Day Trippers – Ebb & Flow

Back on the Thames at last…

Slowly but surely, as covid restrictions have eased, the London Thames sightseeing and party boats have returned to the river on organised tours or private hire. And I’ve been able to photograph a number of them when their trips have coincided with my daily walks in Victoria Tower Gardens, close to the Houses of Parliament.

The RIVER PRINCESS in the photo above, and the THAMES PRINCESS below, are two of Thames Cruises’ fleet of five whose home is at Lambeth Pier, by the bridge. It was good, as it was with all the boats in this article, to see them out and about with passengers. They had remained, tied to their moorings, for so long.

One of the Thames Luxury Charters’ distinctive fleet, the EDWARDIAN, has made several trips passing under Westminster Bridge for various parties and press events, and the other day I managed to catch a glimpse of one their other boats, the ELIZABETHAN, with a relaxed looking party on board.

Thames Luxury Charters’ ELIZABETHAN out on the Thames last week

There are four Golden party boats and they’ve been active recently too. Three of them: GOLDEN FLAME; GOLDEN JUBILEE; and GOLDEN SUNRISE have passed close to Victoria Tower Gardens during the past month.

M.V. THOMAS DOGGETT named after after the founder of the Race for Doggett’s Coat & Badge , with a full complement of trippers

M.V. JEWEL OF LONDON one of the London Party Boats approaching Lambeth Bridge

M.V. LONDON ROSE heading quietly upstream from Westminster Bridge

M.V. MERCURIA a Westminster Party Boat, here with a group supporting James Berry, winner of the postponed 2020 Doggett’s Coat & Badge Race which took place in June this year.

M.V. PRIDE OF LONDON, here with a party of Max Carter-Miller’s supporters, cheering him on in the postponed 2020 Doggett’s Coat & Badge Race which took place in June this year.

M.V. ROYALTY part of the Mainstream Leisure fleet

M.V. SILVER BONITO on her London Eye Cruise

M.V. SILVER SOCKEYE, her troupe of actors enthralling their audience with their ‘Horrible Histories’

SKY Clipper, a hydrocat, one of the earliest to join the London Thames clipper fleet in 1999

There are some gaps here due to timing and my being stationed in Victoria Tower Gardens. I was unable to catch the lovely Bateaux London dining cruises and as yet, I’ve been unable to photograph the party boats at night, though that’s a pleasure to look forward to in the autumn as the evenings draw in.

Further Information
As there have been many changes recently, this is not an exhaustive list. In some cases boats can be hired through different companies in package deals. Best to check online.
Bateaux London
City Cruises London
CPBS Capital Pleasure Boats
Cruise London
London Boat Tours & River Cruises
London Eye River Cruise
London Party Boats
Terrible Thames – Horrible Histories Cruise
Thames Boats & Events/Mainstream Leisure
Thames Cruises
Thames Luxury Charters
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
Viscount Cruises