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London days out, connected by the river.

Thames cruise tickets & London river itineraries

Compare Uber Boat, sightseeing cruises, dining cruises and speedboats. Turn the river into a complete London day with the right piers, attraction tickets and a sensible route home.

Compare tickets Plan my river day
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central LondonA little planning. A much better day.
River Thames, LondonUber Boat by Thames Clippers
MAKE IT YOUR KIND OF DAY

Compare Thames cruises, river buses and London days out

London days out, connected by the river. Start with the experience you want to have.

See the full comparison →
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central LondonRiver Thames, London
01 / Flexible sightseeing with several stops

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

Use the river as transport between London sights, with single, return and hop-on hop-off options to compare.

Scheduled river busExplore & compare
Thames sightseeing boats beside the Houses of Parliament and Big BenWestminster to Greenwich
02 / Commentary and a sightseeing journey

Thames sightseeing cruises

Travel through central London towards Greenwich with commentary and a dedicated sightseeing format.

Sightseeing cruiseExplore & compare
Dinner cruise passenger looking towards Tower Bridge at sunsetCentral London
03 / A meal and an evening on the river

Thames dinner cruises

Make the cruise your main evening plan, with a meal and a fixed departure rather than attraction hopping.

Seated dining cruiseExplore & compare
Tiered cakes and sandwiches on a Thames afternoon tea cruiseCentral London
04 / Tea and sightseeing together

Thames afternoon tea cruises

Combine a seated afternoon tea with a river journey, without committing your evening to dinner on board.

Dining cruiseExplore & compare
Guests dining beside the windows of a Thames cruise boatCentral London
05 / A daytime meal on the river

Thames lunch cruises

Use lunch as your river experience and keep the evening free for theatre, a restaurant or another neighbourhood.

Dining cruiseExplore & compare
Red Thames speedboat passing the Houses of ParliamentRiver Thames, London
06 / A faster sightseeing experience

Thames speedboat rides

A high-energy river experience for visitors who want the boat ride itself to be the event.

RIB speedboatExplore & compare
The Tower of London viewed from the riverTower Pier, London
07 / History as the anchor of your day

Tower of London by river

Pair a Tower visit with river transport, then continue towards the South Bank or Greenwich.

Attraction admission, booked separatelyExplore & compare
London Eye capsule overlooking the Thames and central LondonSouth Bank, London
08 / A skyline finish to your river day

London Eye by river

Finish a river day with the London Eye and time on the South Bank, with a realistic buffer after the boat.

Attraction admission, booked separatelyExplore & compare
Visitors and guide beneath the Old Royal Naval College colonnades in GreenwichGreenwich Pier, London
09 / A full riverside destination day

Greenwich by river

Let Greenwich be the destination, with space for the waterfront, a meal and an optional Painted Hall visit.

River pass with attraction optionsExplore & compare
LESS GUESSWORK

Know what you’re booking.

Entry, guided visits and extras can mean very different things. Our comparisons explain what to look for.

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Thames sightseeing boats beside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
THE DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Uber Boat vs Thames Sightseeing Cruise: Which Ticket Fits Your Day?

Choose Uber Boat for transport and time ashore. Choose a sightseeing cruise when commentary and the boat journey are the main event.

Compare the experiences →
SIDE BY SIDE

Thames Cruise Guide: which option should you choose?

Clear recommendations, with a reason to choose each experience.

White river bus travelling along the Thames in central London

Uber Boat vs Thames Sightseeing Cruise: Which Ticket Fits Your Day?

Choose Uber Boat for transport and time ashore. Choose a sightseeing cruise when commentary and the boat journey are the main event.

Read the comparison →
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central London

Uber Boat Single, Return or River Pass: How to Choose

Choose the ticket after sketching your route. Two useful boat journeys can be better than an unlimited pass you barely use.

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Dinner cruise passenger looking towards Tower Bridge at sunset

Thames Dinner Cruise vs Afternoon Tea: Which Should You Choose?

Choose dinner for your main evening plan, afternoon tea for a daytime pause, or lunch to keep the evening free.

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MAKE THE RIVER PART OF YOUR DAY

Plan a London day out by boat

Choose a day plan to see the stops, ticket decisions and return arrangements.

A full day with two possible attraction bookings

Tower of London to London Eye

  1. Tower of London visit
  2. Walk to Tower Pier
  3. Westbound boat towards Westminster
  4. South Bank and optional London Eye

Check the route: For London Eye, some westbound RB1 services turn at Westminster before calling there. Other services require you to leave at Westminster and cross Westminster Bridge. Check with crew and the current timetable.

Tickets to consider: Book Tower admission and river transport separately. Add Eye admission only with a generous gap after the Tower visit.

Read the full day plan →
One destination explored properly

Central London to Greenwich and back

  1. Your chosen central London pier
  2. Boat to Greenwich Pier
  3. Painted Hall or waterfront time
  4. Return boat or land transport

Check the route: Use Greenwich Pier for maritime Greenwich, not North Greenwich for The O2. Check your last useful return before leaving the pier.

Tickets to consider: Compare transport-only tickets with the pass plus Painted Hall option. Other attraction admissions remain separate.

Read the full day plan →
One main attraction and flexible breaks

An easy family river day

  1. Choose the Tower or London Eye
  2. Enjoy a single useful boat leg
  3. Food and a riverside break
  4. Return by the route that suits your family

Check the route: Keep the second half of the day flexible. Check access at both piers and give children time ashore rather than filling the day with connections.

Tickets to consider: Compare the actual family ticket total. An unlimited pass is useful only if you will make enough journeys.

Read the full day plan →
One protected sailing time

Sightseeing followed by a dining cruise

  1. Explore near your departure pier
  2. Leave a boarding buffer
  3. Afternoon tea, lunch or dinner sailing
  4. Return from the stated disembarkation pier

Check the route: Dining cruises are fixed departures. They are not hop-on hop-off transport and cannot be assumed to stop at the attractions you pass.

Tickets to consider: Check menu, drinks and table arrangements before paying. Choose a meal format that fits the rest of your day.

Read the full day plan →

Suggested itineraries, not bundled tours or live journey predictions. Confirm your date, direction, ticket validity and boarding point before booking.

Official Uber Boat route map ↗ · Check current river-bus departures ↗

A GOOD PLACE TO START

Which experience is right for you?

Start with what matters most. We’ll suggest a fit and explain the tradeoff.

Select a priority to see our recommendation.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Plan your London river day

The practical details that make the day run more smoothly.

All visitor guides →
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central London
PLANNING GUIDE 1

Tower of London to London Eye by Boat: Piers and a Full Day Plan

Visit the Tower first, use the river to cross central London, then finish on the South Bank. The important detail is how your westbound boat serves London Eye Pier.

Plan your visit →
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central London
PLANNING GUIDE 2

Greenwich by Boat: A London Day Trip with Time Ashore

Choose maritime Greenwich as the main destination and leave room for the waterfront, a meal and one interior visit.

Plan your visit →
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central London
PLANNING GUIDE 3

Thames Piers and River Routes: Where to Board for London Attractions

Choose a pier by the attraction, operator and direction of travel. A nearby landmark name alone is not enough.

Plan your visit →
White river bus travelling along the Thames in central London
PLANNING GUIDE 4

Family Day Out on the Thames: Boats, Attractions and Breaks

Keep the day to one major attraction, enjoyable river travel and flexible time for food or play. Add a second timed attraction only if your family has room for it.

Plan your visit →
Thames sightseeing boats beside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
PLANNING GUIDE 5

Thames Cruise Booking Checklist: Piers, Returns and Inclusions

Before paying, match the exact ticket to the day you have planned. Most avoidable mistakes are about boarding points and inclusions.

Plan your visit →
A SMARTER WAY TO BOOK

Save 5% on your first booking

Explore the first-booking offer and check eligibility before choosing your tickets.

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