One in all my favorite views of London is from the river – the Thames is on the coronary heart of town, and with so many selections of various boat journeys in London with youngsters, it’s straightforward to suit at the very least one into your go to.
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And in addition to the best-known sightseeing boat excursions in London, there are historic London boat journeys, self-drive choices (in addition to self-paddle) and extra adrenaline-fuelled experiences to attraction to older youngsters.
You can also make a advantage of necessity and journey to Greenwich with one of many London boat excursions fairly than sitting on the tube, and even hop onto a ship between two artwork galleries for a cruise with tradition. Right here’s my choose of the most effective London boat journeys for households to attempt.
Ideas for London boat excursions with youngsters
Crusing alongside the Thames is a implausible expertise, however it’s value being conscious of some issues earlier than you board, particularly for the London sightseeing boat excursions.
There’s typically a cold breeze out on the river, so whereas open-top sightseeing boats give nice views, save that for sunny days – or wrap up heat.
It’s typically not the quickest technique to journey – particularly in central London, when boats are hopping between Westminster, the London Eye and Embankment. It’s concerning the expertise fairly than the pace although.
Youthful youngsters may not be fairly so enthralled – whereas I can fortunately watch the surroundings for hours, when my daughter was younger, she appreciated our London boat journeys so much much less, so like several journey, pack one thing to entertain littler ones.
Lots of the bigger boats have extra restricted numbers, so for those who’re boarding one with out a timed ticket, it’s value boarding in direction of the beginning of the route or getting there a bit early on busy days, in any other case there may not be area on the primary boat.
For extra concepts on how to save cash on days out in London with youngsters, together with some boat excursions, try my ideas
For concepts of extra issues to do on the Thames with youngsters, try my choose of the most effective of London’s riverside points of interest
Metropolis Cruises hop-on hop-off boats
There’s an entire vary of various sightseeing boat excursions from Metropolis Cruises, together with ones with afternoon tea but additionally a 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket, so you will get on and off the sightseeing boats at 4 completely different piers, in order for you a number of cruises.
There’s commentary on board as they sail alongside the Thames, previous landmarks together with the Homes of Parliament and the London Eye, so it’s a enjoyable, hassle-free technique to spot a number of highlights with youngsters – if the climate’s good, you possibly can sit outdoors on the highest deck.
You too can choose up mixed tickets, together with for riverside points of interest such because the London Eye plus a ship tour, or the Tower of London plus cruise.
The boats run frequently between Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier, Tower Pier and Greenwich, which every part taking round half-hour (besides the primary two stops that are simply 10 minutes aside throughout the river).
For mixed boat and bus excursions, try my choose of the most effective bus excursions in London with youngsters
Horrible Thames boat tour
What do you get while you cross the creators of Horrible Histories with 2,000 years of drama alongside London’s riverbanks? The Horrible Thames cruise has develop into a household favorite, with journeys working on choose dates between early April and the top of October (largely throughout faculty holidays).
After 5 years, the Horrible Thames cruise is ending for good on September 3, 2025
With tales of revolution, beheadings and pirates (and the stomach-turning purpose why Queen Victoria’s pleasure cruise lasted solely minutes), you sail from Tower Bridge to Westminster and again through Execution Dock, whereas prizewinning school-child Billy (or Billie) and their trainer carry out and supply the commentary.
The cruise itself solely takes 45 minutes however with songs, simply the correct amount of viewers participation, plus an incredible stability of enjoyable and info, it feels such as you get twice as a lot packed in – all together with the standard Horrible Histories recipe of gruesomely ridiculous, gory sound results, plus loads of rest room humour.
You’ll uncover some genuinely quirky info, plus it doesn’t shrink back from the troublesome matters, together with London’s function within the slave commerce. Departs from Tower Bridge Quay close to St Katherine’s Dock.
We have been invited alongside to evaluate the tour earlier than it launched – my Horrible Histories-loving daughter (and I) gave it a really agency thumbs up – try the complete Horrible Thames evaluate right here
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
In the event you’re not searching for an extended cruise, aren’t fussed about commentary on board or desire a extra spontaneous choice, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is unbeatable.
When you can select the identical route as most sightseeing boat excursions in London, this operates nearly the identical means as a water bus, so it’s a enjoyable technique to get round London.
The boats go away from 23 completely different piers alongside the Thames with common boats by central London, plus much less frequent routes to take you west to Putney and east past Greenwich, so far as Woolwich (Royal Arsenal).
You should use contactless to pay (in addition to your Oyster card), or e-book through their app, so there’s no must plan your tickets means upfront. It’s value understanding that it’s not included within the tfl each day fare cap although.
Or you possibly can choose up a one-day limitless River Roamer journey cross: if there are two adults in your group, the household cross implies that as much as three youngsters go free.
Thames River Sightseeing Cruise
One other traditional sightseeing London boat tour, Thames River Sightseeing additionally operates by central London – though stopping at a pair extra piers than Metropolis Cruises – with stay commentary.
There are additionally audio guides in a number of different languages, and an open deck to observe the sights on sunny days, as you cruise from Westminster Pier and Tower Bridge Quay, close to St Katharine Docks, to Greenwich.
Try among the finest issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters right here
You too can choose up a two-day household cross to cowl all of your boat journeys in London with youngsters, presently £49, for those who’re hoping to do a whole lot of cruising alongside the river.
Turks River Cruises
The London boat excursions from Turks Launches have been cruising alongside the Thames for over 300 years, giving households an opportunity to find a special stretch of river.
The eye-catching boats (most famously a Mississippi-style stern wheeler) run most days between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Courtroom, passing stunning Hampton Courtroom Palace, Teddington Lock and the quirkily fascinating Eel Pie Island.
Youngsters get discounted tickets whereas these aged two and beneath journey free, with journeys lasting between 35 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes, relying how far you select to cruise.
Guide tickets to Hampton Courtroom Palace, right here, to mix each for an incredible household day trip.
Thames Rockets RIB Voyage
If you need one thing extra thrilling than a delicate pootle alongside the river, try an adrenaline-fuelled RIB speedboat expertise as an alternative.
You will discover a sequence of high-speed RIB experiences from Thames Rockets – the Final London Journey is household pleasant, with a 50-minute journey previous HMS Belfast and the Oxo Tower, from the London Eye pier, whereas Captain Kidd’s Canary Wharf Voyage is aimed particularly at households.
The brand new Rocket Insurgent boats are greater, and simply as a lot enjoyable – try our evaluate of a Thames Rockets Rocket Insurgent boat tour.
Guide right here for tickets which may be cancelled as much as 24 hours beforehand
For an extended journey, you possibly can select the 80-minute 30-knot thrill trip to the Thames Barrier, or a shorter 40-minute Break the Barrier choice, ranging from London Bridge Metropolis Pier and winding across the Greenwich peninsula, all accompanied by tunes from the final six a long time.
It’s a must to be 10 years previous or above to affix the Break the Barrier trip, due to the speeds concerned, however in any other case the boat journeys are appropriate for youths of all ages (though none are appropriate for those who’re pregnant and should not go well with nervous little ones), particularly the Captain Kidd trip.
It’s superb to carry luggage on board (though not bigger instances) and whereas there’s all the time the prospect of spray off the water, there are waterproofs supplied so you must emerge good and dry, though along with your coronary heart racing!
Beforehand you additionally had another option of ThamesJet speedboat rides, however these are not working.
Take a Canal Waterbus
In the event you’re searching for extra laid-back boat journeys in London with youngsters, the Thames isn’t town’s solely waterway, with a number of completely different canal waterbus choices cruising alongside Regent’s Canal.
The Jenny Wren canal boat tour lasts 90 minutes, cruising from Camden Lock to Little Venice and again once more, with a information stating among the highlights alongside the best way.
Or Jason’s Journey Canal Waterbus has been working since 1951. The classic narrowboat takes you on a 45-minute journey from Camden Lock to Primrose Hill, previous Regent’s Park, London Zoo (look out for among the animals!) then on to fairly Little Venice, with its cafe-lined canals, the place you possibly can hop off to search out Paddington or stroll the streets.
In the event you’d choose to sail in silence, go for Jason’s Journey and putter to Little Venice with out the guided chat (solely normal on Jason’s Journey cruises beginning on the Little Venice finish).
Kids are welcome and you may take buggies or strollers on board Jason’s Journey, so long as you possibly can fold them, whereas under-fours go free on Jenny Wren.
For extra issues to do in Camden with youngsters, try my high picks
Canal Museum Tunnel boat
Uncover extra about London’s canals earlier than taking a ship journey alongside the Regent’s Canal and thru the Islington tunnel, with a particular tour from the London Canal Museum, not removed from King’s Cross station.
On the museum itself, you possibly can be taught extra concerning the individuals who lived and labored on the waterways, the cargoes the boats carried (together with ice from Norway!), and get a peek inside a narrowboat cabin – plus some bonus historical past of the ice commerce and ice cream.
However you can even e-book the Canal Museum’s Tunnel Boat tour, a 50-minute journey alongside the water, together with some extra background on the three-quarter mile tunnel… together with the truth that initially males needed to lie on the boats and push in opposition to the partitions with their legs to get by.
Fortunately it’s so much simpler lately! Not one for the youngest youngsters, who is perhaps spooked by the lengthy, darkish tunnel although.
There are restricted seats on board, and it solely runs on Thursdays and Sundays, so do e-book upfront.
If all of the ice cream historical past has whetted your urge for food, try Ruby Violet within the Kings Cross canal quarter, close to Granary Sq. and its fountains, with flavours starting from conventional favourites to peanut butter, ardour fruit and liquorice.
Tate Boat
London has not one however two branches of the Tate gallery, with Tate Fashionable and Tate Britain each on the riverside – and for those who fancy a day trip which mixes each, you possibly can hop between the 2 utilizing the Tate Boat.
Operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (scroll up for extra), it’s really a part of the RB1 or RB2 route so you possibly can e-book as regular utilizing their app, in addition to shopping for tickets from the Tate – the galleries themselves are each free to enter.
It’s undoubtedly a enjoyable promoting level for youths who love artwork, and this explicit boat journey in London with youngsters makes far more of an occasion of a go to to the 2.
Or for those who’re searching for an much more memorable expertise, you possibly can e-book a Tate To Tate tour, which features a guided tour of the Tate Britain within the morning, a visit on the Tate Boat, and a guided tour of Tate Fashionable within the afternoon, in addition to different family-friendly non-public excursions of the artwork galleries.
Bus and boat tour of London
In the event you can’t determine whether or not you fancy a ship tour of London or a bus tour, why not do each? There are a number of choices obtainable together with the Massive Bus open-top hop-on hop-off bus mixed with a River Thames cruise, and a alternative of tickets lasting as much as three days, to find the assorted routes.
Or try this classic bus and boat journey as one other technique to journey by town on two iconic modes of transport. The traditional doubledecker bus leaves from Victoria Coach Station previous sights comparable to Westminster Abbey and the Homes of Parliament, earlier than hopping on a ship alongside the Thames.
Some departures embrace the prospect to see the Altering of the Guard at Buckingham Palace too, relying which period you choose.
Uncover extra royal locations in London with youngsters right here
Go Boat self-drive cruise
In the event you choose the thought of getting behind the wheel of a ship your self, try the completely different choices from GoBoat London, with area for as much as eight in every electrical boat (and it’s dog-friendly as properly).
You don’t must have expertise earlier than you set off – there may be coaching given on arrival, together with a route map, plus you’ll get life jackets for infants and buoyancy aids for youngsters too. The captain have to be over 18.
You’ll be able to depart from Paddington and Canary Wharf, providing you with the prospect to discover round Paddington Basin and the Regent’s Canal or by the Docklands, in addition to Kingston, cruising alongside the river in West London between Teddington Lock and Molesley Lock, passing Hampton Courtroom Palace.
Deliver a picnic – you possibly can rent the boats for as much as three hours and there’s a desk to sit down round – though you might want to know that Paddington is an alcohol-free location.
Try our evaluate of GoBoat with youngsters from Paddington
Kayak London’s waterways
Need to be the captain however fancy being accountable for a barely smaller craft? You too can discover a few of London’s 100 miles of waterways with a spot of canoeing or kayaking.
Moo Canoes has a base at Hackney Wick for those who’re trying to take out a canoe (good for households who all wish to be in the identical boat) or Limehouse for kayaks (nice for those who’re a solo mother or father, or choose to separate youngsters and adults between the boats).
In the event you’re decided to get out onto the Thames, the London Kayak Firm additionally does reserving for households with youngsters aged 9 and over (the group journeys are for adults solely).
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Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. A number of experiences have been supplied to me freed from cost for evaluate, however all opinions are my very own
Primary picture, Little Venice, Tate Fashionable, kayak courtesy of Depositphotos, Metropolis Cruises courtesy Metropolis Experiences, all others copyright MummyTravels
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