River Thames Evening Cruise with Sparkling wine and Canapés
London, England
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Witness the enchantment of London at night on an evening cruise on the River Thames, which reveals the capital from a fresh perspective. A glass-encased boat provides unrivaled views of the city’s main attractions as they begin to illuminate, so you can see the London Shard, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the HMS Belfast away from the land-based crowds. Sip a glass of sparkling wine (or soft drink) and canapés as you sail.
- See London as it changes from day to night more for a unique experience
- Enjoy canapés and a glass of sparkling wine as an added bonus
- Check off plenty of attractions without having to walk between each
- This compact tour is perfect for travelers short on time in London
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Sunset, sparkling wine, and elegant canapés add class to a classic Thames cruise.
What's Included
- Glass of sparkling wine or soft drink
- Snacks
- Sightseeing cruise
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- City CruisesTower Millennium Pier, London EC3N 4DT, UK
Boarding at: 18.15 Cruising: 18:30 to 20:30
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.6:30 pm
Itinerary
Stroll the open-air deck and help yourself to delicious canapés as you embark on a leisurely float along London’s famous waterway. Then find a seat in the indoor saloon, enjoy live jazz music and admire unobstructed views of passing city landmarks at sunset.
Heading first past Westminster, get great views of the Houses of Parliament and the iconic Big Ben, followed by the illuminated London Eye and Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre. Sip on bubbly wine as your boat cruises under London Bridge and past the Tower of London and the monolithic Shard building—London’s tallest building at 1,016 feet (310 meters) in height.
The final leg of your cruise takes you by Canary Wharf and the HMS Belfast which is now the Royal Naval Museum. From here, your boat makes its way back to Westminster Pier, where you disembark with plenty of time for dinner or evening activities.
Heading first past Westminster, get great views of the Houses of Parliament and the iconic Big Ben, followed by the illuminated London Eye and Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre. Sip on bubbly wine as your boat cruises under London Bridge and past the Tower of London and the monolithic Shard building—London’s tallest building at 1,016 feet (310 meters) in height.
The final leg of your cruise takes you by Canary Wharf and the HMS Belfast which is now the Royal Naval Museum. From here, your boat makes its way back to Westminster Pier, where you disembark with plenty of time for dinner or evening activities.
1
City Cruises
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Tower of London (Pass By)
HMS Belfast (Pass By)
The Shard (Pass By)
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (Pass By)
Big Ben (Pass By)
Houses of Parliament (Pass By)
Tower Bridge (Pass By)
Canary Wharf (Pass By)
London Eye (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Dress code is smart casual
- Minimum age is 13 years
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Patricia_C
The 2 hour river cruise was fabulous from start to finish. Excellent service from all the staff, very professional, aswell as being friendly. The entertainment was also excellent providing an beautiful atmosphere for all on board. A great way to see so many sights along the Thames. Thank you for making our trip very memorable.
Reviews
3.9
based on 575 reviews
Neil_N, Apr 2026
This is a very economical and simple run up and down the river. The musical entertainment was fun and engaging, he got everyone up and dancing by the end of the cruise.
Pamela_W, Apr 2026
This is a very pleasant and relaxing cruise. There is no narrator or guide to interpret what you're seeing, so if you are looking for a guided tour, look elsewhere.
Deb_R, Mar 2026
Champagne and beautiful scenery going under all the bridges ! Very friendly staff and great entertainment too!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed the beautiful scenery while passing under the bridges, it’s truly a special part of the experience.
It’s also wonderful to hear that our staff made you feel welcome and that you had a great time with the entertainment. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to see you on board again soon!
Kind regards.
City Cruises.
Andrea_D, Dec 2025
I’m very disappointed with this tour experience. I arrived at the pickup location at the scheduled start time, yet the pier had already been closed off and I was not allowed to enter. I completely understand and respect the recommendation to arrive early, but it is unreasonable for the doors to be closed before the actual start time. Arriving on time should still allow guests to participate.
I’ve taken many tours, and this is the only one that has ever closed access before the designated start time, leaving no opportunity for on-time guests to join. This felt unfair and poorly managed.
I attempted to contact the operator without success, and I feel that the situation was not handled appropriately.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating it must have been to arrive on time yet be unable to enter the pier. While we do encourage guests to arrive early due to the port’s security procedures, Please could you contact our customer service team by email customercomments@citycruises.com and we will get back to you.
Kind regards
City Cruises
Elena_P, Nov 2025
I had such a beautiful evening on the London night cruise. The Prosecco, tasty canapés and the amazing live singer made the whole experience feel so special. Seeing Big Ben, the Shard, the Houses of Parliament and HMS Belfast lit up from the water was absolutely stunning.
The glass boat gave perfect views and the whole night felt calm, cosy and a little bit luxurious. If you want a simple but memorable London experience, this is one I’d fully recommend. ✨🛥️🍾
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello,
Thank you for your lovely review about your evening cruise! It's great to hear you liked the canapes and live music and that it made it feel special! We hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Kind regards
City Cruises
David_T, Nov 2025
We enjoyed our River Thames Evening Cruise, especially the stunning night-time views of London—truly the highlight of the experience. The city looked spectacular from the water and made the whole outing feel special. The sparkling wine added a nice touch, though the canapés were fairly average, mostly simple toppings on soft bread. Overall, it was a pleasant evening with beautiful scenery, even if the food could have been a little more exciting.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello,
Thank you for your review, we are glad to hear you enjoyed your evening cruise and got to see the city in the spectacle it deserves! We appreciate your feedback on the canapés and we are looking to improve this. We hope you welcome you on board again soon.
kind regards
City Cruises
Kim_R, Oct 2025
Our lunch cruise was canceled due to lack of interest so we paid for the evening cruise. Champagne was one 1/2 glass; more libations for purchase only. The hors d’oeuvres were ok; however, the staff came around to guests only twice to serve. You were expected to serve yourself after that (and we were not told that). The cruise staff did not point out any buildings, etc. Overall not worth the price.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to highlight the areas where we can improve. We understand that having your lunch cruise cancelled and then switching to the evening cruise wasn’t ideal, and we apologise for any inconvenience this caused.
We also regret that the service didn’t meet the standard we aim for. Our intention is to provide a more attentive experience, so we’re sorry to hear that the staff only came around twice and that this was not clearly communicated to you. We’ll be sure to review our service procedures with the team to ensure better clarity in the future. Additionally, we appreciate your feedback on the champagne and hors d’oeuvres, and we’ll be looking into this to improve our offerings.
We also understand your disappointment regarding the lack of commentary during the cruise. Typically, we aim to provide informative and engaging narration of the sights along the route, so we will investigate this to ensure that future guests have a more enriched experience.
Thank you again for your feedback. If you'd like to discuss your experience further, please feel free to reach out to us at customercomments@citycruises.com. We hope to have the opportunity to make things right for you in the future.
Kind regards.
City Cruises.
Earl_S, Oct 2025
A great way to spend the evening seeing the lights of the buildings and bridges along the river Thames. Only drawback is no commentary.
Jenny_p, Oct 2025
A magical experience with London dazzling! I loved this tour and did not want it to end! The views and lights of the city were spectacular. It was all well managed, with friendly staff, good food and entertainment, a big thank you!
Marcel_S, Oct 2025
Amazing experience! Food and beverage were great, sights were beautiful at night, and the singer they brought on board was fantastic. Highly recommend, especially if it’s your first time in London.
Bill_v, Oct 2025
We had a fun night on this cruise and got some incredible photos of the night time lights of London. Music was entertaining. Many people dancing. Food was good, but it was light canopies, so either have a late lunch or plan for dinner after the cruise.
laura_g, Oct 2025
This was a nice way to spend our first evening in London. The views are really nice at night, glass of champagne and canapés included
janet_y, Oct 2025
Perfect way to see the London sights all lit up after dark. It was comfortable and perfect for photos!
Judith_O, Sep 2025
This cruise was everything I could have asked for and more. Beautiful evening, canapés and sparkling wine as well as a full cash bar on board. I took this cruise to enjoy London sites after dark and was not disappointed.
Csilla_N, Sep 2025
It was a relaxing evening cruising on the river Thames. First half of the trip was still in daylight. The second half we enjoyed the evening lights of the city. Highly recommend.
RonnieUribe, Sep 2025
Definitely a 7/10. The views and photo ops are well worth it. Warning, you will probably be cold if you sit on the top deck however the views make it worth it. There is nothing like seeing London lit up at night! We were greeted with champagne upon boarding and cold canapés (small appetizers) throughout the cruise. The inside deck has a lounge singer for some on board entertainment. My two critiques are there is no commentary on this cruise. While it is not billed as an architectural cruise or sightseeing tour, a little commentary so that you know where you are at along the river or what you are passing would be helpful. Also, we were on the top deck 90% of the cruise. It wasn’t until the last half hour that we went down. It would have been helpful to know there was entertainment downstairs. An announcement would have been helpful. While the canapés were yummy, one or two hot ones would have been nice. Or since it was so cold, offering coffee or tea would be a nice addition.
Rachel_R, Sep 2025
Nice enough evening down the Thames. One glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a few canapés during the trip. Singer was good and friendly. No commentary on sights as we went by.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the evening on the Thames, the welcome sparkling wine, the canapés, and the performance from our singer.
We appreciate you noting the absence of commentary during the cruise. While some of our sailings focus on a more relaxed, entertainment led atmosphere, we understand that commentary can enhance the experience for guests who want to learn more about the landmarks along the way. Your feedback is helpful, and we’ll be reviewing this to see how we can better meet expectations.
Thank you again for your comments, we’re pleased you enjoyed the evening, and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future.
Kind regards
City Cruises
Maryellen_B, Sep 2025
We booked 11 people on this cruise. Tried to add a 12th person later and the Viator app defaulted the booking to a different day. I didn’t notice it till just after I submitted the booking.
I called Viator immediately; and they put in a call with the tour operator to change the date for our 12th guest.
When I didn’t hear back before we left for the event, I tried to add a brand new reservation, hoping they’d allow the one with the wrong date to be cancelled. It wouldn’t allow me to add her and said there was no available space.
The boat was 50% full, so she could have been added.
The Tour operator didn’t get back to me till the next day; so this person didn’t get to attend. The tour Operator told me Viator could have made the change in date when I first called; but Viator told me that the tour operator needs to do it.
In the meantime, I’m out $70 because there are obviously customer service and communications issues between Viator and the tour operators. Viator said one thing; the Tour Operator said something different; and now they won’t refund my money.
Either way, you get 1 drink and maybe 2-3 appetizers of very poor quality. The ride was good; and you can see the city at night; but the food, drink and communications were terrible.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello,
Thanks-you for your feedback, if you'd like to discuss your experience further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at customercomments@citycruise.com. We’d love the opportunity to make things right and welcome you back in the future.
Kind regards
City Cruises
Jake_L, Sep 2025
It’s a great experience for seeing the city at night, singer is fantastic. Views are great.
The only thing is it is way too long to be on a boat. 2 hours and you come back the same way so you aren’t seeing anything new.
Other than that it was fantastic.
Felipe_F, Sep 2025
All good amazing tour Started with champagne then snacks and beautiful skyline scene under the river
Terry_D, Sep 2025
Super friendly staff, had a great time. Justthe right amount of time to thecity lightup. The tower bridge looked amazing at night.
Kirsten_G, Sep 2025
Fantastic! Staff were welcoming & friendly.
The cruise was a highlight of our stay. We had a perfect night with a full moon. Sunset was amazing we enjoyed the singing of the vocalist on board & had a dance whilst enjoying all the attractions. Would highly recommend.
Patricia_C, Sep 2025
The 2 hour river cruise was fabulous from start to finish. Excellent service from all the staff, very professional, aswell as being friendly. The entertainment was also excellent providing an beautiful atmosphere for all on board. A great way to see so many sights along the Thames. Thank you for making our trip very memorable.
Paul_H, Sep 2025
Nice evening, friendly staff, beautiful views.
Canapés were fair. Was on the top deck when first round of canapés were passed. No announcement. Not really disappointed once the second round came about. Wish it was more of a narrated tour.
Michael_H, Aug 2025
Great experience overall - complimentary drink on arrival and small appetizers brought around by the staff throughout and prices for additional drinks were reasonable. The staff on the boat were excellent and provided great service. The boat itself was pretty comfortable and we had great views of London in the evening.
Cindy_H, Aug 2025
It was very nice. Good service food and drinks. Loved the views from the boat. So pretty and enjoyable!!
Ashlee_B, Aug 2025
Such a great experience for our first night in London. Beautiful views and the sky looked amazing at the end. Appetizers were pretty good. Singer was hilariously bad.
Tracey_B, Aug 2025
Great time champagne was good bought another glass each. Good price. Canapés were nice. No commentary which was disappointing
Carol_M, Aug 2025
The cruise was lovely and the service was terrific. The singer did a good job. Wish they pointed out landmarks along the way.
Carson_J, Aug 2025
This is a relaxing and refreshing way to see London. The boat went further up the river than I expected. Worth the money.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hello,
Thank you for leaving us a review about your evening cruise. We are glad to hear you found the cruise relaxing and worth the money.
Kind regards
City Cruises
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