London Eye and Thames River Sightseeing Cruise

Roll up, roll up. Get your combined tickets to two of London's top attractions: a trip on the London Eye and a Thames River sightseeing cruise. You'll save money on the deal and enjoy a day of panoramic sightseeing in London, the world's greatest city.

London Eye
The British Airways London Eye is the world's tallest observation wheel, with views over London from more than 442 feet (135 meters) in the air. Situated on the banks of the River Thames, it offers unrivalled panoramic vistas over London.

Since opening at the turn of the century, the London Eye has become an iconic landmark, up there with Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Eros and the Tower of London. It has been used as a backdrop in countless films and is loved by Britons and visitors alike.

Thames River Sightseeing Cruise
The best way to see the sights and splendor of this great city is from the deck of a boat. Aboard the sightseeing cruise, you'll travel in comfort and style past London's world-famous landmarks. The boats have open upper decks for great sightseeing and comfortable lower saloons. Relax and enjoy the views, onboard commentary, light refreshments and full bar service as London's famous sights glide by.

Cruises depart every 40 minutes from Westminster Pier, Waterloo Pier (near the London Eye), Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier (near the Cutty Sark). You can hop on or off at any of the piers as often as you like throughout the day. The shortest trip between piers lasts approximately 20-30 minutes, while the full round trip takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Schedule details

London Eye and Thames River Sightseeing Cruise

Departure Dates:

Daily

Unavailable Dates:

• December 25

Departure Point:

Cruise departs from all the following piers at different times throughout the day:

• Westminster Pier (beside Westminster Bridge)
• Waterloo Pier (near London Eye)
• Tower Pier (near Tower of London)
• Greenwich Pier (near Cutty Sark)

Departure Time:

The London Eye

• January to May: 10:00am - 8.00pm - every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour
• June to September: 10:00am - 9:00pm - every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour
• October to December: 10:00am - 8.00pm - every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour

Thames River Cruise

• Westminster to Tower Pier -10:00am, 10:40am, 11:20am, 12:00 (noon), 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm, 3:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm
• Westminster to Greenwich Pier - 10:00am, 10:40am, 11:20am, 12:00 (noon), 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm, 3:00pm, 3:45pm
• Waterloo to Tower Pier - 10:10am, 10:50am, 11:30am, 12:10pm, 12:55pm, 1:40pm, 2:25pm, 3:10pm, 3:55pm, 4:40pm
• Waterloo to Greenwich Pier - 10:10am, 10:50am, 11:30am, 12:10pm, 12:55pm, 1:40pm, 2:25pm, 3:10pm
• Tower to Westminster and Waterloo Piers - 10:10am, 10:50am, 11:30am, 12:15pm, 1:00pm, 1:45pm, 2:20pm, 3:05pm, 3:50pm, 4:35pm, 5:20pm
• Tower to Greenwich Pier - 10:40am, 11:20am, 12:00 (noon), 12:40pm, 1:25pm, 2:10pm, 2:55pm, 3:40pm
• Greenwich to Tower, Westminster and Waterloo Piers - 10:50am, 11:40am, 12:20pm, 1:00pm, 1:40pm

Last times shown are the latest embarkation times for the full round trip. Additional departures operate from April to October.

Return Details:

The shortest trip between piers lasts approximately 20 - 30 minutes, while the full round trip takes approximately 2.5 hours

Hotel Pickup:

Hotel pickup not available

Itinerary:

The journey through history begins at Westminster Pier, in the shadow of Big Ben's tower and just a few steps away from Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned for almost 1,000 years. This is also the pier closest to the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms off Whitehall, the center of national government, and the Banqueting House, the last remaining building from the old Palace of Whitehall.

Across the river, County Hall, once the headquarters of the London County Council and then the Greater London Council, no longer echoes to the cries of councilors. Down below, the London Aquarium reveals the secrets of the deep while, above, visitors and business people relax in the comfort of the Marriott Hotel.

A few yards downstream see the Millennium Wheel, better known as the London Eye. In a 25 minute ride it offers spectacular views across London and far beyond.

Through the Jubilee and Hungerford foot bridges and Charing Cross railway bridge, the Royal Festival Hall recalls the post-war days when the river carried some 6million people to celebrate the Festival of Britain at this very site. To the north, the stunning office development above Charing Cross station echoes the arched roof of the original Victorian terminus - and testifies to the property value of "air rights" above the platforms, making a significant contribution to the railways' income.

Beyond Waterloo Bridge comes Somerset House, the grand building on the north bank that was once the home of various government departments and is now a vibrant arts, heritage and entertainment center.

Just beyond, on the opposite (south) bank, the OXO tower has recently gained a new lease of life with studios, restaurants and flats. The design was a clever - and successful - attempt to circumvent the ban on advertising along the riverside. Continuing the domestic theme, on the north side of Blackfriars Bridge, in the square mile of the "real" City of London, lies the home of Persil and many other household products, the head offices of the Anglo-Dutch commercial giant Unilever, next to the old City of London school for boys.

Beyond Blackfriars, look up the steps on the north bank for a view of St. Paul's Cathedral as you pass beneath the new Millennium Footbridge, which provides a pedestrian link with Bankside, part of the South Bank regeneration development. Among the attractions in this area are the Tate Modern art gallery and Sam Wannamaker's re-creation of Shakespeare's Globe theatre, the first building with a thatched roof to have been built in London since the great fire of 1666.

The South Bank here is the heart of historic Southwark, famed for its riverside pubs and the smallest of the capital's three cathedrals. Through London Bridge a thrilling vista unfolds: the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the retired battle-cruiser HMS Belfast.

On into Docklands: historic Wapping and Limehouse to the north, Bermondsey and Rotherhithe to the south. Many of the old docks have disappeared while those that remain now play host to yachtsmen, weekend sailors and narrowboats.

The riverside pubs, once the haunts of seafarers, lightermen and dockers, now play host to local families, tourists and City workers escaping from the Square Mile. Among the pubs which retain their traditional charm are the Mayflower, where the Pilgrim Fathers moored their ship of the same name before setting off for the New World, the Angel, well known to Samuel Pepys in his days as head of the Admiralty, and the Grapes, one of Charles Dickens' favorite watering holes.

Approaching Canary Wharf ,the new commercial face of Docklands is revealed. Canary Wharf and its neighboring developments are bringing thousands of new jobs to the area. Along the river banks new residential, commercial and leisure developments continue apace.

And so to historic Greenwich, the home of time itself. The Naval College and Seamen's Hospital have taken on a new role as the main campus of Greenwich University and Trinity College of Music.

The National Maritime Museum, with its new Neptune Court and galleries, offers a fascinating and entertaining visit for all the family. These, together with the historic clipper ship Cutty Sark, the Old Royal Observatory, Queen's House, Fan Museum, traditional covered market and many more attractions form the World Heritage Site of Greenwich.

Additional information

British Airways London Eye

Inclusions:

• Hop-on hop-off Thames River Sightseeing cruise
• Live commentary on board
• Flight on The London Eye

Exclusions:

• Food and drinks
• Onboard commentary
• Hotel pick up and drop off

Additional information

• This cruise must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date
• Confirmation of this cruise will be received at time of booking
• Bar, cafe and toilets are available onboard
• Cruises are fully wheelchair accessible

Booking Details:

• This cruise must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date
• Confirmation of this cruise will be received at time of booking
• Bar, cafe and toilets are available onboard
• Cruises are fully wheelchair accessible.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.