England · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in England

127 tours  ·  from $14

From a half-hour hop under Tower Bridge to a punt on the Cam and a harbour trip in Cornwall. The 15 below are priced and timed, with a note on which run year-round and which stop for the winter.

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - The central route from Green Park to the Tower
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

1.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

See London’s major sights from an open-top double-decker bus, using three routes and many stops near Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St. Paul’s, museums, and Covent Garden. Choose a one-day, 24-hour, or 48-hour ticket. The longer options add a one-way Thames cruise, walking tours, and selected evening sightseeing.

“Great way to see London! We loved the variety of routes and having the app was so helpful to see when the busses were arriving.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, and Westminster
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in London, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

2.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

See London from an open-top double-decker bus on three routes covering Westminster, Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St Paul’s, Kensington, and King’s Cross. Your pass also includes a Thames sightseeing cruise, audio commentary, children’s commentary, and an app for tracking buses and finding stops.

“Tootbus locations not well signed. Poor directions given by attendants. Very complicated process. Would not choose this hop on hop off in the future.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride - The Thames boat ride at night
Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

3.Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,212 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Meet your guide near Green Park for a 2.5-hour evening walk through Berkeley Square, royal parks, and St. James’s Palace stories, with a 25-minute Thames boat ride in the middle. Guides such as Marvin, Arne, Murray, Martin, and Eddie are praised for lively storytelling, but the boat is a regular Uber Boat service.

“Very nice walk through London, Eddie our tour guide was very nice, lots of interesting information delivered with a great sense of humour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London - Tate Modern, St Paul’s, and Shakespeare’s Globe
Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

4.Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,969 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $22

Sail east from Westminster Pier to Greenwich in about an hour, passing Big Ben, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Live commentary adds context, while multilingual smartphone audio is available. Disembark at Greenwich to visit the Cutty Sark, market, museums, park, and observatory.

“Great trip up/down the Thames. We did the return trip, despite it being freezing above deck the delicious mulled wine went down a treat. Great commentary during the trip and we both enjoyed it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise - Parliament, Whitehall, and the royal stops
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

5.Gray Line London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,064 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $32

Use Gray Line’s open-top buses to reach sights from the London Eye and Tower of London to Buckingham Palace, Kensington, and Notting Hill. Audio comes in 12 languages, with kid-friendly commentary and live guides on selected Blue Route buses. A one-way Thames cruise is included with the 24-hour ticket.

“Don't waste your money and time. Worst tour experience I've ever had. Audio awful. Staff not helpful. Viator not responsive with poor experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River - The three-course dinner is convenient, not fully flexible
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

6.London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,772 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Board at Westminster Pier for an approximately three-hour evening cruise past the London Eye, St. Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and the Thames Flood Barrier. You’ll receive a welcome drink, set three-course dinner, live music, and dancing, with VIP seating and canapés available.

“The cruise and staff were good. Main course was good. Would have preferred a choice in food. I looked on the reservation and didn’t see a place to put dietary restrictions. It was difficult to find which pier boat left from.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London In One Day Tour with River Cruise & London Eye Option - The coach tour covers a lot of ground
1-Day Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Eye Tickets, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London In One Day Tour with River Cruise & London Eye Option

7.London In One Day Tour with River Cruise & London Eye Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,678 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $177

Spend about nine hours touring London by air-conditioned coach, on foot, and by Thames boat. See the Changing of the Guard, tour St. Paul’s Cathedral, explore the Tower of London, and add a 6:30pm London Eye ticket. Guides such as Leslie, Sandra, Omar, and Sheila are known for lively historical commentary.

“Sitting in quite a bit of traffic around London. Access to church and tower was nice, however no guided tour in tower (which we felt would have been a value add). Our tour guide was nice, but not very engaging. While sitting in traffic, it would have been nice to hear more history or stories to occupy time. We use Viator quite a bit and was disappointed with this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London: Uber Boat - Single Journey River Thames Cruise - Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye
Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: Uber Boat – Single Journey River Thames Cruise

8.Uber Boat – Single Journey River Thames Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,597 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $13Best value

Use Uber Boat by Thames Clippers as a scenic one-way ride between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside. Your mobile ticket covers one journey, with indoor, covered outdoor, and air-conditioned seating. There is a small onboard café, but no guided commentary, so bring the digital River Guide.

“I bought a ticket online which I was not able to get from the app I pay full money but when I reach the place they didn’t let me in so my money was waste”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Eye River Cruise - Starting with Big Ben and Parliament
Cruises & Boat Tours, London Eye Tickets, London Tours, Tour Reviews

London Eye River Cruise

9.London Eye River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,503 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $21

See London from the Thames on a 40-minute circular cruise from London Eye Pier. Live guides such as Paul, Hannah, Ian, and Mitch add jokes and history as you pass Big Ben, St. Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and Tate Modern.

“Had a beautiful January day to take in the sights along the River Thames. An efficient way to get the lay of the land while learning a little about London’ history.”

Check availability →Read our full review

London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option - Seeing Westminster from the Thames
Cruises & Boat Tours, London Eye Tickets, London Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option

10.London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,431 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $63

Start with a 40-minute Thames cruise from London Eye Pier, passing Big Ben, St. Paul’s, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, and Shakespeare’s Globe. Then use your London Eye ticket for 360-degree views from 135 meters. Guides such as George, Mitch, and Ian add wit and useful context.

“Great experience. Access to both the River Cruise and the London Eye was super fast. The staff was very attentive and helpful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames - Westminster Pier begins with London’s grandest views
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in London, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

11.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,256 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

Use a 24-hour City Cruises pass to sail between Westminster, London Eye, Tower, and Greenwich piers. Sit in the glass saloon or open deck, hear onboard commentary, and hop off for sights along the Thames. Check return times carefully, since the final boat can leave early.

“Smooth and easy; informative overview; easy access, polite staff and comfortable trip. Live commentary was excellent”

Check availability →Read our full review

Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York - Beyond the historic center
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, York Tours

Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

12.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,256 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $20

Cruise York’s River Ouse for about 45 minutes or one hour, passing Clifford’s Tower, York Museum and Gardens, medieval walls, bridges, and riverside pubs. Choose a daytime sailing, listen to live commentary, and sit outside or inside. Boats have toilets, drinks, snacks, and dogs are welcome.

“The boat and crew were great but there really isn't much to see on this cruise . There is a short stretch wheebyo can see some of the historic parts of the city . The rest is out of town with not a lot to see”

Check availability →Read our full review

Liverpool: 50-Minute Mersey River Cruise - Boarding at Pier Head
Cruises & Boat Tours, Liverpool Tours, Tour Reviews

Liverpool: 50-Minute Mersey River Cruise

13.50-Minute Mersey River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,232 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $17

Meet at Pier Head for a 50-minute loop on the Mersey, with views of Tate Liverpool, the Museum of Liverpool, both cathedrals, and the Wirral shore. An hourly departure schedule, round-trip ferry, onboard café, and digital commentary make this an easy first look at Liverpool.

“Very interesting information about Liverpool. Clear soundsystem. Perfect timing. We had beautiful, sunny weather with very clear light. Great for good pics.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal - Tower Pier and the first river views
Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, Lunch Experiences, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal

14.Lunch River Cruise on the Thames with 2-Course Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 994 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Set out from Tower Pier at 11:45 a.m. for a 90-minute Thames cruise past the Tower of London, The Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Eye, HMS Belfast, and Westminster. Your fixed table comes with a two-course lunch, tea, and coffee. Drinks cost extra, and commentary may be live or recorded.

“Would recommend this lunch cruise and is value for money excellent service lovely trip down the Thames”

Check availability →Read our full review

Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames - Tower Bridge, the Tower, and the Shard
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Tea Experiences in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

15.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 884 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Board City Cruises at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea sailing past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and Westminster. You’ll have a guaranteed table, unlimited tea or coffee, finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and optional drinks from the bar.

“Such a shame to pay over £300 for a family cruise with a cream team which didn’t live up to expectations. The food was very poor quality for a cream team and we didn’t eat much of it. We asked to take what we hadn’t eaten away in a box as it felt wasteful to leave. We were not allowed but were told we could put it into disposable coffee cups. Sadly that didn’t really work and everything ended up squashed. The boat broke down, which I’m sure is just one of those things. Once it got started again, after 35 minutes we ended up whizzing through the tour. I…”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 4.0Dinner and Jazz Cruise on the River ThamesFrom $137140 reviews
★ 5.0Small-Group Transfer: from London or Heathrow Hotels to Southampton Cruise PortFrom $17637 reviews
★ 5.0Silent Disco London Thames Boat PartyFrom $34133 reviews
★ 5.0Shuttle Service London and Heathrow Hotels to Southampton Cruise TerminalsFrom $1636 reviews
★ 5.0Southampton Cruise Term/ Hotel to London with Stopovers at Stonehenge & Windsor31 reviews
★ 4.0Royal London Guided Sightseeing Tour and Thames River CruiseFrom $8131 reviews
★ 5.0London to Southampton Cruise Terminals Private Port TransferFrom $25144 reviews
★ 3.5River Thames boat trip to Greenwich8 reviews
★ 4.5Private Transfer from London to Southampton cruise port26 reviews
★ 5.0Private Transfer from central London to Southampton Cruise Terminal3 reviews
★ 4.5Private Departure Transfer to cruise terminalFrom $16567 reviews
★ 5.0London to Southampton Cruise Port | Private Transfer6 reviews
★ 5.0London to Southampton Cruise Port Including StonehengeFrom $45213 reviews
★ 4.5London to Southampton Cruise Port Via Windsor CastleFrom $43112 reviews
★ 4.5London to Southampton Cruise Terminals Private Minivan TransferFrom $31110 reviews

Keep browsing

Thames River Cruises36Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours31Black Cab Tours39Private Drivers153Shore Excursions7Evening Experiences32
Scroll to Top

Explore England

Pick a city, a castle or a coach out of town.

Days out of London

StonehengeCotswolds VillagesWindsor CastleHarry Potter StudiosLeeds Castle

London tickets

Tower of LondonLondon EyeWestminster AbbeyBuckingham PalaceBritish Museum

On foot and after dark

Walking ToursJack the RipperPub ToursTreasure HuntsEvening Tours

Eat, drink, float

Food ToursAfternoon TeaThames CruisesBorough MarketMarkets