How Long Is a Boat Ride on the Thames?
Thames boat journey times: speedboats 20 to 70 minutes, Westminster to Greenwich about an hour, Westminster to Kew 75 to 105 minutes and to Hampton Court 3 hours 15 to 3 hours 30.
A Thames boat ride takes from 20 minutes on the shortest speedboat to three and a half hours from Westminster to Hampton Court Palace, and most sightseeing trips through central London last 40 to 70 minutes. Times upriver depend on the tide, so the operators give ranges rather than exact figures. All the times below were checked in October 2026.
Check the 50-minute speedboat dates
Central London trips
| Trip | How long |
|---|---|
| 20-Minute Tower RIB Blast | 20 minutes |
| Tower of London River Tour | 40 minutes, round trip |
| Illuminated River Boat Tour | 40 minutes, Saturday nights September to May |
| 45-Minute Speedboat Sightseeing Tour | 45 minutes |
| River Thames Speedboat Tour | 50 minutes |
| Westminster to Greenwich Cruise | About 1 hour one way |
| 70-Minute Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour | 70 minutes |
| Hot Tub Boat Docklands Cruise | 75 minutes |
From the GetYourGuide listings, October 2026. Speedboat times are the time on the water; arrive 15 minutes before for the safety briefing.
The speedboats cover more river per minute than anything else: the 50-minute ride goes from the London Eye to Canary Wharf and back, a trip that takes a sightseeing boat most of an hour one way. A sightseeing cruise from Westminster to Greenwich takes about an hour, and many visitors return by Tube or DLR rather than sail back.
The Regent’s Canal
| Trip | How long |
|---|---|
| London Waterbus, Little Venice to Camden | About 45 minutes one way |
| Regent's Canal punting boat with live music | 50 minutes |
| Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock | 90 minutes |
| GoBoat self-drive from Paddington | 1 to 3 hours, as booked |
Canal times depend on traffic and the wait at the Maida Hill tunnel, according to the London Waterbus Company. The Regent’s Canal page compares the canal trips.
Upriver: Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court
Thames River Boats sails from Westminster Pier up the Thames to Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court, generally from spring to autumn. These are its published approximate times, checked in October 2026:
| From Westminster Pier to | How long |
|---|---|
| Kew | 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 |
| Richmond | 1 hour 45 to 2 hours 30 |
| Hampton Court | 3 hours 15 to 3 hours 30 |
From Kew to Richmond takes 30 to 45 minutes, and from Richmond to Hampton Court 1 hour to 1 hour 30. The operator warns that times vary with the tide, river traffic and the weather, and that between Kew and Richmond the boat may have to pass through Richmond Lock.
These upriver trips are not sold on GetYourGuide; tickets come from Thames River Boats at Westminster Pier or on its website. Many people sail one way and take the train back: Hampton Court and Richmond both have stations with trains to central London.
If you only have an hour
Take a speedboat. In 50 minutes the River Thames Speedboat Tour shows you Parliament, the South Bank, St Paul’s, the Tower and Tower Bridge at a crawl, then the Docklands at speed, for US$70 (October 2026). The Thames speedboat page compares all six rides.
The calendar below is for the River Thames Speedboat Tour from the London Eye Pier:
The Most River in the Least Time
The River Thames Speedboat Tour covers the London Eye to Canary Wharf and back in 50 minutes: Parliament and Tower Bridge at a crawl, then the open river at 30 knots. Rated 4.9 from 1,045 reviews, from US$70 a person as of October 2026.
Check Speedboat Dates