River Thames Evening Cruise with Sparkling wine and Canapés

London, England

High interest

Booked 4 times today.

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 Cruises
Tower 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.

Start time
.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.

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

Selection of non-vegetarian and vegetarian canapés
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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

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 595 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most insightful

Not really worth the money

Amy_M, Jul 2026

The boat was safe and the staff was friendly. The boat left 20 min late, and they were very short staffed. They didn't have enough people to both man the bar and serve the canapes. The staff prioritized the bar service, so by the time they served the canapes, they were soggy and warm. The music was fair. It was a guy basically singing karaoke.

Thames evening cruise with sites!

Karen_G, Jul 2026

Very nice river cruise. Views of all the sites we loved but from the water view. A glass of champagne and some (not many) canapes. The music on board was amazing, a talented singer. Dance floor was full. Highly recommend.

Cruise was canceled by...

Joseph_J, Jul 2026

Cruise was canceled by operator at the last minute. We got a refund of our money. The boats did look very up to date.

Fun!

Melody_C, Jul 2026

Enjoyed the different landmarks of London while on the river. Had great entertainment/music and the food was also good. It will not fill you up, but still yummy!

Beautiful evening

Shannon_M, Jul 2026

Very nice relaxing evening. Beautiful sites along the way. Canapés were delicious. Emma was onboard for entertainment. She is cute as can be with talent and personality. Just a great way to start our holiday adventure.

Bad food and no communication

Alka_C, Jul 2026

No one explained any thing about buildings or points we crossed while on trip. There should be some commentary Food was bad

Nice river ride. Boat...

Suzanne_S, Jul 2026

Nice river ride. Boat was comfortable and nice view of some sights from the water. But the passed canapés were very small and not well spaced apart so a bit of a rush at the end to serve them. Not enough to think this would be a meal but they were tasty and fresh.

Such a great way to get a...

Jennifer_M, Jul 2026

Such a great way to get a taste of the city!! We all enjoyed the peaceful cruise, looking at sites along the river, and enjoying some treats and drinks along the way! Perfect, relaxing end to a day of sightseeing! Enjoyed by our whole family!

Disappointed.

Nicole_S, Jul 2026

I was disappointed they didn’t describe anything we passed by. The boat was fine but I expected more.

Night cruise on the Thames

pam_m, Jun 2026

It’s absolutely beautiful to take a night cruise on the Thames we saw pretty much everything from the London eye to Big Ben it was wonderful. The crew was very helpful too!!

Evening on the Thames

Pamela_M, Jun 2026

Beautiful, peaceful evening sailing down the Thames. Great opportunities for photos. Great ending to a busy sightseeing day.

Best cruise ever

alejandro_g, Jun 2026

Great experience, entertaining great service food and drinks, with live music, would recommend to anyone

disappointing cruise

David_I, Jun 2026

Disappointing cruise. I thought it was going to be an informative tour but it was a party cruise. There was an entertainer on board who was good but that is not what I wanted. I wanted to hear about what we were seeing

Great cruise

Bernadette_J, Jun 2026

Boat cruise was great. Proceeds up and down the Thames so you. A view great sights by water. They served sparkling and canapés. They also has a guitar player and music was great.

Pretty, but blah.

Christine_P, May 2026

There was no one on the boat who was telling us anything about the sights. It would have been nice to have some narration. The point of the trip is to see the highlights of London. If you've never been there, you can't really tell one building from the next. Also, I used the QR code to order a drink. 20 minutes later when it did not arrive, I went to the bar and was told that they don't use the QR code and that I had to get a refund and reorder our drinks. The bartender then chastised me by telling me that the captain made several announcements about the QR code not being in use. Apparently, the captain makes announcements about missing services, but not sights to be seen on a sightseeing cruise.

In Spring the cruise is...

Sandy_E, May 2026

In Spring the cruise is in daylight. The live singer was a great singer but we also wanted a commentary as this was the first time in London for most of us.

A Sparkling ride on the River Thames

JacqP, May 2026

Our boat ride on the River Thames begin with a lovely glass of sparkling wine. The four of us were seated at a table next to a window which allowed us unobstructed views of the sites as we sailed past them. Delicious canopes were served to us by welcoming crew members. Since it was a lovely afternoon, we walked upstairs to the open air deck for more viewing of some of the iconic sites of London. Throughout the boat ride, we were entertained by a very talented singer, which increased our enjoyment of the trip. As our ride was coming to an end, we were fortunate enough to witness an amazing sunset over the Tower Bridge. The four of us thoroughly enjoyed our sparkling ride on the River Thames and would recommend it to all!

Best if you don't set high expectations

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.

Evening 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.

Champagne and beautiful...

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.

Arrived On Time but Still Denied Entry

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

I had such a beautiful...

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

A fair review

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

Our lunch cruise was...

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.

Lovely Evening

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.

Magical experience, a must do!

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!

Amazing experience!

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.

Fun Night on the Thames with Friends

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.