City Cruises - Thames Boat Trips and Sightseeing

Thames Cruises

City Cruises plc is the leading operator of Thames cruises, serving some three quarters of a million people yearly on our sightseeing, ferry, entertainment and charter services. Our four directors have many years' experience on the Thames; Gary and Rita Beckwith acquired their first sightseeing vessel, The King, in 1985, while Paul Wilson, Waterman to HM The Queen, is now the fourth generation of his family to work on the River Thames. Marketing director David Steele is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in tourism.

Thames cruises - please click here for more information on our range of services

Our Fleet

From our extensive fleet of Thames-faring vessels, there is an array of choices available to anyone wanting to plan a cruise to remember. If you are of a mind to off and see the sights close up, why not purchase one of our River Red Rover tickets, enabling you to catch one of our regular cruises up and down the Thames and dismebark/reembark at Westminster Pier, Tower Pier and Greenwich as many times as you like. Alternatively, if you would rather remain on the Thames and take in the sights from the comfort of one of our boats, then you might enjoy the sightseeing cruise, with a route guaranteed to sate your appetite for the sights of London. Starting from Westminster, home of Parliament, and making your way under Tower Bridge towards Greenwich, you will witness the magnificent buildings and vistas which make London one of the most visited and spectacular cities in the world.

If you discover that you are of a mind to relax and fully soak in the atmosphere as you cruise down the Thames, then you might be inclined to try one of our other options, for example our lunch and tea cruises - a highly civilised way to take in the splendours of London - or our guided tours, with RiverGuide commentary. If the idea of seeing the sights at night appeals, then you may consider taking one of our dinner cruises, with spectacular views of London lit up. And if the pretty lights aren't enough to distract you, the London Showboat offers a unique dinner and cabaret cruise with a four course meal and live music and dancing, so you may enjoy your food alongside performances from shows such as 'Cats', 'Me and My Girl' and 'Les Misérables' as you slowly cruise down the Thames alongside London's illuminated monuments.

Our Route

Our cruise along the Thames begins at Westminster Pier, in the shadow of Big Ben's tower and just a few steps away from Westminster Abbey. Across the Thames is County Hall, and beneath it is the London Aquarium, while a few yards downriver we see the Millennium Wheel, otherwise known as the London Eye.

The journey continues past the London Dungeon, the Tate Modern Gallery and the modern re-creation of Shakespeare's Globe. Also in this area is Vinopolis, the World of Wine. On the opposite side of the River Thames is the South Bank, one of London’s major cultural attractions. Further down the Thames we come to London Bridge, where a thrilling Thames vista unfolds: the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast. The cruise continues past Docklands and Canary Wharf to finish at historic Greenwich, the home of time itself.

Here, nestled on the banks of the Thames, are the Naval College and Seamen's Hospital, which have taken on a new role as the main campus of Greenwich University and Trinity College of Music. The National Maritime Museum, with Neptune Court, offers a great spot to rest by the river. Here you will find the historic clipper ship Cutty Sark, the Old Royal Observatory, Queen's House, Fan Museum, and other attractions which form the World Heritage Site of Greenwich.