speedboat trip thames

No Booking Fee & Free cancellation up to 24 hrs before departure

RIDE THE TIGER

Get your ticket for a trip to remember.  Ride a Tiger through London! Hop on at Tower Bridge Quay (formerly St Katharine Pier) and let us show you the sights of London from a different perspective. Hold on as we blast through historic Wapping, pass by Canary Wharf, the Cutty Sark at Greenwich, and all the way to the O2 Arena before heading back.

Get ready to capture the selfie of a lifetime as we pass under the iconic Tower Bridge. Our journey will take you past some of London's most famous landmarks, including Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Golden Hind, London Bridge, The Monument, Walkie Talkie building, Old Billingsgate Fish Market, HMS Belfast, and The Tower of London.

This 45-minute ride is one you'll never forget! So get your ticket now and let us show you why London is truly the world's greatest city.

£49 Adult/£35 Child

YOUR OWN BOAT!

Looking for an unforgettable experience with your friends and family? Look no further than our charter boat rides! 

Our state-of-the-art speedboat is the biggest on the Thames, complete with suspension seats for your safety and comfort. Invite up to 12 of your favourite people on board and discover the beauty of London from a whole new perspective – the river! 

Your expert skipper and personal tour guide will greet you at Tower Bridge Quay, where you'll receive life jackets and a thorough safety briefing. As we set off, the sound-system will be fired up with great British tunes to get you in the mood. Hold tight as we take you on a 10-mile high-speed blast to the O2 Arena, and back to Tower Bridge for the perfect selfie opportunity. 

After the adrenaline rush, we'll throttle back and give you a chance to catch your breath with a cold beer or soft drink. We'll then cruise up to Blackfriars for a guided tour of our spectacular city. With many of the city's greatest sights visible from the river, you'll be reminded of just how fabulous London truly is. 

(Thames Tigers - the only RIBs on the River Thames licensed to serve alcohol)

Historic Wapping, Canary Wharf, Greenwich, the Cutty Sark and the O2 Arena. Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Golden Hinde, London Bridge, The Monument, The Shard, Old Billingsgate Fish Market, HMS Belfast, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, historic Wapping, Canary Wharf, Greenwich, the Cutty Sark and the O2 Arena.

£495 per boat!

Trip Advisor #1 Boat Tour & Watersport in London 2022/3

• London City Tours >

Speedboat Rocket Experience

Speed boat rocket experience along the River Thames. Choose from 3 different experiences that will whizz you past the city’s major attractions at speeds of up to 35 mph! Starting from the London Eye Pier, you’ll race past the Houses of Parliament and alongside Somerset House. These tours then continue by the side of the Tate Modern museum before catching a unique view of St Paul’s Cathedral and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Whizz under London Bridge and by the WWII warship the HMS Belfast before heading to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Finally, finish off the day in Canary Wharf, before returning to the London Eye Pier.

highlights:

• Zoom along the River Thames on a Speedboat rocket experience
• Travel at speeds of up to 35 mph!
• See major London sights like Big Ben and the Tower of London
• Enjoy a lively and animated commentary from your guide along the way

Choose from 3 Speed Boat Experiences

There are 3 speed boat experiences to choose from.

Ultimate London Adventure – 50 minutes

Suitable for all ages – the perfect family adventure

This is the most popular speedboat experience and is suitable for all ages. Travel at speeds of up to 35mph and take in London’s riverside landmarks. Enjoy live commentary from award-winning guides who are known for their humour

Thames Lates – 50 minutes

A romantic evening experience. Minimum age of 18

Thames Lates is ideal for a romantic night out. See London at night as you whizz along the River Thames. At the end of the experience, enjoy a tasty seasonal drink that is included.

Thames Barrier Explorer – Extended 80 minutes Adventure

Suitable for all ages

Take an extended speed boat adventure. You’ll continue past Canary Wharf to the Thames Barrier, which is the world’s largest movable flood barrier. You’ll pass Greenwich, the O2, as well as many major landmarks.

• There are no age restrictions on the Ultimate London Adventure and Thames Barrier Explorer
• The minimum age for Thames Lates is 18
• The trip starts from Boarding Gate 1, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
• The tour includes waterproof gear for all ages and sizes, safety equipment & life jackets
• E-tickets are accepted
• Suitable clothing must be worn, bearing in mind it is usually cooler on the river compared with the shore
• Please check with the staff if you have any pre-existing medical condition that may prevent travel. The supplier cannot accept any liability
• Without exception, expectant mothers are not permitted onboard at any stage of their pregnancy
• No food or beverages can be consumed on board
• Please arrive at the boarding point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure
• All bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Please be aware if you miss your scheduled departure, you will not be eligible for a later booking or refund, as seats are reserved on the vessel for the timeslot selected
• A minimum of eight passengers is permitted for each sailing, except at the absolute discretion of TR. Vessels that are not filled by the minimum number will be rescheduled. Passengers will be contacted to arrange an alternate date and/or time to travel.

Tour Booking

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Thames RIB Experience

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Speedboat 'Thames Barrier Experience' to/from Embankment Pier - 70 minutes

London Landmarks Sightseeing Tour & Speedboat Ride - 45 Minutes

Speedboat 'Tower RIB Blast' from Tower Millennium Pier - 20 minutes

Speedboat 'THE THAMES BEAST' from Tower Millennium Pier - 40 mins

Speedboat 'Ultimate Tower Blast' from Tower Millennium Pier - 40 minutes

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

THAMES RIB EXPERIENCE (London) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Thames Barrier Experience

Canary Wharf Experience

Tower RIB Blast

Ultimate Tower RIB Blast

• Transfer to Tower
• Transfer to Embankment
• Spy Experience

Tower Beast Ride

Wizard Blast

CHECK OTHER TRIPS

To select an alternate trip, please click on any of the boxes above

Ultimate spy experience, spy themed guided commentary followed by a high speed ride, private boat hire (12 passengers maximum), no booking fees charged.

Trips depart to/from Tower Pier. *Embankment Pier available on selected dates. Call to book. 0203 245 1177

60min: 25min guided commentary + 35min high-speed

Trips available 7 days a week, Open All Year

Stereo System Pumping out James Bond Music & Other Tunes

Ponchos Supplied Free of Charge in need

Souvenirs can be Purchased including photos, keyrings, caps, neck tubes and more

1 Adult must accompany any children under 14 years

Minimum weight restriction: 15kg

Onboard Quiz & the Winner’s Prize is a Cocktail Shaker

BOOK 'EXTERMINATOR' USED IN THE FILMING OF SPECTRE FOR £100.00 - Private Hire Only/ Subject to availability

Come on board to see unique filming locations such as MI6, Westminster Bridge and the O2 Arena used in numerous James Bond Movies! Spend 60 Bond fuelled minutes on the river learning the facts & then receive a high speed experience full of Adrenaline, feeling like the 007 agent or Miss Moneypenny. All whilst listening to “James Bond Music” being blared out from our on board stereos & be turbo blasted on the fastest London Speedboats.

We are the Ultimate Spy speedboat Experience in London, why? Because we filmed the River Thames boat scene in “Spectre” so do not delay, book on board now.

SIGHTS YOU WILL SEE

Cleopatra’s Needle

Millennium Bridge

Tate Modern

Shakespeare’s Globe

HMS Belfast

Tower Of London

Tower bridge

Canary Wharf

Thames Barrier

TESTIMONIALS

"a great experience for all".

I chartered a private boat as a surprise for my husbands 50th birthday... And he was not disappointed! The trip was fantastic fun, full of facts but above all very exhilarating! Hurtling down the Thames with the James Bond theme playing has got to be everyone wannabe spy's dream!! My husband and his mates loved it and want to rebook soon! Crew were good fun too and booking made very easy! A great experience for all!

"Absolutely amazing"

What a great experience, all four of us loved it. George (the guide) was very funny and gave just the right amount of commentary for the London sights you see in the "slow" bit of the trip. Then you have to hold on tight as the boat speeds its way all the way to the Thames barrier and back. Absolutely amazing!

Alexander Cast

SOUVENIRS AVAILABLE

We have limited edition merchandise available at our kiosk, as well as hard-copy and digital photos which capture the moment you & your crew embark on the invigorating, full-throttle speed section of your trip. Have a look what we have on offer!

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW!

Please Call: 020 3245 1177 or Book Online

We use COOKIES to ensure you get the best experience on our website Learn More

EXPERIENCES

RIB Blast at the O2

Ultimate RIB Blast at the O2

Tower to Embankment Transfer

Embankment to Tower Transfer

Ultimate Spy Experience

LONDON SIGHTSEEING

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#1 London’s Fun & Fastest Sightseeing Speedboat Tour

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The Belem: Everything you need to know about the iconic ship as the Olympic flame heads to France

In 1896 the first Olympic Games of the modern era took place in Greece. That same year, approximately 2,000 kilometres away at a shipyard in France, the Belem was born.

More than a century later, the Games will finally bring them together.

On 27 April, the Olympic flame will leave Greece aboard the Belem, Europe's oldest three-masted barque, and set sail towards France, the host country of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 .

The 12-day voyage between Piraeus and Marseille will add another chapter to the remarkable story of the ship, which was honoured as a historic monument 40 years ago.

• Discover the full Olympic Torch Relay

Merchant vessel, yacht and training ship: the three lives of the Belem

The Belem has crossed many seas, but had even more adventures. Today, the ship is one of the oldest of its kind, which is a remarkable feat considering its early brushes with disaster.

A fire broke out onboard the ship during its maiden voyage to Belem, the port city in Brazil that lends its name to the iconic vessel, but it was able to continue its inaugural visit after undergoing repairs in France.

After several transatlantic voyages transporting cocoa, rum and sugar to France, the Belem managed to survive another tragedy: the Montagne Pelée eruption in 1902.

The city of Saint-Pierre in Martinique was destroyed and more than 30,000 people lost their lives in the disaster, but the Belem somehow managed to escape without any damage.

Fortuitously, due to a lack of space in the harbour the day before, the ship docked in another bay safely away from the city.

But nothing could prevent the Belem from the rise of steamships. Gradually, its commercial use transporting goods began to decrease and in 1914 was sold to the Duke of Westminster.

The Belem was turned into a yacht and a few years later was purchased by the Irish engineer and brewer Sir Arthur Ernest Guinness, who changed the ship’s name to Fantôme II.

After a trip around the world and a few decades later, the ship was sold once again; this time to an Italian charity, and it was re-named Giorgio Cini after the non-profit organisation which now owned it.

The boat, originally constructed in a Nantes shipyard, was transformed into a training ship and for the next 15 years sailed across the Mediterranean before technology caught up with the vessel once more.

By the 1960s, considered too old and too small, the Giorgio Cini never left harbour. It was handed over to the carabinieri (Italian police) for training, and when they decided it was no longer fit for purpose, they sold the vessel for one symbolic lira (around €0.01) to a shipyard in Venice.

As restoration costs spiralled, it wasn’t long before the barque was back on the market.

Historic monument and Olympic Games London 2012

The National Union of Savings Banks of France (L’Union Nationale des Caisse d'Epargne de France) and the Navy (Marine Nationale) bought the Belem in 1979 and handled its restoration over the years that followed.

Due to these efforts, on 27 February 1984, the Belem joined a prestigious list of historic monuments.

The honour gave the ship back its prestige and captured the country’s imagination as it became an iconic vessel among sailing boats. It remains a training ship to this day, and every year welcomes aboard thousands of visitors who discover life on the open sea.

When there are no interns pulling up its sails, the Belem travels the world to represent France on the international stage; celebrating everything from the Statue of Liberty's centenary in New York to Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee in London.

The Belem stayed in the UK capital city that particular year - crossing Tower Bridge and docking on the Thames to great fanfare - as it hosted families of French athletes competing at the Olympic Games London 2012 .

Twelve years later the Belem will drop its anchor in Olympic waters once again, as Marseille kick-starts the celebration of a lifetime .

The Belem in numbers

• Length: 58m
• Height: 34m (above sea level)
• Maximum engine speed: 9.2 knots (approximately 17km/h)
• Number of voyages: 33 (between 1896 and 1914)
• Construction time: 6 months
• First launched: 10 June 1896

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