Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Sleepless
London Eye river cruise is an easy way to see central London from the Thames. We boarded near the London Eye for an approximately one-hour trip; this guide shares our experience and practical notes on boarding, views and planning your visit. Check the operator for current routes, fares and departure times.
Updated September 2026: Scroll to the end for 2026 prices for the London Eye, the river cruise and combo tickets, a cheaper river-bus option, and Indian food nearby.
So as I mentioned in my previous post about Bourton-on-the-water that I was in London for a couple of weeks and on one of those days we thought of going on a River Cruise and the one we chose departed from the London Eye Pier and it was a approx 1 hour cruise and the cost was around 16 £ per person
The Cruise Experience
As we reached the London Eye Pier it was raining intermittently and quite windy but the ship’s lower deck area is completely enclosed so it was not a problem at all. Plus the sliding windows on the lower deck can be opened to give a clear view and to take pics.
As the cruise started we were very happy to note that there was a counter selling Tea/Coffee/Snacks on the lower deck .
The Audio Commentary on the cruise was very witty and informative and there was an explanation for all the major Landmarks and Bridges that we crossed.
7 Best Places to Eat Near the London Eye
From County Hall steaks to quick South Bank lunches, these restaurants are an easy walk from the London Eye. Menu prices are in pounds; they can change, and service charges may apply.
Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar — Inside County Hall beside the Eye, with British steaks and views towards Westminster. The steak burger is £29, fish and chips £32, and grilled steaks start at £37.
Skylon — A polished South Bank choice in the Royal Festival Hall, with dining-room views over the Thames. The cheeseburger and fish and chips are £20 each; mains range from £20 to £32. A 13% discretionary service charge is added.
Wahaca Southbank — Mexican sharing plates and a riverside terrace at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Its Wahaca for One selection is £16.95; bowls and burritos are about £11.50–£16.50. An optional 12.5% service charge may be added.
Honest Burgers South Bank — A casual burger stop at Festival Terrace, around six minutes from the Eye. Burgers include chips and range from £10.45 for a single smashed beef burger to £15.95 for a California burger.
PizzaExpress Royal Festival Hall — Handy for a familiar pizza meal by the Southbank Centre. The Leggera Pomodoro is £15.75, the Mushroom & Truffle Romana is £19.70, and a Duo Romana to share is £21.25.
Shaheen Tandoori Restaurant — A casual Indian and Pakistani spot on Waterloo Road, a short walk from the London Eye. Chicken daal is £8.50, a chicken biryani special is £9.50, and lamb nihari is £10.45.
The Thames Restaurant — A traditional Indian restaurant on Waterloo Road, within walking distance of the Eye. Starters such as vegetable samosa are £5.95; chicken tikka biryani is £16.45 and chicken tikka masala is £14.45.
5 London Boat Cruises to Book
Choose a short landmark loop, a flexible river day pass, dinner on board or a high-speed ride. Prices are per adult unless noted and vary by departure time and ticket type.
London Eye River Cruise — The 40-minute circular cruise departs from London Eye Pier, with live commentary and views of Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the South Bank. Tickets start at £15.50 per adult.
City Cruises Thames Sightseeing — Board at Westminster, London Eye, Tower or Greenwich and choose a timed single/return ticket from £13, or a 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass from £23 per adult.
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers day pass — A practical all-day way to see London from the river while hopping between piers from Putney to Barking Riverside. The one-day all-zones adult ticket is £29.30 online or in the app.
City Cruises London Dinner Cruise — Make the cruise the evening plan, with a meal, London landmarks and live singing on board. Tickets start at £79 per person; advance booking is required.
Thames Rockets Ultimate London Adventure — A 60-minute high-speed RIB ride departing from London Eye Pier for a more thrilling view of the Thames. Adult tickets start at £59.95; child tickets start at £49.95.
Check each venue’s current menu, cruise timetable, availability and booking terms before setting out.
Here are some of the pictures I took That Day, do Let me know what you think of them in the comments below.
London Eye and Thames Cruise Prices – September 2026
Here are current approximate prices (September 2026) to help you plan. Prices are cheaper online and on weekdays.
- London Eye River Cruise (about 40 minutes, non-stop, from London Eye Pier): From about £15.50 per adult.
- London Eye (about 30 minutes): Standard entry from about £29 online, and Fast Track about £44–49. The Eye and cruise combo costs from about £49.
- Cheaper alternative: The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a commuter river bus with the same views, and single fares cost roughly £7–12 depending on zones. You can pay by contactless.
- Best time: Late afternoon into sunset, for golden light on Parliament and Tower Bridge. Book ahead at weekends and in the school holidays.
- Indian food near the London Eye and South Bank: Masala Zone and Dishoom (Covent Garden, about 15 minutes’ walk across Waterloo Bridge) cost about £12–20 per main. Waterloo and the Strand also have several Indian restaurants at about £15–30 per person.
- Getting around London: Just tap a contactless card or phone (or an Oyster card) on the Tube and buses. A Zone 1 Tube fare is about £3.00–3.10, and the daily cap for Zones 1–2 is about £8.90, so you never pay more than that in a day. Buses cost about £1.75–1.85, with unlimited bus transfers within an hour.
- Visa for Indian visitors: You need a UK Standard Visitor visa. Apply well ahead, since processing takes about 3 weeks.
