Take one of London’s famous river cruises

There is so much to see in the city of London that most of the attractions cannot be seen on a single trip to the city. The city is home to a mind boggling array of attractions which range from the medieval to the modern. The city is home to some of the finest art galleries, castles, palaces, gardens, royal parks, museums and plenty more of attractions that make it the ideal holiday destination. This in addition with great shopping and entertainment venues make it a top draw with tourists from across the globe.

The city is cosmopolitan and has a vibrant atmosphere which makes it all the more attractive a destination to visit. The public transport system is out of the best in the world so getting to any part of the city is never a problem. And as far as accommodation goes London has some of the finest places to stay. Whether you plan to stay at any of the hotel in Chiswell Street or prefer something more affordable there are a plethora of hotels that cater to all types of budgets.

The city is a popular spot for city breaks and spa breaks London is also a great destination to spend the weekend at, if you stay in Europe.  So whether you plan to spend the day exploring the city’s historic attractions or are thinking about Ascot Racecourse to place a few bets, London is the ideal holiday spot! While in the city another exciting way to explore it is through some of the river cruises on offer. A few of these are:

The London Eye River Cruise: This is a fun filled 40 minute sightseeing tour on the River Thames. It is a circular tour with live commentary, and visitors can catch a view of some of the city’s most famous attractions which include St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, The Tower of London and  HMS Belfast among others.

Some of the benefits of taking the London Eye cruise are:

·         It offers visitors to see many of the attractions in a short period of time

·     It helps to avoid any traffic jams when taking a land tour and gets visitors back to where they began in Central London

·         These operate all through the year irrespective of the weather

·         There is no charge for kids who are below four year

·         And there is the benefit of having multi-lingual audio guides

The duration is for 40 minutes and although it does not come cheap, its rate is still very competitive in comparison to other river cruise operators. These cruises started in 2002 and are a popular choice with visitors to the London Eye. The main difference is on the London Eye there is no commentary, just fantastic views of the city from up above. On the London Eye cruise tour there is live commentary that helps visitors to understand the historical significance of every landmark as they pass by them. The commentary is both entertaining and informative.

Information

The London Eye River Cruise sets off from the London Eye Millennium pier that is close to London Eye.  Visitors can also save up to 10% on ticket costs when they book online. And there are discounts for children as well as seniors.

City Cruises:  Another great option is to sign up for any of the City cruises which operate on a hop-on, hop-off pattern. They run from Waterloo, Westminster, and Greenwich Piers and have commentary along the route. The departure points are conveniently located within close vicinity of a number of the city's attractions. Greenwich Pier is the perfect point to see the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum besides the Royal Observatory. Visitors who buy the River Red Rover ticket are permitted unlimited one-day cruises. They can also consider opting for the Rail and River Rover ticket that permits unlimited one-day travel on the DLR as well as by river. There also are return or single tickets available for those who want to take a shorter trip.

There are also a variety of speciality cruises which include Lunch and Tea cruises.  The Lunch cruise is approximately a 105 minutes tour that includes a two-course lunch. The Tea cruise is a 90 minute trip that sails leisurely down the Thames with tea, scones, cakes and sandwiches being served.  There are also the Sundowner and the Riverlights cruises which offer guests to a spectacular view of the London skyline from the comfort of the cruise liner with live music and complimentary canapés and wine.

If you are in the mood to splurge how about trying something more extravagant! You could opt for the Thames Jazz cruise, which is a leisurely three-hour trip down the meandering river, in accompaniment of a jazz band. Besides the live entertainment, there's a lovely three-course meal, and visitors are welcomed aboard with a free glass of bubbly. Then there is the more spectacular Showboat cruise, which is an exciting three-and-a-half hour voyage on the Thames. It includes a live show, a four-course dinner, a complimentary half bottle of wine per passenger and for those who are interested an opportunity to dance.

London RIB Voyage: A thrilling way to explore the city is by taking a RIB (ridged inflatable boat) high-speed ride on the river. Tickets can be booked either online, by phone or by arriving directly at the London Eye Millennium Pier. Visitors need to be there at least 20 minutes before the trip, as they have to don a waterproof jacket, visors and a life jacket. The trip begins to a placid start with the onboard guide keeping the adults and kids entertained all along the trip. Things really get exciting once Tower Bridge is passed when it increases speed!  If anybody raises a hand they slow down. It is a thrilling ride as the boat zigzags along the route turns around Canary Wharf and heads back to the starting point. At close to 30 knots it makes for a most thrilling high speed cruise experience!