London River Cruises 2026

The classic Thames sightseeing cruise runs from Westminster Pier to Tower Bridge or Greenwich, passing the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the South Bank, Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern and the Tower of London on the way. The Westminster to Greenwich route takes about 60 to 90 minutes with live commentary; the shorter Westminster to Tower Bridge run is 40 minutes. Both start from around £14 to £15 per person.

For maximum flexibility, the open-dated sightseeing cruise lets you choose your departure time and pier on the day. The hop-on hop-off cruise ticket works like a river bus - board at any pier, ride to another, hop off and explore, then re-board on the same ticket. It runs all day between Westminster, Embankment, Tower and Greenwich.

Thames dining cruises combine a meal with the river views. The dinner cruise departs from Westminster Pier with a two or three-course meal, sunset views and drinks as you pass the illuminated landmarks - it's one of the most popular evening experiences in London, with 3,000+ reviews on tickadoo. The lunch cruise runs a two-course meal with coffee and tea from Tower Pier. The afternoon tea cruise serves British scones, sandwiches and pastries on the water.

All dining cruises run year-round but are busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings in summer. Weekend dinner cruises book out 1 to 2 weeks ahead from June through August. Weeknight departures are easier to get and often cheaper.

Thames Rockets runs high-speed RIB speedboat experiences from the London Eye pier - 50 minutes of adrenaline past the Houses of Parliament, under Tower Bridge and out towards the O2 at up to 35 knots. It's one of the highest-rated experiences in London and the most popular summer activity on the Thames. Waterproofs are provided; expect to get splashed.

Speedboat rides are weather-dependent but run in light rain - only severe weather cancels (full refund via tickadoo). Summer evening departures are particularly popular for the light on the water. Book 3 to 5 days ahead for weekend slots in July and August.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is London's river bus service - a commuter route that doubles as one of the best-value sightseeing experiences in the city. The RB1 route runs from Putney through Westminster, Embankment, Bankside, Tower and Greenwich. A single-journey ticket starts from £11.40; contactless pay-as-you-go is also accepted on board. The boats run every 20 minutes during peak hours and are a genuinely useful transport link as well as a scenic ride.

For visitors, the Greenwich route is the standout - board at Westminster or Embankment, ride to Greenwich, visit the Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, then boat back. It takes 30 to 40 minutes each way and costs a fraction of a dedicated sightseeing cruise.

Summer (June to August) is peak season for Thames cruises. The long daylight hours mean evening and sunset cruises run until 9pm or later, and the warm weather makes open-deck sightseeing and speedboat rides at their best. Dinner cruises on Friday and Saturday evenings book out 1 to 2 weeks ahead. Speedboat slots sell out 3 to 5 days ahead on summer weekends.

Spring and autumn are excellent for Thames cruises - less crowded piers, wider availability and comfortable temperatures on the water. Winter cruises run on reduced schedules but the dining cruises (lunch, afternoon tea, dinner) operate year-round and offer views of the illuminated landmarks after dark. Christmas dinner cruises are a popular seasonal special.