Certainly one of my favorite views of London is from the river – the Thames is on the coronary heart of the town, and with so many decisions of various boat journeys in London with youngsters, it’s simple to suit no less than one into your go to.
accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
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 somewhat 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 perfect 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, it’s one to avoid wasting for sunny days – or wrap up heat.
- It’s typically not the quickest approach to journey – particularly in central London, if boats are hopping between Westminster, the London Eye and Embankment. It’s concerning the expertise somewhat 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 loads much less, so like every journey, pack one thing to entertain littler ones.
- Lots of the bigger boats have extra restricted numbers, so if you happen to’re boarding one with out a timed ticket, it’s value boarding in the direction of the beginning of the route or getting there a bit early on busy days, in any other case there may not be house on the primary boat.
- For extra concepts on how to save cash on days out in London with youngsters, together with some boat excursions, take a look at my ideas
For concepts of extra issues to do on the Thames with youngsters, take a look at my choose of the perfect of London’s riverside sights
Metropolis Cruises hop-on hop-off boats
There’s a complete vary of various sightseeing boat excursions from Metropolis Cruises, together with ones with afternoon tea but in addition a 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket, so you will get on and off the sightseeing boats at 4 completely different piers, if you’d like a number of cruises.
Get 20% off all Metropolis Cruises sightseeing excursions utilizing code CC20 till the top of 2024 – click on right here to get the low cost
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 approach to spot a number of highlights with youngsters – if the climate’s good, you may sit exterior on the highest deck.
It’s also possible to choose up mixed tickets, together with for riverside sights such because the London Eye plus a ship tour, or the Tower of London plus cruise.
The boats run usually 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, take a look at my choose of the finest bus excursions in London with youngsters
Horrible Thames boat tour
What do you get whenever you cross the creators of Horrible Histories with 2,000 years of drama alongside London’s riverbanks? The Horrible Thames cruise, new in 2021, has turn out to be a household favorite, with journeys operating on choose dates between early April and the top of October (largely throughout college holidays).
With tales of revolution, beheadings and pirates (and the stomach-turning cause 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 quantity of viewers participation, plus an incredible steadiness of enjoyable and info, it feels such as you get twice as a lot packed in – all together with the same old Horrible Histories recipe of gruesomely ridiculous, gory sound results, plus loads of bathroom humour.
You’ll uncover some genuinely quirky info, plus it doesn’t draw back from the tough subjects, 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 – take a look at the complete Horrible Thames evaluate right here
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
Should you’re not in search of a protracted cruise, aren’t fussed about commentary on board or desire a extra spontaneous possibility, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is unbeatable.
When you can select the identical route as most sightseeing boat excursions in London, this operates virtually the identical manner as a water bus, so it’s a enjoyable approach to get round London.
The boats go away from 23 completely different piers alongside the Thames with common boats by means of central London, plus much less frequent routes to take you west to Putney and east past Greenwich, so far as Woolwich (Royal Arsenal).
You need to use contactless to pay (in addition to your Oyster card), or e book through their app, so there’s no have to plan your tickets manner prematurely. It’s value realizing that it’s not included within the tfl day by day fare cap although.
Or you may choose up a one-day limitless River Roamer journey cross: if there are two adults in your group, the household cross implies that youngsters go free.
Thames River Sightseeing Cruise
One other traditional sightseeing London boat tour, Thames River Sightseeing additionally operates by means of central London – though stopping at a pair extra piers than Metropolis Cruises – with reside 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.
Take a look at among the finest issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters right here
It’s also possible to choose up a two-day household cross to cowl all of your boat journeys in London with youngsters, at present £47.80, if you happen to’re hoping to do a number 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 unique 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.
Children 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.
E book tickets to Hampton Courtroom Palace, right here, to mix each for an incredible household time out.
Thames Rockets RIB Voyage
If you’d like one thing extra thrilling than a mild pootle alongside the river, take a look at an adrenaline-fuelled RIB speedboat expertise as a substitute.
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.
E book right here for tickets which will be cancelled as much as 24 hours beforehand
For an extended journey, you may select the 80-minute 30-knot thrill trip to the Thames Barrier, or a shorter 40-minute Break the Barrier possibility, ranging from London Bridge Metropolis Pier and winding across the Greenwich peninsula, all accompanied by tunes from the final six many years.
It’s a must to be 10 years previous or above to hitch 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 if you happen to’re pregnant and should not swimsuit nervous little ones), particularly the Captain Kidd trip.
It’s advantageous to convey baggage on board (though not bigger instances) and whereas there’s all the time the prospect of spray off the water, there are waterproofs offered so it is best to emerge good and dry, though together with your coronary heart racing!
Beforehand you additionally had another option of ThamesJet speedboat rides, however these are now not working.
Take a Canal Waterbus
Should you’re in search of extra laid-back boat journeys in London with youngsters, the Thames isn’t the 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 declaring 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 may hop off to discover Paddington or stroll the streets.
Should you’d favor 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).
Youngsters are welcome and you’ll take buggies or strollers on board Jason’s Journey, so long as you may fold them, whereas under-fours go free on Jenny Wren.
For extra issues to do in Camden with youngsters, take a look at 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 may 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 may as well 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 means of.
Fortunately it’s loads simpler as of late! 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 prematurely.
If all of the ice cream historical past has whetted your urge for food, take a look at 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 if you happen to fancy a time out which mixes each, you may hop between the 2 utilizing the Tate Boat.
Operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (scroll up for extra), it’s truly a part of the RB1 or RB2 route so you may 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 positively a enjoyable promoting level for youths who love artwork, and this explicit boat journey in London with youngsters makes way more of an occasion of a go to to the 2.
Or if you happen to’re in search of an much more memorable expertise, you may 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
Should you can’t resolve whether or not you fancy a ship tour of London or a bus tour, why not do each? There are a number of choices accessible together with the Huge Bus open-top hop-on hop-off bus mixed with a River Thames cruise, and a selection of tickets lasting as much as three days, to find the assorted routes.
Or take a look at this classic bus and boat journey as one other approach to journey by means of the 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 era you choose.
Uncover extra royal locations in London with youngsters right here
Go Boat self-drive cruise
Should you favor the concept of getting behind the wheel of a ship your self, take a look at the completely different choices from GoBoat London, with house for as much as eight in every electrical boat (and it’s dog-friendly as properly).
You don’t have to have expertise earlier than you set off – there’s coaching given on arrival, together with a route map, plus you’ll get life jackets for infants and buoyancy aids for kids too. The captain have to be over 18.
You possibly can depart from Paddington and Canary Wharf, providing you with the prospect to discover round Paddington Basin and the Regent’s Canal or by means of the Docklands, in addition to Kingston, cruising alongside the river in West London between Teddington Lock and Molesley Lock, passing Hampton Courtroom Palace.
Convey a picnic – you may rent the boats for as much as three hours and there’s a desk to sit down round – though it’s essential know that Paddington is an alcohol-free location.
Take a look at our evaluate of GoBoat with youngsters from Paddington
Kayak London’s waterways
Wish to be the captain however fancy being answerable for a barely smaller craft? It’s also possible to 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 if you happen to’re seeking to take out a canoe (good for households who all wish to be in the identical boat) or Limehouse for kayaks (nice if you happen to’re a solo mother or father, or favor to separate youngsters and adults between the boats).
Should 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).
*final up to date 2024*
PIN FOR LATER: LONDON BOAT TRIPS WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. A number of experiences have been provided to me freed from cost for evaluate, however all opinions are my very own
Predominant picture, Little Venice, Tate Fashionable, kayak courtesy of Depositphotos, Metropolis Cruises courtesy Metropolis Experiences, all others copyright MummyTravels