City Cruises
Thames sightseeing cruises between Westminster, Tower and Greenwich — live commentary, open-air decks and four riverside piers
Thames sightseeing cruises between Westminster, Tower and Greenwich — live commentary, open-air decks and four riverside piers
City Cruises has been running sightseeing boats on the Thames since the early 1990s, when it consolidated several independent operators into a single fleet. Its purpose-built Millennium Class vessels — the first new Thames sightseeing boats in 25 years — were commissioned specifically for river tourism, with open upper decks and panoramic saloons.
From four piers at Westminster, London Eye, Tower and Greenwich, boats depart every twenty to forty minutes. The route passes the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, with live English commentary or a multilingual audio guide in fourteen languages.
City Cruises was formed in the early 1990s when several independent Thames boat operators were brought together under one company. Until then, every vessel running between Westminster and the Tower was privately owned, and services were fragmented. The consolidation allowed investment in new boats, improved piers and a reliable timetable that visitors could count on.
The result was the Millennium Class fleet — purpose-built riverliners designed specifically for Thames sightseeing. The flagship, Millennium of London, was named by The Queen at Tower Pier in 1996. These vessels were the first new sightseeing boats built for the Thames in a quarter of a century, with wide open upper decks, heated saloons and large windows positioned low enough for seated passengers to see the riverbanks clearly.
The core route runs from Westminster Pier downstream to Greenwich, stopping at London Eye Pier and Tower Pier along the way. From Westminster, the boat passes the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the South Bank arts complex before reaching St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge. The stretch between Blackfriars and Tower Bridge is particularly impressive, with the City of London skyline rising on the north bank and the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe and Borough Market on the south.
At Tower Pier, passengers can disembark for the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, or stay aboard for the final leg to Greenwich. The approach to Greenwich by river is one of London's finest views — the Old Royal Naval College, designed by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, appears as a symmetrical Baroque facade framed by Greenwich Park behind it.
Tickets can be booked online through the City Cruises website, through partner sites, or bought at the pier on the day. Booking in advance usually secures a lower price than the walk-up fare. The 24-hour River Red Rover pass is the best value for anyone planning to hop on and off at multiple piers — it covers unlimited sailings between all four stops.
Boats depart every twenty minutes during peak season and every forty minutes during quieter periods. The full Westminster to Greenwich sailing takes approximately seventy minutes, while shorter hops — Westminster to Tower, for example — take around thirty minutes. An on-board bar serves hot and cold drinks, beer, wine and snacks on every sailing.
Under 5s travel free, and booking online in advance often secures a discount on walk-up pier prices
Walk-up tickets at the pier cost more than online bookings. Reserve through the City Cruises website at least a day ahead to secure the lowest available fare.
The open-air upper deck gives the best views and photographs. Bring a light jacket even in summer — the wind off the river can be surprisingly cool at speed.
If you plan to visit more than one pier, the 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass is better value than buying separate single tickets for each leg of the journey.
Sail to Greenwich and spend the afternoon at the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory and Greenwich Market. The return sailing gives you a completely different perspective.
Boarding starts ten minutes before each scheduled departure. Arriving early means you can choose your seat — the front of the upper deck fills up first on busy days.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 9, 2026
