Thames River Cruise Prices
What a Thames river cruise costs in October 2026: sightseeing boats from US$19, a day pass from US$13, lunch and afternoon tea from US$66, and the dinner cruise from US$106, with what each price includes.
A Thames river cruise costs from about US$19 for a 30-minute sightseeing boat to US$106 for the 3-hour dinner cruise, as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026. In between sit the hour-long boat to Greenwich at US$23, a day of unlimited rides from US$13, and lunch or afternoon tea on the water at US$66 to US$71. All of them are per person; drinks are extra on almost every one.
How much does a Thames River cruise ticket cost?
The starting prices below are GetYourGuide’s, checked in October 2026, for one adult. The tide and the season do not change them, but the option you pick can: a return ticket, the London Eye add-on or the champagne upgrade all cost more.
| Cruise | Time | What the price includes | From (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day City Cruises river pass | a day | unlimited rides between Westminster, the London Eye, Tower and Greenwich | US$13 |
| Westminster to Tower Bridge cruise | 25 to 30 min | one way, live commentary | US$19 |
| Fully flexible single ride | one journey | one ride at any time of day, four piers | US$20 |
| London Eye river cruise | about 40 min | round trip; the London Eye ticket is an option | US$21 |
| Westminster to Greenwich cruise | about 1 hour | one way; a return costs a little more | US$23 |
| Tower of London River Tour | 40 min | round trip on an electric boat, guaranteed seat | US$25 |
| Hop-on hop-off cruise | 24 hours | unlimited rides, four piers | US$33 |
| Evening cruise with bubbly | 2 hours | a glass of sparkling wine or a soft drink, canapés | US$54 |
| Afternoon tea cruise | 90 min | sandwiches, scones, cakes, unlimited tea | US$66 |
| Lunch cruise | 105 min | 2 courses, tea or coffee | US$71 |
| Dinner cruise | 3 hours | 3 courses, a glass of fizz, tea, coffee, live music | US$106 |
Tea on the Thames, a smaller boat from Butler’s Wharf, starts at US$29 for its lowest-priced option; its afternoon tea and dinner cost more.
How much does a river cruise cost for two people?
Double the per-person price; none of these cruises sells a cheaper couple’s ticket. At October 2026 prices, two people pay about US$46 one way to Greenwich, US$132 for afternoon tea, US$142 for lunch and US$212 for dinner, before drinks. For a family the sightseeing boats are kinder: children under five travel free to Greenwich, and infants up to two on the London Eye cruise.
What costs extra
- Drinks. The lunch cruise includes tea or coffee only; the dinner and evening cruises include one glass of sparkling wine, and the bar does the rest.
- The return leg to Greenwich, a small surcharge on the one-way price.
- The London Eye ride, if you add it to the London Eye cruise.
- The upgrade on the afternoon tea cruise: priority boarding, front-row seats and a glass of champagne.
- Tips, which the Greenwich cruise lists as not included.
Can you buy Thames River cruise tickets on the day?
Yes for the sightseeing boats, which sell at ticket offices on the piers, as long as there is space. Booking ahead fixes the price and, on Thames River Sightseeing’s boats, lets you skip the ticket-office queue and go straight to the boarding queue. If a boat fills, you take the next one. Several of the sightseeing tickets can be reserved now and paid later, and cancelled free up to 24 hours before; the hop-on hop-off ticket up to an hour before.
The meal cruises are different. Tables are allocated before the sailing and the dinner, lunch and afternoon tea cruises can only be cancelled free up to 3 days before, so they are bought ahead.
Are river cruises expensive?
Not the sightseeing ones: an hour on the Greenwich boat is US$23 and a day of unlimited rides US$13. The meal cruises are priced like a restaurant meal with the cruise included, which is how to judge them: the lunch cruise at US$71 is two courses and 105 minutes on the river, and the dinner cruise at US$106 three courses, a glass of fizz and three hours of live music.
If you only need to get from A to B, the Uber Boat river bus is paid by contactless or Oyster like the Tube, priced by zone. It has no commentary; Uber Boat or a cruise? explains when it is the better buy.
The calendar below is for the Westminster to Greenwich cruise, the most booked on the river:
The Most Booked Cruise on the River
Thames River Sightseeing's Westminster to Greenwich cruise covers every central landmark in about an hour, with live commentary and an audio guide in 11 languages. Rated 4.5 from 25,699 reviews, from US$23 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Greenwich Boat Times