RIVER TRIPS · LONDON RIVER CRUISES
Westminster to Greenwich, the fast clippers, the evening sailings past the lit bridges. These 15 compare hop-on validity, journey time and which piers they actually call at.
Take a one-way or round-trip Thames cruise from Westminster to Greenwich, with live English commentary, an open deck, indoor seating, café, toilets, and a six-language smartphone audio guide. You will pass Parliament, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Canary Wharf, and more.
“The commentary, the speed and the ambience..inside the boat was premium”
Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Tootbus pass to see London’s major sights from an open-top bus. Follow vehicles in the app, listen in 10 languages, choose four self-guided walks, and add a City Cruises trip between Westminster and Tower Pier.
“Wasn’t offered head phones so really didn’t know what was going on”
Travel by sightseeing boat from Westminster Pier to Butler’s Wharf, passing Parliament, St. Paul’s, Tate Modern, the Globe, and The Shard. A crew member gives live English commentary, while an app offers six-language audio. Choose one way or return, with a boat change at Butler’s Wharf.
“Absolutely loved the boat ride so informative, the staff absolutely made the experience worth their weight in gold good staff xxx”
See London by bus, boat, and sky with a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus pass, a London Eye ride, and a one-way Thames cruise. Use the app to track buses, book your Eye time, and choose from three routes. The 48-hour ticket also includes Royal, Harry Potter, and Jack the Ripper walking tours.
“Loved the whole experience…… the Eye, the Thames River cruise and the Big Bus tour, thank you all……Pasquale made the river cruise very entertaining with his commentary, and the photos taken at the Eye was a lovely bonus”
Join Thames Rockets at London Eye Pier for a 50-minute Thames ride with a skipper, guide, music, and a small group of up to 12. See Big Ben, Parliament, St. Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, and HMS Belfast before reaching speeds of 30 knots.
“So much fun - boat guide was hysterical and driver great! Perfect amount of time and info. Best was the high speed and music!”
Board at London Eye Pier for a 40-minute circular cruise toward Tower Bridge and back. Your English-speaking guide points out Big Ben, St Paul’s, the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, and five major bridges. Add a London Eye ticket if you want both views in one booking.
“The experience was amazing and the guide was very informative, it was very educational.”
Use Big Bus London’s three routes and 50-plus stops to reach Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower, museums, and more. Add a 40-minute Thames cruise, guided Royal, Harry Potter, or Jack the Ripper walks, and a two-hour evening tour. Live guides include Emma, Nick, and Diana.
“Saw a lot and learned a lot about London’s rich history.”
Use a one, two, or three-day Tootbus pass to explore London by double-decker bus, then add a Thames sightseeing cruise. Ride three routes past Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s, Tower Bridge, museums, and Notting Hill, with audio commentary and app-based bus tracking.
“Buses pretty regular. Music on board can be a bit repetitive and sometimes commentary goes missing. Overall pretty good though.”
Cruise London’s Thames for 24 hours with City Cruises. Board at Westminster, London Eye, Tower, or Greenwich Pier, then hop off for the Tower of London, Tate Modern, or Cutty Sark. Expect open-deck views, all-weather seating, a bar, and lively commentary, sometimes from guides such as Dom.
“The commentary was fun, both guys had a great sense of humour even though they probably repeat this many times a day/week/month. Food drink ordering was quick and efficient and not massively expensive. Seats not that comfy but did the job.”
Sail from Westminster Pier to Greenwich in about an hour, passing Big Ben, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Live commentary adds context, while optional return tickets let you explore the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, the Royal Observatory, and more at your own pace.
“No frills. It was rainy and got us from point A to B. Great narrator but otherwise uneventful. Still worth doing.”
Spend two hours cruising from Tower Millennium Pier with one glass of sparkling wine or a soft drink, canapés, and live chill-out pop. See Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Canary Wharf, the London Eye, and possibly Westminster sights from the indoor saloon or open-air deck.
“A great way to start your trip to London great overview of the city. The staff were great including the singer on the first floor. The food was great too!”
Board at Westminster Pier for a three-hour evening cruise toward the Thames Barrier and back. You’ll see Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, and City Hall while enjoying sparkling wine, a three-course British dinner, and live singing with optional dancing.
“Amazing experience! really enjoyed it… the food was delicious and the whole atmosphere was classy. The staff was really good too”
Cruise from Tower Pier beside the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, then enjoy a two-course lunch with tea or coffee as London landmarks pass by. Expect fixed tables for four, panoramic windows, bar service, and live or recorded commentary, with the boat returning to its starting point.
“Awesome way to explore London. as I sprained my ankle duting my vacation i couldn't be walking trough London. So i went to the lunch. Had a lovely table at the window. Great comments from the crew explaining on the way what we were passing and sharing little stories. Delicious food i really enjoyed.”
Cruise from Westminster Pier for about three hours, beginning with sparkling wine or a soft drink and followed by a set three-course dinner. See the London Eye, St. Paul’s, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Canary Wharf, and the Thames Flood Barrier, with live music and dancing on board.
“Great way to see the sights at night. Dinner and entertainment was nice. Had lots of fun, definitely recommend if it’s your first visit to London.”
Start at Victoria Coach Station for a nine-hour London overview with an expert Blue Badge guide, air-conditioned coach, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, and a Thames cruise. Add the London Eye for a 6:30pm visit, subject to availability.
“A great overview of the city. Guide was great at getting us a good view of the changing of the guard at Buckingham. An enjoyable interesting tour.”
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