Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.61 (3,471 reviews) 77% rated it 5 stars
Free cancellationTravelers' pick
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 2
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 3
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 4
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 5
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 6
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 7
  • Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary 8
1/8
Duration1h
GroupUp to 200
LanguagesEN
Mobile ticketAccepted

One Hour Down the Thames: Big Ben to Greenwich by Boat

You board at Westminster Pier and spend an hour on the Thames watching Big Ben, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and the Cutty Sark pass by, with live commentary or an 11-language audioguide app explaining each one. The boat is wheelchair accessible, has toilets on board, and arrives at Greenwich near the museums and Royal Observatory. Choose a one-way ticket to explore Greenwich afterward, or round-trip to return the same route.

1h

Step-by-step itinerary

Thames cruise and Greenwich sightseeing

  • Depart from Westminster Pier
  • Pass Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
  • Pass London Eye
  • Pass Royal Festival Hall
  • Pass Tate Modern
  • Pass St. Paul's Cathedral
  • Pass Shakespeare's Globe
  • Pass HMS Belfast
  • Pass Tower of London
  • Pass Tower Bridge
  • Visit Cutty Sark ship
  • Visit Royal Observatory Greenwich
  • Explore Greenwich Park
  • Visit Old Royal Naval College
  • Visit Greenwich Market
  • Visit National Maritime Museum

The Experience

You board at Westminster Pier and the boat pulls away from the Houses of Parliament within minutes. Big Ben rises behind you, and then the commentary starts — someone's voice explaining what you're seeing as it slides past the windows. The London Eye comes into view on the left bank, then St Paul's Cathedral across the water, its dome catching the light. It's a 1-hour journey downriver, and the pace is slow enough that you're not scrambling to take photos or missing what's being said.

The boat passes under Tower Bridge — you see the Victorian ironwork up close, the glass walkway where tourists stand looking down — and then HMS Belfast, the warship frozen in the water like a museum piece. Your audioguide app (available in 11 languages) or the live commentary on board keeps naming things as they appear. Shakespeare's Globe comes up on the south bank, the Tate Modern's brick chimney, the Royal Festival Hall with its brutalist concrete. You're seeing the Thames the way Londoners used to see it: as the main street, not a backdrop.

Greenwich arrives at the end of the hour. The boat pulls in near the Cutty Sark, the tea clipper that's been sitting here since 1869. From the pier you can walk straight to the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College with its Painted Hall, or climb up to the Royal Observatory where the Prime Meridian line runs through the ground. The round-trip ticket means you can stay as long as you want and come back the same way, or you can hop off and explore on foot. Toilets are on board if you need them before arrival, and the boat's wheelchair accessible if that matters for your group.

This isn't a guided tour where someone herds you through a script. It's transport that happens to show you London's river landmarks in sequence, with enough explanation that you understand what you're looking at. Book the one-way if you're planning to spend the afternoon in Greenwich, or the round-trip if you want the river twice and a shorter day.

What’s included

  • Your ticket includes the 1-hour river journey from Westminster Pier to Greenwich, live commentary on board, and access to the audioguide app in your choice of 11 languages.
  • Toilets are available on board.
  • If you book a round-trip ticket, you can return to Westminster on a later departure.
  • Infants travel free on an adult's lap.
Good to know
Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Thames River Sightseeing

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see London's riverside landmarks in one smooth hour without walking between them or arranging separate transport — the boat does the moving, the commentary does the explaining, and you stay in one seat the whole way.

Traveler reviews

4.61★★★★★★★★★★
3,471 verified traveler reviews
5 2,666
4 499
3 145
2 69
1 92
Read all the reviews ›

Compare the 13 similar options

Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live CommentaryYou are hereWestminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary★ 4.61 (3,471)1hEN£ 17.20
Tower of London River Cruise: Thames Sightseeing & Live GuideTower of London River Cruise: Thames Sightseeing & Live Guide40-minute Thames river cruise from Tower Bridge Quay with live guide commentary on London landmarks. Includes St Paul's, Big Ben, Tower Bridge & more. Electric boat, all ages.★ 4.77 (210)40mEN£ 18.50View ›London: Tower of London Crown Jewels & Tower Bridge Early AccessLondon: Tower of London Crown Jewels & Tower Bridge Early AccessSkip the queues at Tower of London's Crown Jewels with early access. Includes Crown Jewels, White Tower, Tower Bridge Glass Walkway & Engine Rooms. Guided tour.★ 4.76 (761)3h 30mEN£ 149View ›Greenwich: Prime Meridian, Cutty Sark & Cream Tea TourGreenwich: Prime Meridian, Cutty Sark & Cream Tea Tour2.5-hour Greenwich walking tour with Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark entry and cream tea. Small groups, expert guide, daily from 10am.2h 30mEN£ 139View ›Frida Kahlo Exhibition Tour at Tate Modern LondonNewFrida Kahlo Exhibition Tour at Tate Modern LondonOver 30 Frida Kahlo paintings and 200+ works by contemporaries at Tate Modern. One-hour guided tour with expert, groups under 15, admission included.★ 2.55 (20)1hEN£ 49View ›London: Tower of London & Westminster Abbey Full Day TourLondon: Tower of London & Westminster Abbey Full Day TourFull-day London tour with skip-the-line Westminster Abbey entry, Changing of the Guard, Thames cruise, and Crown Jewels. Expert guide, 9 hours, small groups.★ 4.90 (325)7hEN£ 94View ›London: 30+ Sights Walking Tour & Big Ben, Tower BridgeLondon: 30+ Sights Walking Tour & Big Ben, Tower BridgeLondon walking tour covering 30+ landmarks including Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace with guide and lunch.★ 4.97 (845)5hEN£ 19View ›London: Private Black Taxi Tour & Custom ItineraryPrivateLondon: Private Black Taxi Tour & Custom ItineraryPrivate London black cab tour with your own driver-guide. Stop at Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and more. Hotel pickup included.★ 4.92 (1,238)2hEN£ 221per groupView ›London: Walking Tour City Landmarks & Tower of LondonLondon: Walking Tour City Landmarks & Tower of LondonStep through 2,000 years in the City of London with a local guide, from St Paul’s Cathedral to Tower Bridge. Includes entry to Tower of London & guided walk.★ 4.99 (83)2h–3hEN£ 14View ›HMS Belfast London: D-Day Warship & Gun Turret TourNewHMS Belfast London: D-Day Warship & Gun Turret TourWalk aboard one of three surviving D-Day warships in central London. Explore gun turrets, command decks, and Arctic convoy quarters with 360° Thames views included.★ 5.00 (1)2h–3h£ 27View ›London: Tower of London to St. Paul's Walking TourLondon: Tower of London to St. Paul's Walking TourMedieval history walking tour from Tower of London along River Thames. Visit Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Shakespeare's Globe, and St. Paul's Cathedral with expert guide.★ 4.97 (308)2hEN£ 18View ›London: Thames Speedboat Cruise Tour from EmbankmentLondon: Thames Speedboat Cruise Tour from EmbankmentFeel the rush on a 70-minute high-speed Thames speedboat cruise past Big Ben, Tower Bridge & Greenwich. Includes life jacket, commentary & poncho if needed.★ 4.87 (804)1h 10mEN£ 75View ›London: Thames Speedboat Tour with Sights & GuideLondon: Thames Speedboat Tour with Sights & GuideFeel the rush on a London Thames speedboat tour—see Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and more with a lively guide. Small group, expert skipper, and all gear included.★ 4.96 (4,299)50mEN£ 70View ›
Compare more experiences like this »

Top questions

How long is the cruise from Westminster to Greenwich?

The journey takes 1 hour. Round-trip tickets allow you to return on a later departure.

What languages is the audioguide available in?

The audioguide app is available in 11 languages. Live commentary is also provided on board.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the boat is wheelchair accessible. Toilets are available on board.

Can I bring a pram or stroller?

Yes, infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the journey.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are permitted on board.

Where do I board the cruise?

The cruise departs from Westminster Pier, near the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

What landmarks will I see on the cruise?

You'll pass Big Ben, the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, and arrive at Greenwich near the Cutty Sark and National Maritime Museum.

Is this suitable for people with limited fitness?

Yes, the cruise is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You remain seated on the boat throughout the journey.

Westminster to Greenwich Thames Cruise & Live Commentary

1h · EN

from £ 17.20 per person

★★★★★★★★★★4.613,471 reviews
More experiences in London »
Do you need help planning your next activity?