Glide Along Historic Paths: 5 of the Best Cruises to Take Down the Thames
A New Perspective on The Square Mile
One of the best ways to see London is to take a cruise along the River Thames. The Thames is among the greatest rivers in the world, with a history even older than London itself.
You’ll be able to see a spectacular, uninterrupted view of many of the buildings along the London skyline as you travel down the river. As you glide down the water, you’ll hear a fascinating commentary on the history of these iconic landmarks.
Plus, you’ll never have to worry about getting stuck in traffic.
There are several great Thames river cruises to choose from when it comes to exploring this intriguing and historic city. If you are planning to take a Thames dinner trip or day tour, here are some of the best options to choose from.
Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise
If you’re looking for a simple and affordable way to see the major highlights of London, this is a great option from Thames River Services. You can board the boat at Westminster Pier every 30 to 40 minutes and take the one-hour tour down the river.
You’ll glide past the major attractions, including Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and much more. The tour will end at Greenwich, where you’ll be close to Greenwich Market or the National Maritime Museum for more exploring. Or, you can upgrade for a return ticket that will take you back where you started.
Thames Rockets
The complete opposite of a slow, peaceful river cruise, this exhilarating speedboat ride with Thames Rockets will take you zooming down the Thames at 30 knots. You may not have much time to gaze at the buildings, because you’ll be hanging on for dear life and feeling the cool spray of the water on your face.
Your tour guide is a playful, irreverent comedian who offers entertaining banter as you speed through the city. This adrenaline-packed experience departs every hour from the London Eye Pier, every day of the week.
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Bateaux London Cruises
If you are looking for the Thames river cruise dinner experience, Bateaux London Cruises might be the best choice for you. They have been around for many years and they offer a lunch, afternoon and dinner cruise.
Or, if you really want to treat yourself you could book their three-course lunch cruise with a live jazz band — perfect for a special occasion trip to London. All of the Bateaux London Cruises depart from the Victoria Embankment.
Tate to Tate Boat
The Tate to Tate tour is perfect for arts and culture lovers in London. You can travel directly from the Tate Britain Museum at Millbank Pier to the Tate Modern Museum at Bankside Pier on the RB2 Tate to Tate service. This special ferry runs every half an hour and members of the Tate get a 25% discount.
This is a great way to get from one gallery to the other, so that you don’t have to go through the long tube or bus journey. You’ll get to see many of the most popular London landmarks along the way. Plus, the boat is designed by Damien Hirst and is a unique piece of art in itself.
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Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise
One of the main advantages of a Hop-On Hop-Off Cruise is that it allows you to explore the city at your own pace. This cruise will let you get off and on the boat whenever you like, for a full 24 hours. So, if you see something you like as you cruise along, you can get off at the next stop and take some time to explore it.
This is a great option if you want to be able to have some more freedom as you explore the city. Just make sure you take a look at the attractions beforehand, to see if they are all places you are interested in stopping at.
