Britain · BOAT TOURS IN LONDON

Boat Tours in London: 15 That Live Up to the Photographs

37 tours  ·  from $14

The good ones book out weeks ahead. Below are 15 boat tours in London worth getting into the diary early, what each covers and where they differ.

London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise - Parliament and the London Eye set the tone
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London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise

1.Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22,836 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $22Our pick

See London from the Thames on a one-way or round-trip cruise from Westminster to Greenwich. Your English-speaking crew points out Parliament, the London Eye, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, and more. Use the open deck for photos, then explore Greenwich Market, the Cutty Sark, and the Royal Observatory on foot.

“On the boat ride to Greenwich, there was a live commentary about the sites as we passed Central London. The guide said they were not professionals but boat crew. He did a great job. I had booked a return ticket. Return boats to Westminster left every 20 minutes so there was lots of time for me to explore Greenwich before I had to return. The weather was dodgy so I started on the upper deck and was able to go down below when it got too cold and rainy. Everything was as expected. I wouldn’t suggest any changes.”

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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - Route One: royal London, Trafalgar Square, and the Tower
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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

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

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

See London from an open-top double-decker on three routes covering Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St. Paul’s, Kensington, and the British Museum. Your pass includes recorded commentary in seven languages and free Wi-Fi. Choose 24 or 48 hours, with a one-way Thames cruise included on those options. The 48-hour ticket adds walking tours and a selected evening tour.

“Worst experience we had in London!! Do NOT do one of these tours. This company left a family of 5 stranded in the London freezing weather as we waited for 45 minutes for the bus to come pick us up at their required spot (#13) near the London Eye. Noone showed up so we were forced to spend more money for a cab to get us home. I placed a formal request for a refund and it was denied. Unbelievably poor customer service. Do NOT waste your money!!!”

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London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise - Boarding at Westminster Pier
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London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise

3.Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,127 reviews · 30 minutes - 1 hour · from $18

Board at Westminster Pier for a 25 to 30 minute Thames cruise past Parliament, St. Paul’s, Tate Modern, the Globe, and The Shard. Live English commentary comes from the crew, with guides such as David adding humor and local detail. Continue to Butler’s Wharf or return after changing boats.

“It was such a lovely and enjoyable activity — we truly had a wonderful time”

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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Starting at the London Eye and Westminster
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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

4.London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,332 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $74

See London from three useful angles: an open-top Big Bus, a 40-minute Thames cruise, and the London Eye. You can board at stops near Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and St Paul’s, then hop off when a sight catches your eye. The 48-hour ticket adds Royal, Jack the Ripper, and Harry Potter walking tours.

“The buses always come. You don’t have to wait for long to take them. Thank you for your service”

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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise - The routes and the sights you will see
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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

5.Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 4,327 reviews · from $41

See London’s main sights by open-top bus with a 24, 48, or 72-hour ticket. Use live tracking, audio commentary in 10 languages, child-friendly guides, and four self-guided walks. Add the one-way City Cruises trip between Westminster and Tower Pier for a fine river-level view of London.

“Everyone was exceptionally helpful and friendly. London was so cold and rainy that day and it was a perfect option to warm up between sights.”

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London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket - Westminster and Big Ben from the river
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London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket

6.Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,900 reviews · 45 minutes - 1.5 hours · from $20

Cruise from the London Eye Pier to Tower Bridge and back in about 40 minutes, passing Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Tower of London. An English-speaking guide provides live stories and jokes, with optional audio commentary in eight other languages. Add a London Eye ticket if availability suits your plans.

“Took my two kids Ny daughter thout it maybe a little boring but overall she was very impressed and we all enjoyed it including the eye to which im not a fan of hegits but that was quite chilled”

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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise - The Red Route, London’s essential sightseeing loop
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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

7.Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,875 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $35

Use a one, 24, or 48-hour Big Bus ticket to tour London across three routes and more than 50 stops. Expect recorded commentary, open-top views, and optional Thames cruising. The 48-hour ticket adds Royal Walk, Harry Potter, and Jack the Ripper tours, while the evening option shows London’s landmarks lit up after dark.

“It was a great way to see the major points of interest in a short period of time. The route systems were well laid out that gave customers many options to get on and off. The audio feature was very informative. The validation of the ticket was very smooth.”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - The central circuit reaches London’s biggest sights
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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

8.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 bus across three routes covering Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St Paul’s, museums, Notting Hill, and more. Your pass also includes a Thames sightseeing cruise, adult and children’s audio commentary, and app-based bus tracking. Choose a one, two, or three-day pass.

“It was not a “live” tour. We had difficulty connecting to the description and it didn’t seem like the tour description was customized. It became a way to get around versus a tour.”

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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise - Yellow and blue routes: the main sightseeing circuit
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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

9.Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,653 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $52

Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Tootbus pass to see London by open-top bus and Thames boat. Hop off for the Tower, Westminster, St. Paul’s, Soho, or Borough Market, then track the next bus in the app. Commentary comes in 10 languages, with child-friendly English and French options.

“It was a fantastic experience. All the staff were so helpful and supportive. Especially Christina, one of the HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS drivers was just outstanding. A big shout out for you Christina”

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London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames - Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, and The Shard
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London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

10.Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,274 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53

Board a City Cruises boat at Tower Pier for a 90-minute Thames round trip. Enjoy sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, and unlimited tea and coffee while passing Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, The Shard, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament. Commentary adds history and humor.

“Lovely staff - good commentary about London as we sailed - good great scones were warmed - tea replenished and cocktails and champagne (extra cost) good quality 👍🏻 thumbs up from us ❤️”

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Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride - Berkeley Square and London’s most haunted house
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Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

11.Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,212 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Meet near Green Park for a 2.5-hour evening tour covering Berkeley Square, royal parks, St. James’s Palace, and a 25-minute Thames boat ride to Tower Hill. Guides such as Marvin, Arne, Murray, and Eddie are known for lively storytelling, but the ghost content and guide quality can vary.

“The tour was just as expected and as advertised. Martin, our guide was the BEST storyteller and very knowledgeable about the history of the city and all the destinations visited.”

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London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise - Westminster to the London Eye: London’s grand opening scene
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London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

12.River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,112 reviews · 1 day · from $33

Use a 24-hour City Cruises ticket to ride between Westminster, the London Eye, Tower Pier, and Greenwich. Expect all-weather boats, open-deck photo views, a bar serving drinks and snacks, and live commentary with history and humor. You can hop off for the Tower of London or Greenwich, then reboard later.

“My family really enjoyed seeing Greater London from the view point of the river. We learnt so much from the commentary and it was delivered in an amusing and easy way to learn about the various iconic buildings. The ferry was roomy and the staff were very helpful. The facilities were clean as well.”

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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London - What the one-hour cruise includes
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Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

13.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, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. Live commentary adds context, while optional Wi-Fi audio is available in five extra languages. Disembark by Cutty Sark, explore Greenwich, then return to Westminster if booked.

“Easy experience, friendly and knowledgeable staff! The sightseeing is a great way to learn about different t buildings in London! Also the endpoint in Greenwich was fun as it is a cute spot with lots of shops and food.”

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London: River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés - Choosing between the saloon and the upper deck
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London: River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés

14.River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,493 reviews · 2 hours · from $37

Spend two hours cruising from Tower Millennium Pier and back, with a glass of sparkling wine or soft drink, canapés, live chill-out pop, and views of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Canary Wharf, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament. Choose the indoor saloon or open-air deck. This is a scenic evening outing, not a narrated history tour.

“The entertainment was very enjoyable. The canapés were plentiful and tasty. Would have liked to cruise past the Houses of Parliament. It was a relaxing and pleasant way to see Londons landmarks.”

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London: River Thames Dinner Cruise - Boarding at Westminster Pier
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London: River Thames Dinner Cruise

15.River Thames Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,159 reviews · 3 hours · from $94

Spend three hours on the Thames, beginning at Westminster Pier with sparkling wine and a three-course British dinner. You will pass Big Ben, Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, City Hall, and the Thames Barrier before returning to Westminster. Live singers, including performers such as Emma and Patrick Phelps, provide music for listening or dancing.

“The singer: she was amazing The crew: absolutely friendly”

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New in Boat Tours in London

★ 4.5Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels, plus River CruiseFrom $12754 reviews
★ 4.5Crown Jewels Tour with River CruiseFrom $15556 reviews
★ 4.8Westminster to Kew River Thames CruiseFrom $2551 reviews
★ 4.2Kew to Westminster River Thames CruiseFrom $2455 reviews
★ 4.0Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day River Thames Adventure – Uber BoatFrom $34707 reviews
★ 4.6Tower of London Guided Tour with Boat RideFrom $69704 reviews
★ 5.0Skip the Line Tower of London & Westminster Tour and River CruiseFrom $165730 reviews
★ 4.9River Thames Speed Boat TourFrom $80713 reviews
★ 5.0Speedboat Cruise Tour: Embankment OR Westminster Pier -70 minutesFrom $102777 reviews
★ 5.0Iconic Sights of London: High-Speed Boat TripFrom $67773 reviews
★ 4.5Canal Boat Ride on Camden LockFrom $26877 reviews
★ 4.0Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the ThamesFrom $55884 reviews
★ 4.5Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course MealFrom $59994 reviews
★ 4.0Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the ThamesFrom $331,256 reviews
★ 4.5Ghost Walk and River Thames Boat RideFrom $261,251 reviews

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