London Boat Trips for Kids
Which London boat trips take children, and from what age: speedboats from six months, canal boats for any age, the river bus free for under-5s, the hot tub boat from 12 (October 2026).
Most London boat trips take children, but the rules differ a lot from boat to boat: the canal boats and river buses take any age, the main Thames speedboat takes babies from six months, one speedboat is for ages 10 and up, and the hot tub boat takes no one under 12. This guide lists the rules each operator publishes, as checked in October 2026, so you can pick before you get to the pier.
The rules, boat by boat
| Boat | Youngest allowed | Other rules |
|---|---|---|
| River Thames Speedboat Tour (Thames Rockets) | 6 months | Under-14s with a parent or guardian; 15 and 16-year-olds need a signed form |
| Break the Barrier Speed Boat Ride | Recommended 10 and up | The fastest turns of any ride |
| Thames RIB speedboats | 15 kg (3 stone) minimum weight | Under-14s with an adult |
| Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock | Any age | Stairs to board |
| London Waterbus (canal, bought direct) | Any age | Under-4s free, child fare £14 for ages 4 to 16 |
| Uber Boat river bus | Any age | 4 and under free, child fares for ages 5 to 15 |
| GoBoat self-drive | Any age | Child life jackets and buoyancy aids provided |
| Hot Tub Boat Docklands Cruise | 12 | Not in pregnancy |
| Regent's Canal kayaking | 18 | Closed-toe shoes |
From the GetYourGuide listings and the operators’ own pages, October 2026. Thames Rockets asks parents of children aged 2 and under to contact it before the trip to arrange a lifejacket that fits.
Babies and toddlers
The gentlest choice is a canal boat. The Camden canal boat moves at walking pace under a canopy, and children can watch the crew work the lock gates at Camden. There are steps down into the boat, so carry a folded buggy. The GoBoat is the other good option for a family: you drive it yourselves, up to eight people, with child-sized life jackets, at up to 4 mph.
The Uber Boat is easy with a buggy too, and children 4 and under ride free. Buy child tickets in the app or online: contactless at the pier always charges the adult fare.
Primary-school age
This is the age the Thames speedboats suit best. On the River Thames Speedboat Tour, recent families write about “thrills for the whole family with just the right amount of humor, history and fun facts”. Every child wears a life jacket and an adult must ride with under-14s. The ride is short, at 50 minutes, so attention spans hold. Wrap up: the wind at speed is cold even in summer.
Compare the speedboats for families
Teenagers
Teenagers can do everything except the kayak tour, which is adults only. Break the Barrier, with its hard turns, is the one Thames Rockets reserves for ages 10 and up, and the 70-minute Thames Barrier ride gives the most time at speed. From 12, the hot tub boat is a good one to share with older children.
When to skip the speedboat
If anyone in the group is pregnant, has a back or neck problem, or would be unhappy in an open boat in the wind, choose a canal boat or a sightseeing cruise; the speedboat or cruise guide compares the two. For journey times by boat, see the journey times guide.
The calendar below is for the Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock, the trip with no minimum age:
The Boat Trip for Any Age
The Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock moves at walking pace under a canopy, through a working lock and past London Zoo, with no minimum age. Rated 4.6 from 1,338 reviews, from US$31 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Canal Boat Dates