emerveille

Hi all -
I'm going to London this week and want to go on a Thames river cruise. I've been to London before so I don't plan on joining a sightseeing bus tour that come with a cruise. Does anyone have suggestions for good non-bundled cruises?

Thanks for your help!

Robespierre

I've had good experiences with Catamaran Cruises. The 90-minute circle cruise from Westminster down to Tower Bridge and back is interesting, but there's a lot of history further east that you can get to with a trip down to Greenwich. The crews give a lively commentary on the sights as you go by.

After you've visited the Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum in Greenwich, you can either ride the boat back or take the DLR.

Robespierre

Link to TfL River Services (pdf document): http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river/pdfdocs/...esSpring06.pdf

nessundorma

I took the boat that departs from underneath Westminster Bridge and goes south to Kew and Hampton Court. It was a gorgeous day, and I found the 40 minute trip to Kew a delight. I believe (but cannot be sure) that the cost for an adult was 16 GBP round trip. If you wanted, you could purchase a discounted entry ticket to Kew or Hamptom Court from the cruise line. I think it was also possible to purchase a one-way ticket if you preferred returning by train.

The bargeman at the helm took a poll of his passengers to ask if they would like a commentary whilst going down the river. The majority voted yes, and the bargeman narrated a casually chatty but quite interesting history of the commercial use of the river and its banks, and the various bridges, etc. On the return trip, there was no narration.

The only thing I would if I had it to do over again would be going all the way down to Hampton Court instead fo Kew, although in late April, Kew might be particularly lovely.

It's also been my impression that there is a boat that embarks from the dock directly in front of Tate Modern and goes toward Tower Bridge -- and how far it goes, I don't know, but I think it's free. I could be wrong about that, however.

noe847

There is a shuttle that runs on the river between the two Tates, also stopping at the London Eye. According to the Tate website the Tate Boat is "a catamaran with specially commissioned exterior and interior designs by leading artist Damien Hirst." It isn't free, however. There is also a "river roamer" option that allows unlimited trips on the river between Tate Britain, the London Eye, Tate Modern, and the Tower of London. Details, schedule, and fares at: http://www.tate.org.uk/tatetotate/#boat