City Cruises London Lunch: 105-Minute Two-Course Thames Cruise from Tower Pier

City Cruises Limited

Lunch Cruise on the River Thames

★ 4.5 (2,272) · from $70

Check availability

Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. This page contains affiliate links. Dollar prices are converted at the 2026-10-16 Frankfurter rate.

The City Cruises London lunch cruise is a sit-down meal on a glass-sided boat, with the river doing the entertaining. You board at Tower Pier beside Tower Bridge, eat two courses while the boat passes Parliament, the London Eye and the Shard, and return to the same pier.

I'd book it for a birthday, a visiting relative or a wet-weather lunch, and I'd choose the cheaper Thames boats if you only want the sights. The detail that most changes the decision is the table: the operator seats four to a table, and the listing admits some tables sit close to other diners.

What is the city cruises london lunch cruise and what do you see?

It is a lunch-hour river cruise: a set two-course meal served at your table while the boat sails upriver from Tower Pier and back.

The listing names four landmarks, and the boat's glass sides mean every table gets a view. A passenger review says the boat travelled in both directions, so the same bank is seen twice from different angles.

1. Tower of London and Tower Bridge - you board beside both, so they frame the first and last minutes.
2. The Shard and London Bridge - the glass tower rises on the south bank near the start.
3. The London Eye - the wheel stands on the South Bank as the boat nears Westminster.
4. Houses of Parliament - the far end of the sailing before the boat turns back.

The menu in the listing is a roast chicken main with a creamy mushroom and leek sauce, potatoes and vegetables, then a lemon tart with berry sauce. City Experiences, the operator's site, says its dining boats have a heated or air-conditioned indoor saloon.

500 is roughly how many times Tower Bridge lifts each year, which is why checking the lift list before a sailing is worthwhile.

Where does the cruise leave from?

It leaves from Tower Pier, on the Lower Thames Street side of the Tower of London, and pier staff greet you at the walkway. Tower Pier on Google Maps.

The listing names two nearest stations: Tower Hill on the District and Circle lines, and the Docklands Light Railway terminus at Tower Gateway. Tower Hill to the pier is 6 minutes on foot (452 m) and Tower Gateway is 8 minutes (594 m), by OSRM foot routing fetched 2026-10-17. Walking route from Tower Hill station. Walking route from Tower Gateway DLR.

The listing's included list also says hotel pickup and drop-off, which conflicts with its own meeting point. I treat that line as a data error: there is one meeting point, Tower Pier, and I would not plan around a hotel transfer.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route is a straight out-and-back on the Thames, ending where it began.

The listing gives no turnaround point and no exact timings per landmark. A traveller said the commentary was patchy and the return leg carried more information, so listen on both legs.

How long is it and when does it sail?

The cruise lasts 105 minutes from boarding to returning to Tower Pier, according to the listing.

• Departure time: the listing does not state it; pick a slot at checkout.
• Seat: your seat is allocated before the cruise and a crew member shows you to your table.
• Table size: tables seat four, and some sit close to other diners.
• Cancellation: free up to 3 days before for a full refund.

The operator's dining page lists cruises from under an hour to five hours but does not say which is which, so I rely on the 105 minutes from the listing. Bridge lifts can occasionally shift traffic on the water; the Tower Bridge page lists lifts by vessel and date.

What is on board and what is included?

The ticket covers the sailing, a seat and a two-course lunch with tea or coffee; every other drink is extra.

I moved alcoholic drinks and hotel pickup to the not-included side. The description mentions bar service throughout the sailing, which implies you pay for drinks, and the only meeting point is Tower Pier. Reviewers praise the food and staff, and one said allergies were handled. The listing does not state a set vegetarian option, so ask City Cruises first.

How does the city cruises london lunch cruise compare with other London boats?

It is the mid-priced meal option: more than the tea cruise, less than the evening dinner sailing from the same operator.

My dinner cruise London guide sets the meal boats side by side, and the London boat tours hub covers the cruises with no meal.

Is the city cruises london lunch cruise worth it versus a dinner sailing?

Yes if you want daylight views and a quieter meal, no if you want live music and an illuminated skyline. At $70 it costs about $40 an hour against a London median of $32, so you pay for lunch, not for sightseeing.

• Book the lunch for: daylight photos of the bridges, a lower bill than dinner and a calm table.
• Book the dinner for: a lit-up skyline, live singing and dancing, and a longer 3-hour evening.
• My pick for a celebration with grandparents: the lunch cruise, because it is shorter, and the boat is glass-enclosed.

Value for money scores 4.4/5 on the listing, below the 4.7/5 transportation score, so the meal is where opinions split. Several reviewers called the food tasty and well served, and one wanted more music or entertainment during the sailing.

When is the best time to go?

Any month works, because the boat is glass-sided and heated or air-conditioned, but midsummer gives the longest daylight and November the most rain. The table shows 2025 rain days and 2026 sunsets for a lunchtime sailing.

Because lunch sails in daylight even in December, when the sun sets at 15:53, the Shard and Parliament remain visible without lighting. Choose a table by a window; the listing says panoramic windows give views from all angles, but it also says table location is allocated.

What do passengers say?

Reviews centre on food and staff: the listing summary, drawn from 101 recent verified bookings, praises the Thames views, tasty lunch and attentive service. Sub-scores are transportation 4.7 and value for money 4.4 out of 5.

• Praise: good food, friendly waiters, birthday touches, and a boat covered in glass.
• Complaint pattern: pre-recorded and sporadic commentary, and little clarity about window seats or VIP placement.
• Sample caution: the ten reviews I could see were all five-star, so they lean positive.

Who should skip it?

Skip it if you want a live guide narrating every landmark; the listing allows recorded commentary.

• Anyone in sportswear or trainers, since the listing bars sportswear and sports shoes.
• Guests who want privacy: tables sit close together and seat four.
• Travellers needing a hotel transfer; none is offered.
• Budget sightseers: the London Eye river cruise costs less than a third of the price.

The wheelchair and mobility details are not in the listing, so contact City Cruises before booking.

How do you book the lunch cruise?

1. Pick the date and the starting time slot.
2. Add any dietary notes to the booking, or ask City Cruises afterwards.
3. Wear smart casual clothes, with no sportswear.
4. Go to Tower Pier and meet the pier staff.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 26664; City Experiences dining cruises (saloon, phone number); Tower Bridge lift times; Transport for London river services; Open-Meteo archive API; sunrise-sunset.org API; Frankfurter API; OSRM foot routing on OpenStreetMap. Checked 2026-10-17.