bowser
Icon Course variant Mega opponent information Tour appearances Cup
Driver Kart Glider Items used
  Regular  
Bowser
 
Pipe Buggy
 
Super Glider
 
Green Shells[1]

 
Bowser's Shells[1]
London Tour  
Bowser Cup
Spring Tour  
Larry Cup
Smash Small Dry Bones
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Peach
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
1st Anniversary Tour  
Daisy Cup
Spring Tour  
Cat Peach Cup

London Loop 2Edit

The course begins to the right of the Big Ben on Westminster Bridge. Players take a slight right to enter St James's Park in front of Buckingham Palace. Two Chain Chomps are located in the green space, one in the very center and one outside the palace. Racers drive down a long street shortly afterwards, driving past the British Museum, eventually leading to a ramp with The Shard visible in the far background. Racers take a right to Trafalgar Square before eventually driving across Waterloo Bridge, passing the London Eye. A U-bend to the right is taken, which leads racers back on to Westminster Bridge before arriving at the finish line.

The course also appears as London Loop 2R (reversed), London Loop 2T (with ramps), and London Loop 2R/T (reversed with ramps). In all three variants, there are several stationary double-decker buses on the track. In the R/T variant, both Chain Chomps are gone; racers skip the James's Park section entirely before reaching a glide ramp and then finishing the lap on Kanaami Road above the starting line.

AppearancesEdit

For this course's tour appearances, see List of London Loop tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour § London Loop 2.

Top-tier and middle-tier itemsEdit

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which London Loop 2 and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of London Loop 2 tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                                                    
            
    
 
R variant
                                              **                 **   
            **    
 
 
T variant
                                           **      *    *       
                
 
 
R/T variant
                                              *                *         *
               
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challengesEdit

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Baby Rosalina
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 15
  • 24
  • 30
Baby Rosalina Tour  
Baby Rosalina Cup
Steer Clear of Obstacles
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Obstacles Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Koopa Troopa
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Barrel Bomb
 
Chain Chomp (chained)
Baby Rosalina Tour  
Koopa Troopa Cup
2nd Anniversary Tour  
Ludwig Cup
Spring Tour  
Wendy Cup
vs. Mega Hammer Bro
Icon Course variant Mega opponent information Tour appearances Cup
Driver Kart Glider Items used
  Regular  
Hammer Bro
 
Koopa Dasher
TBD  
Mushrooms[2]
150cc and higher only

 
Hammers
Baby Rosalina Tour  
Rosalina Cup
Metropolitan Tour  
Wario Cup
Combo Attack
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Highest combo counts Tour appearances Cup
  T  
Waluigi
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
Spring Tour  
Dry Bones Cup

London Loop 3Edit

The course starts on the Westminster Bridge, though it faces away from Big Ben, the opposite direction of London Loop and London Loop 2. Racers take a left turn and travel past the London Eye before taking a right by the River Thames, passing The Walkie-Talkie and the City Hall. Two boats can be seen floating on the river. Shortly after, the racers must take a U-bend to the left to cross Tower Bridge, which has a glide ramp that is only usable on lap 2. A wide bend to the left around the green space of the Tower of London follows, with a Chain Chomp in the center. Players then drive back to The Walkie-Talkie before taking a right to access a path besides the River Thames. After driving below a bridge, the player takes one last left to reach the finish line, passing Big Ben.

The course also appears as London Loop 3R (reversed), London Loop 3T (with ramps), and London Loop 3R/T (reversed with ramps). In all three variants, there is a glide ramp between the green space and the Tower Bridge, which now instead has a dash panel ramp. In the T variant, the Chain Chomp in the green space is gone. In the R/T variant, racers briefly drive over the River Thames via Kanaami Road and use an additional glide ramp when returning to the track.

AppearancesEdit

For this course's tour appearances, see List of London Loop tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour § London Loop 3.

Top-tier and middle-tier itemsEdit

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which London Loop 3 and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of London Loop 3 tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                                           *              ** ** *     
         
 
R variant
                                                **                  **                 
       
 
T variant
                                                          *                          
      
 
R/T variant
                                 **           
   
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challengesEdit

Combo Attack
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Highest combo counts Tour appearances Cup
  T  
Waluigi
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 8
  • 14
  • 20
Metropolitan Tour  
Peach Cup
Break Item Boxes
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Luigi
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Mega Mushroom

 
Coin

 
Super Horn
2
  • 8
  • 14
  • 20
Halloween Tour (2021)  
Toadette Cup
1
  • 8
  • 15
  • 23
Anniversary Tour (2023)  
Boomerang Bro Cup

Mario Kart 8 DeluxeEdit

 
London Loop in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

London Loop returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the third wave of the Booster Course Pass. It is the first course of the Rock Cup. The course has received significant visual upgrades, and is now set in cloudy weather. The London Eye now moves, unlike in Mario Kart Tour. The various barrels and crates on the course have been removed. The minimap is rotated 90 degrees clockwise and features multiple paths that are unused in Mario Kart Tour, such as one to the right of Leadenhall Market and one going beneath the Admiralty Arch. This makes London Loop the second Mario Kart Tour city course to include roads that were unused at the time of their appearance in the Booster Course Pass, after Sydney Sprint and alongside Berlin Byways. Like Berlin Byways, the previously unused roads in this course were never used in Tour prior to new content for it concluding.

The first lap is based on the first London Loop route. Racers begin on Westminster Bridge, facing Big Ben. An arrow field immediately directs them to turn right and drive through Charing Cross. Unlike in Mario Kart Tour, racers can perform tricks off of the center of the roundabout. They can also drive the long way around the roundabout, though there is no benefit to doing so. Either way, players then drive around the front of St Paul's Cathedral and come to Leadenhall Market. They can still drive through it, but there is now also the option to drive on a straighter path to its right, which is unused in Tour. From there, they drive through a right curve past a Chain Chomp chained outside the Tower of London, across Tower Bridge, and back to the starting line taking the route past The Shard.

The second lap is based on London Loop 2. As such, racers go straight ahead and enter St James's Park. There is another Chain Chomp there, and an additional one chained near the left side of the gate. After leaving the park, an arrow field directs racers left through a long road, with exits with a ramp pointed toward the front door of the Bush House. Players then drive across Waterloo Bridge before taking two right turns to reach the starting line again.

The third and final lap is a combination of London Loop 2 again and London Loop 3R. Players once again drive through St James's Park. However, the Chain Chomp has broken loose and is now roaming around, occasionally crossing onto the road. The Chain Chomp outside the park's gate has also freed itself and gone through the Admiralty Arch to circle the Charing Cross. Racers, too, drive under the Admiralty Arch and go straight through Charing Cross towards the River Thames (where an unchained Chain Chomp is swimming, of no consequence to the player). Players drive along the Thames and under the Waterloo Bridge before taking the right turn near the Tower of London again, whose Chain Chomp has also broken loose. They drive over the Tower Bridge again (although there is no Glide Ramp like there is in Mario Kart Tour), turn right to drive on the other side of the Thames, and then head for the finish line to end the race.

In the first lap, the second path of Leadenhall Market is blocked off with red arrows, implying the player would drive there in a later lap. However, the player never visits that area in the race again, so the route, like in Mario Kart Tour, remains unused, making it the only route in the Booster Course Pass with this distinction. (Note that the route only leads into a void.)

During the beginning of this course's music, a second guitar plays a few notes, panned to the left; this guitar is absent in all subsequent loops of the song.[3]

Unlike some other courses using arrow fields in the Booster Course Pass, London Loop can be driven in reverse from the beginning without Lakitu picking up the player. However, this loads the third lap layout with the unchained Chain Chomps, meaning that if the player turns back around and resumes following the course normally, the Chain Chomps will rechain themselves, only to be unchained again once Lap 3 is triggered properly.

London Loop is one of three Mario Kart Tour courses in the third wave overall, alongside Tour Berlin Byways and Merry Mountain.

ProfilesEdit

Mario Kart 8 DeluxeEdit

  • Official Nintendo social media accounts: Take a tour of London Loop, coming in Wave 3 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass. Every lap is a new route through the city, each with its own sights to see: the London Eye, Tower Bridge and more![4][5]
  • Nintendo Switch News app (US):
    • This course first appeared in the Mario Kart™ Tour game.
    • As you can guess from the name, it's modelled after the city of London in jolly ol' England. If you look around, you can see familiar buildings lining the course.
    • The course will change depending on the lap and there are also different routes you can take. Explore around and choose wisely!
  • Nintendo Switch News app (UK): Find a roundabout route to victory in London Loop!
    We'd like to present to you a course released as part of the third wave, which is available now: London Loop.
    Race through the streets of London and enjoy the mix of historic and modern architecture this charming city course, which debuted in the smart device game Mario Kart Tour, has to offer! How many landmarks can you spot? Thankfully you'll have plenty of opportunities to see the sights from different angles, as one of the highlights of the course is the fact that the route you'll take changes from lap to lap. If you're keen-eyed enough, you might even find some special paths to the top of the podium!
  • Nintendo Magazine 2023 Summer: A city course inspired by London, U.K. Besides the famous palace and bridge, you can also see the characteristic double-decker bus.[6]

SponsorsEdit

GalleryEdit

Mario Kart TourEdit

London LoopEdit

Course iconsEdit
ScreenshotsEdit

London Loop 2Edit

Course iconsEdit
ScreenshotsEdit

London Loop 3Edit

Course iconsEdit
ScreenshotsEdit

Mario Kart 8 DeluxeEdit

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ロンドン アベニュー
Rondon Abenyū
London Avenue

Chinese (simplified) 伦敦环线
Lúndūn Huánxiàn
London Loop

Chinese (traditional) 倫敦環線
Lúndūn Huánxiàn
London Loop

Dutch Londen-Ronde
London Tour
French Détour à Londres
London Detour
German London-Tour
London Tour
Italian Giro di Londra
London Loop/Tour
Korean 런던 루프
Leondeon Lupeu
London Loop

Portuguese (NOA) Arrancada em Londres
London Sprint
Portuguese (NOE) Ronda por Londres
London Round
Russian Лондонское турне
Londonskoye turne
London Tournée

Spanish Ronda por Londres
Round around London

TriviaEdit

  • In the course icons and promotional pictures posted on social media by Nintendo for Mario Kart Tour, Big Ben is depicted with extra details, such as windows and spires. These details are absent in both Mario Kart Tour's gameplay and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
  • This course shares its name with a walk located in Outer London, the London Outer Orbital Path (also known as the London LOOP).
  • This course is one of two Tour city courses whose postcard promotional art does not depict a character in a corresponding alternate costume. The other course is Madrid Drive.

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b TheMadWeazel (December 10, 2019). London Tour “Bowser Cup” - Mario Kart Tour. YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Amb3r Barw1ck (March 25, 2020). Baby Rosalina (Detective) beats Mega Hammer Bro (Last Baby Rosalina Tour Video). YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  3. ^ YoshiMr. (December 9, 2022). How a Single Guitar (may have) Set a Mario Kart Milestone (I think). YouTube. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  4. ^ NintendoEurope (November 22, 2022). Twitter. Retrieved November 29, 2022. (Archived December 8, 2022, 20:17:32 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  5. ^ MarioKartUK (November 22, 2022). Facebook. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Nintendo Magazine 2023 Summer (Digital English edition). nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved July 15, 2023. (Archived July 15, 2023, 10:48:55 UTC via Wayback Machine.)