Thames Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise 1-Day Pass London

Westminster Pier and the Houses of Parliament

Westminster Pier sits beside Westminster Bridge, at the foot of the clock tower known worldwide as Big Ben. From the water you see the full length of the Gothic Revival Palace of Westminster, the seat of the UK Parliament, rebuilt after a fire in 1834 with its intricate stone tracery and the soaring Victoria Tower at its southern end.

This is the natural starting point for a Thames hop-on hop-off day: Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, Whitehall and St James's Park are a few minutes' walk away, so you can explore on foot and then step back on a boat. Morning departures are usually calmer, and the open deck gives you the classic photo of Parliament and the bridge from the river.

London Eye Pier and the South Bank

Directly across the river, London Eye Pier serves the South Bank and its giant observation wheel, 135 metres high and one of the most famous landmarks of modern London. The riverside promenade around it is lined with street performers, galleries, theatres and the Southbank Centre, and on weekends it is one of the liveliest walks in the city.

Using the river pass, you can visit the wheel and the aquarium beside it, then hop back on a boat towards the Tower. Note that entry to attractions is not included in the pass. As the boat heads downstream, look out for St Paul's Cathedral's great dome, the modern towers of the City of London and the bridges that cross the Thames one after another.

Tower Pier, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Tower Pier lies right beside the Tower of London, the medieval fortress founded in the eleventh century, which has served as a royal palace, a prison and the treasury of the Crown Jewels, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just downstream rises Tower Bridge, opened in 1894, with its twin Gothic towers and the bascules that still lift to let tall ships pass.

Sailing under Tower Bridge is one of the great moments of any Thames river cruise, so make sure you are on the open deck as you approach. Hop off here to visit the Tower, walk across the bridge or explore St Katharine Docks next door. Tower Pier is also a convenient place to join the boats if you are staying in the City or the East End.

Greenwich: maritime history by the river

Further downstream, the river opens out towards Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of maritime history. From the boat you see the twin domes and colonnades of the Old Royal Naval College lined up symmetrically along the water, with the Queen's House and the green slopes of Greenwich Park behind them. Near the pier stands a historic tea clipper ship in dry dock.

Hop off to climb the park to the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian, browse Greenwich Market or visit the National Maritime Museum. The journey from central London to Greenwich by boat takes around an hour, depending on the tide, and is far more scenic than the train. Plan to spend at least half a day here before catching a boat back towards the city.