"soooooo britisch!! do it if you want have a verry british food experience. and the cruise on the river/Thames was fantastic."
Tower Pier · 90 Minutes · From US$66 (Oct 2026)
Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise
Sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes and unlimited tea on a 90-minute City Cruises sailing past the Globe, the Shard, the London Eye and Parliament.
Certified by GetYourGuide
From
US$66
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.4 / 5 3978+ Reviews
- 90 min From Tower Pier
- Unlimited Tea & Coffee
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Afternoon Tea Cruise Includes
A full afternoon tea, unlimited tea and coffee, and commentary live or by app.
Highlights
- Indulge in afternoon tea on board a river boat on the Thames in London
- Experience the original Thames afternoon tea cruise, with 20 years of expertise
- Explore the boat; enjoy ever-changing London views on a family-friendly cruise
- See historic sights like Shakespeare's Globe, Tower Bridge, and the Tate Modern
- Admire stunning architecture such as Renzo Piano's pyramid-like tower The Shard
What's Included
- 1.5-hour river cruise along the River Thames in central London
- Welcome glass of champagne, still or sparkling water, extra mini savoury twist (if Upgrade option selected)
- Traditional Afternoon Tea
- Selection of sandwiches (child menu available)
- Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam
- Selection of traditional cakes
- Unlimited tea and coffee
- Onboard bar (alcoholic and soft drinks available to purchase)
- Live or recorded commentary
Good to know: Your seat on board is guaranteed and will be allocated to you before the cruise takes place. When you board you will be shown to your table, please note tables are fixed with each table (or pair of tables) seating four people. The panoramic windows provide great views from all angles of the passing skyline, regardless of your table location · Please note that some tables are situated in close proximity to other diners · Not Included: Glass of champagne or additional drinks (available to purchase), Welcome glass of champagne, still or sparkling water, extra mini savoury twist (if Upgrade option not selected)
How the Afternoon Tea Cruise Works
Choose standard or the champagne upgrade, meet at Tower Pier, and take your table.
Standard or Upgrade
The upgrade adds priority boarding, front-row seats, a welcome glass of champagne and an extra savoury. Otherwise champagne is bought at the bar.
Meet at Tower Pier
The boat boards at Tower Pier beside the Tower of London. Tables are allocated before the sailing and seat four.
Tea as You Sail
Sandwiches, scones and cakes are served as the boat heads upriver past Shakespeare's Globe, the Shard, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
Back in 90 Minutes
The cruise returns to Tower Pier. Free cancellation closes 3 days before the sailing.
Photo Gallery
The Afternoon Tea Cruise
Photos from the afternoon tea cruise listing: the stands, the scones and the river.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
City Cruises or Tea on the Thames?
The two afternoon tea cruises side by side. Prices as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026.
| Feature | MOST BOOKED City Cruises Afternoon Tea | Tea on the Thames | Lunch Cruise |
|---|---|---|---|
| From (October 2026) | US$66 per person | US$29 per person (lowest-priced option) | US$71 per person |
| Time on the water | 90 minutes | 90 minutes | 105 minutes |
| Leaves from | Tower Pier | Butler's Wharf Pier | Tower Pier |
| Children | Children's menu | Not under 5 | Welcome |
| Wheelchair access | Listed as accessible | No lift on board | Ask the operator |
| Free cancellation | Up to 3 days before | Up to 24 hours before | Up to 3 days before |
| Rating | 4.4 (3,978 reviews) | 4.6 (188 reviews) | 4.5 (2,277 reviews) |
| Check Availability | See Tea on the Thames | See the Lunch Cruise |
Other Daytime Cruises
More Tea and Meal Cruises
The smaller Tea on the Thames boat, the lunch cruise from the same pier, and an early-evening cruise with bubbly.
4.6 RATEDLondon: Thames Cruise with Afternoon Tea, Coffee or Dinner
Choose between a classic English afternoon tea on a 90-minute cruise or a sumptuous 2.5-hour evening dinner cruise with live music.
LUNCHLondon: Lunch Cruise on the River Thames
Enjoy a London lunch venue with a difference on this 105-minute cruise down the River Thames from Tower Pier.
EVENINGLondon: River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés
As the sun goes down and the lights come on, see London's riverside landmarks at in the evening light as you cruise down the Thames River.
The Guide
Two Afternoon Tea Cruises, and How They Differ
City Cruises is the big, accessible one. Tea on the Thames is smaller and better rated.
A Thames afternoon tea cruise is 90 minutes of sandwiches, scones and cakes on the river, and the most booked is City Cruises’ sailing from Tower Pier, from US$66 a person (checked October 2026) and rated 4.4 out of 5 from 3,978 reviews. City Cruises says it has run the afternoon tea cruise for 20 years.
You get a selection of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, traditional cakes, and as much tea and coffee as you like, with commentary on the sights live or through the operator’s app. The boat leaves Tower Pier and heads upriver past Shakespeare’s Globe, the Shard, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament before turning back.
Standard or the upgrade
The standard ticket covers the tea. The upgrade adds priority boarding, a front-row seat, a welcome glass of champagne, water and an extra small savoury. Without it, champagne and other drinks are bought at the bar. A child’s menu is available, which makes this the easiest meal cruise to take children on; the dinner cruises are for over-13s.
Recent guests are pleased with the food (“the afternoon tea is woooow”) and the commentary, which one found “hilarious”. The boat has a large indoor deck, so the weather matters less than on an open sightseeing boat.
City Cruises or Tea on the Thames
Tea on the Thames is the alternative: a smaller boat from Butler’s Wharf Pier, on the south bank by Tower Bridge, rated 4.6 from 188 reviews. Its 90-minute afternoon tea includes ham and Dijon sandwiches, warm scones, lemon tart and banoffee pie, with unlimited tea or coffee, and it also runs a top-deck coffee cruise and a 2.5-hour dinner. Reviewers single out the hosts by name. The trade-offs: the boat has no lift, so it is hard for wheelchair users, and it takes no children under five for afternoon tea. It can also be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, against 3 days on City Cruises.
If you would rather have a hot meal, the lunch cruise leaves the same pier for 105 minutes. The comparison table below puts all three side by side.
Guest Reviews
What Afternoon Tea Guests Say
4.4/5
from 3978 verified guests
"Easy to get to the boarding point, large indoor area, very pleasant cruise up and down the Thames. Staff were very friendly and the afternoon tea was lovely. A great way to spend a couple of hours in London."
"Very friendly staff on board. Scenic boat tour with interesting commentary. The afternoon tea is woooow. What a selection of sandwiches, pastries and super delicious tea. We really enjoyed it."
"Smooth entry great directions and an overall fabulous time with tea and the water. The commentary was live and he was hilarious!"
"This was such a nice experience. The wait staff were friendly. The tea, sandwiches, and scones were of great quality. The views were immaculate, and the commentator was hilarious and knowledgeable. This is a great activity for solo travelers. I had a table to myself and was able to relax and enjoy my own company."
"The boat tour itself is really beautiful. Lots to see, good commentary. The afternoon tea is fantastic. Lots of delicious treats and tasty tea. The service and staff on the boat are excellent. They are very friendly and make sure that everyone is having a good time. My daughter and I really enjoyed this tour. Highly recommended."
"We had a lovely time. My husband has never had an afternoon tea and I thought this one with the river cruise would be more interesting for him. He thoroughly enjoyed the food, the tea and the river commentary. The service was excellent. We would do it again!"
"Great special birthday trip for three generations of the family. Vegan and table requests honoured. Very obliging staff and good commentary. Just the right amount of time. The beautiful September weather helped!"
Read all 3,978 verified reviews
See All ReviewsScones, Tea and the Thames for 90 Minutes
City Cruises' Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames serves sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes and unlimited tea and coffee on a 90-minute sailing from Tower Pier. Rated 4.4 from 3,978 reviews, from US$66 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 3 days before. Starting from US$66 per person.
Check Afternoon Tea 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 Afternoon Tea Cruise FAQ
What is served, how long it lasts, children and the champagne upgrade.
Yes, two: City Cruises' afternoon tea cruise from Tower Pier and the smaller Tea on the Thames from Butler's Wharf Pier. Both run about 90 minutes. City Cruises calls its sailing the original afternoon tea cruise on the river, with 20 years behind it.
Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, traditional cakes and unlimited tea and coffee, with live or app commentary. Champagne and other drinks are bought at the bar, unless you take the upgrade, which adds a welcome glass of champagne, priority boarding and front-row seats.
About 90 minutes. The City Cruises boat leaves Tower Pier, heads past Shakespeare's Globe, the Shard, the London Eye and Parliament, and returns to Tower Pier.
Yes on City Cruises, which has a children's menu; Tea on the Thames takes no children under five for afternoon tea. Both are daytime sailings, unlike the dinner cruises, which are for over-13s.
From US$66 a person for City Cruises' afternoon tea cruise and from US$29 for the lowest-priced option on Tea on the Thames, on GetYourGuide in October 2026. The champagne upgrade costs more. The prices guide compares every cruise.
Yes: free up to 3 days before on City Cruises, and up to 24 hours before on Tea on the Thames.
Still have questions? Email us at info@thames-river-cruises.com