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You are here: Things to Do > City Cruises

City Cruises

Type: boat trip.

Tel: +44 (0)20 77 400 400

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City Cruises is the No.1 sightseeing tour on the Thames! Our cruises depart every 40 minutes, every day of the week, all year round from pier locations at Westminster, London Eye, Tower of London and Greenwich.

City Cruises gives you the freedom to explore the many sights of the River Thames from four fantastic piers near popular attractions: Westminster, London Eye, Tower of London and Greenwich. It is the most convenient, picturesque way to travel between London landmarks.ake a quick hop between piers with a single ticket or take in a round tour with our 24h River Pass and make the most of our informative and entertaining live commentary. We also operate an hourly circular cruise from Tower – perfect for groups!  In addition, you can enjoy lunch, afternoon tea, evening and dinner cruises.

For families, a Thames River cruise is the most relaxing way to see the sights, avoiding traffic and busy trains. Kids can get colouring sheet and pencils to keep them entertained, while parents can relax by sipping on a hot drink and snacks from our fully stocked bar.

Our fleet of boats are designed to give you the best vantage point of river life. Sit back, relax and enjoy the views either from open air upper deck or comfortable saloon. Our fleet of boats can also be privately chartered. And don’t forget our 3 Thamesjet boats, which stop harder and turn faster!

We have a different view of rush hour. Enjoy 50 minutes of sightseeing, speed and awesome aquabatics with  Thamesjet which starts at Westminster Pier, heads down to Tower Bridge and as we pass it to go towards Canary Wharf, it's full on pedal to the metal.

Tickets can be purchased at any of our piers, online at  https://www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/   or call +44 (0)20 77 400 400.

24h River Pass

See more for less with our 24 River Pass, hop-on, hop-off sightseeing ticket!  24-hour tickets give you unlimited travel between the four piers. You'll enjoy the freedom of the river on our open deck riverliners with these great value tickets. Take in the views every inch of your journey with comfortable passage between our four piers. From £22.00 per adult, £14.75 per child (5-15) single ticket is £12.25 per adult.

The Family 24 River Pass is £42.00 and it’s ideal for families on a day out in London. Pay for two adults and up to three kids go free! Possibly the best value sightseeing ticket in town.

London’s No 1 Tour on the River  - The most convenient, picturesque way to travel between London landmarks. Make a quick hop between piers with a single ticket, or take in a round tour with a return and make the most of the informative and entertaining live commentary. From £12.25 per adult.

Sightseeing cruise plus tickets to top London attractions - Combine a City Cruises sightseeing tour with one of six top London attractions. All packages include an all-day, hop-on, hop-off 24h River Pass sightseeing tickets. You can bundle the 24-hour river sightseeing pass with tickets to any of the attractions on City Cruises website: London Eye, Tower of London, The View from the Shard, Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, the London Dungeon, the Tower Bridge and Greenwich attractions.

GROUPS Group bookings are available for sightseeing cruises, dining cruises and private hire; groups can benefit from discounts. We offer a sightseeing group discount. The 21st passenger goes free for sightseeing (same ticket type) with a maximum of up to 5 free tickets per group booking.

Many-times winner of Best Canal & River Boat Operator (Group Travel Awards).

PRIVATE HIRE

Choose London’s no 1 private boat hire on the Thames - City Cruises for your private event. We offer tailored experiences and full event catering all tied together with proven event management skills.  Read more

City Cruises -  Thamesjet  for the Kids – Go, Go, Go

Thamesrush - 50 unforgettable minutes as you experience high speed aquabatics. Stops harder, turns tighter, and nothing's faster - that's the Thamesjet speedboat for you. On the river you’ll see big landmarks on the sightseeing stage, then go speeding to the limits. Brilliant family day out. Slow it won't be…

Adults (+17):  £42.00, Child (Under 16 - Must be 1.35 metres (4 ft. 5in.) minimum in height): £32.00, Family (2a+2c age 16 & Under): £129, Private Group 12: £462

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City Cruises

• See all photos

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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.

CITY CRUISES (London) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

City Cruises

• See all photos

London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

River Thames Sightseeing Cruise - One Way

Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal

Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

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.

CITY CRUISES: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Posted on 6th September 2022 Categories Things to do

By: Author Lauren Kendrick

City Cruises London: Spot London’s Iconic Landmarks From the River Thames

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Looking to explore London’s top sights? Here’s why you should skip the heaving tube and opt to explore the capital in a far more relaxing way – on a City Cruises sightseeing tour.

*sponsored by City Cruises*

Get ready to whizz along the water and see London from a new perspective, hopping on one of City Cruises’ River Thames sightseeing rides is the perfect way to spend an afternoon – or evening – in the capital.

Interested? Here’s what you need to know.

Sightseeing Cruises

Think you’ve taken a brilliant Thames cruise? Think again. 

City Cruises has knocked it out of the park with their offering – their captains provide a wonderful commentary on the history of London and the dazzling sights, and you’ve also got the choice between sitting in the spacious open upper deck or relaxing in the indoor saloons.

Keen to pack in some serious sightseeing? We recommend opting for the 24-hour Hop On/Off River Pass . You can join the boat tour at any of the four piers (located at Greenwich, the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Westminster), and have full access to the boats all day.

24-hour tickets cost just £22 for adults and £14.75 for kids, though the family pack (£44) covers 2 Adults and 3 Children. A pretty good deal, we think – a day of Tube tickets really can rack up!

An Epic Thamesjet Speedboat Ride

Ready to channel your inner James Bond? City Cruises’ thrilling Thamesjet Speedboat is one of the most exciting experiences in the capital right now. 

Over the course of 50 minutes, you’ll get to enjoy some of London’s top sights (Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye, to name a few) as you set off on an adrenaline-pumping ride across the Thames.

Better yet, the immersive commentary will place you right at the heart of a high-speed MI5 mission. 

The Festive Season 2022

Is it too early to get excited for Christmas? Maybe. But City Cruises has got a stellar line-up of festive offerings that you don’t want to miss out on, so it’s worth thinking ahead.

Between the 1st and 18th of December, City Cruises is hosting a bunch of fabulous Christmas Lunch and Dinner Party cruises. 

Climb aboard and enjoy hours of festive activities as you enjoy a tour of London’s top landmarks. And, if you opt for the evening cruise, you’ll even get to tuck into a traditional Christmas dinner followed by an on-board DJ and plenty of space for dancing. 

If you fancy something really special, the Christmas Day events are sure to impress. 

Choose between a Christmas Day Lunch Cruise , complete with a four-course dinner, carols, and music, or the Christmas Day Sightseeing Cruise , which sees you chow down on mince pies and mulled wine as you pass by the capital’s top attractions.

Or, if you’re channelling your inner Scrooge and can’t quite bear to entertain Christmas thoughts right now, round off the year with a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Cruise. 

We can’t quite think of a better place to see in 2023 than atop the River Thames, a glass of bubbly in hand.

City Cruises: Practical Tips

• If you’re going to be visiting London’s top landmarks, it’s a great idea to purchase the 24-hour pass that gives you unlimited access to the boat rides. This makes it easy to visit Big Ben, the London Eye, the Tower of London, and plenty more in one day.
• We cannot stress enough: Book ahead . These experiences are incredibly popular and get booked up well in advance. We know it seems early to be thinking about Christmas, but leave it until November and you’re guaranteed to be disappointed.

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London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

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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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

City Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Westminster Pier

• Ticket Information

Ticket Office

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Westminster Pier is the most popular starting point for people travelling on Thames River Sightseeing’s boat service on the River Thames.

Located next to the  Houses of Parliament  (also known as the Palace of Westminster), it’s within a short walking distance of major tourist attractions such as Westminster Abbey and the Cabinet War Rooms north of the river, the London Eye, the London Aquarium, the London Dungeon and County Hall across Westminster Bridge on the south. The pier is overlooked by a beautiful bronze statue of  Boudicca  and her daughters in a chariot defending her kingdom from the Romans, which, if you have a few minutes before you board your Thames River Sightseeing cruise, is well worth a look.

Address:  Victoria Embankment, London, SW1A 2JH

Nearest tube:  Westminster (Exit 1 for Westminster Pier)

• District Line
• Circle Line
• Jubilee Line

Nearest bus stops:

• Parliament Street – Stop C for service 24
• Parliament Street – Stop G for services 12, 159, 453
• Bridge Street – Stop H for service 211
• Westminster Bridge – Stop D for services 148, 159, 211
• Westminster Bridge – Stop E for services 12, 148, 159, 453

Westminster Pier is fully accessible.

To read more about Things to look for at Westminster Pier, please read our blog for inspiration.

Closest Attractions

Houses of Parliament

• 15 min walk
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City Cruises Tower Pier

Address: Tower Millennium Pier, Lower Thames St, London EC3N 4DT

Nearest Tube:

• Tower Hill underground station
• London Fenchurch Street Station
• Tower Gateway DLR station
• London Bridge Train station

Nearest Bus Stops:

• Tower of London (Stop TB) 15, N15
• Tower of London (Stop TA) 15, N15
• Tower Gateway (Stop TD) 42, 78, 100, 343, N551
• Tower Hill / Tower Gateway Station (Stop TE) 42, 78, 100, 343, N551

Santander Cycles drop off point at Tower Gateway Station.

Disable access:

The Pier is accessible

Ticket booth open times:  

10:00 – 18:00* (*subject to change)

Things to do at Tower Pier

Why not check out our Sightseeing and Dining Cruises where you can come on board at Tower Millenium Pier and see London from a different view.

Closest Attractions near Tower Pier

• The Tower of London
• Tower Bridge

Other pier locations

Where is tower pier in london, how to get to tower pier, how do you get to tower of london by boat, what kind of boat rides does city cruises do from tower pier, can i use my oyster card at tower millenium pier, what is the postcode for tower millennium pier, what are the nearest tube stations to tower pier, what are other things to do at tower pier.

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When you take a standard trip on these generously glasssided and -topped boats, live narrators point out details of interest. The “Red Rover” ticket allows you to hop on and off all day. Boats, which have cafe-bars, depart every 40 min., generally between 9am and 9pm, from four piers: Westminster, London Eye, the Tower, and Greenwich, which covers a lot of the area tourists like seeing. Using it to get to Greenwich can save money off buying several one-way tickets on standard ferries, but simple return tickets are cheaper on the commuters’ Thames Clippers . The 40-min. London Eye River Cruise (www.londoneye.com; [tel] 0870/5000600 ; £13 adults, £6.50 children 5–16; daily 11:45am–4:45pm) from London Eye pier is less of a value because you can’t get off to explore.

- Jason Cochran

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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Hello all --

First off, I did search and I'm sure it's been answered, but not finding it! I hate to repost a question that's been asked/answered many times, so thank you for your indulgence.

Question -- I'd prefer to keep a bit of a loose schedule for this day, if it's POURING we may revert to accessing museum not on the river cruise. With that in mind, is it easy to just walk up and purchase a ticket on a City Cruise ? I did copy the timetable, so I know there are boats traveling regularly all throughout the day. The website encourages purchasing a ticket ahead of time, but since this isn't a 'must do' I would prefer to wait!

Easy? Likely to be able to take a boat just walking to pier?

Thanks so much!

3 replies to this topic

Yes you can buy tickets on the spot

Perfect. That's what I needed to know! Thanks!

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