London boat tours - Thames river cruises

See the city from the Thames or one of London's canals

Bored by dry land? We've picked London's best boat tours along the river Thames and the city's picturesque canalways. From serene canalboat trips to high-speed thrill rides, and craft ranging from hybrid land-and-water vessels to Damien Hirst-designed catamarans, London's waterways have something for everyone.

Think we've missed a great cruise or tour? Let us know in the comments box below.

River tours

City Cruises
Westminster Millennium Pier, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2N 6NU
City cruises operate on a hop-on, hop-off basis and run from Westminster, Waterloo, Tower and Greenwich Piers with commentary along the way.
London Duck Tours
55 York Rd, London, SE1 7NJ
London Duck Tours start in a conventional fashion, then take a slipway down the side of the MI6 Building - into the Thames. The final half hour of the 80-minute tour is a boat trip along the river to the London Eye and back.
London RIB Voyages
Boarding Gate One, London Eye Millennium Pier, South Bank, London, SE1 7PB
The slick RIB (ridged inflatable boat) operation offers a high-speed ride on the Thames. The London RIB Voyages experience starts calmly enough, but when the skipper opens up the engine you'll discover how exhilarating it can be to swoop along the Thames at almost 30 knots.
Tate to Tate Boat

The boat service connecting London’s two Tate galleries, Tate Modern and Tate Britain, takes you through the heart of London, with plenty to see on both banks, and the catamaran boasts distinctive designs by artist Damien Hirst.
Thames Clippers (The Riverline)

Equipped with a River Roamer ticket, you can hop on and hop off along the banks of the Thames between London Eye Pier and Royal Arsenal Woolwich pier, with stops at Embankment, Blackfriars, Bankside, London Bridge, Tower, Canary Wharf, Greenwich and O2 piers.
Meridian Duck Tours

This sightseeing tour by land and water in a 1944 DUKW-style landing vehicle departs from outside Cutty Sark DLR on the corner of Greenwich High Street, and features two 'splashdowns' as it travels around Docklands, Canary Wharf and Greenwich.

Canal trips

London Waterbus Company
58 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF
Navigate Regent's Canal in a narrowboat with The London Waterbus Company. Trips run along the Regent's Canal linking Little Venice, Regent's Park, London Zoo and Camden Lock.
Canal Museum Tunnel Boat Trip
12-13 New Wharf Rd, N1 9RT
These trips are best suited to the brave. Regent's Canal's tunnel - built in 1820 - is long, dark, dank and three quarters of a mile long. Tickets include admission to the museum.
Jason's Canal Boat Trip
opposite 60 Blomfield Rd, Little Venice, London, W9 2PD
Jason's Trip navigates the picturesque route along Regent's Canal from Little Venice, through Regent's Park, on to Camden Lock and back again. The boat is more than 100 years old and the trip, which includes a live commentary, has been a feature on the canal since 1951.
Jenny Wren
Camden Lock, 250 Camden High St, London, NW1 8QS
Hop aboard for an hour and a half's cruise from Camden Lock, past London Zoo in Regent's Park, through the tunnel to Robert Browning's Island at Little Venice and back to Walker's Quay. A commentary is included on the cruise, and picnic lunches are available from the company's Waterside Restaurant.

Email Tweet Share

Share your thoughts

Name (will appear on the site) *
Email (will not appear on the site) *
Enter text...
Tick to receive relevant updates from Time Out including news, events, offers and competitions.

* Mandatory fields for leaving a comment

Comments

By Ruth Jarvis - Aug 15 2011

Just been on the Canal Museum tunnel trip – brilliant. And no need to be brave – you can sit cosily inside if you want, and you can always see the light at the end of the tunnel....