Britain · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in the UK

170 tours  ·  from $12 a head

A river runs through most British cities and it is usually the cheapest good view in town. The 15 below range from a forty-minute Thames hop to a full day on Loch Ness, priced and clear on what a hop-on ticket really includes.

London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise - Parliament, the London Eye, and the first river views
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews, Westminster & Parliament Tours

London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - The main central route: royal London, Westminster, and the City
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

2.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Big Bus London review covering routes, landmarks, Thames cruise, ticket value, delays, weather, and tips for choosing the right pass.

“Well, I visited London during Christmas and took this bus on December 24th, 2025. The City was sooo crowded and cold that we couldn't seat upstairs in the open. The audio/ commentaries were not synchronized so, we ended up listening to music, most of the time with a huge delay...not understanding what they were commenting on. Im not sure how they work or operates through rest of the year but, not satisfactory during Christmas season”

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London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise - Westminster to Embankment: London’s ceremonial riverfront
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tower of London Tours, Westminster & Parliament Tours

London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise

Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise - Fort Augustus and the Loch Ness cruise
Boat Trips in Edinburgh, Cruises & Boat Tours, Edinburgh Tours, Loch Ness Tours, Scottish Highlands Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - The bus routes: a moving introduction to London
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Eye & Skyline Views, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise - Westminster and the royal heart of London
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket - Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Eye & Skyline Views, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tickets, Tickets in London, Tour Reviews

London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket

London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise - Start with the Red Route through Westminster
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

8.Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,875 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $35

See London’s top sights by open-top bus, Thames cruise, and optional walks, with practical tips on routes, timing, value, and what to expect.

“Our guide Rob, was wonderful! He was full of information and a great driver. The van was very comfortable. It was a wonderful day in a beautiful country.”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - The Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park route
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

9.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $54

Review of London Tootbus, with three routes, live bus tracking, landmark stops, audio commentary, and a Thames cruise.

“Horrible. Two buses ignored us at correct stop. Two times bus stopped for no reason and had to get on another bus. Their app is hard yo navigate and not accurate. Bus stops are not announced by number. Commentary is limited and coarse. Don’t book tootbus”

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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise - Starting at Coventry Street or another London stop
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

11.Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,653 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $52

See London’s top sights by open-top bus and Thames cruise, with flexible hop-on access, audio guides, live tracking, and walking tours.

“Great hop on hop off bus tour around London with live commentary on some buses. The yellow line is very regular service and blue line which takes you a wider route less frequent. The Thames cruise was excellent, highlight of tour with very informative, funny commentary. Highly recommend and cheaper than other tours offering same service.”

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Liverpool: Sightseeing River Cruise on the Mersey River - What you see leaving the waterfront
Boat Trips in Liverpool, City Tours, City Tours in Liverpool, Cruises & Boat Tours, Liverpool Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews

Liverpool: Sightseeing River Cruise on the Mersey River

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames - From Tower Bridge to Shakespeare’s Globe
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Afternoon Teas in London, Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

13.Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,274 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53

Enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes, and unlimited tea while cruising from the Tower of London to Parliament with London views.

“Food was great! Enjoyed the history we were given as we navigated the river. We did this as soon as we arrived in London and it was a wonderful way to start our visit!”

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Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride - Berkeley Square and London’s most haunted house
Boat Trips in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Ghost Tours, Ghost Walks in London, Guided, London Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

14.Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,212 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

London ghost tour with eerie stories, royal parks, a Thames boat ride, and Tower of London views. See if this $29.96 evening tour fits you.

“We all had a really nice time on the tour. It was very entertaining and our tour guide Julia was very friendly and welcoming. Lots of fantastic stories and tales kept us very amused all the way through.”

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London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise - Boarding at Westminster and finding your seat
Boat Trips in London, City Tours, City Tours in London, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses in London, London Tours, River Thames Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

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