Britain · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 cruises & boat tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part of planning.
Westminster to Greenwich Thames cruise with live English commentary, open-deck landmark views, and a 6-language phone audioguide.
“Shane was amazing! He explained everything so good, made the ride very very fun. It’s definitely worth it! Got to take amazing pictures and see everything in only 2 hrs.”
Hop on and off London’s open-top Tootbus with real-time app tracking, self-guided audio, and an optional Thames cruise from Westminster to Tower.
“Good if you aren’t super comfortable finding your own way around the city and would like a detailed tour. We ended up catching the tube a lot since it was very easy to navigate and often had better locations than the bus stops. But overall a good idea for a tourist who wants more of the tour aspect. If you’re only looking to do this for the transportation, use the tube and public busses instead.”
Thames river cruise from Westminster to Tower Bridge (30-60 min) with open-deck views, live audio, and flexible 1-way or round-trip.
“Absolutely awesome. Very entertaining guide. Good beer on tap. Just watch out, the guide isn’t paid from your ticket. Have some cash to tip him. Its worth it. Also, the ending point is not Tower Bridge Pier but Butler’s Wharf so keep that in mind if yOu plan to visit The Tower Of London right after. It will take you about 20-30 minutes to get there.”
Hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus plus London Eye and Thames cruise. Great value for first-timers, with flexible timing and easy stops.
“Everything was very well organised and especielly the LondonEye was worth the money! So nice and beautiful to see London from above. We had standard tickets and even if it was a lot of people there everything flow on and the waiting was short. In the cabin it was not crowded and we could really enjoy the ride. Bus and River Cruise was also very nice! Ake Andersson, Taby, Sweden”
One-hour Manchester canal cruise from Salford Quays. See Old Trafford, Stephenson’s 1830 bridge, Media City, plus ship canal history in English.
“The cruise around Salford Quays and into the centre of Manchester (Deansgate) was brilliant. It was a lovely sunny day so we were able to sit outside and take in all the interesting sights including a Kingfisher, Cormorants and lots of wildlife along the river bank. The information presented was so interesting along an area of Manchester you normally can’t see from the roadside. Would definitely recommend.”
Ride Liverpool Mersey Ferries for a 50-minute cruise with free QR audio, Beatles stories, and iconic views like the 3 Graces and Albert Dock.
“I liked the history of it and it was nice to be on the Mersey listening to Gerry & the pacemakers. Really fun to be therex”
See Big Ben, St Paul’s, the Tower and Tower Bridge on a Thames cruise from beneath the London Eye, with live guided commentary.
“Awesome way to see the sites from the water. Dress warm it’s a bit chilly 😉”
Hop on Big Bus routes across London, then enjoy a live commentary Thames cruise with great views, plus optional walking tours and an evening tour.
“Hop on hop off driving around seeing all the attractions”
Tootbus London hop-on hop-off bus plus Thames cruise, GPS tracking app, and audio in 10 languages for 24 to 72 hours.
“Bus was not overly busy, always managed to get a seat. Cruise along Thames was maggificant”
Thames afternoon tea cruise from Tower Pier with sandwiches, scones, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, plus views of London’s landmarks.
“The afternoon tea cruise was fantastic- it will always be remembered”
Thames hop-on hop-off cruise from Westminster to Greenwich. All-weather boats, live crew commentary, and a 24-hour ticket for photos and breaks.
“Really lovely activity. Good value for money. We stayed on the boat to Greenwich and then got it back after a walk around there. Signage when we arrived to Westminster Pier was a bit poor but there were enough staff there to ask which queue we needed to be in. Would recommend!”
A 50-minute round-trip Loch Ness cruise from Clansman Harbour to Urquhart Castle, with onboard sonar, commentary, snacks, and Wi-Fi.
“We do this every year and it’s always amazing. Beautiful view, lovely staff, and a perfect activity to do if your looking to relax and enjoy the view - on the speakers it plays history of the area so it’s also a way to learn about the history.”
A relaxing 45 to 60 minute River Ouse cruise with live captain commentary, great views, and an onboard bar, from central York.
“Great way to see this beautiful city. Highly recommend.”
A 2-hour Thames evening cruise with a glass of sparkling wine, canapés, and live music, passing Tower Bridge, London Eye, and Canary Wharf.
“Magical sunset on the Thames with a guitar player. Definitely check this out.”
1.5-hour Three Bridges cruise from South Queensferry: UNESCO Forth Bridge, Inchcolm Abbey, seals and puffins. Heated lounge, $27.
“The trip was excellent and it was very informative regarding the 3 bridges.”
Every kind of day out, from stone circles to stadium tunnels.
