London By Night Illuminated River Official Boat Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

40 minutes

Mobile ticket

Step aboard for the Illuminated River Official Boat Tour, an unforgettable journey showcasing London’s stunning riverside transformation.

As night falls, witness nine iconic bridges glowing in vibrant LED displays, forming the world’s longest public art installation.

Led by expert City of London and Westminster Guides, you’ll hear fascinating stories about the history, architecture, and cultural significance of these landmarks — all while enjoying breath-taking views of London’s skyline from the water.

Your 40-minute round trip departs from Tower Pier every Saturday at 21:30 from September to May, offering the perfect way to see the capital’s landmarks in a whole new light.

With step-free access, wheelchair-friendly boarding, and an onboard café bar, this tour is a must for both visitors and locals.

Don’t miss this mesmerizing London experience — secure your tickets now and set sail on a night to remember!

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Expert-guided 40-minute boat tour along the Thames

Step-free & wheelchair-accessible boarding

Live Guide: Live commentary from City of London & Westminster Guides

Unparalleled views of London’s Illuminated River installation

Food & drinks (available for purchase on board)

Pick-Up and Hotel transfers in not included – please make your way to the Tower Pier

What To Expect

Thames River

Expert-guided 40-minute boat tour along the Thames

Admission Not Applicable

Options

London: London By Night - Illuminated River Official Boat Tour

Reviews

3.17

6 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Started late but worth the wait
824emmak,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Unfortunately despite being advised to arrive at 9.15pm it was 9.40 before we set off, leaving a long time stood queuing. They use an external party to do the commentary and I think she was a bit cross as she had to rush the start to catch up as we’d already reached the first bridge. That said, the tour was informative and contained useful and sometimes humorous facts about London bridges and architecture. An enjoyable way to spend an evening viewing the beautiful bridges illuminated as part of this interesting project.
Great trip, thank you Emma!!!
konstantinoss941,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing trip and Emma made all the difference with her attitude and willingness to help us have a great trip!!! We truly enjoyed it!
Excellent service
ozthedude,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent service from start to finish. Emma was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. We had a lovely trip. Thank you.
Close to a scam.
161gerbenk,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
This close to a scam! A general taxi-boat used for a special trip. Seats are facing in the wrong direction. Unable to have a view without neck insury. Bad soundsystem so the guide is a blur. So much lights pointing inwards that taking pictures of London by night is impossible. You won't see anything that cannot be seen from the riverbanks. Add to this the constant smell of petrol gasses and the experience is complete.
Not an open-air boat so...
Carol A,
May 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Not an open-air boat so views and photo shots are limited and impeded by the ceilings/eaves. Narration was good but hard to discern unless you sit inside. Windows were dirty so couldn’t take photos from inside. Would suggest using an open-air boat with seats on top to maximize photo opportunities. Also, better audio to hear narrator.
This has the potential to...
Meghan M,
Apr 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00
This has the potential to be awesome but it is poorly executed. When you arrive at the pier, there are 0 signs about the tour or any information even regarding it. Unless you are one of the first 10–15 people on the boat, you don’t get to enjoy the views outside. The lights inside remained on for the length of the tour so even if you wanted to take a picture, you wouldn’t be able to. The man providing the information about the illumination project has zero personality. I was very excited about seeing the city at night from the river but was disappointed.