Central London Highlights Tour with Thames Riverboat Cruise

Experience the city's highlights from both land and water
From US$528 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Palace of Westminster/Houses of Parliament
  • Shakespeare's Globe
  • Tower Bridge
  • St. Paul's Cathedral
  • Tower of London
  • Thames River
Photos & Highlights
  • Embark on a captivating journey along the Thames where you’ll step off the riverboat to discover London’s iconic landmarks on an intimate guided walk.
  • Learn about London's history and development as you view landmarks like St. Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern, and City Hall from the riverboat.
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Tour Description
Imagine gliding along the Thames on a classic riverboat, the gentle breeze carrying whispers of London’s storied past. With an expert guide by your side—warm, knowledgeable, and brimming with curiosity—you’ll uncover the city’s heart, from iconic landmarks to hidden tales that breathe life into its history. 

This amphibious London highlights tour weaves together the grandeur of the city’s sights with the intimate stories that make it unforgettable, offering a perspective that feels both personal and profound.

Your journey begins on foot, wandering the ancient London Wall and stepping into All Hallows by the Tower, the city’s oldest church, where history feels alive in every stone. Near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, your guide shares insights that spark your imagination before you board the Clipper Riverboat. As you drift downstream toward Westminster, the river reveals London’s soul—each bend a new chapter of its global legacy.

Disembark to explore the corridors of power at Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster, and Big Ben, where your guide’s stories illuminate their roles in shaping history. Back aboard the Clipper, you’ll loop toward Tower Bridge, passing St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern, and City Hall. From the water, you’ll discover how the Thames fueled Britain’s imperial ambitions, connecting London to the world.

This isn’t just a tour—it’s an invitation to belong to London’s story. With a local guide who feels like a friend, you’ll forge a deep connection to the city, leaving with memories that linger long after the river’s ripples fade. Join us for a thoughtful, immersive adventure that celebrates London’s past and present in a way that’s uniquely yours.
Experts
Melissa Melissa
Local Guide
Ruth Ruth
Art Historian
Melissa Melissa
Local Guide
Janice Janice
Local Guide
Emily Emily
Blue Badge guide
Sarah Sarah
Local Guide
Rebecca Rebecca
Journalist
Charlotte Charlotte
Local Guide
Laurence Laurence
Local Guide
Charlotte Charlotte
Local Guide
Laura Laura
Historian
Emanuela Emanuela
Local Guide
Tim Tim
Historian
Karen Karen
Local Guide
Jane Jane
Local Guide
Jonathan Jonathan
Local Guide
Imogen Imogen
Historian
Alice Venessa Alice Venessa
Food Writer
Mark Mark
Local Guide
Paula Paula
Local Guide
Rob Rob
Historian
Oliver Oliver
Historian
Alexandra Alexandra
Local Guide
David David
Local Guide
Marc Marc
Art Historian
Tim Tim
Tour Guide
Chris Chris
Historian
Chris Chris
Architect
Laurence Laurence
Local Guide
Sean Sean
Local Guide
Harry Harry
Historian
Aaron Aaron
Archaeologist
William William
Local Guide
Zozo Daniel Zozo Daniel
Historian
Caroline Caroline
Architectural Historian
Amber Amber
Local Guide
Ruth Ruth
Historian
Fiona Fiona
Tour Guide
  • You want a different vantage point of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Enjoy an unobstructed view of London from the Thames with no jockeying amid throngs of tourists for a good look at the sites. 
  • You’re interested in architecture and would like to view the city’s architectural diversity from the water, enjoying everything from Edwardian elegance to modernist designs.  
  • You’re returning to London and want a different perspective of the city. 
  • All Hallows by the Tower
  • Tower of London
  • Palace of Westminster
  • Shakespeare's Globe
  • Tate Modern
  • St Paul's Cathedral
  • Tower Bridge

Tickets

Will you pre-purchase tickets for the Thames Clipper?
Yes. We'll pre-purchase a 'River Roamer' ticket (valid for 24 hours) for each participant. Your guide will have the tickets on hand.

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

A few things that pair well with this Thames River boat tour: 
  • A lightweight jacket will keep you comfortable against the breeze and any surprise drizzles, especially in the winter, spring, and fall. 
  • A little pre-trip prep can help you make the most of your experience. Check out our Top 10 Highlights for London before you go.
  • A notebook or sketchbook is great for jotting down interesting facts or sketching the passing scenery as you float along the Thames. 
Will you pre-purchase tickets for the Thames Clipper?
Yes. We'll pre-purchase a 'River Roamer' ticket (valid for 24 hours) for each participant. Your guide will have the tickets on hand.

How long will we spend on the boat on this tour?
There are two boat journeys on this tour, one westward and one returning eastward. Each journey takes around 20 minutes.

Is the boat we are going on private and will we be with other people?
The riverboat is not a private service but open to all, so you will not be alone during the trip.

What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, and the boat is glass-covered. It also never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Is this tour good for kids? 
Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly expert guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible expert.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Yes, all boats are wheelchair-, mobility scooter- and pram-accessible by ramp. All piers are wheelchair accessible except London Bridge City, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter, and Cadogan piers. Ramps are used for boarding.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.95) 70 Reviews

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Our guide, Tim, was phenomenal! We learned so much and had a wonderful time. Highly recommend this tour!
This tour was one of the highlights of our whole trip, and it was Jonathon that helped make it so memorable! He knows the history, the culture and the city so well that, as we talked, he was easily able to adapt the tour to our interests. His extensive schooling in history, culture and locations really made a huge difference in the quality of content and conversation. If you can only do one tour, do this one!
absolutely amazing! my daughter was so so so happy….thank you for being so warm and thoughtful