Suggestions for a great Thames River Tour
 

Hello everyone.... I wanted to ask if any of you know what is the best tour to take in the Thames River. I am booking things online that need to or are better paid in advanced and the river tour is one of them. This is the thing: I can get online and see all the tours offered I can access tens of websites with offerings...BUT I would like to know through your own experience of a good river tour for me and my kids. Maybe a cruise that can take me from A to B, we rented a flat in between the Southwark and Borough stations. My son is 20 and my daughter is 6 and we will be in London next month. I dont think I would like the fast boats, more of a cruise is what I am looking for. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Vir

>>that need to or are better paid in advanced and the river tour is one of them. <<

IME there is no need at all to pre-book a river trip. In fact you wouldn't want to since the enjoyment is VERY weather-dependent. YOu don't want to take a sightseeing boat cruise when it is pouring down w/ rain.

she is asking for more of a slow-moving cruise not just a sightseeing boat and I do not think they exist for only a day butnot sure. How about renting your own boat and doing your own cruise to where you want and when you want?

>>she is asking for more of a slow-moving cruise not just a sightseeing boat<<

Context of the OP -- It appears she wants to <i>sightsee</i> IN London as opposed to taking a water taxi.

>>How about renting your own boat and doing your own cruise to where you want and when you want?<<

Huh?

Ok cruise means slow boat - I was thinking cruise meant more long-term and you can rent houseboats on the Thames up from London but yes now I see just for a day cruise - well the boats on Thames in London - there aree cruises there but they IME involve a meal or drinking - as opposed to the regular boats going say between the London Eye area and Greenwich - and there are many of these - no need to pre-book the regular boats and as janis says weather can be a factor so you do not want to lock yourself into some time on a certain day.

Greenwich is really nice - plan to spend some time there - trek up te steep hill to the Greenwich Observatory - the 'home' of time and cross the meridian between the Weatern and Eastern hemispheres - wander around verdant and expansive Greenwich Park - tour the Cutty Sark - see the old buildings of the Royal Naval College - now a museum in part and a university of some sorts in the others.

janisj thank you. Rain does not scare me, and we are ready with rain coats and all, we have literally just 5 full days so we are willing to do anything rain or shine. If I go by what the weather dictates I'll probably staying in and not getting around at all...just putting weather aside, do you know of any cool boat rides there?

PalenQ....I am not rich and cant book a cruise to myself.... as you say it well a "sightseeing boat" is what I am looking for. I probably didnt write it well since English is not my first language but that's what I meant. Thank you for your suggestion though...I'll play the lottery next week and see what happens :-)

PalenQ I just saw your last message and that's exactly my wish.... I want to be able to cruise the river up and down if that is possible....is there like a bus boat?

https://www.google.com/search?q=lond...flfq=1&tbm=lcl

Here's a list of seemingly all of the many different firms offering Thames boat rides.

No need to book in advance unless you want something like a dinner cruise. For the regular sightseeing boats which cruise between Westminster and Greenwich with accompanying commentary, just turn up at the pier and buy a ticket. There's a list of companies here http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/ab...on-this-page-1

anicecupoftea, so the prices are the same if I buy there or online? For the London Eye I found a discount than if I bought it the same day there at the booth.

Your English is fine and -- everyone else understood what you meant.

>>Rain does not scare me, and we are ready with rain coats and all<<

The problem is when it rains or is super cold the windows all fog up and you can't see much/anything. And if it is that wet, it is very unpleasant on the outside decks.

>> so the prices are the same if I buy there or online? For the London Eye I found a discount than if I bought it the same day there at the booth.<<

There may be a small discount if you book on-line having better weather/views would be more important I'd think. AND -- the Eye is even <B>MORE</B> weather dependent than a boat trip. It s very high so if it is rainy or foggy you can't really see anything from up there. I would definitely NOT pre-book the Eye. If the weather is nice, you can book in the morning by phone or on-line for later that day.

You don't get much discount for booking online - less than the price of a coffee. As janisj says, the windows will steam up if it rains and you won't see anything, so you'll have wasted your money. On a wet day, stick to the Tube and indoor attractions, and save a river or bus trip for a dry day when you can see London going past.

http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour-...ver-cruise.htm

Some hoo-on-hoo-ff London double-decker bus tours give a free Thames boat ride with every daily bus ticket sold and IME these buses are agreat way to orient yourselves to the city - they go to just about everything of interest in central London - you hop on and off as you like for the day - commentary provided en route.

Great info....although I just booked the Eye last friday, the ticket that you can use twice in the day, am and then again in the pm, just in case.I tried to book the Shard and it is sold out until June :-(. the do guarantee a come back during any day the next three months, but I couldnt buy that anyway.

>>I just booked the Eye last friday, the ticket that you can use twice in the day, am and then again in the pm, just in case.<<

Then we'll all keep our fingers crossed you have nice weather that day :)

Thank you Janisj :-)

Maybe just me, but I hated the HOHO bus in London. It kept getting stuck in smoggy traffic right in the middle of blocks where we could not get off, but could see places we wanted to go and could have walked quite easily. It was a big waste of time and money.

I also did not find the Thames River trip to Greenwich that pretty or interesting. Perhaps it is better the other way. Agree with others, if you are going to do it, the day should be clear and sunny, not depressing and gray.

What we did find fun (but know it would not be for everyone) was a canal boat trip from Little Italy to Camden Market. Google some images to see the canals from a narrow boat. Little Italy is quiet with beautiful homes like the place in the TV show, As time Goes By. You arrive in Camden to a raucous noise of music, venders, food smells, etc. You could also do the trip in reverse, or both ways.

>>canal boat trip from Little Italy to Camden Market<<

Close but no cigar ;)

That would be Little <i>Venice</i>

OMG, I just googled "images of London from a canal boat in Little Venice." It looked even prettier and more interesting than when I last did it a few years ago. It was one of my favorite things I did on our last visit.