16 best Thames river cruises and boat trips in London

Whether you opt for a luxurious dining cruise or an adrenaline-pumping speedboat experience, see London's most famous sites on a Thames river cruise.
Visit London Editors
Written by Visit London Editors 31 January 2025
Content contains affiliate links, marked with asterisks (*). If you click through and make a purchase, Visit London receives a commission – every purchase supports London’s jobs and economy.
Two women are laughing standing on the top deck of one of City Cruises boats in London.
Explore London at your own pace using City Cruises sightseeing day pass. ©London & Partners/Michael Barrow

The river Thames is the perfect vantage point for some of London’s most iconic sites come rain or shine. Escape the crowds and experience London’s beautiful scenery glide by with a Thames river cruise by day or night.

From sightseeing trips with expert guides to fun dining experiences, find out about some of the best London boat trips, Thames river cruises and canal tours. Enjoy the capital from every angle on a Thames river cruise as you sail past some of London’s top landmarks.

Enjoy a day of sightseeing on the Thames with City Cruises and hop your way across London. © City Cruises- photo credit: Christopher Ison

Travel to tourist hotspots including the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Tower Bridge on one of City Cruises’ Thames river sightseeing boats. Explore the city at your own pace and hop on and off as often as you like with a 24-hour pass offering unlimited access. 

 

Duration: 24 hours
What attractions will I see? Spot London icons such as the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. On some routes, you’ll even pass beneath historic Tower Bridge for a unique view.

Where:

Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London, SW1A 2JH

Price:

From £24.00

Escape the crowds and enjoy an afternoon tea as you glide along the Thames onboard a City Cruises boat. © London & Partners/Michael Barrow

Satisfy your desire for London afternoon tea with this afternoon tea Thames river cruise. Tuck into a traditional afternoon tea served with jam and a generous dollop of cream, plus plenty of finger sandwiches, cakes and, of course, a side helping of stunning views! Settle back and relax aboard this London river cruise, and be part of this British tradition.

 

Cost: From £52 for adults and £42 for children
Duration: 90 minutes
What attractions will I see? Glide past London's iconic riverside landmarks including the Tower of London, the Shard, The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye.

City Cruises. © City Cruises/Christopher Ison

One of the best nights out in the capital is aboard the City Cruises London dinner cruise on the river Thames. Dance the night away on this dazzling cruise, with top tunes from a live performer and a glass of bubbly on arrival. Take a break from the dancefloor and enjoy a delicious four-course dinner with views of the illuminated city.

 

Duration: Three hours
What attractions will I see? Cruise down the river Thames past London’s iconic landmarks and pass beneath Tower Bridge as your main course will be served. All before heading towards Canary Wharf in time for dessert and coffee where you’ll then head back as the main entertainment begins.

Where:

City Cruises: London Dinner Cruise, SW1A 2JH

Price:

From £65.00

Experience the magic of London at night with a Thames jazz dinner cruise. Image courtesy of Golden Tours.

Enjoy a sophisticated evening of jazz and gourmet dining on a Jazz dinner cruise on the Thames. With a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival, a delicious three-course meal and dazzling views of the iconic skyline at nighttime, it's the perfect experience to add to your London dinner cruise list.


Duration: Three hours

What attractions will I see? Set sail from Westminster Pier and experience the iconic London skyline from the comfort of your seat. Take in the sights of the London Eye, Tower Bridge and more as the glittering skyscrapers of Canary Wharf edge closer.

Where:

City Cruises: London Dinner Cruise, SW1A 2JH

Price:

From £94.00

Evening cruising on the Thames. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Gaze at London’s twinkling skyline as you glide past the city’s iconic sights on an evening cruise on the Thames. Tuck into delicious canapés throughout the evening, glass of bubbly in hand, while you admire the gorgeous riverside views of London from the upper deck, on this Thames evening river cruise with live music.

 

Duration: Two hours
What attractions will I see? Spot the illuminated London Eye, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and more iconic landmarks, to the groovy sounds of a live musician.

Where:

Tower Pier, London, EC3N 4DT

Price:

From £37.00

Hop aboard an Uber Thames Clipper boat and see unrivalled panoramas of London from the Thames. Credit: Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Image courtesy of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

London boat trips operators Uber Boat by Thames Clippers leave every 20 minutes from piers all along the Thames, so you’re never too far away from a departure point. Purchase a river roamer boat trip ticket for unlimited river travel, and combine your ticket with entry to riverside attractions, such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tower of London

 

Duration: One day
What attractions will I see? See many of London’s attractions along the route through central London, including the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge. Travel west and spot the iconic Battersea Power Station and Chelsea Harbour among other riverside areas. Venture east to discover the modern skyscrapers of Canary Wharf before reaching Greenwich.

Where:

London Bridge City Pier, London, SE1 2QE

Price:

From £10.25

Treat yourself to a lunch cruise on the Thames. Image courtesy of City Cruises / Christopher Ison.

Enjoy London sightseeing combined with a delicious lunch aboard this fine Thames lunch cruise. Take a relaxed mini voyage through the heart of London and see Big Ben, historic London Bridge and other important London landmarks, while listening to audio commentary. Enjoy a two-course lunch and stroll on the deck afterwards to take advantage of the fully stocked bar.

 

Cost: From £49 for adults and £39 for children
Duration: One hour and 45 minutes
What attractions will I see? See the Tower of London and London Bridge up close, plus spectacular views of Big Ben, the London Eye and South Bank.

Admire spectacular views of the London Eye along with London’s top landmarks. Image courtesy of Golden Tours.

See spectacular views of London from above and from the water with a London Eye and river cruise package, which combines a ride on the iconic London Eye with a 40-minute London Eye river cruise. Enjoy incredible 360-degree views over the capital from the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel, before taking to the water for a relaxing, circular sightseeing Thames river cruise.

 

Duration: 40 minute river cruise
What attractions will I see? Set sail from the London Eye Pier and experience spectacular sights from the river Thames, including the London Eye itself, the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.

Where:

London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, London, SE1 7PB

Price:

From £46.00

Enjoy unique views on London skyline from the IFS Cloud Cable Car. ©London & Partners/Michael Barrow

Travel on an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river roamer to North Greenwich pier before taking to the skies in an IFS Cloud Cable Car for stunning views of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, modern icon The O2 and the iconic city skyline.

Enjoy panoramic views on board popular Thames river boats and add this experience to your London boat trips list!

 

Duration: One day
What attractions will I see? Hop on and off the river to explore historic and modern sites on or near its banks. See the Tower Pier, London Eye, Greenwich, The O2 and more.

Where:

Emirates Greenwich Peninsula, Greenwich, London, SE10 0FJ

Price:

From £33.20

Bring along the kids and listen to feel-good tunes aboard Captain Kidd’s Canary Wharf Voyage. Image courtesy of Golden Tours.

Get the adrenaline flowing with an exciting London speedboat experience. Whizz along the river Thames and feel the wind whip through your hair on a Thames Rockets ride that is sure to induce FOMO among your friends! Speedboat Thames boat trips are an exhilarating way to experience the capital's iconic skyline.

 

Duration: 50 to 80 minutes
What attractions will I see? Pass by top London landmarks on one of the many Thames Rockets tours. Journey up to the Thames Barrier and spot sights such as Big Ben and Tower Bridge, or zoom by HMS Belfast, Tate Modern and more riverside attractions on a Canary Wharf voyage.

Where:

The London Eye Pier, Boarding Gate One, Southbank, London, SE1 7PB

Price:

From £59.95

Float past landmarks with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Image courtesy of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

If you're planning a cultural day out, take a leisurely Thames boat ride between Tate Modern and Tate Britain on the Tate Boat (also known as Uber Boat by Thames Clippers' RB2 service). It’s a relaxing alternative to the Tube and a handy way to see some of London's finest classic and modern artworks in one day. Book a one-day river roamer boat trip ticket and look out for other landmark buildings en route.

 

Cost: From £22.10 for adults and £11.05 for children 
Duration: One day
What attractions will I see? Travel between Bankside, Embankment, Millbank and St George Wharf piers and see iconic London attractions including Victoria Embankment, the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.

Float past landmarks with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Image courtesy of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

You can also venture beyond the city centre by booking a London boat tours experience. Travel to Greenwich via one of the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and arrive in appropriately nautical style at the historic maritime area. Download its app to make use of an audio guide during the 30-minute journey from central London.

 

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
What attractions will I see? Venture east to discover the modern skyscrapers of Canary Wharf among the historic London’s Docklands before reaching picturesque Greenwich, home to the National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and The O2.

Where:

London Bridge City Pier, London, SE1 2QE

Price:

From £10.25

More river cruises and boat trips

13. Turks Launches tour

Turks Launches' river boats have been travelling the Thames for 300 years. Embark on a captivating London river cruise and sail past picturesque stretches of south-west London during a round trip between Kingston and Richmond. Pass historic Hampton Court Palace as you meander along the river, without getting off.

14. Thames river sightseeing cruise

Marrying style with insight, Thames River Sightseeing provides tours along the river on spacious boats such as the 528-seat Thomas Doggett. Soak up some history with a multilingual audio system, which delivers commentary about iconic landmarks along the leisurely route from Westminster to Woolwich. 

15. Canal boat tour

Canal boat trips are a great way to explore the capital's waterways, so why not discover a different waterway route north of the Thames on a narrowboat trip along Regent’s Canal. Begin at Jason’s Wharf in Little Venice and find yourself in lively Camden's Lock Market by the end of the gentle 45-minute cruise each way.

16. Kayak tour

Navigate your own path and paddle on the Thames or around London's canals via kayak with London Kayak Co. Led by qualified instructors, navigate your way between Battersea and Greenwich at day or night, embark on a round trip from Greenwich to the Thames Barrier, or take a leisurely trip between Poplar and Tower Bridge. A kayak tour is a great alternative activity to the traditional Thames river cruise.

Booking London river cruise tickets

Pre-booking tickets is the best way to guarantee a place on board your Thames river cruise.

You can pick up tickets at pier ticket offices for some services, while other operators require pre-booking via an app or contactless payment when boarding – if you have a Travelcard, you can get a third off some fares. Touch in and out with your pay as you go Oyster card for a discounted fare on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services.

Browse through the London river cruises in the "All River Tours" link below, or find out how to use river bus services.

Where do you catch the Thames river cruise?

Most Thames river cruises depart from Westminster Pier, Tower Pier or the London Eye Waterloo Pier. London boat trips including Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services depart from several piers along the river, between Barking Riverside or North Greenwich and Battersea Power Station or as far as Putney.

Check specific departure points for your Thames river cruise or London boat trip on the booking page when you buy your tickets.

Explore by category