Central London Highlights Tour with Thames Riverboat Cruise

Experience the city's highlights from both land and water
From US$599 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Palace of Westminster/Houses of Parliament
  • Shakespeare's Globe
  • Tower Bridge
  • St. Paul's Cathedral
  • Tower of London
  • Thames River
Photos & Highlights
  • Embark on a captivating journey along the Thames where you’ll step off the riverboat to discover London’s iconic landmarks on an intimate guided walk.
  • Learn about London's history and development as you view landmarks like St. Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern, and City Hall from the riverboat.
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Tour Description
Picture yourself aboard a classic riverboat, the cool breeze of the Thames providing a delightful respite from the heat of the city. Here, each bend of the river reveals a chapter of the city’s epic history, and your expert guide sits beside you like an old friend ready to reveal London’s storied past and vibrant present. 

This amphibious tour offers a unique vantage point of London’s iconic landmarks all while diving deep into the lesser-known stories that have shaped this global metropolis.

Begin on dry land, exploring the London Wall and the city’s oldest church, All Hallows by the Tower. Explore the area near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge before boarding the Clipper Riverboat to travel downstream to Westminster. 

Disembark for a stroll by Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster, and Big Ben, gaining fascinating insights into each location’s pivotal role in global history. 

Reboard the Clipper to make your way back to Tower Bridge, completing a loop of the most important locations on both riverbanks. View and discuss St. Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, and City Hall from the water and uncover the role of the Thames in British Imperial history as you go. 

Join us for an enlightening adventure that goes beyond traditional tourism. Immerse yourself in the city with a local by your side and discover a richer, more intimate London. Here, you don’t just pass by landmarks–you connect with them in profound, memorable ways.
Experts
Mark Mark
Local Guide
Lesley Lesley
Local Guide
Alexandra Alexandra
Local Guide
Melissa Melissa
Local Guide
Chris Chris
Architect
Marc Marc
Art Historian
Zozo Daniel Zozo Daniel
Historian
Charlotte Charlotte
Local Guide
Karen Karen
Local Guide
Melissa Melissa
Local Guide
Charlotte Charlotte
Local Guide
Emanuela Emanuela
Local Guide
Harry Harry
Historian
Guy Guy
Local Guide
Rob Rob
Historian
Sarah Sarah
Local Guide
Janice Janice
Local Guide
Caroline Caroline
Architectural Historian
Alice Venessa Alice Venessa
Food Writer
Laurence Laurence
Local Guide
Oliver Oliver
Historian
Imogen Imogen
Historian
Ruth Ruth
Art Historian
William William
Local Guide
Emily Emily
Historian
Aaron Aaron
Archaeologist
Fiona Fiona
Tour Guide
Laurence Laurence
Local Guide
Paul Paul
Local Guide
Chris Chris
Local Guide
Paula Paula
Local Guide
Laura Laura
Historian
Rebecca Rebecca
Local Guide
Peter Peter
Political Scientist
David David
Local Guide
Tim Tim
Historian
Anna Anna
Local Guide
Ed Ed
Local Guide
Jonathan Jonathan
TOUR GUIDE
Amber Amber
Local Guide
Ruth Ruth
Historian
Jane Jane
Local Guide
Sean Sean
Local Guide
Tim Tim
Tour Guide

  • You want a different vantage point of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Enjoy an unobstructed view of London from the Thames with no jockeying amid throngs of tourists for a good look at the sites. 
  • You’re interested in architecture and would like to view the city’s architectural diversity from the water, enjoying everything from Edwardian elegance to modernist designs.  
  • You’re returning to London and want a different perspective of the city. 
  • All Hallows by the Tower
  • Tower of London
  • Palace of Westminster
  • Shakespeare's Globe
  • Tate Modern
  • St Paul's Cathedral
  • Tower Bridge
Tickets

Will you pre-purchase tickets for the Thames clipper?
Yes. We'll pre-purchase a 'River Roamer' ticket (valid for 24 hours) for each participant. Your guide will have the tickets on hand.

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

A few things that pair well with this tour: 

  • A lightweight jacket will keep you comfortable against the breeze and any surprise drizzles, especially in the winter, spring, and fall. 
  • A little pre-trip prep can help you make the most of your experience. Check out our Top 10 Highlights for London before you go.
  • A notebook or sketchbook is a great for jotting down interesting facts or sketching the passing scenery as you float along the Thames. 
Will you pre-purchase tickets for the Thames clipper?
Yes. We'll pre-purchase a 'River Roamer' ticket (valid for 24 hours) for each participant. Your guide will have the tickets on hand.

How long will we spend on the boat on this tour?
There are two boat journeys in this tour, one Westward and one returning Eastward. Each journey takes around 20 minutes.

Is the boat we are going on private and will we be with other people?
The riverboat is not a private service but open to all, so you will not be alone during the trip.

What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, and the boat is glass-covered. It also never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Is this tour good for kids? 
Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly expert guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible expert.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Yes, all boats are wheelchair-, mobility scooter- and pram-accessible by ramp. All piers are wheelchair accessible except London Bridge City, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter, and Cadogan piers. Ramps are used for boarding.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.94) 53 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Sara was wonderful. She adapted the tour to our needs and wants. She couldn’t have been better.
Emily was fabulous! She knows London and was wonderful in communicating both her knowledge and her passion for the city. We really enjoyed her guidance. However we were quite surprised to be on an Uber Boat. We thought the tour would be a bit more intimate and personal.
Peter was professional, knowledgeable, and very fun. Would highly recommend again.