With out the Thames, there could be no London. It has been known as ‘liquid historical past’, the ‘coronary heart of London’ and there was an official settlement on the banks of the river for a minimum of two thousand years – so it’s not shocking you’ll discover a string of issues to do on the Thames in London.
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And whether or not you go to London with children or with out, I don’t suppose you’ve really explored the capital except you’ve completed one thing alongside its banks. Thankfully, that’s not arduous: the river is dwelling to a few of London’s greatest sights, museums, historic buildings, walks and actions.
Listed below are my high 23 issues to do on the Thames, London – all these River Thames sights both proper on the banks or inside just some minutes of the river.
Take a ship journey on the Thames
One of the simplest ways to expertise the river is on the water itself. A number of firms run common boat providers alongside the Thames together with the river bus Uber Boat by Thames Clippers or Thames River Boats which take you additional west in the direction of Hampton, in addition to a hop on hop off cruise with Metropolis Cruises.
Or swap cruising for rushing with rib boats, together with Thames Rockets and Thames RIB Expertise . It’s simple to mix the journeys with a few of the sights beneath too.
Sadly, the Horrible Thames boat tour, from the individuals behind Horrible Histories, stopped working in September 2025
Stroll the river
The whole Thames path is round 184 miles lengthy for those who fancy the journey from the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier – the part by London alone stretches 40 miles, so except you’re a devoted walker, choose a bit and a financial institution.
The Thames Path web site has some useful solutions damaged down into 8-12 mile sections to see a few of the highlights alongside the way in which, together with simple stretches for those who’re exploring with youthful children.
You too can take self-guided Thames river excursions or strive my brief wander for a few of the greatest Instagram spots on the South Financial institution
For 50+ different free issues to do in London with children, take a look at my high picks
Discover the South Financial institution
In the event you’re undecided the place to begin, the South Financial institution is without doubt one of the greatest sections to wander as there’s all the time one thing happening, no matter time of yr you go to.
The Southbank Centre is on the coronary heart of loads of the occasions and actions which occur on the South Financial institution, proper right down to the road artwork painted on the skin.
However enterprise inside and there are some incredible artwork exhibitions to find for those who’re visiting London with teenagers, together with interactive installations and artwork on the Hayward Gallery.
In the event you’re visiting the Southbank Centre with youthful children, you will discover family-friendly performances going down on the Queen Elizabeth Corridor, in addition to the annual Think about Pageant for households each February.
Preserve an eye fixed out for occasions as effectively, from a Christmas market in winter, an city seashore in summer time, festivals, to not point out performances on the Royal Pageant Corridor, movies on the BFI, performs on the Nationwide Theatre.
For extra issues to do on the South Financial institution with children, take a look at my suggestions
Dig by historical past
Flip the clock again a century or so and folks made a dwelling from mudlarking (effectively, nearly). Right now, it’s an opportunity to discover town’s historical past – you by no means know what you would possibly flip up. In all probability not gold sadly.
Thames Explorer additionally runs foreshore walks – you may’t merely head down with out a information and begin amassing. Fairly other than staying secure, you want a license – there are some helpful suggestions right here – so an organised expertise is greatest.
Benefit from the view
Don’t miss seeing the Thames from above – it’ll be seen from any of town’s excessive viewpoints however the London Eye is without doubt one of the greatest, sitting proper above the river.
Excellent for the realisation that the river’s bends imply town’s geography is laid out just a little in another way than you would possibly anticipate. There’s a reduction for those who purchase on-line prematurely and you can even discover skip-the-line tickets.
In the event you’d prefer to see town from one other angle, take a look at extra of one of the best viewpoints in London with children
Get your coronary heart racing
Or for a view with a distinction, how about climbing onto the roof of the O2 – Up on the O2 takes you 52m above the bottom, and 2m above the floor of the O2 itself, throughout a 90-minute climb.
It’s important to be a minimum of 8 years outdated and 1.2m tall to participate.
Cross a bridge
33 bridges cross the Thames in London, so that you’re assured a couple of good views as you cross. Tower Bridge is definitely essentially the most well-known and you may head inside to find its historical past and look by the well-known glass flooring – purchase tickets to the Tower Bridge exhibition right here.
And for those who’d like an opportunity of seeing the spectacular opening as an even bigger boat comes by, verify the elevate occasions.
However there are many different good spots: Blackfriars Bridge is certainly one of my favourites, particularly at sundown or after darkish as you look alongside to the lit-up Oxo Tower, whereas the Millennium Bridge (which I shall perpetually consider because the wobbly bridge) has nice views to St Paul’s.
Or head west to take a look at Albert Bridge after darkish when it’s lit up by 4,000 bulbs – look down the river from Chelsea Bridge.
Planning to go to London Bridge? Right here’s why you shouldn’t… plus a couple of causes you need to hold it in your itinerary
Or fly over the river
Bounce within the cable automobile and fly over the river, taking you between the royal docks and Greenwich peninsula in round 10 minutes – 5 minutes throughout morning rush hour, and 12-13 minutes for the night time flights after 7pm.
You’ll be able to pay utilizing an Oyster card or contactless, though this isn’t included within the day by day fare cap, or just purchase tickets on the day. Youngsters aged 5-15 do additionally must pay, with 50% off adults fares.
Uncover Greenwich
Certainly one of my favorite components of London, it’s simple to spend a day (or longer) exploring Greenwich with children, together with the Royal Observatory, Outdated Royal Naval School with its fabulous Painted Corridor, Planetarium, market and the great Cutty Sark.
There may be additionally the Royal Museums Greenwich day move which incorporates entry to the Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory
You might hop on the tube however it’s arduous to beat a ship journey alongside the Thames to get there – simply as I did with my daughter for our day trip on the Cutty Sark.
Hampton Court docket
As soon as the royal inhabitants of Hampton Court docket – appropriated by Henry VIII from Cardinal Wolsey – would have arrived by barge, and you may nonetheless get a ship to Hampton to find the Tudor palace, full with maze and Magic Backyard.
I visited Hampton Court docket with a child and have been again my daughter a number of occasions since – certainly one of my favorite household days out. Try certainly one of our newest visits to Hampton Court docket with children.
You too can get a mixed Historic Royal Palaces move together with entry to Kensington Palace and the Tower of London in addition to Hampton Court docket
Go to the Tower of London
One other royal palace which was accessed by water, the very gate you entered by was vital – kings and queens would arrive in state to be performed to the royal residences… other than a couple of who entered by Traitor’s Gate, numbered among the many prisoners who usually by no means set foot exterior once more.
From the Norman White Tower to the medieval additions, crown jewels, beefeaters and ravens, plus centuries of historical past, the Tower of London is certainly one of my favorite London sights. Click on right here to purchase tickets.
You too can see the centuries-old Ceremony of the Keys – take a look at my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with children.
Stroll round St Katherine’s Dock
Wander just a little additional alongside the Thames and close by St Katherine’s Dock has been turned from a industrial dock right into a marina, with retailers and eating places.
On a sunny day, it’s a reasonably place to wander previous yachts, away from a few of the bustle across the tower.
Board a battleship
HMS Belfast was as soon as a Royal Navy gentle cruiser, now a museum ship completely moored on the Thames – an excellent choice for teenagers to find its historical past, with particular actions throughout faculty holidays.
Operated by the Imperial Conflict Museum, you may uncover what life would have been like on board for the crew through the Second World Conflict till 1963.
Spot fish
Whales, seals, dolphins and porpoises have all been noticed within the river because it has been cleaned up in recent times, however if you wish to be sure of recognizing marine life, head to the Sea Life London Aquarium close to the London Eye.
One of many greatest collections in Europe, it homes over 500 species, 14 themed zones and greater than 2 million litres of water, with some uncommon creatures to find, in addition to some favourites together with penguins and clownfish.
There are additionally often particular occasions throughout faculty holidays, and you may be part of behind-the-scenes excursions. It could get busy at peak occasions and on wet days, so it’s effectively price pre-booking and there are reductions for those who purchase on-line prematurely.
Right here’s what I considered a go to to Sea Life London aquarium with children
Meet Shrek
Shrek followers will love the possibility to stroll by the world of Far Far Away, assembly a few of the well-known characters together with Princess Fiona and Donkey, in addition to Shrek himself.
There’s a problem to gather elements as a way to discover Shrek and make it dwelling safely, with 10 themed reside reveals and a 4D flying bus to finish Shrek’s Journey. Higher for main faculty aged children who’ll respect the enjoyable than for toddlers and preschoolers.
Preserve an eye fixed out too for particular occasions yr spherical, together with particular friends like Puss in Boots and a Shrek Santa at Christmas.
You too can get mixed tickets to different Merlin sights, together with the close by aquarium or London Eye. Tickets with free cancellation are additionally accessible from Get Your Information.
Discover a Dungeon
One for older and braver children, a visit to the London Dungeon is a scarily good day trip, with reside actors whisking you thru 1,000 really alarming years of historical past, plus loads of particular results and rides to get your coronary heart racing even sooner.
Certainly one of a string of places across the UK, like the opposite Dungeons, every location has areas themed to swimsuit its personal historical past too. The London Dungeon, for instance, brings you head to head with the Nice Fireplace and Sweeney Todd.
Prebooking is strongly suggested, with on-line reductions for those who purchase your tickets prematurely: greatest for teenagers and braver tweens. You too can purchase mixture tickets to different Merlin sights.
Go to a museum
Even for those who restrict your self to river-front museums, there’s fairly a selection for artwork lovers specifically among the many issues to do on the Thames,
Tate Trendy has often altering exhibitions together with the immense Turbine corridor, whereas Tate Britain has a set of British artwork from 1500 onwards – each are free to enter.
Much less well-known is the London Museum of Water and Steam in Brentford, close to Kew in west London, with its historic engines and a few nice actions for teenagers.
Discover a botanic backyard
Though the entrances most guests use for the botanical gardens at Kew are just a little method from the river, the Thames truly wraps itself across the big web site so it’s simple to get from the water to the vegetation.
Don’t miss the great Youngsters’s Backyard, because the play space known as, however there’s all the time one thing new to find – I’ve been visiting for over a decade and by no means get bored.
Try my suggestions for exploring Kew Gardens with children
There are continuously altering exhibitions and themed shows so there’s all the time one thing new to seek out – we’ve discovered every thing from Shaun the Sheep at Kew and the Beano to shows on poisons and spices on our visits. E-book tickets prematurely, together with entry to the Youngsters’s Backyard.
See a Buddhist stupa
The 200 acres of Battersea Park have every thing from a youngsters’s zoo to a Go Ape course in addition to the Peace Pagoda proper on the riverfront, certainly one of many all over the world constructed as shrines to world peace.
Expertise a Tudor theatre
The well-known thatched duplicate of an unique Elizabethan theatre, The Globe is without doubt one of the greatest locations to observe Shakespeare, standing beneath the open skies as theatregoers would as soon as have completed.
You’ll be able to see the theatre from the skin whereas standing tickets price as little as £5 to see a efficiency. You too can take excursions of the Globe, together with an choice to improve with afternoon tea.
See a bishop’s palace
Fulham Palace has been the historic dwelling of the Bishops of London since 704 and it’s free to enter and discover, plus data on the positioning’s very earliest inhabitants relationship again round 5,000 years.
Subsequent door Bishop’s Park runs proper right down to the riverfront with an city seashore, decorative lake and sculpture backyard.
Hear London’s well-known bell
One of many iconic symbols of London, the Elizabeth Tower – containing Huge Ben, because the Nice Bell is thought – border the river at Westminster, together with the Palace of Westminster (aka the Homes of Parliament).
The tower has been unveiled as soon as once more after a significant refurbishment challenge with tower excursions working too – prebooking important and tickets get snapped up very quick. Appropriate for age 8+. You’ll be able to ebook excursions of Parliament as effectively.
Try what I considered a Huge Ben tour with children
Comply with a treasure hunt
The Treasure Map Trails assortment features a enjoyable treasure hunt round Twickenham, which takes you alongside the banks of the Thames close to Eel Pie Island – there’s 10% off utilizing the code MUMMYTRAVELS for those who ebook by my hyperlink.
And the Treasure Path assortment has a string of choices all through London, with fairly a couple of heading alongside the riverside for one of many extra uncommon issues to do on the Thames with children.
Select from a treasure hunt in Greenwich to a homicide thriller in Bankside to a spy mission in Westminster in addition to trails for Battersea and Putney Bridges, and the fairly fairly part known as Strand on the Inexperienced at Chiswick.
*First printed 2016, up to date 2026*
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Westminster/Blackfriars Bridge photographs courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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