7 Best Thames River Cruises

From the water, you'll see a different side of London while learning about its history. Thames cruises can be closed tours or operate as a tourist "bus" on England's most important river.

There are many tours organized on the waters of the River Thames, from the most economical to the most exclusive, with on-board services such as dinners and live shows.

This cruise runs from Westminster to Greenwich and is a closed round-trip boat excursion. It is perfect for seeing the London skyline and up to 13 of its major attractions located on the banks of the river. You can also stay in Greenwich to see the area and then return on the next boat.

Departing from Westminster Pier, you can relax on the deck or inside the boat to admire and photograph the city's landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London, among others, while a guide, whose audio is also available in Spanish, explains everything you see.

I recommend booking this cruise on the Thames if you don't have much time but want to enjoy the city's highlights from the river.

• Duration: 1 hour.
• Price: from €17.
• Frequency: every 30 or 40 minutes.
• Recommendation: when you finish at the starting point, you can take advantage of the opportunity to buy tickets for Westminster Abbey.

When you book a sunset cruise on the Thames, you can see places such as the London Eye, HMS Belfast, The Shard, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf at sunset, and you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and a snack.

Discover London's iconic sites and most emblematic monuments from a different perspective and in a different light. And when you disembark, it's the perfect time to go for lunch. So here are 10 places to eat near the London Eye.

• Duration: 2 hours.
• Price: from €39.
• Recommendation: perfect for relaxing after a busy day of sightseeing.

And if you want to enjoy a cruise on the Thames while enjoying a tasty meal, you can do that too. So, as you sail down the river and enjoy the view of the main monuments such as Tower Bridge, Westminster Palace, and Big Ben, you'll enjoy a delicious two-course lunch with tea or coffee.

Booking a Thames cruise with lunch will give you the energy you need to visit the Tower of London, for example, once the cruise is over. Find out what to see at the Tower of London.

• Duration: 1 hour and a half.
• Price: from €60.
• Recommendation: this is an ideal activity for families or large groups.

And if you want to spend an unforgettable evening, I recommend booking a Thames cruise with dinner and live music. This tour, aboard a luxurious boat that departs from Westminster, allows you to enjoy a gourmet dinner with 3 to 5 courses, featuring cheese and meat specialties.

There is also a special menu for vegans or people with food intolerances or allergies. What are you waiting for? Enjoy exquisite wine, background music, and live entertainment while taking in the spectacular views of the city. Plus, if you're looking for something to do afterwards, you can see the London Eye at night.

• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Price: €104.

Booking a Thames cruise with free stops is ideal for those who want freedom of movement, as you will have a pass valid for the whole day and you can either do the entire tour or disembark whenever you want to visit the main monuments and reboard whenever you want throughout the day.

In addition, through the City Cruises mobile app, you will have the opportunity to listen to live commentary on the history of the most emblematic places and main points of interest.

I recommend this if you have a full day to visit the attractions along the banks of the Thames. Check out tickets for the Tower of London, tickets for the London Eye, London Eye prices, or tickets for the Sea Life Aquarium.

• Duration: you can use it all day and the full tour lasts 1 hour.
• Price: from €33.

Are you a fan of the Harry Potter saga? Then you can't miss this combined activity that brings together a tour of the film locations full of interesting facts provided by the guide and a cruise on the River Thames.

But this tour is not like any other, as it is full of interactive games. And not only that, when you book a Thames cruise + Harry Potter tour, you will also discover other film locations such as those from James Bond and Marvel.

• Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Price: from €25.

To get to know the city in depth, I recommend choosing the option of booking a Thames cruise and tourist bus. This way, you can see the most important monuments comfortably from both land and water.

And all while enjoying the explanations of a local tour guide. It's perfect if you're traveling with older people or children who can get tired easily when walking around London.

• Duration: approximately 3.5 hours.
• Price: from €59.

To help you choose the best option for your tastes, here are some comparison tables to help you make your decision.

Most Thames river cruises depart from docks in central London and are accessible by public transport. In the case of the flexible cruise, you can also board at any of the stops at the attractions mentioned above.

Embankment Pier

Westminster Pier

Greenwich Pier

London Eye Pier

For me, one of the great advantages of booking a cruise on the Thames is that you can give your tired legs a rest after walking tirelessly around a city with so much to see.

What's more, you'll avoid the traffic jams you might encounter on the bus and the crowds on the underground. And best of all, they link two of the city's main tourist attractions: the Westminster Abbey area, home to the famous Big Ben and London Eye, with the City, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London.

These cruises are ideal for getting an overview of the city or seeing its monuments from a different perspective. I recommend them especially if you are traveling with children, as they are a fun and comfortable way to get an overview of London and visit some of its main attractions.

If you've already decided on the cruise, my advice is to take the opportunity to explore the whole area around Westminster Abbey, where you can board the boat to start your tour.

Right there you'll find the London Eye (here's the article I wrote about London Eye Tickets), a few meters from Westminster Abbey (here is all the information about Westminster Abbey Tickets and Tours) and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

If you're interested in exploring the city on foot and enjoying it while learning about what you see, you can take a look at my article on 10 Best Tours in London, which can help you choose a good guided tour of the city where you will also learn the best-kept secrets of the big city.