River Thames Cruise Overview

The River Thames runs literally through the heart of London – and has remained unscathed as all around it has changed over the centuries.

From the early Roman port of Londinium to subsequent Saxon and Danish settlements, the river has always been the city's greatest asset, and the sites flanking it pay tribute to the importance of the body of water they overlook.

Bits and pieces of the docks and wharfs bordering on the river have remained to the present day, with a trip along the waterway likely to provide an insight into the fusion of old and new that has become a characteristic of London.

River Thames Cruise Location

Finding the Thames is not difficult, but knowing where to start a river cruise can be a tougher choice. Westminster Pier is a popular choice for many as it gives a chance to marvel at the Houses of Parliament lining the waterfront, before moving East along the river and gaining a sense of closure as the city centre is exited through Tower Bridge. Waterloo Pier is another possible departure point in the centre, while Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier offer a more Easterly starting point, from where visitors can enter through the centre's regal outposts and head west into the bustling river of central London. Greenwich can be a popular choice for those with a taste for sea air: the area is home to the illustrious Royal Naval College and boasts fantastic panoramas from Greenwich Royal Park.

Why Visit The River Thames

The reasons for taking a Thames cruise are spread out along the banks of the river. Palaces, parliamentary buildings, modern skyscrapers and regal structures line the river's wide banks. Travelling from west to east, cruise passengers will start off in elegant surroundings, flanked by Lambeth Palace and by Westminster's timeless landmarks: Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament.

Rounding a bend in the river and entering the central stretch, passengers will find themselves floating through London's cultural heartland. The bustling South Bank boasts not only the elegant Royal Festival Hall but also the impressive post-war concrete structure of the National Theatre - lit up in radical colours at night.

Passing Blackfriars' Bridge, visitors will come upon some of London's most iconic monuments. Towering over the north bank is St Paul's Cathedral and its unmistakeable dome, while any penchant for the new will be satisfied by the South Bank's Tate Modern art gallery. Further east the highlights include Shakespeare's Globe, Tower Bridge, and the ultra-modern skyscraper-town of Canary Wharf