If you’re in London for a vacation and want to test the waters of the city, cruising is the best way to go. With tons of interesting options in London, it’s a fun and memorable way to explore the Thames and soak in the sights.
Together with my Wunderlust London team, we boarded multiple cruises to bring you an insider’s guide to the very best cruise tours in London.
From sipping cocktails on a romantic dinner cruise to dancing in music-filled tours, we experienced it all. We can now confidently say that we found the most unforgettable cruises in London!
Check them out here!
Thames Dinner Cruise
Address: 1 Euston Square
Contact Details: +442035513942
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £89
If you want an elegant cruise experience, then joining the Thames Dinner Cruise is worth trying. This experience lets you taste London’s cuisine while cruising on a lovely evening.
We personally loved how the evening began with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. It’s such a classy touch that sets our mood right.
We also tasted their four-course set dinner, and it’s exceptional. We still found ourselves talking about the dish days later.
What makes this experience even more memorable and fun are the live performers and dancers on board. It felt more like an intimate dinner with a show that we forgot we were on a cruise.
The entire experience lasts around 3 hours, which we felt was just right. Not too short and not too long.
| Pro Tip: If you want a window seat, add a “window table upgrade” during check-out. |
Afternoon Tea Cruise from City Experiences
Media credit: @beingfoodielicious
Address: Westminster Pier
Contact Details: +442077400400
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £49
London is famous for its afternoon tea, and the best way to experience this is on a cruise. We mean, you can have afternoon tea wherever you like, but it’s another level when you’re aboard a cruise.
For us, the highlight of this experience is the sandwiches and scones they offer. They were served fresh and warm. I remember a dramatic moment when my friend was sitting by the window while sipping his tea and enjoying those scones.
All these, plus the sunset, felt so surreal and memorable for us. Of course, that’s aside from the 360-degree view, thanks to the open-deck design of Millennium Diamond (their flagship vessel).
This 90-minute tour is very popular. From our experience, tickets really do sell fast, so make sure you book your tickets quickly!
| Pro Tip: You can upgrade to their VIP package for an additional £20 per person to secure premium seating and priority boarding. |
Jazz Dinner Cruise from River Thames Cruises
Media credit: riverthamescruises
Address: Unit 104, Railway Arches
Contact Details: +442072373108
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission Costs: £113 per person
For an elegant yet fun cruise activity, the Jazz dinner cruise is for you. This is more on music—a live jazz quintet, to be specific. Expect a live, talented singer and a full set featuring Latin jazz tunes. In fact, we kept on tapping our feet along with the beat.
However, for us, the main stage is the three-course gourmet dinner. We tried their duck with braised puy lentils, and it was perfectly cooked. My friend had the vegetarian lasagna and said she loved it.
Oh, and we also love their chocolate fondant—such a hit with both kids and adults! We’ll definitely go back just for that gooey dessert.
For £113 per person, we think that this 3-hour experience is worth it. It’s something that will really stick with your memory, especially when you get to see Canary Wharf and Big Ben.
| Pro Tip: Dress semi-formally to match the elegant atmosphere. Absolutely no ripped jeans or flip-flops. |
Elvis Presley Tribute Cruise from River Thames Cruises
Media credit: moving_up_north
Address: Unit 104 Railway Arches
Contact Details: +442072373108
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission Costs: £113 per person
Fan of Elvis Presley? If you’re like my colleague who’s an Elvis fanatic, then this one will be a hit for you too! Get to enjoy a lively performance by Danny Graceland, a multi-award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist.
You’ll be amazed at how Danny flawlessly got that vocal style of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. You can instantly see that he is also a lifelong fan of Elvis, just by the way he sways.
Apart from that, there’s also a welcome drink and a three-course set menu. We personally like their herb-and-garlic corn-fed chicken and their tiramisu.
After the live performance, we also enjoyed hearing Elvis-themed music throughout the cruise. There are also cocktails and champagne available. Just make sure to bring extra cash for it, like we did.
| Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes! A lot of the guests dance once the show kicks in, so it’s best to be prepared. |
River Thames Lunch Cruise from Golden Tours
Media credit: dorymei2
Address: Stop 1, Bulleid Way
Contact Details: +442072337030
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: £49 per person
This 1-hour and 45-minute river cruise is a chill ride offering a combination of sightseeing and freshly cooked lunch. We don’t feel rushed on this tour, so we get to enjoy the food and the views.
Their two-course lunch comes with tea and coffee, perfect for adults. I tried the roasted chicken with seasonal vegetables, and it felt homely given that it’s a river cruise meal. The truffle cake was light enough to pair well with the coffee.
While cruising, there’s an audio commentary, which tourists will appreciate. I remember the couple behind us who really enjoyed the facts about the bridges.
Based on our experience, this tour is more suitable for couples and friends since it’s more laid-back. They accept children, though I noticed that the rates might feel a bit pricey for some families.
| Pro Tip: Go for this tour if you want a more relaxed, daytime cruise. This one isn’t a themed show, unlike other cruises, so it’s more relaxed. |
Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise from City Experiences
Media credit: citycruises
Address: Westminster Pier
Contact Details: +442077400400
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: £89 per person
For a unique experience, this interactive three-hour cruise should be on your bucket list. This is a complete experience, we can say!
We’re welcomed by an alcoholic drink, followed by a three-course dinner. Their menu doesn’t disappoint. They have salmon gravadlax, marinated chicken breast, and dessert.
Then, the exciting part comes—the theatrical murder mystery where we became detectives. There are two themes they offer monthly: Death and the Maiden Voyage and James Bond 007: No Time To Dine.
For us, we had James Bond, and we enjoyed it. Our only suggestion is that you need to be fully immersed here, like wearing formal dining attire. Crazy experience, but such an enjoyable one.
| Pro Tip: You can interact with the actors, and the more you play along, the better the experience as a “detective”. |
New Year’s Day Gala Dinner from City Experiences
Media credit: travel.therapy.uk
Address: Westminster Pier
Contact Details: +442077400400
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £599
This New Year’s Day gala dinner is more on the luxurious side. It’s a fancy dining experience on a holiday, so expect it to be expensive. Pricey, but it’s something that we think is worth the shot (literally and figuratively).
Speaking of a shot, there’s a glass of champagne as we arrive at Tower Millennium Pier. Then, after that, we had the six-course dinner. We had their savoury onion soup and tiger prawns drenched in beer batter. It was such a feast, perfect for the night!
Drinks? No worries! They have tea or coffee, depending on your preference. But we recommend not missing the champagne toast at midnight. It’s the highlight of the evening.
| Pro Tip: Sit on the upper deck so you can get a nice view of the fireworks. |
Christmas Lunch Cruise Party from London Party Boats
Media credit: citycruisesuk
Address: Festival Pier, Belvedere Road
Contact Details: +442071181281
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £75
If you’re in London on Christmas, we recommend skipping shopping and going on a lunch cruise party instead. This one-of-a-kind holiday treat will take your whole gang to the River Thames while enjoying a three-course Christmas menu.
We appreciate the glass of their wine from North-Eastern Italy as a welcome drink. If that’s not enough for you and your friends, they have two bars where you can bring your friends (like we did).
Their vessel? Top-tier! It has large viewing windows with a glass retractable roof, and mind you, it’s fully heated. We think that this is ideal for those who want something less late-night, but still festive.
| Pro Tip: Make sure to pre-order your menu choices for a hassle-free lunch party. |
Hop-on-hop-off Cruise Tour from Thames River Sightseeing
Media credit: kimo_pokini
Address: Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment
Contact Details: +442037780700
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £15.90 per person
This hop-on-hop-off cruise is a unique experience where you can explore at your own pace. This ticket is a 2-day river pass, where you can jump off anytime you want.
But note that there are only specific hop-on and hop-off points like Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, and Festival Pier. We recommend researching the locations along the route in case you want to jump off at a particular pier.
I remember one family hopped off on Festival Pier, and their kids were crying that they still wanted to ride the cruise. We assumed they’ll go to the Royal Festival Hall, though.
We did the one-way travel from Westminster to Greenwich, which is roughly one hour. It’s relaxing, plus you get to see different landmarks along this route.
| Pro Tip: For museum fanatics, take the Embankment + Bankside stop. This is where museums, galleries, and theatres are located. |
Christmas Day Sightseeing Cruise from City Experiences
Media credit: citycruises
Address: Westminster Pier
Contact Details: +442077400400
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £30
This one is different from the Christmas day lunch cruise party because it’s a quick 1-hour sightseeing activity only. We took this one because we have other plans for the day, but still want to experience a Christmas Day cruise.
Note that this is just sightseeing, so there will be no included drinks or food. We just purchased mince pies and wine at their bar for something to eat.
Another good thing is that it’s family-friendly. Kids under 5 are free, so this counts as a perfect family getaway.
Meanwhile, if you’re travelling with groups of 20 or more, they have group discounts. As for us, we’re less than 10 and we don’t have kids, so we got no discounts. But overall, the experience is fun, and we enjoyed the decorated boat!
| Pro Tip: Dress warmly with gloves and proper layering, especially if you’re aiming for upper deck seats. |
Tower Bridge to Westminster from the Thames River Sightseeing
Media credit: ieatadelaide
Address: Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment
Contact Details: +442037780700
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission Costs: From £9.40 per person
Tower Bridge to Westminster is a sightseeing cruise that you can either go for a one-way or a round trip. One way takes about 30 minutes.
The cruise took us to Central London with live commentary by the crew. It’s not a recorded audio, so it’s not boring like other cruises. There’s also a song and a bar available on board, which we really enjoyed.
What we personally like is the modern boats that actually have heated indoor areas. There’s also an open top deck for you to appreciate the views. We had the perfect snaps here!
If we’re to choose, we’ll go for a one-way trip and then hop off at Westminster to explore other spots there, like museums and food stalls.
| Pro Tip: If you’re doing round-trips, check the return boat schedule so you’ll not be stranded. Also, expect there will be waiting times on returning. |
