London Landmarks You'll See on a Thames Charter

London wears its history along the river. Some of the city's most famous sights sit right on the banks of the Thames, which makes a private charter one of the finest ways to take them in, with an unbroken view from the water and a glass in hand. We have run our own fleet on the river since 1993, and this guide follows the route from west to east, landmark by landmark, so you know exactly what your guests will see as you cruise.

Why the river is the best seat in the city

From the road, London's landmarks come at you one at a time, often behind traffic and crowds. From the water they line up ahead of you, unhurried and uninterrupted. The river also connects them in a way the streets cannot, carrying you from Westminster past the City to Greenwich in one gentle journey. By day you get the full sweep of the skyline. After dark the same buildings are floodlit and reflected across the water, which is a sight in itself.

The landmarks, from west to east

Putney and the Boat Race

In the west, Putney is where the famous Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge sets off each spring. Putney Bridge crosses the Thames towards Fulham, and this stretch has a calmer, more villagey feel than the centre, a gentle place to begin a cruise before the city proper comes into view.

Battersea Power Station

A little further in, the unmistakable chimneys of Battersea Power Station rise on the south bank. Long a fixture of the London skyline, the building and the area around it have been transformed in recent years into homes, offices and shops, and it gained its own pier in 2017. It is one of the clearest examples of the river's changing face.

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

As you reach the heart of the city, the Palace of Westminster appears on the north bank. Better known as the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, it is the oldest royal palace in London and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most recognised buildings anywhere in the world. Seeing it, and hearing the chimes from the water with a drink in hand is hard to beat.

The London Eye

Directly opposite, on the south bank, the London Eye turns slowly over the river. It opened in the spring of 2000 to mark the new century and has become one of the defining shapes of the modern skyline. From the water you get a clean, uninterrupted view of the whole wheel against the sky.

The Tower of London and the Gherkin

Further east the city rises, where the old and the new stand side by side. The historic Tower of London sits at the water's edge, with the rounded glass form of the Gherkin, properly 30 St Mary Axe, standing 180 metres tall behind it since 2004. Few views capture London's mix of centuries as neatly as this one.

Tower Bridge

Then comes Tower Bridge, perhaps the most recognisable river crossing in the world. Our fleet is moored right beside it at Butler's Wharf. There is one moment here that guests never forget: aboard the Dixie Queen, a large paddle ship and the only vessel in our fleet that needs the bridge raised, Tower Bridge lifts to let her pass, bringing the city's traffic to a brief and rather grand halt.

Canary Wharf

Past the bridge, the river bends around the Isle of Dogs, and the towers of Canary Wharf come into view. Once among the busiest docks in the world, this is now one of London's major business districts, crowned by One Canada Square. It is impossible to miss as you round the bend. 

Greenwich and the Cutty Sark

On the south bank, historic Greenwich is home to the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper built in 1869 that once raced cargo home from China. Now preserved in dry dock, she is the centrepiece of Greenwich town centre, and the maritime setting around her makes this one of the most popular stretches of the whole route.

The O₂

Round the Greenwich Peninsula sits the O2, one of the world's best-known music and entertainment venues, instantly recognisable by the shape of the former Millennium Dome. Every boat in our fleet can cruise past it as part of a longer charter.

The Thames Barrier

At the eastern end of the route stands the Thames Barrier, one of the largest moveable flood barriers in the world and the quiet guardian of central London. For guests who want the full journey, the larger boats in our fleet can sail right through it.

At a glance: landmarks and their nearest pier

Seeing the landmarks after dark

Many of these sights are at their most beautiful once the sun goes down and the illuminations come on, mirrored across the water. That is why an evening Thames dinner cruise London is such a popular way to see the city, with the landmarks lit between courses. At the turn of the year, a New Year's Eve charter adds the fireworks over the river to the view.

Where you board shapes what you see first.

The pier you choose sets the tone for the start of your cruise. Boarding at Westminster Pier puts the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye in front of you from the off. Tower Pier places you beside Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, while Greenwich Pier and North Greenwich for the O2 suit events are focused on the east. Our pier information pages set out the location and access for each one, so you can pick the embarkation point that frames your evening the way you want.

Which boat, which view?

Every boat in our fleet enjoys the same river and the same landmarks, so the choice comes down to your numbers and the style of your event. The Dixie Queen carries up to 620 guests and is the only one Tower Bridge lifts for. The Elizabethan suits up to 235 guests, and the Edwardian is ideal for smaller gatherings of up to 70, with the flexibility to use more piers along the river. You can see all three on the fleet page.

Frequently asked questions

What landmarks do you see on a Thames charter?

Depending on your route, you can see Putney and Battersea Power Station in the west, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye in the centre, the Tower of London, the Gherkin and Tower Bridge in the City, then Canary Wharf, Greenwich and the Cutty Sark, the O2 and the Thames Barrier to the east.

Can you see the Tower Bridge lift during a cruise?

Yes, aboard the Dixie Queen. She is the only boat in our fleet large enough to need Tower Bridge to be raised, so a charter on her can include this. The lift is arranged with the bridge in advance.

What is the best time of day to see the landmarks?

Both day and evening have their appeal. By day you get the full skyline. After dark the landmarks are floodlit and reflected on the water, which is why evening dinner cruises are so popular.

Do charters pass the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye?

Yes. Both sit in central London, opposite one another across the river, and feature on most central cruises.

How far east does a Thames charter go?

Routes commonly reach Greenwich, the O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula and the Thames Barrier at the eastern end, depending on your timings and the tide on the day.

Plan your charter.

Once you have a sense of your guest numbers and the part of the river you would most like to see, the rest is straightforward. Talk your route and your landmarks through with our Events Management Team, arrange a viewing, and we will plan the day around the views you want your guests to remember.