- Duration: Choose a 50-minute ride, or extend to 80 minutes for the full route out to the Thames Barrier.
- Time slots: Both daytime and evening departures are available, including the Thames Lates option, which is restricted to guests 18 and over.
- Best time to go: Weekday sailings, especially outside the summer school holidays (June-August), tend to be quieter at London Eye Pier, with shorter queues at boarding. Weekends and peak summer months draw the biggest crowds, since the pier also serves London Eye visitors.
- Off-peak tip: Booking a weekday slot in spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October) gets you milder weather and thinner crowds than the summer rush.
Thames Speedboat Tours
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Why choose a speedboat tour on the Thames?
✔️ Pure adrenaline: Reach speeds of 35 mph as your speedboat powers along the Thames, delivering a thrill no standard river cruise can match.
✔️ Live entertainment onboard: A professional actor or comedian guides the trip, mixing sharp humour with genuine London history and commentary.
✔️ Central starting point: Board right at London Eye Pier, one of the most easily reached departure points on the river.
✔️ Iconic sights up close: Speed past Tower Bridge, The Shard, and Canary Wharf, with open, unobstructed views instead of a cabin window.
✔️ Built for busy schedules: The ride wraps up in just 50 minutes, making it easy to fit into a packed day of sightseeing.
What to expect on a speedboat tour
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Board at London Eye Pier
Meet your crew right at the pier, zip into your life jacket, and get a quick safety briefing before stepping onto the speedboat. You'll be out on the water within minutes of arriving.
Feel the speed
The engines roar to life as your boat clears the pier and hits 35 mph, carving sharp turns and throwing up spray as it races along the Thames. This is sightseeing with your heart racing!
Laugh along with your guide
A professional actor or comedian keeps the energy high throughout the ride, cracking jokes and dropping real history between bursts of speed, so the commentary is as fun as the ride itself.
Spot London's icons up close
Shoot past Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and The O2, taking in the skyline from the water at speeds and angles no walking tour could match.
Choose your ride
Go for the 50-minute day or evening dash for a quick adrenaline fix, or extend to 80 minutes and push all the way to the Thames Barrier, the world's largest movable flood defence.
Things to know before booking your speedboat tour
- No cancellations or rescheduling: Thames speedboat tour tickets are final once booked, so make sure your date and time slot are confirmed before you pay.
- Age restrictions apply: Guests under 14 must be accompanied by a guardian, and the Thames Lates evening slot is restricted to guests 18 and over.
- Not suitable for pregnant guests: Due to the speed and motion of the ride, this experience is restricted for pregnant women.
- No outside food or drink: Outside food and beverages aren't permitted onboard, so plan any snacks or drinks around this.
- Pick your duration upfront: Choose between the 50-minute day or evening ride, or the 80-minute route that extends out to the Thames Barrier — decide which fits your schedule before booking.
- Paid upgrades available: Add a complimentary seasonal drink, like a Tapp'd Raspberry Lemonade Vodka cocktail or a non-alcoholic alternative, and choose between a daytime or evening tour slot.
Speedboat tour vs standard sightseeing tours
| Feature | Speedboat tour | Standard sightseeing tour |
|---|---|---|
Pace | Fast, thrilling, up to 35 mph | Slow, leisurely cruising speed |
Atmosphere | High-energy, adrenaline-charged | Calm, relaxed sightseeing |
Guide style | Live comedian/actor commentary | Standard recorded or live narration |
Duration | Short burst, 50-80 minutes | Longer, 1-3 hour cruises |
Sightseeing style | Quick passes, adrenaline-focused | Leisurely views, better for photos |
Refreshments | Paid seasonal drink upgrade | Often included, cafe bar onboard |
Best for | Thrill-seekers, adventure lovers | First-timers, families wanting a relaxed view |
Highlights of your Thames speedboat tour
London Eye
Start your ride right beside London's iconic observation wheel, towering over the South Bank and marking the beginning of your high-speed Thames adventure.
Plan your visit for a Thames speedboat tour
Boarding point: London Eye Pier, directly beneath the London Eye — one of the most central departure points on the river and easy to reach on foot from the South Bank.
- By tube/train: Waterloo station is the nearest stop, served by the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern, and Waterloo & City lines, plus National Rail — it's a short walk to London Eye Pier from there.
- By bus: Routes 1, 12, 59, 68, 76, 77, 139, 148, 159, 168, 176, 188, 211, 243, 381, 507, and 521 all stop close to the London Eye.
- By car: Central London location with limited nearby parking; public transport is the easier option given congestion charge zones and traffic.
- Entry tickets and ID: Keep both on hand for a smooth check-in and boarding process.
- Warm layers: Dress warmly and wear a wind or waterproof jacket, since the open water gets breezy even on sunny days.
- Hat and sunglasses: Useful for cutting wind and glare off the water during the ride.
- Secure bag for valuables: Bring a small bag you can hold onto or zip shut, since phones and cameras can get splashed or jostled loose at speed.
- Not wheelchair accessible: Guests must be able to board and sit unaided; the crew can't lift wheelchairs onto the vessel.
- Not recommended for guests with back, spinal, or heart conditions, given the speed and motion of the ride.
- Restricted for pregnant guests, for safety reasons.
- Small-group setup: Boats carry a limited number of guests, keeping the ride more personal than a large sightseeing cruise.
- Minimum age applies: A minimum age of around 6 months for infants applies, alongside the under-14 guardian rule.
- Suitable for most fitness levels: The ride suits guests of varying fitness levels, provided they can sit unaided and aren't affected by the restrictions above.
- Age restrictions: Children under 14 must be accompanied by a guardian; the Thames Lates evening slot is restricted to guests 18 and over.
- Outside food & drink: Not permitted onboard.
- Life jackets: Must be worn at all times; a fine applies for intentional tampering.
- Non-cancellable, non-reschedulable: These tickets are locked in once booked, so confirm your date, time, and tour length before paying.
How to make the most of your speedboat tour
- Book weekday slots for a quieter ride: Weekday sailings outside summer school holidays mean shorter queues at the pier and a less crowded boat.
- Pick the evening slot for the best light: A sunset or dusk sailing gives you golden-hour views of Tower Bridge and the skyline, especially on the Thames Lates run.
- Sit toward the back for the biggest thrill: The rear seats catch more spray and feel faster through turns — worth requesting if you want maximum adrenaline.
- Skip loose belongings: Leave anything you can't afford to lose at home; the boat moves fast enough that unsecured items can shift or get splashed.
- Go for 80 minutes if the Thames Barrier interests you: The extra 30 minutes is the only way to see London's flood defence system up close.
Frequently asked questions about speedboat tours
You can choose a 50-minute ride covering the main sights, or an 80-minute route that extends out to the Thames Barrier.
All speedboat tours board at London Eye Pier, directly beneath the London Eye on the South Bank.
Yes, a professional actor or comedian guides the ride with live commentary, mixing humour with real London history.
Yes, but children under 14 must be accompanied by a guardian.
No, guests must be able to board and sit unaided, as the crew can't lift wheelchairs onto the vessel.
No, speedboat tour tickets are non-cancellable and non-reschedulable once booked.
Yes, the Thames Lates evening slot is available, but it's restricted to guests 18 and over.
