Sightseeing Cruises

Thames Sightseeing Cruise with Flexible Time and Departure Pier

Name: Thames Sightseeing Cruise with Flexible Time and Departure Pier
Start: 2026-02-25T12:30:00
End: 2026-02-25T18:00:00
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

(1,148)

Mel

Jan 2026

Verified booking

I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on the River Thames, and it was an unforgettable experience. The guide was incredibly fun and knowledgeable, making the journey both entertaining and informative. We passed by some of London’s most iconic landmarks, and the guide’s engaging stories brought them to life. The boat was comfortable, and the views from the deck were breathtaking. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, this cruise offers a unique perspective of the city that you won’t want to miss. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore London from a different angle!

Xiang

Jan 2026

Verified booking

My feet were killing me from touring all day so we booked this cruise last minute just to rest. Best decision ever. Going from Westminster down to Tower Bridge as the sun set was absolutely gorgeous. The city looks totally different from the water. Our time on the cruise was really something else and definitely reccomend other considering this experience to book ASAP. Getting that close to Tower Bridge was amazing, you really feel how massive it is. It was so relaxing and a great way to end our day.

Antony

Dec 2025

Verified booking

It was great however I had one complaint and that was that I did not complete my journey. It was supposed to stop at Greenwich but when I reached Tower Pier, they had said it was the last boat. It would've been appreciated if I had known I needed to come earlier than 4:30 to actually COMPLETE the trip. Nonetheless, I won't be so harsh as to deny it was a fun trip. Sights were great, staff were friendly, boat wasn't overly crowded at that time either.

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

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.

1,148 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 56 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Phillippa
Feb 2026
Verified booking
My daughter and I really enjoyed the cruise the chap giving the talk and the top deck was hilarious and also the boat staff were very accommodating. Would recommend to anybody.
Ahmad
Feb 2026
Verified booking
It was a great experience. If you’re booking online, make sure to do it in advance, as you won’t receive your ticket immediately after booking—you may have to wait a few hours for it to arrive. They also have a bar and food available if you’d like something to eat. Unfortunately, we didn’t order anything since we were already full, but we still really enjoyed the experience.
Gay-ann
Feb 2026
Verified booking
The cruise was fantastic and the crew are very friendly and efficient. It was a great day to be reunited with family and take them to see key tourist attractions and have them ticked off their bucket lists.
Emmanuel
Feb 2026
Verified booking
I loved the cruise it was nice, the voice over depicting the history of different places where we stopped at were breath taking and serene. I would do it again and maybe this time a longer journey
Martina
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Loved it, it was a cold day and the lounge was so cosy. 360 degree view amazing. Great bar onboard also. Staff really nice and great commentary. Would highly recommend

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 instantly.

No printout required! Just show your mobile voucher to the pier staff and board the boat at any of the four piers at Greenwich, Tower, London Eye, and Westminster.