Britain · THAMES RIVER CRUISES
The river is the cheapest good hour in London and the piers are all walkable. These 15 compare the Westminster to Greenwich runs, the hop-on passes and the evening sailings on price, duration and whether food is any good.
Cruise from Westminster Pier to Greenwich in about an hour, passing Parliament, Tate Modern, The Shard, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Enjoy live English commentary, a six-language smartphone guide, open-deck views, and the choice of a one-way or return ticket.
“The captain was great! So much fun and a great way to get some photos if you are short on time!”
Board at Westminster Pier for a 25 to 30 minute Thames cruise past Parliament, St. Paul’s, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and The Shard. Choose a one-way ride to Butler’s Wharf or a return trip, which requires changing boats. Live English commentary, an app audioguide, and onboard refreshments are available.
“I loved this cruise and wish we'd booked the longer one. It's a great way to see London, the guide was entertaining and had obviously been doing this routine for years. I will likely do this every time we visit, it's a much prettier way to get around the the tube.”
Board at London Eye Pier for a 40-minute circular cruise toward Tower Bridge and back. An English-speaking guide such as Mitch, George, or Ben brings Big Ben, St Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Tower of London to life. Add a London Eye ticket if you want both attractions.
“Our guide Paul was a tour master, blending historical facts and sites with a good sense of humor. Highly recommended this tour!”
Board at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea cruise past Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, The Shard, the London Eye, and Parliament. Your allocated table comes with sandwiches, warm scones, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, plus live or recorded commentary. Champagne and other drinks cost extra.
“Excellent cruise. Service was impeccable. We were able to see all the major tourist attractions. We had a lovely time as a family of four with 2 kids. Thank you!”
Cruise London’s Thames aboard an all-weather, wheelchair-friendly City Cruises boat. Ride between Westminster, London Eye Pier, Tower Pier, and Greenwich, hopping off for sights such as the Tower of London and Cutty Sark. Live crew commentary adds history and humor, with drinks and snacks sold onboard.
“Great option with kids to explore the city and have a short break for your feet! The guides on the boat also provide you with some additional insight to all the landmarks you're passing. Some of them even with a little added British humour ;-)”
Cruise from Tower Millennium Pier for two hours as London changes from sunset to city lights. Enjoy one glass of sparkling wine or a soft drink, canapés, live chill-out pop, and views from the saloon or open deck. This is a scenic social outing, not a narrated history tour.
“it was wonderful having live music. everyone on the cruise was so friendly and helpful. the boat was clean and we had a fantastic time looking at London while enjoying a bottle of champagne and absolutely wonderful appetizers. it was easy, and a great way to relax during the evening.”
Spend three hours aboard a dinner boat sailing from Westminster to the Thames Barrier and back. You get sparkling wine, a three-course British meal, floodlit sights, and live music from singers such as Emma, Patrick Phelps, Andrew, or Paddy, depending on the evening.
“Loved everything thing about this cruise Great value for money”
Board at Tower Pier beside the Tower of London for a 105-minute Thames cruise with a two-course lunch, tea or coffee, and audio commentary. You will pass Tower Bridge, the Shard, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament from a refurbished vessel with panoramic windows and an open upper deck.
“Lovely cruise!! Food was excellent too! Would definitely recommend!!! Thank you”
Follow a live guide through Green Park, St James’s, Westminster, and the Tower of London as London’s grim stories unfold. Choose a 30-minute Uber Boat ride with an onboard bar, or take the Underground. Guides include Marvin, Julia, Luke, John, and Zachary.
“Great tour Julia was really knowledgeable and good fun!”
Use this one-day City Cruises ticket for one Thames journey between Westminster, London Eye, Tower, or Greenwich. Expect live English commentary, app narration in 14 languages, open-air or heated seating, landmark views, and a café-bar onboard.
“It was an amazing experience! The tour guide was really funny and he explained to us every single building around us. It took only 50 minutes to go from westminster to london bridge. We could take photos and also enjoy a good coffee while we were at it. Good price too. I would recommend it a thousand times.”
Board Thames Rockets beneath the London Eye for a 50-minute ride that begins with landmark commentary and builds into a 30-knot sprint toward Canary Wharf. Your English-speaking comedian guide, backed by an experienced skipper, mixes London stories with music, jokes, and sharp turns.
“Great experience - the staff and guide were all very nice and loved the tour!”
Spend a timed day at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, seeing The Great Hall, Diagon Alley, Platform 9 and 3/4, the Forbidden Forest and Gringotts. Add a City Cruises hop-on hop-off ticket between Westminster, Tower and Greenwich, usable on a separate day through December 30, 2026.
“The river thames cruise took a lot of my time of day, it took at least 2 hours and 30 minutes to get from one pier to the last pier (Westminster to Greenwich). Too long. The tickets worked great, no issue. The Warner Bros. Tour was also amazing, it took about 5 hours to complete the tour. You have to redeem the tickets at the ticket office. You also get to ride the Harry Potter Bus that takes you to the studio for free just show your tickets, it was worth it!”
Set out from Folly Bridge on a 40-minute Thames cruise toward Iffley Lock. Your English-speaking skipper points out Christ Church Meadows, college boathouses, brick cottages, wildlife, and rowing activity. Boats may be traditional or modern, with open, covered, and enclosed seating.
“It was a very hot day and this was a perfect way of spending time with old friends and seeing the sights of Oxford, while keeping cool under the shade of the canopy.”
Follow an English-speaking guide from Southwark View Point through Borough Market, Millennium Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Soho, Diagon Alley, and other Harry Potter locations. You will join a House quiz, walk 2.5 km, and finish with a 25-minute Thames catamaran ride.
“Nice experience. The guide, Luke, told us a lot of things we didn't know about the Harry Potter movies and its actors.”
Travel through London on a classic Routemaster, hear stories from an English-speaking guide, cruise past Shakespeare’s Globe and London Bridge, then watch the Changing of the Guard near Buckingham Palace. Guides have included Steve, Clive, Magnus, and Gavin, with lively history and useful city orientation.
“This tour was the best tour I've ever been on. Gavin was so lively and amazing. He knew his information as well as the latest gossip. It was so refreshing to enjoy learning about a different country and all the amazing places here in London. I would definitely book this tour again. Plus the bus is so cool, its really vintage style and its great for pictures.”
Pick a city, a castle or a long drive north.
