RIVER & CANAL CRUISES
Reviewed, compared and ranked by the people aboard.
The 15 most popular london cruises, compared side by side. What you see from the water, how long you are aboard, what it costs and which operator to book, so you can pick your boat in a couple of minutes.
London’s best quick overview from a hop-on hop-off double-decker, plus an optional Thames cruise, free Wi‑Fi, and multilingual audio.
Most Popular“Perfect way to get a big overview of the city. Easy access, nice buses, friendly drivers. Highly recommend”
Hop on Tootbus around London on an open-top bus, with GPS app tracking, multi-language audio, themed walks, and optional Thames river cruise.
“Fantastic, great for when you want to rest your legs from walking all day to just hop on and go for a ride.”
Hop-on hop-off bus plus London Eye and Thames cruise. See Big Ben, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, then get skyline views from above.
“Very good, descriptive narration and excellent driving.”
Hop-on hop-off open-top bus in London with live tracking, 10-language audio, and optional Thames cruise from Westminster to Tower.
“Everyone was exceptionally helpful and friendly. London was so cold and rainy that day and it was a perfect option to warm up between sights.”
Thames River cruise from the London Eye pier with live guide commentary and views of Parliament, St Paul’s, the Tower and Tower Bridge, plus optional London Eye.
“Boat was really comfortable and Ben was a really engaging and fun guide.”
See London by Big Bus hop-on hop-off routes with a Thames cruise, plus optional guided walks and a panoramic evening tour.
“This is a great thing to do. The buses come along very regularly and it is very easy to hop on or off depending on what you want to do. Would highly recommend.”
London hop-on hop-off double-decker bus plus Thames River cruise. Use app tracking, hop anytime across three routes, then cruise the Thames.
“Great way to get around and see London. Drivers are courteous and helpful. The metro can get you faster but many things can be missed”
London in One Day blends guided sights, St. Paul’s fast-track, Tower of London entry, a Thames cruise, and an optional London Eye.
“Our tour guide (Norma) deserted us at the end near the Tower of London. My partner couldn’t keep up and she just left us in the distance.”
A 40-minute Thames cruise from the London Eye Pier with live commentary and classic sights like Big Ben, St Paul’s, the Tower, and Tate Modern.
“Thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Tour guide Paul was great. Would recommend for anyone looking for a unique way to see London”
Thames cruise plus London Eye ticket combo. Live commentary, quick views of top sights, and a 360° capsule ride from 135m.
“The lady checking bags prior to boarding the cruise yelled at me to stop and was rude after she had already checked my bag. That was a little off putting. Amelia was a great tour guide that actually talked about what we were seeing on the river banks. My family loved going in the observation…”
Hop-on hop-off Thames river cruise from Westminster, Waterloo, Tower, and Greenwich with onboard commentary, bar, and 24-hour flexibility.
“Best tour experience in many years. The crew was friendly and efficient, especially liked the young man who offered a descriptive commentary on the sights. Glad we went to Greenwich, the Maritime Museum was one of my favorites. This Viatour is excellent start to a first visit to London. You can get an idea of…”
Thames lunch cruise from Tower Pier with a 2-course meal, big-name landmarks, and time to photograph Parliament, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge.
“Very pleasant! Nice and clean. We appreciated the speaker too. The food was good everyone enjoyed the lunch.”
90 minutes of Thames views plus traditional afternoon tea—scones, cakes, sandwiches, unlimited hot drinks—starting at Tower Pier.
“Amazing way to see important sites of London from a view from the Thames. Delicious food traditional Tea service. Right behind the castle … easy on off Highly recommend this activity.”
Skip-the-line Westminster Abbey and Tower of London plus a Thames cruise. One full day of royal sights with headsets and clear pacing.
“Great walking tour with Patrick. Started with Westminster Abbey then to changing of the guard. Walked to Trafalgar Square for lunch. After lunch back to Westminster area to go on Thames boat cruise to the Tower of London. Saw the Crown Jewels and several other buildings and exhibits. Overall a great day.”
A one-day Paris sampler by Eurostar plus hop-on hop-off bus and a Seine cruise, with reserved seats and flexible sightseeing time.
“We did the guided tour and it was a wonderful experience. Our guide Peter was very knowledgeable and gave us many tips on customary greetings and things to avoid. The only complaint I would have is how early it starts, but to be able to do everything that gets fit into the day it needs…”
Pick a canal city, a famous river, or the kind of cruise you want to be on.
