Thames Speedboat or Sightseeing Cruise?
Speedboat or cruise on the Thames: length, speed, commentary, comfort, who can ride and price (US$23 cruise vs US$70 speedboat, October 2026), and which suits whom.
Choose the speedboat if you want a thrill and a fresh angle on London in under an hour; choose a sightseeing cruise if you want to sit, listen and see the landmarks at an easy pace. They cover the same river and many of the same sights. The difference is everything else: speed, comfort, commentary, who can ride and what it costs.
Side by side
| Speedboat | Sightseeing cruise | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | River Thames Speedboat Tour | Westminster to Greenwich Cruise |
| From (October 2026) | US$70 | US$23 |
| Length | 20 to 70 minutes | About an hour one way |
| Top speed | About 30 knots, east of Tower Bridge | A steady cruising pace |
| Seats | About 12, open to the air | Hundreds, under cover and on deck |
| Commentary | Jokes and highlights between bursts of speed | Continuous, landmark by landmark |
| Pregnancy, back problems | Not allowed or not advised | Fine |
| Toilets and a bar | No | Usually yes |
| Rating | 4.9 (1,045 reviews) | 4.5 (25,699 reviews) |
Choose the speedboat if
You have seen London from a bus and want something with adrenaline. The ride starts gently, past Parliament, the South Bank and the City, because river speed limits apply in central London, then the boat opens up beyond Tower Bridge. Groups of friends, teenagers and families with older children love it; Thames Rockets’ guests write about “thrills for the whole family”. It is also short, which matters on a packed day.
Choose the cruise if
You want to learn what you are looking at, stay dry and warm, or bring someone who should not ride a fast boat: anyone pregnant, anyone with a bad back, a wheelchair user, or a toddler who will not sit still in a life jacket. A cruise boat has toilets, a bar and room to walk about, and from Westminster it reaches Greenwich, where you can step off at the Cutty Sark.
Pick the one that fits:
River Thames Speedboat Tour
Fifty minutes, the London Eye to Canary Wharf and back, flat out east of Tower Bridge.
Check dates →Westminster to Greenwich Cruise
An hour of landmarks with a guide, then Greenwich and the Cutty Sark.
See the cruise →20-Minute Tower RIB Blast
A short speedboat taste from Tower Pier that fits between a cruise and the Tower.
See the RIB blast →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote.
The calendar below is for the River Thames Speedboat Tour from the London Eye Pier:
What the speedboat feels like
Expect a breeze rather than a soaking. Thames Rockets says its rides are not a get-wet experience, though wind can bring spray, and Thames RIB hands out ponchos. The bigger surprise is the cold: at 30 knots the wind cuts through a summer shirt, so bring a layer. Seats are bench-style and you hold on during the turns. Under-14s ride with an adult, and the children’s guide has the rules for every boat.
For all six speedboat rides, from 20 to 70 minutes, see the Thames speedboat page.
Pick the Speedboat
The River Thames Speedboat Tour runs 50 minutes from the London Eye, slow past Parliament and under Tower Bridge, then at up to 30 knots to Canary Wharf and back, with a guide and music. Rated 4.9 from 1,045 reviews, from US$70 a person as of October 2026.
Check Speedboat Dates