Sightseeing Cruises

Thames Sightseeing Cruise with Flexible Time and Departure Pier

Name: Thames Sightseeing Cruise with Flexible Time and Departure Pier
Start: 2026-04-09T14:00:00
End: 2026-04-09T18:00:00
Location: London

Sightseeing cruise passengers view the Tower of London from the Thames River.

Group enjoying a selfie on a London sightseeing cruise with Big Ben in the background.

People on a Thames River cruise with views of The Shard and City Hall in London.

Sightseeing cruise on River Thames passing under Millennium Bridge, London.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

4.4/5

(1,255)

David S

Group

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The most unexpected and joyful part of the cruise was the staff. I have never heard a more comic and sudden joke, "Please do not forget your wives", it was perfect timing. Additionally, the cruise was special, even in the rain, everyone on board was kind and ready to help. It was an emotional cruise as it reminded me of my late father, as he was the first one to show me London. I recommend the cruise to anyone who enjoys sightseeing and having a relaxing time with a juice or drink.

Ryuta U

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The cruise from Westminster to Greenwich was the most relaxing and luxurious way to get around London! Since we boarded after exploring by rental bike and on foot, the river breeze felt incredibly refreshing, and we were able to relax and enjoy the scenery. We were lucky enough to have clear skies, and thanks to the boat making a slow turn just before Tower Bridge, we had plenty of time to take photos together. The guide’s commentary was in English, but it was full of humor, so even if you didn’t understand every word, you could still feel the fun atmosphere on board. We were able to capture a photo of the bridge from a slight distance, along with a bird that happened to stop by the boat, making for a wonderful cruise. It offered a sense of wonder you just can’t get from traveling by subway, so choosing this as our way to get to Greenwich was a huge success! I highly recommend it.

Jasmin J

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

We really liked the guide who explained the sights. With that typical English sense of humor... very entertaining and informative. The entire crew was very friendly and helpful. Thank you

Belen J

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Absolutely everything—the tour is really enjoyable and a great way to relax for a while. The only "downside" is that there's only one person speaking in English, so we didn't catch much of what was said.

Wendy F

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Other than running a tad late, everything about the cruise was lovely. It helped that the weather was gorgeous but the crew did a great job. Enjoyed it very much.

John S

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

Excellent commentary from the ships mate! Really enjoyed our time spent on the cruise, good facilities, friendly staff and reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

Set sail along the Thames with City Cruises, boarding from Westminster, London Eye, Tower, or Greenwich Pier anytime on your selected day for a one-way cruise.

Ideal for spontaneous travellers or busy schedules, enjoy London from open-air decks or heated indoor cabins without following a fixed route.

Learn fascinating stories about London’s history and landmarks through live English commentary or a multilingual audio guide while you cruise the river.

Children receive a complimentary activity book and colouring sheets, keeping young explorers entertained while learning about London from the river.

Upgrade to a hop-on-hop-off ticket for unlimited cruises all day, hopping on or off at any pier to explore London at your pace.

Best for: Packed sightseeing itineraries; no need to commit to an exact departure time

Flexible one-way sightseeing cruise on the River Thames

Board and disembark from Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier, Greenwich Pier, or Tower Pier

Arrive at any time on the selected date, no pre-booking required (see timetable)

Live English commentary or recorded commentary in 14 languages

Open-air deck and heated indoors

Complimentary kids' activity book & colouring sheets

Additional paid upgrades:

24-hour hop-on-hop-off sightseeing ticket (view route and timetable [here])

Access to the onboard bar (available at an additional cost)

TOTAL DURATION30 minutes
FREQUENCY40 minutes
MODE OF TRANSFERBoat
4 Boarding points
Westminster Pier
Get direction
London Eye Pier
Get direction
Greenwich Pier
Get direction
Tower Pier
Get direction
Sights covered
Houses of Parliament
London Eye
Royal Festival Hall
Tate Modern
St. Paul's Cathedral
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Borough Market
Southwark Cathedral
HMS Belfast
The Shard
Tower of London
Tower Bridge
Canary Wharf
Royal Observatory

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

1,255 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from France, United States, Germany and over 60 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Al S
Family
Verified booking
6 days ago
It was my first cruise ride, and I took my 8-year-old daughter with great excitement. I bought a ticket online and received an email and a text message with the booking confirmation. Upon entering the Westminster pair, I was told that I must have the APP downloaded on my phone to enter. I show the person my booking information, but she still insists on downloading the app and sounds quite annoyed and stressed. I tried to calm her down and insisted that she not get angry, as my 8-year-old daughter was with me. It was not very busy, and no other passengers were waiting there to be served. By that time, another member of staff had just walked in and started blaming me, saying I was stressing her colleague, even though she never knew what was going on. However, to come to the situation, I very quickly downloaded the app, avoided the hassle and boarded the cruise. I just witnessed two absolutely unfriendly team members on the front line of your wonderful and world-class cruising service. However, I have the impression that I must download a tracking app to experience the journey. And your member of staff made me download it.
Gerald G
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
Flexible schedules. The boat and its large deck. The commentary. The duration of the cruise and the time spent at each stop.
Robin M
Family
Verified booking
3 days ago
It was a great way to get to Greenwich. Very informative and beautiful sights! We thoroughly enjoyed the guide. I highly recommend this trip!
Aman B
Family
Verified booking
5 days ago
We really enjoyed this cruise. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The live commentary was also very entertaining. Thanks again.
Dennis H
Family
Verified booking
Last week
The person at the microphone was very knowledgeable. The explanations were easy to understand, even for people who don't speak English very well.

What to bring

Have your entry tickets, and ID ready for a seamless experience.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Additional information

Facilities: restrooms and baby changing facilities.

The average cruising time for a Thames sightseeing cruise from one pier to the other is 40 mins, except from Westminster Pier to London Eye Pier, which is 10 mins.

Please note: some circular tours may require a boat change at Tower Pier.

With the 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket, you're in complete control. Start your boating adventure anytime and enjoy unlimited rides until the boats stop operating for the evening. The next day, you can continue using your ticket until its validity expires.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.