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Sightseeing Cruises

Thames Sightseeing Cruise with Flexible Time and Departure Pier

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

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

4.4/5

(1,115)

Mel Lorenzo

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 Liu

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.
Michele Gonçalves Silva Valverde Noronha

Michele

Dec 2025
Verified booking
The tour was truly amazing. The River Thames cruise offers a unique perspective of London, with breathtaking views of the main sights all the way to Greenwich. The organization was excellent, the boat was comfortable and the staff very attentive. It was a peaceful, informative and at the same time enchanting experience, which made the day even more special. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get to know the city in a different and memorable way.
    • 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

    Houses of Parliament

     London Eye

    London Eye

    Royal Festival Hall

    Royal Festival Hall

    Tate Modern

    Tate Modern

    St. Paul's Cathedral

    St. Paul's Cathedral

    Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

    Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

    Borough Market

    Borough Market

    Southwark Cathedral

    Southwark Cathedral

    HMS Belfast

    HMS Belfast

    The Shard

    The Shard

    Tower of London

    Tower Bridge

    Tower Bridge

    Canary Wharf

    Canary Wharf

    Royal Observatory

    Royal Observatory

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

  • 1,115 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.

    761
    213
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    21
    67
    Guests from France, United States, Germany and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Munyaradzi Chambwera

    Munyaradzi

    Feb 2026
    Verified booking
    We had an awesome cruise, educative and exciting. The staff were very friendly and the commentary was on point. Can't wait to go back again 😍
    Antonio Pérez Verdu

    Antonio

    Feb 2026
    Verified booking
    Very goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodododdkdoodoododododododdooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood
    Sydney Muench

    Sydney

    Feb 2026
    Verified booking
    Our boat captain was so knowledgeable about the history, it felt like we were in an actual sightseeing cruise.
    Ilana Bar-Hai

    Ilana

    Feb 2026
    Verified booking
    Was relaxing and nice. It was hard to follow the loudspeaker explanations at times.
    Mel Lorenzo

    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!
  • 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.

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