Britain · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

15 Cruises & Boat Tours in Britain Worth Booking

62 tours  ·  from $14 a head

Good cruises & boat tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - The western route through Kensington and Notting Hill
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in England, Tours in London

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

1.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus pass to connect London’s major sights, from Buckingham Palace and Westminster to the Tower and Notting Hill. Recorded commentary is available in seven languages, Wi-Fi is included, and selected tickets add a Thames cruise, guided walks, or an evening panoramic ride. Activate your mobile ticket at a designated stop.

“Great way to see London! We loved the variety of routes and having the app was so helpful to see when the busses were arriving.”

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London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise - The first stretch reveals London’s ceremonial center
Cruises & Boat Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in London, Westminster and Big Ben Tours

London: Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise

2.Westminster to Tower Bridge River Thames Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,127 reviews · 30 minutes - 1 hour · from $18

Cruise from Westminster Pier to Butler’s Wharf near Tower Bridge in 25 to 30 minutes, passing Parliament, St. Paul’s, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and The Shard. Sit on the open deck, listen to lively English commentary, or use the six-language app. Choose one way or return, changing boats at Butler’s Wharf.

“great! we had just visited the London eye, and used this to travel closer to our apartment in the Tower Bridge area. highly recommend it, bar on board to have a couple of drinks and plenty of sights to see along the way. all the staff were very helpful.”

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Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise - Callander and Loch Lomond country
Cruises & Boat Tours, Highlands Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Edinburgh, Loch Ness Tours, Loch Ness Tours in Edinburgh, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Edinburgh, Tours in Scotland

Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

3.Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,022 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $84

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an English-speaking guide such as Jim, Kenny, Chaz, or Shea. Stop at Callander, Glencoe, Fort Augustus, Spean Bridge, and Pitlochry, then cruise Loch Ness. It is a scenic, information-packed day, but expect many hours on the road.

“Chaz was amazing and her knowledge of every aspect of the tour was exceptional. We had sufficient bathroom breaks and opportunities to shop in local stores.”

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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Start with the red buses and London’s main sights
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, London Eye Tickets, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in London

London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

4.London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,332 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $74

Combine three classic London views in one ticket: open-top Big Bus routes, a one-way Thames cruise, and a timed London Eye ride. Use the 24-hour pass for a fast overview or choose 48 hours for slower sightseeing and three guided walks, including Royal, Harry Potter, and Jack the Ripper themes.

“Everything was very well organised and especielly the LondonEye was worth the money! So nice and beautiful to see London from above. We had standard tickets and even if it was a lot of people there everything flow on and the waiting was short. In the cabin it was not crowded and we could really enjoy the ride. Bus and River Cruise was also very nice! Ake Andersson, Taby, Sweden”

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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise - Westminster, Big Ben, and the royal center
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London: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

5.Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off with optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 4,327 reviews · from $41

Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Tootbus ticket to reach London highlights including Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Choose the Thames cruise option for a one-way City Cruises trip between Westminster and Tower Pier. Audio is offered in 10 languages, with children’s commentary in English and French.

“The ease of accessibility! Great bus drivers who ensures my boys alight safely”

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London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket - Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster
Cruises & Boat Tours, London Eye Tickets, Thames River Cruises, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in London

London: Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket

6.Thames River Cruise with Optional London Eye Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,900 reviews · 45 minutes - 1.5 hours · from $20

Set off from London Eye Pier for a roughly 40-minute Thames cruise with live English commentary. Guides such as Mitch, George, Ben, Josh, and Emma mix landmark facts with jokes as you pass Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. Add a London Eye ticket if you want both sights.

“Took my two kids Ny daughter thout it maybe a little boring but overall she was very impressed and we all enjoyed it including the eye to which im not a fan of hegits but that was quite chilled”

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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise - The Red Route, from Westminster to the Tower
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London: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

7.Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,875 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $35

Use a one, 24, or 48-hour Big Bus ticket across three routes and more than 50 stops. See Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s, the Tower of London, and Kensington. Longer tickets add a one-way Thames cruise, while the 48-hour option can include Royal, Harry Potter, and Jack the Ripper walks, plus a 19:30 evening tour.

“It was a great way to see the city and get off when we wanted”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - Starting at Coventry Street or Grosvenor Gardens
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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

8.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

See London from an open-top double-decker bus across three routes linking Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, museums, Covent Garden, and more. Use the included audio commentary, Tootbus app, and Thames River cruise ticket to build your own sightseeing day. Passes last one, two, or three days.

“This was our first time visiting London and this was a great way to see all the sites. There were plenty of busses so we didn’t have to wait long for another one when we got off to wander around”

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Manchester: Canal & River Cruise - Boarding beside the Lowry Theatre
Cruises & Boat Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Manchester

Manchester: Canal & River Cruise

9.Canal & River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,761 reviews · from $16Best value

Board at Salford Quays for a one-hour English-language cruise through Manchester’s industrial past and modern waterfront. You’ll pass MediaCity, Old Trafford, Imperial War Museum North, Pomona Docks, Hulme Lock, Ordsall Chord, and Stephenson’s 1830 railway bridge, with live or recorded commentary along the route.

“Perhaps you could pass photos round of how it used to look”

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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise - The Blue Route: A Wider Look at London
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London: Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

10.Tootbus Must-See Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,653 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $52

Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Tootbus pass to see London by open-top bus and Thames boat. Hop off for the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s, Borough Market, and more. The app shows live bus locations, holds your ticket, and adds four self-guided walks.

“This was a great option to have on hand for when walking around became too tiring for some or there was a lack of direction. It's great to just hop on, learn about the sights, and then hop off when something interests you.”

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Liverpool: Sightseeing River Cruise on the Mersey River - Boarding at Liverpool Pier Head
Cruises & Boat Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Liverpool

Liverpool: Sightseeing River Cruise on the Mersey River

11.Sightseeing River Cruise on the Mersey River

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,427 reviews · from $17

Board a Mersey Ferry at Liverpool Pier Head for an approximately 50-minute sightseeing cruise with recorded commentary. See Albert Dock, the 3 Graces, both cathedrals, shipyards, and the Razzle Dazzle Ferry Snowdrop. The hourly service is flexible, wheelchair accessible on the main deck, and has a café bar and restrooms.

“Brilliant tour. Our guide Heidi had so much knowledge. Would deffo recommend”

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London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames - The first course: London’s historic riverfront
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

12.Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,274 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea aboard a City Cruises boat from Tower Pier. Over 90 minutes, you’ll pass Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, The Shard, the London Eye, and Parliament while eating sandwiches, warm scones, cakes, and unlimited tea or coffee. Commentary adds context along the way.

“Excellent cruise. Service was impeccable. We were able to see all the major tourist attractions. We had a lovely time as a family of four with 2 kids. Thank you!”

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Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride - Starting in the dark near Green Park
Cruises & Boat Tours, Ghost and Vault Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in England, Tours in London

Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

13.Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,212 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Spend about 2.5 hours exploring London after dark with guides such as Marvin, Arne, Murray, and Eddie. Walk from Green Park through spooky royal sites, hear tales of Berkeley Square and St. James’s Palace, then take a 25-minute Thames boat ride past the Tower of London. Expect theatrical storytelling, historic murder tales, and an Uber Boat rather than a dedicated ghost vessel.

“A really interesting tour and Murray was a brilliant guide, very enthusiastic and animated. Great value with the river trip included.”

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London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise - Starting at Westminster Pier with Big Ben overhead
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in London, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in London

London: River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

14.River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,112 reviews · 1 day · from $33

Use a 24-hour City Cruises ticket to ride between Westminster, London Eye, Tower, and Greenwich piers. Sit inside or on the open deck, listen to live commentary, and stop for the Tower of London, Borough Market area, Tate Modern, or Cutty Sark. Crew members such as Dom add humor and useful historical detail.

“Great experience good value for money and the guys on board running it was excellent very informative and amusing much better than an audio recording”

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Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise - Leaving Clansman Harbour on Loch Ness
Castle Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Loch Ness Tours, Tour Reviews

Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise

15.Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,070 reviews · 50 min · from $30

Sail for 50 minutes from Clansman Harbour across Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle and back. Hear stories about the loch and Nessie, check the onboard sonar, and choose an outside deck or indoor seat. The castle stop is for photographs only, with no chance to disembark. Snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and dog-friendly seating are available.

“We do this every year and it’s always amazing. Beautiful view, lovely staff, and a perfect activity to do if your looking to relax and enjoy the view - on the speakers it plays history of the area so it’s also a way to learn about the history.”

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