London Sights
- Overview
- Itineraries
- Places to Explore
- Sights
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Travel Tips
- Features
- Fodor's Choice
- Deals
- Guidebooks
Thames River
Thames River Review
The twists and turns of the Thames River through the heart of the capital make it London's best thoroughfare and most compelling viewing point. Once famous for sludge, silt, and sewage, the Thames is now the one of the cleanest city rivers in the world. Every palace, church, theater, wharf, museum, and pub along the bank has a tale to tell, and traveling on or alongside the river is one of the best ways to soak up views of the city.
"On the smallest pretext of holiday or fine weather the mighty population takes to the boats," wrote Henry James in 1877. You can follow in the footsteps of James, who loved the boat trip from Westminster to Greenwich, or make up your own itinerary.
Frequent daily tourist-boat services are at their height between April and October.
In most cases you can turn up at a pier, and the next departure won't be far away. However, it never hurts to book ahead if you can.
Westminster and Tower piers are the busiest starting points, usually with boats heading east.
The trip between Westminster Pier and the Tower of London takes about 30 minutes, as does the trip between the Tower and Greenwich.
A full round-trip can take several hours. Ask about flexible fares and hop on/off options at the various piers.
London Ducktours. These cheerfully-painted amphibious patrol vehicles, which originally saw action in World War II, take you on a sightseeing tour on land-before splashing into the River Thames! Departs from the London Eye [on land], South Bank, SEI 7NJ. 020/7928-3132. www.londonducktours.co.uk. £21. Summer daily 9:30-6, approx. every 30 min; times vary in winter.
Tate to Tate Boat. The playfully polka-dotted Tate Boat ferries passengers across the river from the Tate Britain to the Tate Modern. It's Embankment Pier stop is next to Hungerford Bridge, which takes you directly over to the London Eye on the South Bank. Departs from the pier at either museum. 020/7887-8888. www.tate.org.uk/tatetotate. £5.50 one-way. Daily every 40 min during gallery opening times; approximately 18 min. one-way.
Bateaux London. What better view to enjoy over a meal than London from the river? Bateaux London offers semi-formal lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner cruises, with surprisingly good foood. Variations include jazz lunch cruises on Sundays and London Eye combo packages. Departs from Embankment Pier, Charing Cross. 020/7695-1800. www.bateauxlondon.com. £32-£43 lunch; £29.50-£39.50 afternoon tea; £75-£144 dinner. Booking essential. Times vary according to season; usually Wed.-Sun., with extra sailings in summer. Call or to check. Departures: noon (lunch), 3:15 (afternoon tea), 7:15 (dinner). Check times on the day. Boarding from 30 min. before departure.
London Showboat. This cruise lives up to its name, with four-course meals, snazzy cabaret acts from West End musicals, and after-dinner dancing. Departs from Westminster Pier, Westminster. 020/7740-0400. www.citycruises.com. £78. Apr.-Sept., Wed.-Sun. 7:30 pm; Oct. and March., Thurs.-Sun. 7:30 pm; Nov. and Dec., Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 pm; Jan. and Feb., Fri. and Sat. 7:30 pm; boarding starts 30 mins prior to departure.
- Address: London | Map It
- Location: The Thames Upstream
Contact Information
Free Fodor's Newsletter
Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.
Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas
- Great American Vacation: Find Your Next U.S. Trip with Fodor's
- 80 Degrees: Fodor's Helps You Find Your Best Beach Vacation Spots
- Go List: Fodor's Top 25 Places to Go in 2013
- Hotel Awards 2012: Fodor's 100 Top Hotels
- Weekend Getaways: Fodor's Recommends the Best Weekend Escapes in the US
- Best of Europe: Fodor's Picks the Best Places to Visit in Europe
Travel Deals in London
- $133 & up -- London: 4-Star Hotel near City Center, $200 Off Mercure London Bridge Hotel
- $1999 -- British Isles: 7-Night Windstar Cruise, 70% Off Windstar Cruises
- $1799 & up -- 'World's Best': Luxe European Cruises, 70% Off — $1,799 Windstar Cruises
· Forums Trip Reports
-
We recently came back from a one week trip to London and found it thrilling. Read more
-
As promised I am making recommendations for places as separate threads so that they will be easily searchable when others are looking for recommendations.
Pubs: (New Town)
The Queen's Arms (Frederick Read more
·United Kingdom Forum
-
My husband and I are flying into Brussels in September and plan on flying out of London. Read more
· News & Features
-
Trip Ideas, Arts & Culture
It's been about 18,000 hard day's nights (er, 50 years) since The Beatles changed rock 'n' roll. ... Read more
-
Family, Trip Ideas
A trophy trip for teens, a storybook vacay for toddlers, a sophisticated city break for grown-ups... Londo... Read more
-
Arts & Culture
Despite the season finale, Dan Stevens (aka Matthew Crawley) was on hand to host the Big British Invite... Read more



