Choose sightseeing, evening or dinner before you choose your boat
Thames River Cruise: Best Options & What to Book
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Our recommended packages
Sightseeing Cruise, Flexible One-Way
Best for: Best value: a scenic way to travel between the Tower of London and Westminster
From £15.00
- Live commentary
- Board at any City Cruises pier
- No fixed departure time
- About 30 minutes, Tower Pier to Westminster Pier
Free cancellation*
View ticketsEvening Cruise with Sparkling Wine
Best for: Couples and sunset or after-dark visitors who want atmosphere without a full dinner
From £35.00
- A glass of sparkling wine
- Canapés
- Departs Tower Pier around 6:30pm
- About 2 hours
Refund conditions apply*
View ticketsDinner Cruise on the Thames
Best for: A full evening out: a seated 3-course meal with the illuminated skyline passing by
From £81.00
- 3-course British dinner
- Views of London’s riverside landmarks
- About 3 hours
Refund conditions apply*
View ticketsWhich package should you choose?
| Package | Best for | Includes | Time needed | From | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing Cruise, Flexible One-WayBook | Best value: a scenic way to travel between the Tower of London and Westminster | Live commentary, Board at any City Cruises pier, No fixed departure time | About 30 minutes, Tower Pier to Westminster Pier | From £15.00 | Free cancellation |
| Evening Cruise with Sparkling WineBook | Couples and sunset or after-dark visitors who want atmosphere without a full dinner | A glass of sparkling wine, Canapés, Departs Tower Pier around 6:30pm | About 2 hours | From £35.00 | Partial refund |
| Dinner Cruise on the ThamesBook | A full evening out: a seated 3-course meal with the illuminated skyline passing by | 3-course British dinner, Views of London’s riverside landmarks | About 3 hours | From £81.00 | Partial refund |
Watch Thames River Cruise
London travel video: a practical first-trip guide | Mubboo Flights
This 3-minute city guide connects Westminster, Big Ben, the Thames, London Eye, and Tower Bridge into a practical first-trip plan, helping travellers choose what fits instead of rushing through a checklist. English narration with reviewed English subtitles in the YouTube player.
Compare the current package prices and cancellation terms above. Prices mentioned in the video are a dated snapshot, not a live quote.
Is a Thames river cruise worth it?
Yes, for almost any first visit to London. A cruise puts the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and Big Ben in view from the water, and on the Tower Pier to Westminster Pier route it doubles as genuine transport between two ends of a sightseeing day.
The real decision is not whether to go. It is whether you want a flexible sightseeing hop, an evening cruise with a drink, or a full seated dinner cruise.
What you will see, along the route
The Tower Pier to Westminster Pier leg runs past the same core stretch of riverside London most first-time visitors want to see.
Good to know
- Tower Bridge and the Tower of London near the start
- London Bridge and the South Bank skyline
- The London Eye and Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) near Westminster
How much time you need
Use 30 minutes as the planning baseline for the sightseeing cruise between Tower Pier and Westminster Pier. Budget 2 hours for the evening cruise or 3 hours for the dinner cruise, including boarding and disembarking.
Day, evening or dinner: which to pick
A daytime sightseeing cruise gives the clearest photos of the buildings themselves, and works as onward transport if you are continuing your day at Westminster.
The evening cruise, departing Tower Pier around 6:30pm, catches the skyline lit up after dark. The dinner cruise is a different kind of evening: a seated 3-course meal while the same skyline passes by.
Where to board, and getting there
The reviewed sightseeing and evening cruises depart from Tower Pier, right at the Tower of London’s entrance, and call at Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier and Greenwich Pier. Tower Hill (Circle and District lines) is the closest Underground station to Tower Pier.
Which cruise suits your group?
Families and first-time visitors do best on the sightseeing cruise. It is inexpensive, needs no advance ticket, and fits naturally between the Tower of London and a Westminster afternoon.
Couples wanting atmosphere without a full dinner commitment should look at the evening cruise instead. Save the dinner cruise for a planned night out, since its cancellation window is stricter than the other two.
What to know before booking
The sightseeing cruise does not need advance booking -- buy at any City Cruises pier on the day. The evening and dinner cruises have a fixed departure time and should be booked ahead, especially around holidays.
Good to know
- The sightseeing cruise can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead
- The evening and dinner cruises need 3 full days’ notice for a full refund, not 24 hours
- Dress for the season: the open deck is exposed to wind even in summer
What to combine it with next
Arriving at Westminster Pier, both Westminster Abbey and the London Eye are a short walk away across Westminster Bridge. Arriving back at Tower Pier, the Tower of London is right there and Tower Bridge is a few minutes further.
Questions people ask
How much does a Thames river cruise cost?
Sightseeing cruise: From £15.00. Evening cruise with sparkling wine: From £35.00. Dinner cruise: From £81.00. All prices are per person.
Which Thames cruise should I book?
The sightseeing cruise is the best value for a first visit and doubles as transport between the Tower of London and Westminster. Choose the evening cruise for after-dark atmosphere with a drink, or the dinner cruise for a full seated evening out.
How long does a Thames cruise last?
The sightseeing cruise runs about 30 minutes between Tower Pier and Westminster Pier. The evening cruise runs about 2 hours, and the dinner cruise about 3 hours.
Where do the cruises depart from?
The reviewed sightseeing and evening cruises depart from Tower Pier, right at the Tower of London. They also call at Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier and Greenwich Pier.
Can I cancel or get a refund?
The sightseeing cruise can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead. The evening and dinner cruises need 3 full days’ notice for a full refund. Cancelling within 3 days gets no refund on either.
Do I need to book the sightseeing cruise ahead of time?
No. The sightseeing cruise does not require advance booking -- buy it at any City Cruises pier on the day. The evening and dinner cruises have a fixed departure time and should be booked ahead.
Sources (8)
Every guide fact above was checked on the dates shown.
- City Cruises — river Thames sightseeing — www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/river-thames-sightseeing/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- City Cruises — sightseeing schedule — www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/sightseeing-schedule/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- City Cruises — Tower Pier — www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/tower-pier/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- City Cruises — evening cruise — www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/evening-cruise-river-thames/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- City Cruises — FAQ (cancellation terms) — www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/faqs/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- The booking platform — flexible Thames river cruise, one way — The booking platform (checked 2026-09-17)
- The booking platform — river Thames evening cruise — The booking platform (checked 2026-09-17)
- The booking platform — London dinner cruise on the Thames — The booking platform (checked 2026-09-17)