A few recent daytime images and occasional notes on sightseeing and party boats I’ve seen while walking by the central London Thames.
Elegant City Cruises’ boat ERASMUS can be hired for special occasions.
Sources from Transport for London reveal that the Covid-19 pandemic had a “devastating initial imp[act on the Thames party boat and passenger vessel industry.” Private charters, weddings, corporate events, and all kinds of celebrations were abruptly cancelled. To begin with, the only boats that we could see on our daily walks were Cory tugs and barges on essential waste collection, and emergency services’ vessels: Police, Fire Brigade, and RNLI, not forgetting regular patrols by the Port of London’s launches.
Luxury private charter boat The EDWARDIAN always draws admiring glances from riverside walkers as she passes by.
Now, in 2026, it’s clear that the party boat companies have become profitable again, with the return of normality and by increasing the range of services they offer, thereby attracting companies to charter boats for all kinds of corporate events, publicity and promotional tours. They also offer wedding and birthday cruises and other special occasions such leaving, or hen parties, Valentine’s Day cruises, as well as the ever popular seasonal party cruises for Christmas and the New Year.
“The Connaught is thought by most river connoisseurs to be the epitome of a traditional Thames passenger boat.” You can see her daily setting out from Westminster Pier during the season, adding glamour to the River Thames wherever she is sailing. She is also available to hire for special events.
*Silver* Boats
If you are walking by the Thames in central London you are sure to come across the *Silver-named* boats ranging from sightseeing vessels such as SILVER BONITO, now owned by the London Eye for their river cruises, and luxury boats owned by Woods’ Silver Fleet, such as SILVER BARRACUDA.
The SILVER RAVEN is part of the Woods Silver fleet and is the first, fully electric sightseeing vessel. She operates the official Tower of London River Tour in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces.
Also part of the Woods’ Silver Fleet, the elegant SILVER DARLING is a luxury boat, often used for VIP transfer from place to place, or as a private and relaxing way to see the River Thames.
*Golden* Boats
Part of the Capital Pleasure Boats fleet, the GOLDEN FLAME and her sister-ships are a familiar sight on the river carrying partygoers for all kinds of events.
Two fixed party boats
The TATTERSHALL CASTLE on her fixed mooring opposite the London Eye, is a perfect place to enjoy the river and passing traffic, specially on New Year’s Eve, where you’ll have one of the best views of the London Fireworks. Lots of food and drink to choose from, see her menus here.
The TATTERSHALL CASTLE is one of Britain’s Historic Ships. “She was used briefly during the Second World War as a tethering vessel for barage balloons in the Humber estuary before returning to duty ferrying troops and munitions, and she was one of the first civilian vessels to be equipped with radar. Her postwar service as a ferry on the Humber continued until 1973 when she was laid up.” She was eventually reopened in 1982 as a pub and restaurant on Victoria Embankment, where, after subsequent refits and modernisations, she now remains.
With wonderful views along Lambeth Reach downstream past Lambeth Bridge to the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and the London Eye, and upstream to Vauxhall Bridge and Battersea Power Station beyond, the TAMESIS DOCK bar has some of the best views in central London from the river.
A Dutch barge, she was built in the 1930s in the Netherlands and carried cargo along continental canals between Holland and France. While in Paris, during the Second World War, she was requisitioned by German soldiers. After the war, she was bought by a former member of Britain’s Merchant Navy, named ‘The English Maid’ and taken to the south coast of England, then eventually in the ’80s or ’90s, to London. Her sister ship, the BATTERSEA BARGE at Nine Elms, is also open for business.
City Cruises
Thames River Sightseeing boats
London Jewellery
Four London Party Boats from their *jewelled* fleet.
Further sightings
New rules by the Marine and Coastguard Authority mean that COCKNEY SPARROW, once a familiar sight along Lambeth Reach, no longer runs from Westminster. Now, as popular as ever, she operates from Richmond to Hampton court.
The VISCOUNT is among the Thames boats listed as a National Historic Ship. She was built by Salter Brothers Ltd., Oxford, in 1908.
A party on the Yarmouth Belle enjoying the Great River Race, September 21, 2024. She was built in 1892 at Southtown, Great Yarmouth and is listed as a National Historic Ship. She took part in the Avenue of Sail, for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June 2012. She is owned by Turks River Boats and is available to hire for all kinds of celebrations on the River Thames.
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With thanks to Ben, Thames Waterman & Lighterman.
Explore his site the Liquid Highway, the leading River Thames source for news and info., and his impressive Thames vessel photo gallery, giving technical details of thousands of boats.
You can also follow him on Twitter X @liquid_highway1
& on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liquidhighway
Notes and further information
Some of the boats photographed above can be seen on more than one website or social media account. Boat companies often work with different event organisers, who then advertise their contacts and organise booking of boats on behalf of their customers.
You can explore some of the main central London boat operators by clicking on the links below.
