"What an absolute fantastic experience Loved every minute Ginger Jack was brilliant too"
London Eye Pier · Tower Bridge · Canary Wharf
London Boat Tours
Fifty minutes on the Thames in an 880-horsepower speedboat: slow past Parliament and the South Bank, under Tower Bridge, then flat out to Canary Wharf and back, with a comedian guide on the microphone.
Top rated
From
US$70
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.9 / 5 1045+ Reviews
- 50 minutes On the Thames
- 30 knots Top Speed
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Thames Speedboat Tour Includes
A 50-minute ride from the London Eye, a skipper and a guide, music on board and a life jacket for everyone.
Highlights
- Get an adrenaline fix on London's original speedboat tour of the River Thames
- Cruise at speeds of up to 30 knots to Canary Wharf and back
- Discover interesting facts about London from an award-winning comedian guide
- Get exclusive views from a unique vantage point
What's Included
- 50-minute sightseeing speedboat ride
- Guide onboard to entertain guests
- Experienced skipper operating 880bhp aerodynamically streamlined speedboat
- Music playing from the onboard sound system
- Life jackets
Good to know: This tour is suitable for infants aged 6 months upwards · Expectant mothers are not permitted on-board at any stage of their pregnancy · If you have any historical or current backbone conditions or complaints, you are recommended to not participate in this tour · Children under 14 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian · Guests aged 15 and 16 must have a minor disclaimer form filled out prior to the departure by a parent or guardian · Wheelchairs cannot be taken onboard. Guests can travel with assistance from their carers to board the vessel down steps and into the seating area. All guests must be able to sit unaided once onboard · A minimum of 8 passengers is required for each sailing; tours with less than 8 passengers will be rescheduled · Not suitable for: Pregnant women, People with back problems, Wheelchair users · Not Included: Tips, Food or drink
How a London Speedboat Tour Works
Pick the ride, arrive early at the pier, sit through the safety briefing, then hold on past Tower Bridge.
Pick the Ride
Fifty minutes to Canary Wharf and back is the classic. The 20-minute Tower RIB Blast is the short taste, and the 70-minute run goes on past Greenwich to the Thames Barrier.
Arrive Early at the Pier
Thames Rockets leaves from the London Eye Pier; Thames RIB from Embankment, Westminster or Tower Pier. Operators ask you to be there 15 minutes before departure, and a late arrival usually means no refund.
Check Who Can Ride
Pregnant women may not board, and people with back or neck problems are advised not to. Under-14s ride with an adult. Thames RIB sets a 15 kg minimum weight; Break the Barrier is for ages 10 and up.
Hold On Past Tower Bridge
Speed limits keep the boats slow in central London. Beyond Tower Bridge the skipper opens up the engines for the run to Canary Wharf, with music on the speakers. You get a life jacket; it is rarely wet, but wind can bring spray.
Photo Gallery
The Thames at Speed
Photos from the speedboat tour listing: the boats, the bridges and the view from the river.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation; cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Which London Boat Tour?
Three very different boats compared. Prices as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026.
| Feature | 4.9 RATED Thames Speedboat | Regent's Canal Boat | Hot Tub Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| From (October 2026) | US$70 per person | US$31 per person | US$60 per person |
| Length | 50 minutes | 90 minutes | 75 minutes |
| Where | London Eye Pier to Canary Wharf and back | Camden Lock, Regent's Park, Little Venice | The docks at Canary Wharf |
| Pace | Up to 30 knots east of Tower Bridge | Walking pace, through a working lock | Gentle, in warm water |
| Good to know | No pregnant women; under-14s with an adult | Stairs to board; covered canopy | No under-12s; bring swimwear and a towel |
| Rating | 4.9 (1,045 reviews) | 4.6 (1,338 reviews) | 4.8 (79 reviews) |
| Check Availability | See the Canal Trips | See the Hot Tub Boat |
Other London Boat Tours
More Ways to Get on the Water in London
The long speedboat run to the Thames Barrier, a canal boat through Camden, a hot tub boat in the Docklands, a 20-minute blast, a boat you drive yourself and the bridges lit up at night.
TO THE BARRIERLondon: 70-Minute Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour
Feel like James Bond for the day as you experience London at high speed.
REGENT'S CANALLondon: Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock
Experience a passage through the famous Hampstead Road Lock unique to this cruise, on your canal cruise through London.
HOT TUB BOATLondon: Hot Tub Boat Guided Historical Docklands Cruise
Tour the docklands of Canary Wharf as you sit back and relax in a floating hot tub with a glass of champagne from the boat's bar.
20 MINUTESLondon: 20-Minute Tower RIB Blast from Tower Pier
Become a Bond style undercover spy for the day as you experience London on a speed boat tour on the River Thames.
DRIVE IT YOURSELFLondon: GoBoat Rental for Regent's Canal & Paddington Basin
GoBoat is the eco-friendly boating company on a mission to get more people on the UK’s waterways.
AFTER DARKLondon By Night: Illuminated River Official Boat Tour
Step aboard for the Illuminated River Official Boat Tour, an unforgettable journey showcasing London’s stunning riverside transformation.
The Guide
Which London Boat Tour to Book: Speedboat, Canal Boat or River Bus
Most visitors picture a big sightseeing cruise. London's water has more than that, from a 30-knot speedboat to a narrowboat through Camden. Here is how they differ.
A London boat tour can mean four quite different things: a speedboat on the Thames, a slow canal boat through Camden and Little Venice, a hot tub boat in the old docks, or the river bus that commuters use. The one this page puts first is the River Thames Speedboat Tour run by Thames Rockets: 50 minutes from the London Eye Pier, past Parliament and under Tower Bridge, then at up to 30 knots to Canary Wharf and back. It is from US$70 a person (checked October 2026) and rated 4.9 out of 5 from 1,045 reviews, the highest-rated big seller among London’s boat trips on GetYourGuide.
The speedboat suits people who have already seen London from the top of a bus and want something with a pulse. Recent guests call it “a perfect experience” with “just the right amount of time, not too long, not too short”, and several mention the guide by name. The boats are open, everyone wears a life jacket, and music plays on the run downriver.
Which kind of boat fits your day
The four kinds of boat trip share the water and little else. A speedboat is short, loud and fun. A canal boat is slow and green, through a part of north London most visitors never see. A hot tub boat is a novelty with a guide. The river bus is transport that happens to pass every landmark.
Pick the one that fits your trip:
For a thrill
River Thames Speedboat Tour
Fifty minutes from the London Eye to Canary Wharf and back, flat out east of Tower Bridge.
Check dates →For a slow hour
Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock
Ninety minutes on the Regent's Canal through a working lock, past London Zoo to Little Venice.
See the canal boat trips →For a story to tell
Hot Tub Boat Docklands Cruise
A heated tub on a boat in the Canary Wharf docks, with a guide to the docks' history and a bar.
See the hot tub boat →For the classic
Westminster to Greenwich Cruise
The big sightseeing boat with commentary, the most booked boat trip in London.
See the cruise →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote. They change with the date and the group size.
London boat tours compared
| Boat trip | From | How long | Leaves from |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Thames Speedboat Tour | US$70 | 50 minutes | London Eye Pier |
| 20-Minute Tower RIB Blast | US$43 | 20 minutes | Tower Pier |
| 70-Minute Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour | US$86 | 70 minutes | Embankment or Westminster Pier |
| Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock | US$31 | 90 minutes | Camden |
| GoBoat Rental on the Regent's Canal | US$127 per boat | 1 to 3 hours | Paddington Basin |
| Hot Tub Boat Docklands Cruise | US$60 | 75 minutes | Canary Wharf |
| Illuminated River Boat Tour | US$27 | 40 minutes | Tower Pier, Saturday nights |
Per person unless marked, as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026. The GoBoat price covers the whole boat, which seats eight.
The speedboats are the most distinct thing here: no big cruise boat goes faster than a jog downriver, and these do 30 knots once they are allowed to. The speedboat page compares the six rides, from the 20-minute blast to the run to the Thames Barrier. For the canal, the Regent’s Canal page covers the trip boats, the self-drive electric boats and a kayak tour.
The river bus: the cheapest boat in London
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a commuter service, and a good one for sightseeing: catamarans every 10 to 20 minutes from the central piers, east to Greenwich and the O2 and west towards Battersea, passing the Tower, St Paul’s and the London Eye. A single across the central zone costs £9.90 with a contactless card off-peak, and a day of hopping on and off £29.30 bought online (operator fares, October 2026). There is no guide; you get the views and a seat. The Uber Boat guide has the zones, the tickets and when a cruise is the better buy.
Upriver: Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court
Above Westminster the Thames turns green. Thames River Boats sails from Westminster Pier to Kew in about an hour and a half, on to Richmond, and to Hampton Court Palace in about three and a quarter hours, generally from April to October. These trips are sold by the operator at the pier and on its own website, not on GetYourGuide, and the full timetable is in the journey times guide. If your day is too short for a three-hour sail, the speedboat covers the central river in under an hour.
Check the speedboat tour dates
Practical points before you book
- Piers. The Thames Rockets speedboat leaves from the London Eye Pier beside the wheel. Thames RIB rides start at Embankment, Westminster or Tower Pier, and the canal boats from Camden Lock or Little Venice. Arrive 15 minutes early: the speedboat operators do not hold the boat.
- Who can ride. Pregnant women may not board the speedboats, and people with back or neck problems are advised not to. Children under 14 ride with an adult; the hot tub boat takes no one under 12. The children’s guide has every operator’s rules.
- Weather. The speedboats and canal boats run in light rain, and the open boats give out ponchos. Strong wind cancels trips at short notice; free cancellation up to 24 hours before covers you if you change your mind before that.
- Prices. The price guide sets every kind of boat side by side, from a £6.20 river bus hop to a private yacht.
If you would rather stay on the classic cruise boats, the Tower Pier river cruise page on toweroflondon-tour.com covers the lunch, tea and evening cruises that leave from in front of the Tower.
Not sure which boat suits your group? The best boat tour guide matches each kind of trip to the kind of traveller.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say About the Thames Speedboat Tour
4.9/5
from 1045 verified guests
"A perfect experience with the SuperShip crew and just the right amount of time – not too long, not too short"
"A great team, thrills for the whole family with just the right amount of humor, history and fun facts! And all with music, of course. Thank you!"
"Such wonderful experiences.Special mention for Jeff who made it even more unbelievable.Thank you to Charlene as well! Can’t wait to do this again"
"We went for my dad’s 75th birthday. Geoff was funny and knew his stuff. Charlene sure knows how to drive a speed boat. Was a great experience and very much enjoyed by all. Our party ranged from a 4 year old to a 75 year old. I would definitely recommend this"
"So happy I did this activity. I actually went to the wrong pier and missed my boat and they moved me to another one!! We had Jef and Tom and they were amazing. Can't say enough how amazing this was."
"Fantastic! Great fun and a brilliant way to see London landmarks for a first-time or returning visitor alike. The guide, tunes and driver were all excellent! Serious speed made for an exhilarating experience but always felt safe. Kids and adults all loved it. Thank you!"
"Great fun. Would highly recommend. Geoff out guide was excellent and quite funny! Tom the driver is obviously an expert. Loved every minute of our retirement celebration."
Read all 1,045 verified reviews
See All ReviewsSee London From the Fastest Seat on the River
The River Thames Speedboat Tour leaves the London Eye Pier for 50 minutes on the river: Parliament, the South Bank and Tower Bridge at a steady pace, then the open stretch to Canary Wharf at up to 30 knots, with a guide doing jokes and history. Rated 4.9 from 1,045 reviews, from US$70 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from US$70 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
Browse More Available Options
Find a tour that fits your schedule. Check each listing's cancellation terms: some dates are non-refundable.
London Boat Tour FAQ
The questions people ask most before getting on a boat in London.
From 20 minutes on a speedboat to more than three hours upriver to Hampton Court. The speedboat tours run 20, 45, 50 or 70 minutes. Westminster to Greenwich on a sightseeing boat is about an hour, Westminster to Kew 75 to 105 minutes, and Westminster to Hampton Court 3 hours 15 to 3 hours 30 (Thames River Boats' times, October 2026). The journey times guide lists every route.
It depends on what you want from it: the Thames Rockets speedboat is the highest rated big seller, at 4.9 from more than 1,000 reviews. For something slower, the Regent's Canal boats through Camden suit a relaxed afternoon, and the classic sightseeing cruise from Westminster to Greenwich is the most booked. The best boat tour guide matches each kind of trip to the traveller.
From about £6 on the river bus to US$70 to US$90 for a speedboat, as of October 2026. A single on the Uber Boat costs £6.20 to £19.30 with a contactless card off-peak, depending on the zones. A canal boat is US$31 on GetYourGuide or £17 at the London Waterbus pier, the speedboats are US$43 to US$87, and the hot tub boat US$60. The price guide has the full list.
Yes, if you want the river views without a commentary: it is the cheapest way to see the Thames from the water. The catamarans run every 10 to 20 minutes from the central piers and pass the Tower, St Paul's and the London Eye. There is no guide, and at rush hour the boats fill with commuters. The Uber Boat guide explains the zones and tickets.
Yes, two: the Uber Boat's Hop-on Hop-off day ticket and City Cruises' 24-hour sightseeing pass. The Uber Boat day ticket costs £29.30 online for an adult (October 2026) and covers every pier on its network. The City Cruises Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise, from US$33 on GetYourGuide (October 2026), adds commentary between Westminster, the London Eye, Tower Pier and Greenwich.
Usually not much: Thames Rockets says its rides are not a get-wet experience, but wind can bring spray. Thames RIB hands out plastic ponchos with the life jackets. Bring a layer even in summer, because the wind at 30 knots is cold, and keep phones on a strap. The speedboat or cruise guide covers what the ride feels like.
Yes, on most rides, with an adult. The River Thames Speedboat Tour takes infants from six months, and children under 14 must ride with a parent or guardian. Break the Barrier is recommended for ages 10 and up, and Thames RIB sets a minimum weight of 15 kg. The children's guide has every operator's rules.
No: both Thames Rockets and Thames RIB refuse expectant mothers at any stage of pregnancy. They also advise people with back, neck or heart conditions not to ride. A canal boat or a sightseeing cruise is the gentle alternative.
Yes: it is London's quietest boat trip, with towpaths, narrowboats, London Zoo's aviary and a working lock at Camden. The canal opened in 1820 and runs 8.6 miles (13.8 km) from Paddington to Limehouse. The trip boats cover the prettiest stretch, between Little Venice and Camden, in 45 to 90 minutes. See the Regent's Canal page.
Yes, from Westminster Pier with Thames River Boats, generally from April to October. Kew takes 75 to 105 minutes and Hampton Court 3 hours 15 to 3 hours 30, depending on the tide. These trips are sold by the operator, not on GetYourGuide. The journey times guide has the details.
A small boat with a heated tub built in, which you sit in while a skipper steers round the docks. London's runs from Canary Wharf for 75 minutes with a guide to the Docklands' history, heated changing rooms and a bar. It is US$60 a person on GetYourGuide (October 2026); no one under 12 may board. See the hot tub boat page.
Yes, most do: the speedboats, canal boats and river buses run in rain, and the open boats give out ponchos. Strong wind or high river levels can cancel trips at short notice, in which case the operator refunds or rebooks. The tours on this site have free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Still have questions? Email us at info@london-boat-tour.com