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Join us whatever the weather

Make the most of London with a River Roamer ticket for all-day travel!

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Travel across London

From all-day passes to one way tickets, travel by boat and enjoy the views!

Sail home after a show at The O2

New dates available! On select event nights, sail back into town with us right after the show ends!

River and cable car

Experience London from the sky and the river with our joint tickets with IFS Cloud Cable Car!

Illuminated River Official Boat Tour

See London at night bathed in the light of the Illuminated River project. Every Saturday from Tower Pier.

Commute by river

Sit back, sail through rush hour and arrive stress-free. Flexible ticketing options available while season tickets offer you the best value for money

Looking for things to do in London?

We've curated a list of events happening in London this May. From exhibitions to outdoor festivals, hop on board and we'll take you there.

Visit our online merch shop!

Purchase some of your favourite merchandise from our range and have it delivered anywhere in the UK!

Light up your weekend

Tickets are available for the Illuminated River Official Boat Tour every Saturday in January. Get yours now and see London in a new light!

Save with commuter ticket

Your morning commute now costs less with our new ‘Commuter AM‘ ticket that offers a 25% saving! Upgrade your journey into work and enjoy taking in the views with a freshly brewed coffee from the onboard café bar.

Tell us how we did!

If you’ve travelled with us recently, let us know how it went with this quick customer survey.

Looking for day out inspiration?

London is a big city... With so many options on where to go, it can be hard to decide. Luckily for you, we've done the hard work already! Head to our blog to see our recommendations on places to explore along the Thames.

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Guaranteed seat

Comfortable seats in climate controlled cabins or enjoy the fresh air on the outside back deck. 

Café bar

A whole range of refreshments are available from the onboard café bar.

Bikes permitted

Bring your bike on board at no extra charge. We can currently carry up to 14 bikes on our largest vessels. Pets are also welcome.

There are toilets with accessible facilities on board most of the fleet. Our larger boats also have baby changing tables.

Save time and money, download the Thames Clippers Tickets app. Buy season tickets and flexible ticket carnets.

London by river

Kids go free!

Go on an adventure with the kids. Travelling by river is a great way for families to explore London differently. They will love being on the back deck! With a Family River Roamer kids go free. 

Enjoy the café bar

Sip, snack and sail! Refreshments are available at our onboard café bar from hot drinks to alcoholic beverages and snacks.

Make special occasions extra special

Add a touch of luxury to your events with our high speed vessel Orion Clipper from VIP transfers, to birthdays and excurions with family or friends.

Accessible travel across London 

Boat accessibility information.

All our boats are wheelchair, mobility scooter and pram accessible by ramp. All boats, except Star, Storm and Sky Clipper, have accessible toilets and larger boats have baby changing tables.

All our piers are step-free and wheelchair accessible except for Cadogan, London Bridge City and Wandsworth Riverside Quarter piers.

Mobility scooter owners are welcome on board but need first to apply for our Mobility Scooter Recognition Scheme .

You can bring your guide or assistance dog on board for free.

Any person with a valid Disabled I.D. badge/card, will get 50% off ticket fares and a complimentary ticket for their carer.

Latest service updates

For the most up to date information on our services please follow   @thamesclippers on X (formerly known as Twitter). You can also find live departure information at the piers or on the Thames Clippers Tickets app.

"I would just like to say, you do an amazing job, always helpful, friendly. Provide an amazing service."

Thames River Cruises 

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is the fastest, most frequent and reliable fleet on the River Thames - carrying over 4 million passengers last year. Unlike most other forms of public transport, we are always reliable - the only days our river boats don’t run are Christmas and Boxing Day.

Thames River Boats 

Our Thames river boats are fully equipped with comfortable seating and plenty of space. Our larger river boats all have licenced on-board bars, with a range of coffees, snacks and alcoholic drinks. They all have toilet facilities, and some even have baby changing facilities. Our Thames river buses have Metro and City AM newspapers available on board and Free Wi-Fi is available at our main piers. The experience of travelling through London on a Thames river bus is unlike any other form of travel, providing an epic experience for its users. Far more enjoyable than struggling for space on a packed London Underground tube, quicker than driving or getting the bus, and less exhausting than walking or riding your bike!

Our History 

Starting in 1999 with just one boat in operation, our fleet has grown exponentially to 20 high-speed Thames river boats, offering services from all major London piers every 10-20 minutes. Our services cater for everyone from early morning commuters to night-time passengers. There are countless reasons to choose a London River Bus over any other form of transport – choose a Thames river cruise next time you need to travel through London.

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Thames River Cruise

Step aboard and let the gentle sway of the water carry you on an unforgettable adventure along the iconic Thames River.

A Thames River Cruise is not just a leisurely boat ride—it's an immersive experience that reveals the beating heart of London's rich history and vibrant culture. 

As you glide beneath the timeless arches of its famous bridges, past the majestic landmarks that dot its banks, you'll witness the city's story unfold in a breathtaking panorama.

Join us as we delve into the allure of a Thames River Cruise, where old meets new and tradition intertwines with modernity, promising an enchanting voyage you won't soon forget.

The Best Thames River Cruises

Whether you want to book a sightseeing cruise or are looking for one of the many river-based dining experiences in London, you will find a Thames river cruise that's right for you. Here are some of the options you can choose:

Thames Rockets

You won't see too many of the sights along the river when you're traveling down the Thames in the city's fastest boats.

The Thames Rockets travel down the Thames River at 30 knots, so pack your waterproof clothing and brace yourself for a high-speed ride in a 12-meter-long fiberglass boat.  The Red Rockets speed down the exclusive High-Speed Zone, blasting music.

You'll pass Tower Bridge, the HMS Belfast, St Paul's Cathedral, and the famous Tower of London, but be warned: this isn't a sightseeing cruise! It's forty minutes of pure exhilaration. Get your tickets online.

Bateaux London

Credit: Bateaux London

This popular river cruise and steamboat restaurant offer dining experiences, like a lunch, dinner, or afternoon tea cruise or the famous three-course lunch and jazz cruise. You can choose between two vessels, the Glass Room and River Room.

The Glass Room has a fully stocked bar and lavish interiors designed by Tom Dixon, while the River Room boasts large windows and the largest outdoor rooftop observation deck on the Thames.

With food, drinks, and toilet facilities, you will definitely be comfortable as this river tour slowly makes its way past the many sites along the river.

It's one of the best dining cruises the Thames has to offer. Cruises depart from the Victoria Embankment, and you can book in advance online.

Website: bateauxlondon.com

City Cruises

Credit: City Cruises

City cruises offer practical hop-on, hop-off boat trips throughout London. They run from Westminster, Waterloo, Greenwich Pier, and Tower Pier, with convenient stops at the city's various attractions.

North Greenwich Pier, for example, is the ideal point of departure for the Cutty Shark, Royal Observatory, and National Maritime Museum.

Tower Pier is a great spot if you would like to see Tower Bridge or the Tower of London. It's not only a great sightseeing cruise but a good option when you get sick of using the Tube.

Website: cityexperiences.com/city-cruises

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at a whopping 24 piers between Barking Riverside Pier and Putney Pier. Services start early in the morning, and they operate until late at night. 

The river is divided into the West, Central, and East zone, so make sure you have a valid ticket.

All of these hop-on hop-off river cruises are accessible to wheelchair users and parents with prams, except for Cadogan, London Bridge City, and the Wandsworth Riverside Quarter. Bring your bike along for free.

London Duck Tours

Credit: London Duck Tours

This unique sightseeing cruise uses WWII landing vehicles (painted in rubber duck yellow) and passes by all of the most beautiful sights in the city by road before splashing down into the Thames to travel past Docklands, Canary Wharf, and Greenwich.

It's not nearly as fast as some of the boats on the water today, but it's a unique experience you can't enjoy anywhere else.

Website: londonducktours.co.uk

Thames River Boats

Credit: Thames River Boats

The Thames River Boats will take you on a leisurely 22-mile journey from the Palace of Westminster to Hampton Court.

It's a three-hour cruise, where you can see the greener, quieter side of London along with the exciting hustle and bustle of its high-rises and busy streets.

Website: thamesriverboats.co.uk

Vintage Red Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

If you'd like to explore the city at your own pace, book a combination ticket for the Red Bus and the Thames River Cruise. You'll be able to view the Globe, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace . 

Why stop with the land and the sea, though? You can add a ticket for the London Eye as well, so you can see the twinkling lights of London from the sky.

Tate to Tate

Art lovers, pay attention! You can see two of the city's most iconic art institutions with the Tate to Tate Boat. You can see both the Tate Modern and the Tate Britain while passing the central London scenery.

YBA Damien Hirst has decorated the interior and exterior with his unique flair. It's the quickest and most original way to travel through the city. The Tate Modern is located in Bankside, while the Tate Britain is located in Milbank.

Both are close to popular tube stations, so you can easily see the rest of the city after paying a visit to either institution.

Website: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-boat

Final Thoughts

Thames river cruises are a great way to experience the city of London, whether you would like to take a slow and relaxing sightseeing cruise or board a music-filled party boat. A Thames cruise is a must for visitors to the city.

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Boat Trips on the thames

Regular & scheduled boat trips along the River Thames

Thames River Trips

Take a look at our regular and scheduled boat trips on the River starting 12th April and running throughout the Summer. New this year, weekday cream tea cruises to Pangbourne & Shiplake. A day cruise to Goring and we have the return of our Moulsford round trip. All this as well as weekend and summer holiday 45, 60 and 90-minute cruises from Caversham Pier, Reading.  Download our timetable here.

Sail through stunning Thames reaches with a reserved table and cream tea.

A Unique Round-Trip River Cruise Through Goring & Cleeve Locks

A day out on the Thames from Reading to Goring

An afternoon round-trip cruise to Pangbourne with cream tea

A shorter cruise to get a taste of the river.

Watch the river change from town to country.

Follow the twists and turns of the Thames to Mapledurham

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Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames | City Cruises™

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