reviews bateaux london cruises

Suggested companies

Bold smart lock, st. james’s place, plazaremovals.

Bateaux London   Reviews

In the Vehicles & Transportation category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 3.8.

Most relevant

Excellent Service from start to finish

Excellent Service from start to finish. Easy to book and then the big wait until you finally get to take the trip on the boat along the Thames. Greeted by a line of servers all smiling and happy to greet us. Service was impeccable and food to a high standard. excellent jazz music from the heart of the vessel from a saxophonist and a baby grand piano. Would defiantly recommend Bateaux to friends and family and I really hope to do this trip again. (maybe by night next time) Thank you all so much for some wonderful memories

Date of experience : 28 July 2022

Bad customer service

I have been phoning your helpline since Wednesday 16th June holding on for 44mins at a time left voice messages asking for a call back sent an email with my query and now today all day long when I ring the message is , sorry no one is available to take your call at the moment call back I have been phoning since 9am up until now and get the same message . I NEED SOME ASSISTANCE THIS IS POOR SHOW

Date of experience : 18 June 2021

New Years Eve Ruined

Booked for New Years Eve (£700 !) Also booked non refundable London Hotel for night . Just been told by Email with two weeks to go that the boat won't now be sailing on New Years Eve due to a gerabox fault which can't be reapaired until New Year and the event cancelled ! Yes they are going to issue a refund but now £690 out of pocket for the Hotel that I can't cancel. Never ever again with Bateaux London but reading other reviews seems like this company have lost the plot and dont care anyway.

Date of experience : 17 December 2019

Reply from Bateaux London

Dear Mark fullet, We apologize for the inconvenience this created and hope you have been able to find an alternative venue for your celebration. At Bateaux London, the safety and security of our customers and crew is paramount and as we could not guarantee the mechanical integrity of the vessel, we have decided to place her into dry dock and organise the necessary repairs. The cancellation of a sail is something we do not take lightly due to the significant financial implications to our business, however we totally understand your disappointment. We hope you give us the opportunity to deliver a more enjoyable experience on your next visit. Kind regards, Bateaux London

Excellent service! Beautiful decor

Excellent service thanks to our waitress Angie! I will say as much as I appreciated the recorded guided tour and trivia of landmarks by the Thames, I found it distracting and couldn’t enjoy the ambiance and couldn’t hold a proper conversation with my friend! I would very much prefer light classical music or lounge music.

Date of experience : 21 June 2021

Fab, fab, fab

A truly fabulous experience for myself and my 96 year old mother. The service was professional and ‘user friendly’. The staff could not do enough to make our own experience as well as other customers - one to remember - without being fussy. We opted for the vegetarian option and the food was divine. There was something a little special about each course. Presentation and taste was superb. The cruise itself was also sensational : the views of London and it’s contrasting architecture is something to behold : stretching you through the centuries of history. The experience is one to cherish. I whole heartedly recommend anyone and everyone to ‘step on board’ and ‘drink in’ a decidedly memorable pleasure in life.

Date of experience : 06 July 2021

10 out of 10

Had our engagement party on board Bateaux's Glass Room and the experience was second to none. Sleek check, great food and awsome live entertaiment. Excellent cruise that we will repeat for sure.

Date of experience : 08 February 2020

Dear Charles, Thank you for taking time and reviewing your Bateaux London experience. I am thrilled to see that you had such an enjoyable time with us. Your words about our excellent service are indeed very much appreciated. I truly hope we will have the pleasure to welcome you back in the near future. Kind regards, Bateaux London

After 2 weeks of ringing decided to…

After 2 weeks of ringing decided to email regarding booking a day. On day had to stand out on the jetty for an hour + waiting to board. Boat was late due to earlier avent they had booked a wedding. Finally got boarded not welcoming due to being late led and sat straight to table no welcoming drink as described. Now the table we was sat on no 31 looked as if it was an additional table put in place as the view was obstructed by the ships bulkhead and to see views I had to keep looking sideways In the end gave up as was straining my neck. Service was not great slow. Foodstarted of ok except main course which was cold and grosslyand was unable to cut it so ended up leaving it puddingwas the best bit but not enough. Really not an enjoyable experience. Then at end practically shoved off boat presumably because it was running late and the staff needed to clear up and get home. Would I do it again. Only if sat in middleoff windows to enjoy the views without straining my neck.

Date of experience : 13 August 2021

Lunch on the Thames

Excellent & entertaining commentary. The lunch was exceptionally prepared & served quickly and courteously... The food was quite tasty and the portions were acceptable. My only negative was that there was literally, no selection of your meal. Everyone was served the chicken breast with a mushroom sauce. All very tasty and well prepared, but no selection. Fortunately, my friend, my wife and myself all enjoyed the delicious meal. With that said, I would suggest if you had specific dietary restrictions, you would need to bring that to their attention at the time of booking. I also enjoyed that while you’re eating, you can easily view and photograph the many sites & attractions of London in your glass enclosed dining room. Once you have completed your meal, it’s easy to step up one level and enjoy the sites from the open top of this comfortable river boat. Overall, I would definitely recommend this lunch cruise on The Thames.

Date of experience : 05 May 2020

Best restaurant cruise in London

I've cruised with all providers being a fanatic of the Thames and must say Bateaux is the best in London. Their flagship vessel "The Glass Room" is stunning and with its ultra-modern interior created by Tom Dixon is very different to other boats I've ever seen. The food, ambience and service is very good and always deliver.I understand they also operate from Windsor but cannot comment on this service because I haven't experienced it yet.

Date of experience : 14 January 2020

Dear Nigel, Thank you for taking time and your recent reviewing Bateaux London experience. We are glad to hear that you had a great time with us. It is our aim to deliver the highest standard of customer care and to create you a memorable time on-board. Should you wish to return to London or either in Windsor, please get in touch with us directly. Kind regards, Bateaux London

Shambles of a service

Booked for my daughters 21st, told to arrive for departure at 3.15, departure was not till 3.40 so we waited needing the loo and a drink for a while as waiting area no toilets or drink service, food was extremely slow to come out (everyone had the same so can not understand why not already on table) drinks service slow and wrong, 5 out of 7 served and told they had run out of scones, my daughter and partner had no food so complained and asked for at least some sandwiches to come which they need, offered a refund on one of my 3 bottomless proseccos (which were a waste of money as service was so slow and started so late), the food was nice when it came, views stunning, staff slow and disorganised, wont be back

Date of experience : 11 December 2019

Dear jean mayo, Thank you for taking the time to review your Bateaux London sailing . We're sorry to hear about your disappointment and value your feedback which will help us to improve. We hope you give us another opportunity to welcome you back at some point in the future for a more enjoyable experience. Best regards, Bateaux London

The experience was great the concept of…

The experience was great the concept of cruising up the Thames and seeing London from the boat was great but the food was awful I could not eat a thing which was such a shame with a small jazz band as well just need to think about the food a lot more

Date of experience : 29 November 2021

A fantastic night

A fantastic night, glad we booked this experience. The 5 course meal was beautiful and the views to die for, Will be back

Date of experience : 14 December 2021

Disappointing end to what was meant to be a memorable day

I booked the Signature Dinning via Get Your Guide for Saturday 29th June. This was to be a surprise for my wife's 65th birthday and our 15th wedding anniversary. Having received a conformation/count down email from Get Your Guide early in the morning, my wife & I boarded our limousine and headed for the West End. On route we passed the Embankment Pier and watched the Glass Room depart for the lunch sailing. We returned at 19:00 and joined the queue, I hadn't told my wife a thing about the surprise until now. There was I telling my wife how we were going to experience a prefect ending to a memorable day, and share our excitement with ours in the queue. However in the back of my mind concern began to raise as a number of people were leaving the pier with looks of disappointment in their faces, I put this down to them not having reservations. Word soon passed along the queue that something was wrong, and with only two young ladies dealing with each party individually tension was rising. Finally we were told simply that there was an electrical fault with the boat and therefore for reasons of Health & Safety the event had been cancelled, we could either make a reservation on an alternative date of have a refund. When I asked why were certain individuals were being allowed to board the boat, I was simply told that it was a private party! Where was I too find somewhere at this short notice that wasn't already fully booked to match what we had been expecting on the Glass Room, with three hours before our limousine would return to take us home. Mr Trevor Thorne

Date of experience : 30 June 2019

Dear Trevor, We're very sorry to hear your disappointment as a result of the cancellation of your sailing on Glass Room. Unfortunately, technical issues are unpredictable and require our full attention in the interests of safety. The nature of our business is sailing and I can assure you that cancellations are something we don't take lightly due to significant financial implications for our company. However; these are unavoidable sometimes on the basis of passenger safety. As you might know, we do opererate two different vessels in London, and River Room has been hired privatly , not for public cruises, therefore we couldn't accomodate any public cruise bookings on board. I hope you sail with Bateaux London again for a more enjoyable experience at some point in the future. Kind regards, Bateaux London

Bateaux London Cruise - Disappointed

Today I & my husband went for the Afternoon Tea Cruise with Bateaux London Cruises which was our Wedding Anniversary Gift from our son. It was supposed to start at 3.30 but was delayed 30 min and started around 4 pm only, then we were given a place to sit but then because of their goof up with the seating arrangements for a group we have been asked to sit in a place which wasn’t good and not pleased with that. Cruise ride started and no sign of the snacks and tea till we were nearly almost reached the place where we started. Because first they were so busy in selling their drinks(which needs to be paid), for some table snacks reached only at the last minute of finishing the trip. The table next to us was not given all the items that we received because sandwich types were missing. My husband found a fish bone(one tiny bit) in his sandwich which we didn’t complain because it’s time for us to leave the boat. Our other table guys looked for someone to give their complain but no one took responsibility. Moreover this cruise ride should be a enjoyable & great memorable experience with having snacks/Tea on the ride not at the end, so we were very much disappointed. We haven’t been cared for and given good service which we were so much hoped for. No Time Management/ Organisation Chaotic/ Service not good for everybody/ Customers not been well fed as expected from the ride beginning. Eventually Not been given our life time best memories which we hoped for, Very Shame!

Date of experience : 29 June 2019

Dear Jessila, It’s disappointing to receive your feedback following your afternoon tea experience on board. We regret to hear the issues that you experienced and please rest assured that your feedbackhas been shared with the relevant departments for their review. We apologise for not delivering our usual high standards of service and hope you give us another chance to look after you on board at some point in the future.. Kind regards, Bateaux London

My Fiancè & I have just got off the boat after supposedly having a "luxury" lunchtime cruise.The trip was a disaster!! The company ran out of food so along with roughly 14 other couples we were given our starter and that was it!!! The trip was coming to an end and with about 10 minutes to spare some very flustered waiting staff brought out a plate of uncooked chips, cold & dry chicken (3 tiny pieces) & cold beans. If I was the chef I would have been humiliated to serve something as abysmal as what we were all served. It did not match the £79 we paid for the trip.  When myself & another couple asked to speak with the manager we were told she was too busy to speak with us. The only person who appologised was our waitress & it wasn't her fault.  We travelled 2 hours on a train to have a lovely boat trip & this is what we experienced. I can't fault the waiting staff but the fact no one from management came to apologise to us or offer a refund is disgraceful. We contacted the complaints department when we got off the boat to get a very quick reply offering us 30% back. Which is roughly £28?! What a total joke and insult. They also hinted about us coming back for another trip (not for free!) We won't be going anywhere near this company again & we won't stop until we get our full refund.

Date of experience : 21 September 2019

Dear Aimee, We totally understand your disappointment and apologize once again for the discomfort was created. It's important to clarify that the food is only an element of the experience which also includes the the starter and dessert too,a 90-minute sailing down the Thames and the audio commentary on board during the cruise . However; this doesn't justify any quality issue so rest assured that we take your comments seriously and your feedback has been be shared with the relevant departments for their immediate attention. We've been in contact with you to confirm our offer of the compensation, but we're really sorry that the outcome of your complaint wasn't what you expected , however we're confident that the partial refund we offered was appropriate. We hope you reconsider and give us the opportunity to welcome you back on board again. Kind regards, Bateaux London

Excellent dinner cruise to celebrate a special occasion, second visit. Breath-taking views, yummy food and very friendly staff.

Date of experience : 25 October 2021

The best on the Thames

10/10 service on board, smiley staff and good food. Views are second to none. Unforgettable experience perfect to celebrate a special occasion.

Date of experience : 07 October 2021

Not suitable for occasions, allergy sufferers or vegans

I wish I read reviews here before I booked a birthday afternoon tea with this company. It’s a shambolic money making business with zero interest in customer service or fair customer treatment. Do not buy their experiences and especially for occasions, book a Thames overlooking bar or restaurant instead - it will save you disappointment and hassle! First, the staff did not get our tickets right despite checking them in the waiting area. So we were seated in a limited view table and not given champagne that we paid for. I had to remind staff that we had premium tickets, produce a proof (!!) only then we got the full benefits we paid for. Food was super slow, served not until 4pm, just 45min before arrival. Ours was served at 4:15 or later because we had an allergy sufferer who required a dairy free/ vegan meal. This is despite me booking this experience in advance and being reassured this would not be a problem. Afternoon tea itself was standard, nothing exciting - cakes out of the box and all meat/ fish sandwiches filled with fat. And 30min to enjoy it which is just not enough time. Food needs to be served earlier! All my poor sister got was a tiny tray of veggie sandwiches and even a tinier plate of plain fruit as they ran out of vegan options! Common!! It’s not like you knew in advance that she’d be on board and reassured me she would have a full vegan option. It sounded like an excuse that they use a lot to wriggle out of providing a full allergy friendly/ vegan option. The evening was ruined. Why should an allergy sufferer pay full £46 for a small plate of plain sandwiches and fruit is beyond me. I wanted at least a partial refund as a matter of principle but their customer service is useless. Never again I will use this service and I strongly recommend to everyone else to reconsider. Go on a Thames Clipper and have an afternoon tea in a nice reputable place instead.

Date of experience : 10 January 2020

Dear Mrs Askarova, I appreciate you taking your time to make us aware of your Afternoon tea experience in December 2019. We have been in contact with you at the time you raised your concerns and we're really sorry that the outcome of your complaint wasn't what you expected but we're confident that the gesture of goodwill we offered was appropriate. I do hope you reconsider and give us another chance. Please contact us directly whenever you wish to sail with us again and I'll make sure we make up for the disappointment of your last visit. Kind regards, Bateaux London

Never Again

This was given as a gift just as Covid struck. It was a 5 course meal for two.When booked it said a 3 course meal. I questioned it and received an e mail in response saying things had changed but we would be given 5 courses. We had to wait until now and have been looking forward to it. On arrival we were seated at a table that was so wobbly a waiter wedged a piece of cardboard under it to keep it still. We ordered a bottle of wine and waited and waited. People were getting food and we still had no first drinks. Eventually we got wine but no food. People were finished their starters and we hadn’t received ours .after a while I spoke with a member of staff I showed the paperwork for our 5 course meal. She said oh my god and gave us 3 bread rolls and some olives. We were forgotten about again, and when it came to the main course we were left sitting while everyone else ate. Our waiter didn’t have a clue on what he was doing and only wanted to top up our wine glasses. Another member of staff told him to get our food after everyone else had eaten once. We got our bill and I asked to pay it, the waiter picked it up and started reading it to me.I said no I want to pay the bill, he was confused rushed off and forgot us again . We never got 5 courses unless you call a few olives and bread rolls 2 courses. The only thing missing from this was Basil Fawlty.I would never buy anyone this gift as it was a dreadful experience

Date of experience : 12 July 2021

I am Absolutely disgusted en appalled…

I am Absolutely disgusted en appalled by how Bateaux London at embankment London have handled my complaint. Not only the staff are tottaly incompetent, they have no such thing as empathy!!! I was given incorrect information by Bateaux staff from their call centre, regarding my young family coming aboard their cruise, I was also left with an employees incompetence regarding your complaint procedure. I later wrote to one of heads who holds a high position, however have had no luck. Rather then this individual accepting that a member of staff has made a mistake in giving me the information from their OWN call centre, found an eazier way to blame me instead for purchasing the tickets based on information provided by their very own call centre as oppose to third party. This individual did not have a decency to fully investigate my complaint and incident. Bateaux London have caused me alot off stress and inconvenience. I had booked 11 tickets under the name of Sasha ...... , for the cruise on 1st August 2019, out off which 3 children were under 12 years old and were refused on board due to health and safety reasons as informed by yourself and your colleague. Therefore 2 adults had to leave the party and leave for home with the children. I had clearly outlined to customer services by especially calling them at Bateaux London (this was direct at the companys call centre, not third party) and highlighted that kids that are under 12years  cannot be left alone and as we will be on the cruise am I okay to take them before booking the tickets .I was told as long as I pay full price for the ticket that is absolutely fine. I spent alot of effort in making these reservations and having a product mis sold, completely disheartened me to board your services, yet I was the One that had arranged to whole trip for everyone. It left a rather bad taste!. I then asked if i would be able to use the 5 vouchers at a different time when I visit London or to refund my money in full for 5 vouchers. I am very dissatisfied and will be taking this further due to no refund made nor given the option to be used at a later date. I was also shocked at the fact when asked about the complaints process from a high post colleague and being informed that you are not sure . How can you be at such responsible and  high post and not knowing what the process is. Also when asked for the regulators, again got the same response!!! Very dissapointing and wastage of time and total incompetance. I will not reccomend them at all.Horrible experience with total unprofessionalism. I think Bateux London seems to be missing a point!!! A call was made to your call centre NOT a third party and explained I will have kids and your reprensatative said it was okay to bring them on board even though they are under 12 as long as full price is paid!!! Rather then investigating it further you are hitting me with you terms!!! Disgusted!!! Rather then one accepts responsibility saying our staff made a mistake! Not a way to handle a complaint!!!! I was not stupid to pay 900 pounds for a dinner I myself couldn't attend due to your staffs incompetance !!! I will continue to spread the word around until this matter is resolved and I get my money refunded.

Date of experience : 08 October 2019

Dear Sasha Gohar Umair, We are so sorry to hear about your experience and we are very disappointed to receive your feedback. We have been in contact with you and informed you about our Terms and Conditions, related to the age restriction on board. As you now know, we can't have children on the dinner cruises under the age of 12 because of health and safety reasons, which has been also confirmed at the time of your arrival. As you have purchased some of your vouchers through an agent, we stongly recommended you to pick this matter up with them and we hope to see you aboard soon. Kind regards, Bateaux London

Bateaux London

Review Highlights

“ The views of London are spectacular; I have not done the lunch cruise but I dont think it can compare with the dinner option. ” in 3 reviews

“ We searched the web and found an online discount for the dinner cruise so we upgraded to the front part of the boat . ” in 5 reviews

“ I went here with my family on a rainy Friday to take a nice trip down the river while snacking on sweets and tea. ” in 6 reviews

People also searched for

classy restaurants

restaurants good for groups

restaurants

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Located in:

Embankment Pier

Victoria Embankment

London WC2N 6NU

United Kingdom

Amenities and More

8 More Attributes

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

One of the worthiest experiences we wanted when visiting the British capital was to view the city from the Thames. Seeing this magnificent city in daylight (outbound) and at night (inbound) was as amazing and breathtaking as one could imagine. We decided to enjoy our Anniversary doing just this. A river cruise offering glass walls and ceiling all around, step-out railed balconies, live entertainment, table service, atmosphere, dancing and not to mention, dining! It was a fabulous and memorable Anniversary evening - Bateaux London was the perfect selection. With a stunning view of one of the most wondrous cities in the world, this adventure is a must do. This 3+ hour cruise is exceptional. For those with reservations boating, the ride was calm and comfortable, unless you're viewing out, you'll not feel the cruising, notably at its reasonable speed. The view of the city's buildings, the London Eye, Parliament, Cathedrals, the Shard, London Bridge and more is astounding to say the least - a unique view like no other to be seen any other way. The service is excellent, the food much, much better than one would have expected, and safety precautions are exceptional. I can resoundingly say one of my bucket list to-dos is complete and enjoyed to the fullest. Kudos to the staff and crew and the City of London.

See all photos from Rick G. for Bateaux London

One of the worst meals we've ever had. Couldn't cut fish with a butter knife - needed a steak knife. Was like chewing a dog's rubber chew toy. Scoop of potatoes had probably a couple tablespoons of sat - all I could do not to spit it out. Service was rare. They offer a package with unlimited wine because they'd rather chew their arm off than refill your glass. Horrible horrible horrible.

This review is for the afternoon tea cruise. I went here with my family on a rainy Friday to take a nice trip down the river while snacking on sweets and tea. Experience and service is a 4/5. The ambiance feels elegant and servers are attentive. Check in felt slightly disorganized, but the lounge is modern and comfy. Every party gets their own table. We were seated by a window, as most tables were, but if the time slot fills up, you might get stuck away from the window. Tea quality is quite good, and refills were quick. We also got champagne. Agree with other reviewers that the pastry/food selection is mediocre and kind of disappointing. Still, the intention of this booking for us was for a refined river cruise, and I felt they delivered otherwise. Views are very nice even on a rainy day, allowing you to spot many of the attractions London has to offer. I would recommend this experience primarily for the river cruise and possibly tea. If your motivation is to get the most out of the food/sweets side of afternoon tea, I would suggest a different place.

I've always wanted to have a tea party & my dream came true. This dinner cruise was so elegant and well put together. My friend and I had the luxury of sitting by the window enjoying all the yummy food. You have an option to go on top of the cruise to feel the wind and watch the sites if you wish.

For a work xmas celebration, we choose to do this dinner cruise. It was quite long (almost 3.5 hours) but well worth the time. The sights you will see are classic and great. The food is so-so but to be expected on a cruise. The package we got pretty much included everything and unlimited premium drinks so no lack of anything. Convenient location. Mixed crowd. Live entertainment was a guy that was trying his best but he seemed tired, poor thing. Overall a great team building experience around London's best sights!

Horrible. The river ride is OK, food is not good, service is horrible. We waited nearly half way through the ride before being served food...when everyone else had eaten already. The food was cheap partial sandwiches and cheap desserts. Hardly worth the price. At best, we paid for a river ride, everything else is a pass.

Delicious meal on a relaxing boat trip down the Thames. My mother, daughter and I took this cruise while vacationing in London. Lunch was fantastic and a great price for the meal and cruise. My only complaint is that it was a bit difficult to hear the narration over the intercom with the sound of diners and the boat in general. I would have liked to have heard more about the history of London. But, it was a great and relaxing way to view the city from the water. Our server was very professional and incredibly helpful, and I'd definitely recommend it for future visits to the city!!

What an excellent way to experience two London tourist-musts in a single delightful sitting! We had a marvelous floating tour of the Thames and delicious afternoon tea. I reserved "Elite" tickets for our party which assured us a window seat (an absolute must for this experience). It isn't that much more expensive and was definitely worth it. As soon as we were seated by the very friendly and attentive staff we were given champagne. The tables were nicely made up with clean white linens and the atmosphere was "smart casual." I had been nervous that this would be more tourist-trappy and less classy/relaxing, but it was just lovely. A great way to do the afternoon tea thing. Next we were given a menu describing the teas and the slew of sandwiches and pastries we'd soon be served. We all ordered our teas and were promptly given each our very own pot as well as the first course of sandwiches--a mix of salmon, cucumber, and ham finger sandwiches are cut into perfect little triangles. All the while we cruised under the London Bridge...past the London Eye...past Big Ben! Such views...just lovely. The next course was a multi-tiered caddy decked with perfect little pastries: macaroons, petit fours cream puffs, tarts, and cakes. After properly gorging ourselves (something we hadn't planned on doing at afternoon tea but that we had difficulty resisting) we went up to the top deck of the boat and enjoyed the rest of the tour in the light Thames breeze. It was cool seeing UNDER the London Bridge. For the whole tour a very talented musician played the baby grande piano. The staff was wonderful and we really enjoyed this experience. I wish it had lasted a little longer.

Ham, salmon, and cucumber finger sandwiches along with champagne and personalized pots of tea with cream and sugar cubes.

Getting ready to go under the London Bridge.

The dinner cruise along the Thames River is really spectacular, an easy 5 stars. The entertainment, 4 stars, and the food, a generous 3 stars. I chose a goat cheese & asparagus tart for my appetizer. I expected it to be warm, but in fact, all the apps are cold. I wished they had noted this. The chicken was on the dry side and lacking in any real flavor. My dessert was a bright spot, however! It was also quite amusing that when my aunt ordered dessert, the server asked if she was a strict vegetarian because there was "pork genitalia" in it. Yes, you heard correctly. We heard correctly. The man stated the dish contained genitalia. Okay. Even more amusing, she ordered it anyway. After he cleared the plates, the server again commented on the "genitalia." What he actually meant was the dish contained gelatin, which is made with animal by-products. Gotta love his mastery of the English language. Overall, I recommend the cruise for a nice way to spend the evening, but don't expect the meal of your life.

Great way to see the sites along the Thames River! Although my son was the only child, it was child friendly and we had great seats. It was also a beautiful day for cruising. The food was also superb. 3 courses that tantalized the palate. Would highly recommend!

See all photos from Anna M. for Bateaux London

2 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Collections Including Bateaux London

By Cheng H.

People Also Viewed

The Ritz Restaurant

The Dining Room at The Goring Hotel

The Gilbert Scott

Searcys St Pancras Restaurant and Champagne Bar

Corrigan’s Mayfair

The Montagu

Dining in London

Search for Reservations

Book a Table in London

Other British Restaurants Nearby

Find more British Restaurants near Bateaux London

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Get us in your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best of London for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

London’s best Thames river cruises

Get a whole new perspective of the city with these top Thames river cruises

Think you’ve ticked off everything London has to offer? Think again. Try a Thames river cruise – and no, we’re not talking about the Clippers (well we are, but only a little bit). There are few better ways to take in the capital than by its famously choppy, murky central waterway. Plus the views, from Hampton Court down to the City and Greenwich, are some of the absolute finest our city has to offer.

It's time to ditch dry land and hop aboard a Thames river boat tour. And plenty of London’s top attractions are best seen from the water – so get your camera ready.

RECOMMENDED: 101 things to do in London

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best Thames river cruises in London

Thames rockets.

• Ships and boats

Bring your waterproofs, because the slick RIB (rigid inflatable boat) operation offers a high-speed ride on the Thames. It's a great way to discover how exhilarating it can be to swoop along the Thames at almost 30 knots – that’s nearly 35 mph, nautical novices! We're not sure how much you'll actually be able to see, but there are plenty more leisurely-paced tours for that sorta thing.

Bateaux London Cruises

• Victoria Embankment

A good river cruise for those who want a spot of grub while taking in the sights along the Thames – Bateaux offer a full range of different dining cruises. There’s the lunch, afternoon tea and dinner cruise – or you could really pull the stops out and enjoy their three-course lunch with a live jazz band playing assorted swingin’ classics. All river cruises depart from Victoria Embankment.

City Cruises

• Things to do
• Walks and tours

Want to see the city in style? City cruises operate on a hop-on, hop-off basis and run from Westminster, Waterloo, Tower and Greenwich Piers with commentary along the way. All the departure points are convenient for the city’s various sights, with Greenwich Pier ideal for the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory.

London Duck Tours

Praise whichever brilliant mind decided to paint the scant remaining WW2 landing vehicles in bright, rubber-duck yellow! These duck city tours take in all the typical land-based sights – then has two ‘splashdowns’ into the Thames as it goes into nautical mode and takes passengers around Docklands, Canary Wharf and Greenwich.

Thames RIB Experience

• Sightseeing

Instead of a usual tour’s drab history lessons and endless stream of tedious facts, why not try something a little more thrilling? The Thames RIB Experience is more like a rollercoaster than a classic sightseeing tour, and sees passengers jetted across the water at an impressive 45mph. Lifejackets and waterproofs are provided (fortunately), leaving you free to enjoy whizzing around in figure-eights in open water between Tower Bridge and the Isle of Dogs. Try and take in some sights as the high winds reshape your face.

Thames River Boats

Thames River Boats take you all the way from the Palace of Westminster upriver to Hampton Court Palace. It’s a pretty leisurely 22-mile journey: in 90 minutes you’ll be at Kew; in another 90, you’ll be at Hampton Court. But this westward route is a lovely way to appreciate the Thames, as the banks get greener, less cluttered with high-rise buildings and the river buses are replaced by rowers.

Thames Clippers

These days the Thames Clippers are better known as ‘Uber Boats’, not because they’re the most incredible boats but because, you guessed it, they’re sponsored by a taxi company. Sure, they don’t go very fast (trundling along at a very leisurely 30mph), but they’re a pretty underrated, cost-effective way to traverse the Thames.

Vintage Red Bus Tour and Thames Cruise

Why choose between the road and the river when you can have both? First up on this guided tour you'll be driven round the capital in a routemaster (that's the old red double decker bus), before boarding a Thames Cruiser to view the sites from the water. Sail past landmarks like Shakespeare's Globe and Tower Bridge, before getting back on the bus and heading to her Maj's residence: Buckingham Palace. There's also the option to add a ticket for the London Eye on this package.

Tate to Tate Boat

A connecting service between either art institution, the Tate to Tate Boat runs every 40 minutes. Aside from getting you from one gallery to another, it’s also great for taking in lots of central London scenery. As you might expect, the boat itself is an arty affair: YBA Damien Hirst covered both the exterior and interior with his trademark spots. It’s also genuinely the quickest way to travel from Tate to Tate – this way, you avoid an irritatingly convoluted tube or bus journey.

Discover more fun things in the city

101 things to do in london.

London is a treasure trove of brilliant days out 

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Time Out Offers FAQ
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Offers
• Time Out Worldwide

• Events and Happenings
• Search Destinations
• Search Stay
• Search Experiences
• Asia and the Pacific
• North America
• South America
• Middle East and Africa
• Haute Hotels

Subscribe to our mailing list

Bateaux london: a luxury cruise through the river thames.

By Dina Nazari

Copy link to share with friends

From the instant one steps onto Bateaux London’s divine vessels; they’ll be set to sail on a memorable experience on the River Thames. This river cruise lets their guest dive into local culture and explore hidden gems, away from touristy ports and in an intimate setting. Whether voyaging in the evening or in the afternoon, fresh British cuisine and tasty drinks lay ready for the cruise lovers. This is the place to indulge in good food whilst admiring the city of London from a unique perspective.

Running through Central London, the River Thames is one of the most iconic rivers in the world. With its 215 miles of iconic landmarks, it’s the perfect spot for an unmissable cruise experience. Providing idyllic escapes with fine dining, opulent interiors and live entertainment, Bateaux London gives guests the opportunity to drift through uncharted waters with vibrant views and tasty food.

Bateaux London offers an ultramodern dining experience on the Thames from their two enchanting vessels, the River Room, and the Glass Room. The elegant River Room flaunts picture frame windows with panoramic views, top-notch service, and a dance floor. It also includes an outdoor rooftop terrace, which is the most prevalent on the Thames. The Glass Room is a riverboat and one of London’s most exclusive dining rooms. It recreates banqueting on the water by offering delicious food and drinks with aquatic inspired interiors.

The day begins at Embankment Pier, located right next to the Hungerford Bridge where the spectacular London Eye rests. Guests can make their way down to The Pier, London’s newest waterfront bar and lounge, for a cocktail as they wait to be boarded. Up the stairs and onto the rooftop of the terrace of the River Room, guests can admire the river.

"Bateaux London’s diverse menu features British and European cuisine crafted from fresh seasonal produce with bold flavours, such as the Harissa Lamb rump and the Devonshire Crab tortelloni. "

The cruise route flaunts some of the most striking scenery London City has to offer, ranging from soaring skyscrapers to archaic architecture. The Bateaux London’s itinerary first takes guests to the London Eye for an up-close view. Then to the political hub for a view of the Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster followed by the landmarks, gliding past the Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and London Bridge whilst devouring the sights and sipping on exotic cocktails. A quick sail through Canary Wharf, London’s business hub, the final stop is at Greenwich and the O2 arena, home to some of the world’s elite sporting events and concerts.

"The Glass Room is a riverboat and one of London’s most exclusive dining rooms. It recreates banqueting on the water by offering delicious food and drinks with aquatic inspired interiors."

With a variety of dining experiences, all of which come with the views of the Thames, afternoon teas alongside lunches and dinners can be enjoyed on the Bateaux London cruise experience. Guests can luxuriate on their cruise with either a Gold, Silver, or Platinum dinner, with Platinum being the elite experience of the voyage, allowing guests to truly immerse themselves.

Bateaux London’s diverse menu features British and European cuisine crafted from fresh seasonal produce with bold flavours, such as the Harissa Lamb rump and the Devonshire crab tortelloni. These dinners come paired with a wide choice of cocktails from the onboard bar and free-flowing selected wines, all with the mellow sounds of jazz music flowing through the atmosphere as guests dine. For those who want to appreciate the quintessentially English pleasure of afternoon tea, this experience offers a selection of loose-leaf teas, delectable sweet treats and sandwiches paired with a glass of Brut or Pink Champagne.

Bateaux London gives a unique adventure on the Thames. It kindles a spark of curiosity for those who want to explore London City amidst good food, live entertainment, and breath-taking views. The experience allows guests to unwind whilst floating down the river, enjoying a glass of bubbly and relishing the energetic London atmosphere.

• share on facebook
• share on twitter
• share on mail

Dina Nazari

Dina Nazari is a staff writer based in the UK. She is passionate about writing, photography, culture, and travel and has a keen eye for uncovering hidden gems across the globe as well as back home in London. She has a particular passion for writing about historical sites and empires of the world, inspiring all readers for their next adventure.

• Experiences
• River Cruises

you might also like

Rethinking Classic River Cruising Aboard the Riverside Debussy

Taming the Thames: Conquering England's Most Beguiling River with Le Boat Charters

CroisiEurope's Charming Provence River Cruise

• Most Recent

All-inclusive Barbados luxury at Sea Breeze Beach House

Discovering The Hidden Gems Of The Amalfi Coast: Itinerary Planning For The Organised Traveller

Cultural Immersion in Style: Luxury Cultural Tours

The 6 Most Luxurious Floatation Tank Experiences in the UK

Carmen’s Luxury Travel; Meet the Woman Who’s Redefining Luxury

Miami Swim Week, Hot Fashion Sizzles South Beach

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login

trending now in Entertainment

Mamie Laverock's mom gives update on 'When Calls the Heart'...

Jennifer Lopez appears tense as she heads to work solo after...

Ben Affleck moved all his belongings out of mansion shared with...

Video of David Foster saying wife Katharine McPhee was 'fat' when...

Jordon Hudson arrives at cheer practice in $75K Porsche...

Taylor Swift fans freak out over Travis Kelce’s ‘glow up’...

Paul Bernon and Aurora Culpo’s dating timeline revealed...

‘Street Outlaws’ star Lizzy Musi dead at 33 after breast...

Watch ‘icon’ kylie kelce belt out taylor swift’s ‘love story’ while holding 3 pitchers of beer.

• View Author Archive
• Follow on X
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Kylie Kelce really is a Swiftie.

The mom of three, 32, attended a Philadelphia Eagles charity event with her husband, Jason, on Wednesday and was captured on camera belting out Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” while carrying three pitchers of beer.

The X (formerly Twitter) account of the retired athlete and his brother Travis’ podcast, “New Heights,” shared the hilarious clip and wrote, “Sing it Ky!!!”

The clip caught the attention of the pop star’s official fan account for her and Travis’ romance, Tayvis Nation, who tweeted , “Kylie singing along to love story??? oh she is such an icon i’m sorry.”

Jason, 36, meanwhile, busted a move when “Scatman” began to play.

The pair were on hand to bartend at the Eagles Autism Foundation in Seal Isle City, NJ. Kylie and Jason signed autographs and the former NFL player met with children with autism.

“These personal interactions, especially with the kids that are on the spectrum, kids that need the support and the assistance, really reinforces what we’re all here for,” he said.

Kylie’s impromptu performance comes just days after she and Jason attended the “Fortnight” singer’s Eras Tour performance in London with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 34.

While in the UK, Jason  — who shares daughters Wyatt, 4, Elliotte, 3, and Bennett, 1, with Kylie — met Prince William , Prince George and Princess Charlotte backstage at Wembley Stadium .

“I gotta say, Prince William was fantastic, but the highlight was Princess Charlotte,” Jason said on Wednesday’s “New Heights” episode. “Prince George was great too. She was so f–king adorable.”

He continued, “I cannot express how… I don’t know, maybe it’s because I have three girls now — she had fire to her, she was asking questions. That was the most electric part of the [royal encounter].”

Ironically enough, Jason had insulted the monarchy earlier this month by saying, “f–k kings,” during the brothers’ Father’s Day episode of their podcast.

“Listen, we’re Americans,” he said. “We don’t do royalty.”

Share this article:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Advertisement