Our verdict
Best overall
London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise
The classic Westminster to Greenwich run, one way or return, past the Tower and under Tower Bridge. Over 25,000 reviews at 4.5★ and about £18 — the safe first cruise.
4.5★ · 25,690from £18 GetYourGuide →
Best value
London: One-Day Unlimited City Cruises River Pass
City Cruises’ one-day unlimited pass costs £10 and covers Westminster, London Eye, Tower and Greenwich piers. Cheaper than most single sightseeing tickets.
4.5★ · 989from £10 GetYourGuide →
Best with kids
London: River Thames Speedboat Tour at Up to 30 Knots
Fifty minutes on a Thames Rockets RIB with a comedian-guide, then full throttle past Tower Bridge. 4.9★ from 1,000+ reviews; children under 15 pay less.
4.9★ · 1,043from £52 GetYourGuide →
Skip it if
You just want to get to Greenwich
The Uber Boat river bus does the same stretch faster, and you can tap in with a contactless card. No tour commentary, but a fraction of the hassle.
Which Thames river cruise should you take?
There are four kinds of boat on the Thames in central London, and they do quite different jobs. City Cruises runs the classic sightseeing boats between Westminster, the London Eye, the Tower and Greenwich, with commentary. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is the river bus — fast catamarans on a timetable, paid like the Tube. Speedboats (RIBs) such as Thames Rockets are a 50-minute thrill ride with a guide. Dining cruises do lunch, afternoon tea or dinner on a slow loop. If your Thames river cruise is mostly about getting a good look at the city, the first two cover it; the last two are about the experience.
City Cruises vs Uber Boat vs RIBs vs dinner cruises
| City Cruises sightseeing | Uber Boat (river bus) | Speedboat / RIB | Dinner or lunch cruise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (adult) | from ~£14 one way · £10 unlimited day pass | £6.20–£22.90 contactless; day hop-on hop-off £29.30 online | ~£50–£60 for 50–60 min | ~£40 bubbly cruise · ~£53 lunch · ~£79+ dinner |
| Commentary | Live or recorded English, free audio guide in 8 languages | None — it’s transport | Live guide | Food and drink; live music on some evening sailings |
| Route | Westminster · London Eye · Tower · Greenwich | 24 piers, Putney to Barking Riverside | London Eye to Docklands and back | Loop through central London |
| Time on board | 40–70 min one way | 23 min Tower–Greenwich | 50–90 min | 1.5–3 h |
| Frequency | Timetabled through the day, varies by season | Early morning to late night, 7 days | Set departures | Set departure times |
| Our take | The first-timer’s choice | Best value if you don’t need a guide | The one kids remember | For an occasion, not for sightseeing |
The sightseeing boats are slower and chattier; the river bus is quicker and runs from early morning to late at night — but nobody explains what you’re looking at. Prices above are adult fares; platform prices are the “from” prices in our partner feed today.
Thames cruises you can book now
London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise
from £18
See on GetYourGuide
London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise
from £14
See on GetYourGuide
Thames Sightseeing Cruise from Westminster to Greenwich
from £15per person
See on Headout
London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket
from £16
See on GetYourGuide
London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise
from £25
See on GetYourGuide
Thames Sightseeing Cruise with Flexible Time and Departure Pier
from £15per person
See on Headout
London: Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Single River Ticket
from £10
See on GetYourGuide
London: One-Day Unlimited City Cruises River Pass
from £10
See on GetYourGuidePrices and ratings checked 21 Oct 2026; they change daily.
Same cruise, different platforms
City Cruises’ sightseeing tickets are sold on several platforms, and the price is often identical — compare the cancellation terms instead.
| Platform | From | Rating | Check price & dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuideLondon: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise | £18 | 4.5★ 25,690 | GetYourGuide → |
| HeadoutThames Sightseeing Cruise from Westminster to Greenwich | £15 Lowest today | 4.5★ 5,156 | Headout → |
| Platform | From | Rating | Check price & dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuideLondon: One-Day Unlimited City Cruises River Pass | £10 Lowest today | 4.5★ 989 | GetYourGuide → |
| HeadoutOne-Day Unlimited City Cruises River Pass | £10 Lowest today | 4.6★ 52 | Headout → |
City Cruises also sells the one-day river pass direct at £10, and its own tickets can be rescheduled or refunded up to two hours before boarding under its Ticket Assurance terms (not on special events).
Which boat for which trip
- First day in London: a City Cruises boat from Westminster to the Tower or Greenwich, then walk back over Tower Bridge or take the river bus home.
- Greenwich for the day: Uber Boat out and back, or a City Cruises day pass if you want commentary and stops at the London Eye and Tower.
- Thrill-seekers and teenagers: a Thames speedboat — the only boat on this list that goes faster than the traffic on the Embankment.
- A birthday or anniversary: a dinner, lunch or afternoon tea cruise; book a window table.
- Something gentler, off the Thames: a canal boat from Little Venice to Camden, or self-drive electric boats from GoBoat.
- Groups wanting a party: Skuna Boats in Canary Wharf rents self-drive hot tub and BBQ boats in the docks; no boating experience needed.
Combining a cruise with a bus or the London Eye
Some hop-on hop-off bus tickets include a river cruise on their higher tiers, so check yours before you buy a separate boat ticket. City Cruises boats call at London Eye Pier, which makes an Eye-plus-cruise combo easy; see our London attractions tickets page for the passes that include both. If you’ve come looking for the old amphibious bus, London Duck Tours closed in 2017 — here’s what replaced it.
Questions people ask
What is the best Thames river cruise in London?
How much does a Thames river cruise cost?
Is Uber Boat cheaper than a sightseeing cruise?
How long is the cruise from Westminster to Greenwich?
Do Thames cruises have live commentary?
Which piers do Thames cruises leave from?
Sources
- City Cruises London — products and one-day river pass (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- City Cruises — River Thames sightseeing cruise (piers, journey times, commentary) (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Uber Boat by Thames Clippers — ticket information and fares (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Uber Boat by Thames Clippers — route map (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Thames Rockets — trips and terms (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Skuna Boats — Canary Wharf (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide — cruises and boat tours in London (partner feed)
Written and checked by the Private Tours London desk