Our Fleet & London's River: Know Your Boat & Route

Every charter on the Thames comes down to two decisions. Which boat will carry your guests, and which stretch of the river would you like them to see? Settle both and the day tends to look after itself. We have owned and run our own fleet on London's river since 1993, so this guide brings the two together in one place: the vessels you can hire and the route and landmarks that make an evening on the water feel like nothing else in the city.

Know your boat: meet the fleet.

We own and operate three vessels, each with its own character and a different guest capacity. Choosing between them is mostly a question of numbers and mood. Here is how they compare at a glance.

Dixie Queen

Dixie Queen is a Mississippi-style paddle steamer and the largest boat available for hire anywhere on the Thames, with room for up to 620 guests and seated dining for 432. Her proportions give her the feel of a ship rather than a boat, which makes her a natural home for large weddings, milestone celebrations, conferences and company parties. She is centrally heated for the winter months and carries a full brigade of chefs on board. One detail guests always remember: she is the only vessel in the fleet that Tower Bridge has to lift to let through.

Elizabethan

The Elizabethan is a faithful replica of an 1890s paddle steamer, carrying up to 235 guests with fine dining for 140. Inside, she has the polish of a smart London restaurant, and the sliding roof above her dance floor means you can dance under the open sky when the weather agrees. One of the largest outdoor deck areas of any boat on the river makes her a favourite for summer receptions and evening parties.

Edwardian

The Edwardian is the epitome of British style and the most intimate boat in the fleet, suited to groups from eight to 70. Built in 1985 and refurbished throughout, she has an open upper deck for drinks in the sun, a copper-topped bar and a proper sound system for the evening. Because of her size, she can reach more piers along the tidal river than her larger sisters, which gives you a wider choice of where to start and finish. She has some history too, having featured in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant and in a good deal of film and television work.

Which boat suits your event?

As a rule of thumb, match the boat to your headcount first, then to the style of the day. For a large seated dinner or a company-wide party, Dixie Queen gives you the space. For a wedding or celebration of a few hundred, the Elizabethan sits comfortably between grandeur and warmth. For a smaller gathering where everyone knows each other, the Edwardian keeps things close. You can see all three side by side on the full fleet page, and we always recommend a viewing before you decide.

London's river: know your route.

A Thames charter is not a fixed sightseeing loop. Your route is planned around your event, the tide on the day and the piers you would like to use. Most charters run through central London, where the landmarks come thick and fast, and many carry on east towards Greenwich and the Thames Barrier for a longer cruise. Here is what unfolds as you go.

The landmarks, west to east

Heading downriver from the west, you pass Putney, where the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge sets off each spring, and the striking redevelopment around Battersea Power Station. Into the centre, the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben rise on the north bank, best enjoyed with a cold glass in hand, while the London Eye turns slowly on the south side opposite. A little further east, the city skyline appears, with the Gherkin standing over the ancient Tower of London.

Then comes Tower Bridge, perhaps the most recognisable river crossing in the world, and the point where our fleet is moored at Butler's Wharf. Beyond the bridge, the river opens towards Canary Wharf and the towers of the old Docklands, then Greenwich, home to the Cutty Sark and her tea-clipper history. The Greenwich Peninsula brings the O2, and for those who want the full run, the Thames Barrier marks the eastern end. Every boat in the fleet can cruise this route, and the larger vessels can sail right through the Barrier itself.

Choosing your pier

Where you board matters almost as much as where you sail. Central piers such as Westminster, Waterloo and Tower are easy for guests to reach, while Greenwich and Canary Wharf suit events focused on the east of the city. As the Edwardian can use more piers than the larger boats, she gives you the most flexibility if a particular embarkation point is important to you. Our pier information pages set out access and location for each one.

Bringing the boat and the route together

The real magic is in the pairing. A summer drinks reception on the Edwardian's top deck through central London feels very different from a black-tie dinner aboard Dixie Queen as far as Greenwich and back. If your evening is built around good food and the city lights coming up over the water, a River Thames dining cruise is at the heart of what we do, with menus from our own caterers and wines chosen to match. Whether you are planning corporate events, a wedding or a private party, the same care goes into the route, the timings and the table.

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest boat for hire on the River Thames?

Dixie Queen is the largest, with a maximum capacity of 620 guests and seated fine dining for 432. She is a Mississippi-style paddle steamer and the flagship of our fleet.

Which boat is best for a small party?

The Edwardian suits groups from eight to 70 guests. She is the most intimate boat in the fleet and can reach the widest range of piers, which makes her easy to plan around.

Do the boats follow a set route?

No. Each route is planned around your event and the tide on the day. Most cruises take in central London, and many continue east towards Greenwich, the O2 and the Thames Barrier.

Can you watch the Tower Bridge lift during a charter?

Dixie Queen is the only boat in the fleet large enough to need Tower Bridge to lift, so a cruise aboard her can include this. It depends on scheduling with the bridge, which our team arranges for you.

Where do the charters depart from?

You can board from a range of piers along the river, including Westminster, Waterloo, Tower, Greenwich and Canary Wharf. Our fleet is moored at Butler's Wharf, beside Tower Bridge.

Plan your event.

Once you have a sense of your numbers and the part of the river you want to see, the rest is straightforward. Arrange a viewing and a tasting, talk your route through with our Events Management Team, and we will look after the day from your first enquiry to the final farewell.