High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London
5
High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London
By Thames Rockets
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About
If you’re looking for an exhilarating way to see London’s riverside sights, then opt for a modern speedboat adventure on the River Thames. Soar past the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and Shakespeare’s Globe while listening to a high-octane soundtrack. Once you reach Tower Bridge, your skipper accelerates to speeds of 35 miles-per-hour (55 kilometers-per-hour) and performs sharp turns guaranteed to increase adrenaline levels. Ideal for thrill-seekers, this experience also offers multiple departure times.
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 1-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 50m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- High-speed Thames River cruise in London
- An unconventional sightseeing experience ideal for thrill seekers
- Cruise past the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, and Shakespeare's Globe
- Experience high-octane maneuvers and learn about London history
Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Professional skipper
- Expert guide
- Lifejacket
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Depending on the start time selected at checkout, make your way to the London Eye Pier to board your speedboat. Following a safety briefing, set sail on the Thames River and pass the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Shakespeare's Globe, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Once you pass Tower Bridge, speed restrictions are lifted and your skipper is free to accelerate to speeds of 35 miles per hour (55 kilometers per hour). Feel exhilarated as your skipper performs maneuvers such as hairpin bends and figure eights. During slower periods of sailing, listen to commentary that reveals the history of London’s riverside. The tour concludes back at your original departure point.
- Start:
- Thames Rockets, Boarding Gate One, The London Eye Millennium Pier, London SE1 7PB, UKThe London Eye Pier is located directly underneath the London Eye, the ‘Boat ticket sales and entrance’ is on the right hand-side. Please do not queue at the ticket office as you have already pre-booked tickets, head straight down onto the floating pontoon towards Boarding Gate One.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6918ULA- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult, minimum age is 6 months
- All seats must be pre-booked with the supplier, refer to voucher for further details
- We are unable to take wheelchairs actually on-board, guests can travel with their carers assistance to board the vessel and down steps into the seating, they must be able to sit unaided onboard.
- Without exception pregnant passengers CANNOT travel
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6918ULA
From
$77.24
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Boarding Gate One, The London Eye Millennium Pier, London SE1 7PB, UKThe London Eye Pier is located directly underneath the London Eye, the ‘Boat ticket sales and entrance’ is on the right hand-side. Please do not queue at the ticket office as you have already pre-booked tickets, head straight down onto the floating pontoon towards Boarding Gate One.
- Pass byLondon EyeThames RiverHouses of ParliamentBig BenSt. Paul's CathedralShakespeare's Globe Theatre30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)The View from The ShardTower of LondonTower BridgeCanary WharfHMS BelfastSEA LIFE London AquariumThe London Dungeon
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- fsissins0 contributionsAmazing experienceGeoff was amazing and super friendly. I highly recommend Thames Rocket, I will be doing it again in the new year.Written December 4, 2024
- swvanderhelm0 contributionsYeahGreat ‘Bond’ like experience with fun and professional crew. Would have loved to go faster but that wasn’t allowed unfortunately.Written November 29, 2024
- Jqulie0 contributionsPhotos & SpeedThe staff couldn’t have been more helpful - or fun. I use a wheelchair which they kept for me as I boarded the boat with my sticks. A fantastic opportunity to take pics from a strange angle & the speed later on was great fun, but dress up warm. Will go again - in the summer!Written November 26, 2024
- jennigreen20240 contributionsExcellent excursionAmazing activity to do in central London if you like a white knuckle ride! Staff all very friendly and professional from start to finish. Would definitely recommend.Written November 21, 2024
- Be24courageous0 contributionsYou will not be disappointedEnjoyed a fantastic 45 min trip out with Thames Rocket, trust me you will not be disappointed.. book it now ✌️Written November 20, 2024
- N6691OFjackiek0 contributionsGreat Experience - So much fun!Everything about this experience was great. The booking process was easy, the communication in advance was really good so I knew exactly where I needed to be and when. On the day I was greeted by someone at the departure point, they explained what we needed to do, got us into the buoyancy aids and onto the boat really efficiently. On board our guide was knowledgeable, witty and entertaining. The ride was exhilarating as we sped at 35mph down the Thames to a great soundtrack. I will be taking another of their trips!Written November 20, 2024
- matt_terri0 contributionsBest part of the weekendAmazing time..thank Geoffrey for keeping us hosted and entertained and Nathan(think that's the name) for some high speed boating!Written November 11, 2024
- russellgould750 contributionsFantasticGreat fund for when you have friends from overseas, to be added to a day out London, gives a quick overview.Written November 8, 2024
- Voyager019592800780 contributionsAmazing birthday treat!The check in was calm and friendly - we felt welcomed and excited. Our host on the boat was funny and insightful- he got the balance just right. I loved the speed section with the music, it was awesome! Finishing with a gin and the London lights was a fab finale.Written November 5, 2024
- adrianwinkle0 contributionsGreat tripHighly recommend Thames Rockets. Staff friendly and knowledgeable. From safety briefing to end of trip they were first class. Guide gives information on all the sites down the Thames then it's all systems go an exhilarating ride.Written November 3, 2024
- p06coaching0 contributionsBrilliant fun for the whole familyGreat mixture of fun and sightseeing with the family.The guide was great fun and gave lots of good info.Written November 3, 2024
- Tillhammer0 contributionsGreat funI loved the fast ride, and we sure got to hear some interesting London facts from our guide. Would definitely book again.Written November 3, 2024
- LG50yrsyoung0 contributionsFast, fun and informativeI'm a Londoner and I learned even more about my city on the tour, saw sites from another angle, together with bit of an adrenaline rush it was an hour very well spent.Written November 3, 2024
- Hettie9440 contributionsThames rocketOur guide was absolutely brilliant - funny and informative. An amazing way to see London and to then speed down the Thames was such fun. My 14yrs old son and I loved it!Written November 2, 2024
- Rebecca H0 contributionsRiver cruise with a thrillWow, just wow. What a totally fun experience. I booked this as a surprise for my husbands 50th birthday, he is mad about boats. We went with our two kids, 16 and 13 and all 4 of us had the best time. Didn't want it to end. AJ and Joey were fantastic crew and made the ride super interesting with a tour up the river giving us interesting facts and history about the sights along the way. They played music all the way, which added to the fun too. But the best bit was the high speed ride just like being in a James Bond movie. Amazing. Joey arranged to stop the boat underneath Tower Bridge where everyone sang happy birthday to my husband. Thank you Joey and AJ for making it such a memorable surprise. You guys were brilliant.Written November 2, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
3,073 reviews
Excellent
3,014
Very good
43
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
12
Charlotte Brooke
2 contributions
Oct 2020
I did this experience on Monday, even though the weather was a little bit chilly, it didn't stop Geoff from being full of energy making everyone on the boat laugh. It was a fun experience, highly recommend to people who want to learn a few fun facts about London and who have a bit of a thing for adrenaline. Definitely will be taking some friends on here when they visit from out of town! P.S. thanks to Adam who was kind enough to take a bunch of photos so I could get one for the gram!
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucy_forsyth
6 contributions
Jun 2021
I booked this experience through Virgin after being cancelled on very last minute by another company for my boyfriends birthday. I spoke to them on the phone and they were more than helpful and advised they have lots of availability and reassured me that they won't cancel last minute. In regard to Covid-19, masks are worn on the pier but not the boat and you only sit with your group but the boat does fill (up to 12 people).
On arrival on the day, we were greeted by the loveliest man called Geoff (with a 'G') who was an absolute delight. He explained everything from start to finish and made such an effort to speak to everyone on board. He kept the whole experience really fun and interesting with facts about London you wouldn't know, as opposed to the standard tour guide stating the obvious buildings. As it was my boyfriends birthday, he got everyone to sing Happy Birthday and played songs through the speakers dedicated to him, prior to then playing the playlist which was perfectly thought out and each song is associated to the trip and James Bond of course! We did not stop smiling and laughing!
Geoff and Nick were great fun and such lovely, comedic people, we can't recommend this trip enough for those wanting a tour on the Thames with a twist and bit of excitement! Can't wait to return in the future! Thank you so much!
On arrival on the day, we were greeted by the loveliest man called Geoff (with a 'G') who was an absolute delight. He explained everything from start to finish and made such an effort to speak to everyone on board. He kept the whole experience really fun and interesting with facts about London you wouldn't know, as opposed to the standard tour guide stating the obvious buildings. As it was my boyfriends birthday, he got everyone to sing Happy Birthday and played songs through the speakers dedicated to him, prior to then playing the playlist which was perfectly thought out and each song is associated to the trip and James Bond of course! We did not stop smiling and laughing!
Geoff and Nick were great fun and such lovely, comedic people, we can't recommend this trip enough for those wanting a tour on the Thames with a twist and bit of excitement! Can't wait to return in the future! Thank you so much!
Written June 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roo black
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Amazing experience. Bill was a hilarious guide, very funny, whitty and genuinely interesting and very cool nuggets of information about all sorts of buildings, bridges and bizarre things about london! All very safe and made to feel very comfortable. Simon was an incredible driver, insane handling skills and really made the most of the river and speed! Fab pair, would 100% do again, didn’t get wet but was left with aching cheeks and genuinely learnt some really cool facts. 10/10. Thought it may have been a little disappointing for a family that really like thrills but the speed was unexpected and doing it at dusk was the perfect time of day.
Thank you bill and Simon, legends!
Thank you bill and Simon, legends!
Written August 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CKoriginal
Leicester, UK6 contributions
Oct 2021
What a fantastic experience! We were in London celebrating our 20 year anniversary and had booked this instead of a river "cruise" and we are so glad that we did. We got a whistle stop tour of the sights up and down the Thames and a high speed adrenaline rush ride at the same time. Hats off to the crew - Richard who gave us a rollercoaster ride at high speed and Geoff, who looked after us all, made us laugh, was informative, chatty, funny, welcoming and made us feel special. The weather was awful, the rain at one point was stinging my face as we went speeding down the Thames and after we got off it felt like I had been in the Thames instead of on it but it didn't make any difference to how enjoyable the whole experience was, we absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone. We will be going to London next year for another theatre trip with friends and we will be making sure to factor in another speed boat ride with friends in tow.
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa M
London, UK3 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
On arrival we were kitted out in suitable attire and given a clear safety talk. We then took off up the Thames, it was a fantastic way to see some of London's iconic landmarks with a bit of history facts thrown in with much comedy by the talented staff. When it was safe to do so the driver opened up the throttle and we had an exhilarating fast speed ride with very appropriate music . I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn about London whilst having fun. It was a superb experience and we will definitely be going again , in fact we're already booked for August and can't wait to do it all again .
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stewart H
1 contribution
Had our trip on 5th March which was the wettest day I can remember in London for a long time. The six of us had a great time thanks to the crew Phil and Geoff mainly Geoff with his humorous delivery of many facts on landmarks and on the river itself, Phil far to busy steering the rib. Great trip recommended in any weather as proper waterproof clothing and safety equipment supplied, great fun
Stewart Hutcheson + 5 👍😂👍😂👍😂
Stewart Hutcheson + 5 👍😂👍😂👍😂
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler264857
London, UK5 contributions
Cannot recommend this highly enough - definitely a top London attraction! I’ve lived in London for years and get lots of visitors - I always suggest they do one of these trips as it’s a great way to see the city as well as being brilliantly entertaining. I’ve been several times myself and loved it every time. Guides are fantastic - really funny, and knowledgeable too. I’ve got people planning to visit me over the summer, lockdown permitting, so here’s hoping the boats are back out on the river very soon!
Written April 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire P
Bournemouth, UK7 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Would highly recommend these guys, we came up from Dorset and wanted something exciting to do outside rather then being inside with lots of people. Cannot recommend these guys enough everything was very well thought out and you could see them cleaning the boat down after each cruise. The trip was fun and exciting and really fast, It was great fun a special thanks to Bill and Nick for making our trip to London a great experience!!
Written July 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WobblymothKent
Tenterden, UK25 contributions
Oct 2020
Geoff was our guide and Andy the driver. Geoff was very funny and entertaining. He made the experience really special for my daughter especially, encouraging the whole boat to sing happy birthday to her and another passenger en route. We'd had quite a negative experience of our day in London up to that point (over priced food/drinks/toilet facilities(!) but as soon as we walked down to get on the boat everyone was super friendly and it completely changed our mood. The actual experience was brilliant and although it's not cheap, it really is an experience not to be forgotten..
I used Tesco Clubcard vouchers to triple their value but even if I'd paid standard price I'd have felt it was a good experience for the money.
I highly recommend it, especially for children, my daughter age (7) and I loved every minute!
I used Tesco Clubcard vouchers to triple their value but even if I'd paid standard price I'd have felt it was a good experience for the money.
I highly recommend it, especially for children, my daughter age (7) and I loved every minute!
Written October 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DinFrance
Stroud, UK556 contributions
Oct 2020
Have mulled this one over a bit - it was certainly very good but, and i'm sorry, i cannot quite just nudge it up to excellent.
The kids REALLY enjoyed it (12-19 years). They would all have given it six stars if possible. The two teenage daughters loved shrieking, waving their arms around and singing along to the music. Maybe it was the torrential downpour on the return leg that dampened my enthusiasm (clearly not the trip's fault!). Maybe a mixed combination of it not being quite as exhilarating as i expected, the guide bits of info being a 'bit light', the weather or, more likely, that I was just being a bit miserable.
The kids REALLY enjoyed it (12-19 years). They would all have given it six stars if possible. The two teenage daughters loved shrieking, waving their arms around and singing along to the music. Maybe it was the torrential downpour on the return leg that dampened my enthusiasm (clearly not the trip's fault!). Maybe a mixed combination of it not being quite as exhilarating as i expected, the guide bits of info being a 'bit light', the weather or, more likely, that I was just being a bit miserable.
Written November 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have tickets for the Eye for 15:00. Are we safe with time booking rib boat tickets for 16:00?
Written March 30, 2022
While we didn't do The Eye before our boat ride, we did need to be at the Thames Rocket pier 15 minutes before ropes-off , for a safety briefing & fitting life jackets. The pier is right next to The Eye.
Written April 2, 2022
Hi! This cruise does sound like fun. Can four-eyed people enjoy this ride without fear of glasses flying off and drowning thereby leaving us two-eyed with blurry vision for the rest of our trip?
Written March 27, 2022
Ha! Yes I think you should be okay! I think I wore my sunglasses throughout from what I can remember as it was sunny, plus my eyes water at the drop of a hat!
Written July 16, 2022
Hi, I have a birthday party of 12 turning 13 year old and her friends around 16-17 children in total Obviously I would be the only Parent coming, is that acceptable or is there a slower one which you would recommend?
Thanks
Written February 15, 2022
Hi, I have a birthday party of 12 turning 13 year old and her friends around 16-17 children in total Obviously I would be the only Parent coming, is that acceptable or is there a slower one which you would recommend?
Thanks
Written February 15, 2022
Does this trip suit all age groups? Will age 6 be okay? Thank you
Written September 18, 2021
Hi Vicki, yes a 6 year old would be fine, we had an 8 year old on the boat and he adored it. Its such a great activity for a family. My friend who introduced me to it, took her 80 year old mother on it last week for her birthday and she loved it!
Written February 17, 2022
Hi there, trying to book this tour for 20 Aug at 2.15pm x 2 adults. As I live in Northern Ireland, the payment page won't accept post code. Can you advise? Have also tried Google pay but won't let me do it either.
Written August 12, 2021
Try going through travel zoo , that’s where we booked at a discount too
Written August 15, 2021
We are a family of 11 person can it be accomodated it one boats ? Limited to 9 pax only can be booked here then purchase another what if we cannot get the same slot Time For the rest of the 2 pax if we book 1st the 9 pax ?
Written November 20, 2019
The high speed boats taken 12 people so if you book online in advance for one time slot you should all be on the same boat - might be worth contacting them direct though to make sure
Written November 20, 2019
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