England · RIVER CRUISES

The 15 Best River Cruises in London

50 tours  ·  from $8

The Thames runs past most of what you came to see, and a boat down it costs less than the taxi. The 15 below cover the Westminster to Greenwich run, the speedboats, the evening sailings and the ones with dinner, priced and timed.

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - Westminster, the London Eye, and St. Paul’s
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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

1.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Ride Big Bus London across three routes linking Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, St. Paul’s, Notting Hill, and the British Museum. Use a one-day, 24-hour, or 48-hour pass, with a Thames cruise included on the longer options. The 48-hour ticket can also include walking tours and an evening panoramic ride.

“great way to see london. i do this tour everywhere I go. I will say it takes a very long time for bus to complete loop.”

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High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London - Boarding at London Eye Pier
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High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London

2.High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,971 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $90Top rated

Join a 12-seat Thames Rockets speedboat at London Eye Pier for a 50-minute ride past Parliament, the Globe, St. Paul’s, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, and Canary Wharf. Expect lively guides such as Sofia, Sophie, or James, British music, London stories, and speeds up to 30 knots. You return to the same pier.

“So much fun - boat guide was hysterical and driver great! Perfect amount of time and info. Best was the high speed and music!”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - Coventry Street, Trafalgar Square, and Westminster
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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

3.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

See London from an open-top double-decker, using three routes that reach Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St Paul’s, museums, Covent Garden, and more. Your pass also covers a Thames sightseeing cruise and audio commentary for adults and children. Use the app to track buses, but allow extra time for traffic and changing service.

“The bus drivers are great. My only criticism is that the bus stop names do not match the actual stops. Super confusing.”

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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London - Tate Modern, St Paul’s, and Shakespeare’s Globe
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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

4.Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,969 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $22

Sail east from Westminster Pier to Greenwich in about an hour, passing Big Ben, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Live commentary adds stories along the way, while a return option lets you explore the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, market, museums, and Royal Observatory before sailing back.

“Loved the boat ride. Particularly loved the commentary along the way. Made the ride a lot of fun, but also revealed interesting facts.”

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London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River - Westminster Pier sets the scene
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London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

5.London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,772 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Cruise from Westminster Pier for about three hours with a welcome sparkling wine or soft drink, a set 3-course dinner, live music, and dancing. You’ll pass the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and the Thames Flood Barrier before returning to Westminster. VIP adds champagne, canapés, and upgraded seating.

“The cruise and staff were good. Main course was good. Would have preferred a choice in food. I looked on the reservation and didn’t see a place to put dietary restrictions. It was difficult to find which pier boat left from.”

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London In One Day Tour with River Cruise & London Eye Option - The morning coach ride through central London
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London In One Day Tour with River Cruise & London Eye Option

6.London In One Day Tour with River Cruise & London Eye Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,678 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $177

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a nine-hour guided London tour by air-conditioned coach. See Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London, then cruise from Tower Pier to Westminster. The optional London Eye ticket is for an independent visit around 6:30pm.

“Sara did not keep group together. Very fristrating. My wife has a new knee and lagged behind. She didn’t care even though she knew that”

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London: Uber Boat - Single Journey River Thames Cruise - Starting at Battersea Power Station
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London: Uber Boat – Single Journey River Thames Cruise

7.Uber Boat – Single Journey River Thames Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,597 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $13Best value

Use your mobile ticket for a single Thames Clippers journey between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside. Board or leave at any central or east-zone pier, enjoy indoor or covered outdoor seating, and see landmarks including the London Eye, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, and Canary Wharf. This is public transport with sightseeing value, not a narrated river cruise.

“Great boat ride passing all the major from Greenwich Pier to Battersea Power Station. Keen staff, who were extremely helpful and knew all about the Viator voucher (they just scanned in the QR code on the quayside. Smooth trip on the rive. Good views from the huge windows and comfortable seats. Didn’t used the onboard cafe/bar but the staff were welcoming anyway.”

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London Eye River Cruise - Big Ben and Parliament from the water
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London Eye River Cruise

8.London Eye River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,503 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $21

Board at London Eye Pier for a 40-minute circular Thames cruise with live commentary. You’ll pass Big Ben, Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. Guides such as Paul, Hannah, Ian, and Mitch add humor and useful London stories. Sit upstairs early for the best views.

“It's a great way to get some of the history plus insights into checking out things you might otherwise not have considered. We would have missed Shakespeare's Globe and not gotten to see Midsummer Night's Dream had we not taken the tour. Paul was a great tour guide.”

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London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option - What you see from Westminster to the Tower
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London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option

9.London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,431 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $63

Cruise from the London Eye Pier past Big Ben, St. Paul’s, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London with live commentary, then ride the 135-meter London Eye. The cruise time is fixed, but you can use the Eye ticket within 90 days, a useful cushion if rain or closing times disrupts your plans.

“Great experience. Access to both the River Cruise and the London Eye was super fast. The staff was very attentive and helpful.”

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Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames - Waterloo and the London Eye: handy, but check the pier
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Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

10.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,256 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

Use a 24-hour City Cruises pass to ride the Thames between Westminster, Waterloo near the London Eye, Tower, and Greenwich piers. Sit in the heated saloon or open air, listen to recorded or app-based commentary, and hop off for sights along the way. Check the final sailing before you go, as the service can be limited later in the day.

“Smooth and easy; informative overview; easy access, polite staff and comfortable trip. Live commentary was excellent”

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Liverpool: 50-Minute Mersey River Cruise - The waterfront views reward a seat by the window
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Liverpool: 50-Minute Mersey River Cruise

11.50-Minute Mersey River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,232 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $17

Cruise from Pier Head around the Mersey for about 50 minutes, with views of Liverpool’s waterfront, Wirral, Tate Liverpool, the Museum of Liverpool, and both cathedrals. Scan a QR code for digital commentary, bring headphones, and arrive 20 minutes early for the hourly departure.

“Lots of information given , we were lucky enough to have beautiful September weather that day which made it even more enjoyable”

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Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal - Turning at Westminster for Parliament and Big Ben
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Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal

12.Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 994 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Cruise west from Tower Pier toward Westminster while enjoying a two-course lunch, panoramic indoor seating, commentary, and views of the Tower of London, The Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Eye, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge. The boat returns to Tower Pier after about 90 minutes. Vegetarian meals require advance notice.

“Well worth the experience enjoyed the trip and the meal was delicious. Would be nice if fellow passengers respected the commentary”

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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames - Shakespeare’s Globe and the South Bank
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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

13.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 884 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Board City Cruises at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea voyage past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster. You’ll have a reserved table, unlimited tea or coffee, sandwiches, cakes, and scones, with indoor panoramic windows and an open-air deck.

“The worst afternoon tea we ever attended. The desserts were not fresh. The level of service was very low. The cruise was not good either. It was very poorly run”

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Skip the Line Tower of London & Westminster Tour and River Cruise - Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard
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Skip the Line Tower of London & Westminster Tour and River Cruise

14.Skip the Line Tower of London & Westminster Tour and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 730 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $165

Spend 6 to 8 hours seeing London’s essential sights with an English-speaking guide, walking from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and the Thames. The 9 AM option includes Westminster Abbey entry, while every tour includes Tower of London access, a river cruise, headsets, and Crown Jewels orientation.

“Wonderful got to experience so much of London without any stress Our tour guide Patrick was very j formative and witty”

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London: Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure - Uber Boat - Embankment and Bankside for Central London
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London: Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure – Uber Boat

15.Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure – Uber Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 707 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $34

Use an all-day Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pass between Putney and Barking Riverside. Board at Westminster, Tower, Greenwich, and other Thames piers, then hop off for sights such as the London Eye, Tower of London, Tate Modern, and Cutty Sark. Boats have indoor seating, covered outdoor areas, and a cafe-bar.

“Great time all the themes river in the middle of the night seeing all the lights in London and its greatest moments”

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New in River Cruises

★ 5.0Stand up Paddleboarding on the beautiful Thames at RichmondFrom $8911 reviews
★ 5.0PRIVATE HIRE SPEEDBOAT ‘THAMES BARRIER EXPERIENCE – 70 minutes from Embankment87 reviews
★ 5.0Buckingham Palace, Changing of the Guard & Thames Boat RideFrom $2724 reviews
★ 3.5London Tour Hop-on Hop-off Bus with Optional Thames River cruiseFrom $5739 reviews
★ 5.0Southwark Pirates of the Thames Quest Experience in LondonFrom $73 reviews
★ 4.5Highlights of Royal London Bike Tour with River Cruise PackageFrom $7625 reviews
★ 4.5Harry Potter Film Location Walking Tour & Thames River CruiseFrom $7917 reviews
★ 5.0Hampton Court & Thames Riverboat Picnic3 reviews
★ 4.5Best of London Tour – Crown Jewels, River Cruise & History WalkFrom $123110 reviews
★ 4.5IFS Cable Car + Uber Boat One Way River Thames CruiseFrom $33147 reviews
★ 4.5Easy Access Tower Bridge and Engine Room & Scenic Thames CruiseFrom $9429 reviews
★ 4.5Comedy Night on The River ThamesFrom $13151 reviews
★ 5.0Combi Ticket: Westminster Walking Tour, River Cruise & The ShardFrom $1994 reviews
★ 3.5Tower of London with London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River CruiseFrom $106112 reviews
★ 3.5London Eye Fast-Track Ticket with Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River CruiseFrom $5946 reviews

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