Are you looking to go sightseeing in the most unique way possible?
Except for helicopter rides in London, taking a cruise on the River Thames is a great way to see the city from a different perspective and enjoy the sightseeing opportunities.
Catch awesome skyline views while cruising the river and see famous landmarks such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Whether you are looking to spend a cruise in the afternoon or evening, Thames Cruise London has numerous options.
From date nights to live music, each cruise company offers memorable experiences.
Fortunately, this article curated a list of the Top 5 Thames Cruises London.
You can compare packages and prices, learn how to book a cruise, and check which landmarks you can see during the cruise.
In summary, here are our top 5 Thames cruises in London:
- Thames River Sightseeing
- River Thames Cruise
- City Cruises London Westminster Pier
- Thames Dinner Cruise
- Bateaux London
Contents
1. Thames River Sightseeing
- Address: Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH, United Kingdom
- Phone: +44 20 3778 0700
- Visit Website
Thames River Sightseeing is located at Westminster Pier. The cruise covers services from Westminster Pier to Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier, Tower Bridge Quay, and Greenwich Pier.
You can start the cruise from Westminster Pier, just next to the Houses of Parliament.
The nearest London Underground station to the pier is Westminster station, accessible via Jubilee line, District line, and Circle line.
Book a ticket online and choose a ticket type. Here are the available tickets for Thames Cruise Sightseeing:
- Westminster to Greenwich | Sightseeing River Cruise – £14 per person
- Westminster to Tower Bridge Quay | Sightseeing River Cruise – £11.50 per person
- 2 Day River Pass | Hop On Hop Off – £21 per person
- Greenwich to Westminster | Sightseeing River Cruise – £14 per person
- Tower Bridge Quay to Westminster | Sightseeing River Cruise – £11.50 per person
- Tower Bridge Quay to Greenwich | Sightseeing River Cruise – £11.50 per person
- Greenwich to Tower Bridge Quay | Sightseeing River Cruise – £11.50 per person
You can purchase tickets for adults above the age of 15 years, children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, seniors above the age of 60 years, students with a valid student ID, and families with two adults and three children.
Children below five years old are free to travel on the cruise. Tickets can be for a one-way or two-way trip.
Discounts are offered for those with a Travelcard and Oyster Card. You can also book the cruise for private hire or avail of their 2-Day Family River Pass for £42.00.
Boats are packed with facilities such as free WiFi, multilingual commentary, wheelchair access with ramps, toilets, a licenced bar, and hot drinks and snacks.
The top attractions to visit from each river pier are:
- Cutty Sark at Greenwich Pier
- Greenwich market at Greenwich Pier
- HMS Belfast at Tower Bridge Quay
- Houses of Parliament at Westminster Pier
- London Eye at Westminster Pier
- OXO Tower at Festival Pier
- Royal Observatory at Greenwich Pier
- Shakespeare’s Globe at Bankside Pier
- Southbank Centre at Festival Pier
- Katharine Docks at Tower Bridge Quay
- Paul’s Cathedral at Bankside Pier
- Tate Modern at Bankside Pier
- Thames Barrier at Greenwich Pier
- The Shard at Bankside Pier
- Tower Bridge at Tower Bridge Quay
- Tower of London at Tower Bridge Quay
2. River Thames Cruise
- Address: 58 Riley Rd, London SE1 3DG, United Kingdom
- Phone: +44 20 7237 3108
- Visit Website
River Thames Cruise embarks from eight piers: Chelsea Harbour, Cadogan Pier, Westminster Pier, Festival Pier, Embankment Pier, Blackfriars Pier, Tower Pier, and Saint Katherine’s Pier.
They offer a variety of cruise packages, whether you are looking for a typical circular cruise or a fun and unforgettable Sunday lunch jazz cruise. Check their list of packages and fees for each below:
- New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise 2022– £99
- Thames River Disco Cruise– £34
- Elvis Cruise– £85
- Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise– £85
- Taste of Britain Cruise– £36
- Thames Jet Speedboat ride– £40
- Jazz Dinner Cruise– £85
- Sundowner/ Riverlights Evening Cruise– £36
- Afternoon Tea From The Tower– £46
- Two Course Lunch Cruise– £46
- Evening Dinner Cruise– £86
- Christmas Disco 2022– £34
- Christmas Lunch on the Thames 2022– £62
- Day Time Circular Cruise– £16.75
- Bottomless Brunch Cruise– £42
Private Boat Hire on the River Thames is the ultimate way to celebrate a birthday party, graduation celebration, or other special events. The price depends on the number of people, day, and time. Here is a list for estimated prices for boat hires.
- Maximum 12 persons (VIP Transfer Vessel) – £750 to £1,120
- Maximum 80 to 100 persons – £750 to £1,560
- Maximum 100 to 150 persons – £1,560 to £2,500
- Over 150 persons – £1,800 to £2,800
You can also select your desired Thames Cruise Menu. The available options are Canapés, premiere hot buffets, finger foods, cold buffets, bowl foods, barbeque buffets, plated dinners, hot buffet suppers, plated lunches, morning and afternoon tea menus, and Bateaux London dinners.
Don’t miss out on their River Thames Cruise special offers as well, including Christmas Disco and Club Night Cruise and Barbeque Lunch Buffet Cruise.
Get a glimpse of the following sights and have the chance to see them up close when you hop off at the pier.
- The Houses of Parliament
- London Bridges
- Greater London County Hall
- The London Eye
- Saint Paul’s Cathedral
- Old Scotland Yard
- South Bank Centre Royal Festival Hall
- Cleopatra’s Needle
- Savoy Hotel
- Queen Elizabeth Hall Purcell Room
- Museum of the Moving Image and the National Film Theatre
- Hayward Gallery
- Royal National Theatre
- Somerset House
- Coin Street Development
3. City Cruises London Westminster Pier
- Address: Westminster Pier, London SW1A 2JH, United Kingdom
- Phone: +44 20 7740 0400
- Visit Website
City Cruises London Westminster Pier is part of Hornblower Group, a company founded in 1980. The company has been specialising in water and land adventures, creating unforgettable memories for riders.
If you are looking for a special dining experience, there are several dining cruise options available:
- Lunch Cruise
- Afternoon Tea Cruise
- Evening Cruise
- London Dinner Cruise
- Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise
- Jazz Cruise
- Elvis Tribute Cruise
Joining their cruise is also an excellent idea to celebrate special events, such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
Looking for something more thrilling? Why not hop on their Thamesjet Speedboat and ride a speedboat for 50 minutes?
Private hire is also possible for parties, weddings, graduations, and many more. If you are ready to book, select your preferred package and choose the date and time.
Here are the prices for each package:
Daytime Dining Cruise
- Lunch Cruise – £35
- Afternoon Tea Cruise – £36
- Mother’s Day Lunch – £60
Evening Dining Cruise
- Jazz Cruise – £66
- Elvis Tribute Cruise – £66
- Evening Cruise – £26
- London Dinner Cruise – £62
- Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise – £66
The cruise takes you to four London Pier locations: Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier, Tower Pier, and Greenwich Pier. Keep in mind they have a dress code to follow.
For River, Harbor, Whale Watching Tours & Water Taxis, you can wear casual attire such as jeans and t-shirts.
For Signature Dinner & Premier Products, cocktail attire is required, whereas a semi-formal dress code is encouraged for Bateaux Dinner.
4. Thames Dinner Cruise
- Address: One Euston Square, London NW1 2FD, United Kingdom
- Phone: +44 20 3551 3942
- Visit Website
Thames Dinner Cruise has been in the industry since 2003. They provide all kinds of entertainment, from cruise lunches to jazz dinners.
You can select from several options for Lunch Cruises starting at £48 per person, Afternoon Tea Cruises starting at £48 per person, Dinner Cruises starting at £79 per person, and Evening Riverlights Cruises starting at £36 per person.
Prices also vary depending on your seating location, such as non-window or window seats.
To book a cruise package, select an available cruise, click Book Now, choose the date and time, and the number of tickets. Here is detailed information on each package offered.
- LONDON LUNCH CRUISE – 1 hour and 45 minutes Thames River Cruise with a Two-Course Lunch and Commentary from £47 per person
- THAMES SUNDAY LUNCH JAZZ CRUISE– 2 hours and 30 minutes Thames River Cruise with a Three Course Sunday Roast and Live Jazz Music from £79 per person
- LONDON BY LAND WITH LUNCH– a 2-hour Luxury London Bus Tour with a 4-course lunch and audio guide from £70 per person
- LONDON AFTERNOON TEA CRUISES – 1 hour and 30 minutes River Cruise with Afternoon Tea and commentary from £50 per person
- THAMES AFTERNOON TEA CRUISES– 1 hour and 30 minutes River Cruise with Traditional Afternoon Tea and live music from £69 per person
- LONDON DINNER CRUISE – Dine in with a live performance from £83 per person
- THAMES DINNER CRUISE– dinner and live entertainment from £99 per person
- MURDER MYSTERY DINNER CRUISE– from £89 per person
- LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ CRUISE– a 3-hour Thames River Cruise with a three-course dinner and a live Jazz performance from £89 per person
- LONDON RIVERLIGHTS CRUISE– a 2-hour Thames River Cruise with live music performance from £36 per person
You can also book for group parties and private events. The cruise is available for corporate events, family occasions, and school parties. Private boat hires allow you to embark on over 20 piers along the River Thames.
5. Bateaux London
- Address: Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment, London WC2N 6NU, United Kingdom
- Phone: +44 330 123 9044
- Visit Website
Get clear majestic views of the city when you hop on board Bateaux London’s glass-walled cruise boats.
Whether you are looking for casual brunch hangouts or a romantic dining experience, Bateaux London offers a variety of packages to fulfil your expectations.
To make a booking, select your package, choose a date and time, select the extras you need, and proceed to payment.
Weddings, Christmas parties, and other special events can be catered for with private bookings.
You can have a private event for 60 to 375 guests. The prices for private hire vary, so it is best to contact them and send an enquiry.
Refer to the table of standard packages below for easy reference. The table already lists the price per package and the expected inclusions.
Table of Bateaux London Package Prices
| Package | Price | Inclusions |
| PLATINUM DINNER
|
£169.00
|
|
| FREE – FLOWING AFTERNOON TEA
|
£99.00
|
|
| AFTERNOON TEA WITH FIZZ
|
£79.00
|
|
| CLASSIC SUNDAY LUNCH
|
£79.00
|
|
| CLASSIC PLUS SUNDAY LUNCH
|
£99.00
|
|
| AFTERNOON TEA
|
£69.00
|
|
| GOLD DINNER
|
£129.00
|
|
| SILVER DINNER
|
£99.00
|
|
| VALENTINE’S DINNER
|
£175.00
|
|
Tips When Riding Thames Cruises London
For the best river cruise experience, remember these tips.
- First of all, you should dress appropriately and wear comfortable clothes. It tends to be chilly at night, especially on the deck. Thus, it is ideal to bring a sweater or light jacket with you.
- It is highly recommended to arrive earlier since you will have to go through a few ticket and security checks before stepping on board.
- If the cruise is in the morning or afternoon, make sure to use sunscreen or sunblock to protect yourself from the rays of the sun.
- Don’t forget to bring cash or credit card and any form of identification.
- Finally, remember to bring your camera so you can capture lots of memories.
Final Thoughts
Live music, panoramic views of the city, and sightseeing opportunities make a river cruise a must on your bucket list. It is an ideal local or tourist activity at any time of the day.
Whether you prefer to catch the golden sunsets or be under the starry night sky, a river cruise can be enjoyed in multiple ways.
Remember to observe the must-follow tips when riding the cruise, such as wearing comfortable clothes, using sunscreen, and taking loads of pictures. Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy the moment and have fun with your friends and family.
Did you find this guide helpful? Have you tried riding a Thames Cruise London before? Share your experience and recommendations by writing a comment in the comments section below.
Further Reading on Winterville Guides
After riding the cruise, I suggest exploring more of what London has to offer. Whatever your interests are, London has it all for you, whether you are into Japanese culture, good food, or shopping.
Check out Winterville blogs and guides and discover London’s hidden gems.
Here are some helpful guides worth reading:
- 10 Scenic Drives Near London For a Road Trip
- A Guide to the 10 Best Zoos in UK
- 10 Best Anime Shops To Buy Manga In London
- 13 Best Driving Ranges In London For Golfers
- London’s 7 Best Trampoline Parks
- 10 Best Harry Potter Stores in London
If you are looking for other types of public transport in London to go sightseeing, I suggest riding the following to experience the city London style:
