"Fantastic fun and the whole family really enjoyed it. Great to see the familiar London sights from a different perspective and really exhilarating at speed!!"
Embankment · Tower Bridge · Thames Barrier · From US$86 (Oct 2026)
Thames Speedboat Tour
Seventy minutes in a 12-seat RIB: the Shard, St Paul's and the Tower at a steady pace, then under Tower Bridge and flat out past Canary Wharf and Greenwich to the steel gates of the Thames Barrier.
Top rated
From
US$86
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.8 / 5 367+ Reviews
- 70 minutes To the Barrier
- 12 seats Per Boat
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour Includes
A skipper, a guide, ponchos and life jackets, and the longest run downriver of the London speedboats.
Highlights
- Enjoy an exhilarating James Bond-style ride along the River Thames
- See London's old and modern landmarks, such as The Shard and St. Paul's
- Navigate under the Tower Bridge, all the way to the Thames Barrier
- Listen to an informative commentary and buy photos of your experience
- Choose your departure Pier - EMBANKMENT or WESTMINSTER
What's Included
- River Thames sightseeing tour round-trip
- High-speed RIB ride through London Docklands
- Live commentary
- Safety briefing
- Qualified professional staff, crew, and skippers
- Mandatory lifejackets
- Plastic ponchos
Good to know: You must agree with the local operator's terms and conditions to take part - · Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time at the correct Pier location, failure to arrive will result in missing the trip and no reschedules or refunds will be offered · There is a minimum weight of 15 kilograms (3 stone). · There is a maximum number of 12 passengers per boat · The operator reserves the right to alter your booking date or time up to 15 minutes before departure if the minimum number of passengers has not been reached. There is a minimum number of 6 to 8 passengers per boat. · Any person with any heart or back problems or those who are pregnant cannot travel · At least one adult over 18 must be on board with any children 13 and under · THAMES RIB EXPERIENCE operates in all weather conditions and disposable ponchos will be provided on all trips in need · Not suitable for: Pregnant women, People with back problems, People with heart problems, Children under 33 lbs (15 kg) · Not Included: Photos and souvenirs (available for purchase after tour), Tips
How a Thames Speedboat Tour Works
Choose your pier, arrive 15 minutes early, take the safety briefing, then sit tight.
Choose Embankment or Westminster
Thames RIB runs this ride from Embankment Pier or Westminster Pier; you pick one when you book. Thames Rockets leaves from the London Eye Pier and Thames RIB's 20-minute blast from Tower Pier.
Be There 15 Minutes Early
The boat leaves on time. The operator asks you to arrive 15 minutes before departure at the right pier, and a missed trip is not refunded or rebooked.
Check the Rules
No pregnant women, and no riders with back, neck or heart conditions. The minimum weight is 15 kg (3 stone), up to 12 people ride in each boat, and under-14s ride with an adult.
Slow, Then Fast
River speed limits keep the boat steady through central London. Past Tower Bridge the skipper opens the throttle for the run to the Barrier, with the James Bond theme on the speakers.
Photo Gallery
The RIB Ride to the Thames Barrier
Photos from the Thames Barrier speedboat tour listing.
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 Thames Speedboat?
Three rides compared by length. Prices as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026.
| Feature | LONGEST RUN Thames Barrier Speedboat | River Thames Speedboat Tour | Tower RIB Blast |
|---|---|---|---|
| From (October 2026) | US$86 per person | US$70 per person | US$43 per person |
| Length | 70 minutes | 50 minutes | 20 minutes |
| How far east | The Thames Barrier, past Greenwich | Canary Wharf and back | Towards Canary Wharf |
| Pier | Embankment or Westminster | London Eye | Tower |
| Operator | Thames RIB | Thames Rockets | Thames RIB |
| Rating | 4.8 (367 reviews) | 4.9 (1,045 reviews) | 4.7 (198 reviews) |
| Check Availability | See the 50-Minute Ride | See the 20-Minute Blast |
Other Thames Speedboats
More Speedboat Rides on the Thames
The most booked ride from the London Eye, a 45-minute run to Canary Wharf, a 20-minute blast, Break the Barrier and a sunset ride with a drink.
MOST BOOKEDLondon: River Thames Speedboat Tour
Experience a wild and fantastic River Thames boat cruise. You will climb aboard a high-speed vessel that offers non-traditional views of England's capital at speeds of up to 30 knots.
45 MINUTESLondon: 45-Minute Speedboat Sightseeing Tour
Become an undercover spy for the day as you experience London on a speed boat tour on the River Thames. Admire new and historical sights, such as the Shard, St.
SHORTESTLondon: 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.
FASTEST TURNSLondon: Break the Barrier Speed Boat Ride
Be greeted by a staff member and receive a full safety briefing. Collect your safety equipment including mandatory lifejackets.
AT SUNSETLondon: River Thames Sunset Speedboat Experience with Drink
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city as you enjoy a night cruising along the River Thames. See famous sites light up as you whizz through the heart of London.
The Guide
Which Thames Speedboat to Book
Six rides from two operators, from a 20-minute blast to 80 minutes on the river. The difference is mostly how far east you go.
A Thames speedboat tour is a ride in an open rigid inflatable boat, a RIB, that crawls past Parliament and the South Bank, then accelerates hard once it is east of Tower Bridge. Two operators run them, Thames Rockets and Thames RIB, in six versions from 20 to 70 minutes. The one this page puts first is the 70-Minute Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour, the longest run: past the Shard, St Paul’s and the Tower, under Tower Bridge, then on past Canary Wharf and Greenwich to the Thames Barrier. It is from US$86 a person (checked October 2026), rated 4.8 out of 5 from 367 reviews.
Recent guests describe it as “fantastic fun” for the whole family and “really exhilarating at speed”. One wished the guide had said more than the names of the landmarks, which is the honest trade-off: on a speedboat the ride is the point, and the commentary comes in bursts between the bridges.
Check Thames Barrier speedboat dates
Why the boats are slow first and fast later
River speed limits keep every boat to a steady pace through central London. East of Tower Bridge, licensed passenger boats may go much faster, so every ride follows the same rhythm: a gentle few minutes past the London Eye, Parliament, Cleopatra’s Needle and the City, then the engines open up on the wide reaches towards Canary Wharf. Thames Rockets’ boats have 880-horsepower engines and reach about 30 knots.
That rhythm is why length matters more than price. A 20-minute ride is mostly the slow part plus one burst. A 50-minute ride reaches Canary Wharf. The 70-minute ride, and the faster Break the Barrier, keep going past Maritime Greenwich to the Thames Barrier, the flood defence the Queen opened in 1984, whose gates span 520 metres of river.
Which speedboat to book
| Ride | From | Length | Pier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70-Minute Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour | US$86 | 70 minutes | Embankment or Westminster |
| River Thames Speedboat Tour | US$70 | 50 minutes | London Eye |
| 45-Minute Speedboat Sightseeing Tour | US$66 | 45 minutes | Embankment or Westminster |
| Break the Barrier Speed Boat Ride | US$87 | 45 minutes | London Eye |
| Sunset Speedboat Experience with Drink | US$87 | 50 minutes | London Eye |
| 20-Minute Tower RIB Blast | US$43 | 20 minutes | Tower |
Per person, as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026.
Thames Rockets runs the River Thames Speedboat Tour, the most booked of the six, with a comedian guide on the microphone, plus Break the Barrier, which spends its time on hard turns and is recommended for ages 10 and up, and the sunset ride with a drink. Thames RIB runs the 45-minute and 70-minute rides from Embankment and Westminster and the 20-minute blast from Tower Pier, to film soundtracks, with ponchos handed out.
If you have only half an hour, the 20-minute blast from Tower Pier is a good taste; guests say it is fun and “wish it was just a little longer”. If you have a whole morning and want to see the river beyond the postcard stretch, go to the Barrier.
Who should not ride
Both operators refuse pregnant women at any stage, and advise against riding with back, neck or heart conditions: at speed the boats can move suddenly. Thames RIB sets a minimum weight of 15 kg (3 stone); Thames Rockets takes infants from six months on its main tour. Under-14s ride with an adult, and 15 and 16-year-olds need a form signed by a parent. The children’s guide has the details for every boat.
For a calmer way onto the water, a Regent’s Canal boat runs at walking pace, and the speedboat or cruise guide sets the two side by side.
Guest Reviews
What Speedboat Guests Say
4.8/5
from 367 verified guests
"everything. and easy to rebook if problems. fantastic."
"The reception at the meeting point was impersonal and very limited in communication. The information during the ride was limited to the landmarks. From our point of view, it could have been a bit more original. Funny or unusual stories about the attractions would have made the first part of the trip a bit more relaxed. The Speed ride was absolutely great and fully met our expectations."
"The high-speed ride was the best and fully met my expectations😃"
"Loved this. The driver did extra turns of the boat to keep us entertained. Worth splashing out the extra to have longer on this experience than other RIB tours offer."
"What a fantastic tour! From start to finish, it was an unforgettable experience. Our guides were brilliant—their commentary was engaging, informative, and full of interesting facts about the river that we would never have noticed on our own. The speed was exhilarating and made the whole trip even more exciting. The music was also spot on and really added to the atmosphere. The James Bond soundtrack during the high-speed sections was such a fun touch and made the experience even more memorable! A huge thank you to Justin and John (I hope I’ve got your names right!) for making the tour so enjoyable. Highly recommend this experience!"
"Amazing…… family trip, girl at reception really clear and organised….. 2 lads sailing the rib were brilliant and would highly recommend to anyone"
"Very good and warm weather and a tour which took us farther than any other tour we had made so far. Seeing the The Thames Barrier was quite impressive and „flying“ over the river has been an amazing experience."
Read all 367 verified reviews
See All ReviewsThe Longest Speedboat Run on the Thames
The 70-Minute Thames Barrier Speedboat Tour goes past every central landmark, under Tower Bridge and on beyond Canary Wharf and Greenwich to the Thames Barrier, the most river you can see at speed. Rated 4.8 from 367 reviews, from US$86 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from US$86 per person.
Check Speedboat DatesCan'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.
Thames Speedboat FAQ
What to know before booking a speedboat on the Thames.
Up to about 30 knots, roughly 35 mph, but only east of Tower Bridge. River speed limits keep every boat slow through central London; the fast stretch is the run towards Canary Wharf and, on the longer rides, the Thames Barrier. Thames Rockets' boats have 880-horsepower engines.
20, 45, 50 or 70 minutes, depending on the ride. The Tower RIB Blast is 20 minutes, the Thames Rockets tour 50 minutes to Canary Wharf and back, and the Thames Barrier tour 70 minutes.
From US$43 to US$87 a person on GetYourGuide, as of October 2026. The 20-minute Tower RIB Blast is the cheapest, the 50-minute Thames Rockets tour is from US$70, and the 70-minute Thames Barrier ride from US$86. Photos taken on board are sold separately after the ride.
Not usually; spray is possible in wind. Thames Rockets says its rides are not a get-wet experience, and Thames RIB hands out plastic ponchos with the life jackets. The wind is the bigger issue: bring a warm layer and keep hats and phones secure.
The London Eye Pier for Thames Rockets; Embankment, Westminster or Tower Pier for Thames RIB. You choose Embankment or Westminster when booking the 45- and 70-minute Thames RIB rides; the 20-minute blast leaves from Tower Pier.
Yes on most rides, with an adult. The Thames Rockets tour takes infants from six months; Thames RIB sets a 15 kg minimum weight. Break the Barrier is recommended for ages 10 and up. Under-14s must ride with a parent or guardian, and 15 and 16-year-olds need a signed form.
Pregnant women at any stage, and the operators advise against it with back, neck or heart conditions. The Thames Rockets listing also says the ride is not suitable for wheelchair users. For a gentler trip, a canal boat or a sightseeing cruise suits.
For most people, yes: it is the highest-rated big seller among London's boat trips, at 4.9 from more than 1,000 reviews for the Thames Rockets tour. It suits people who want a thrill and a fresh angle on London rather than a long commentary. If you want to sit and listen, a cruise is better; the speedboat or cruise guide compares them.
Still have questions? Email us at info@london-boat-tour.com