A Cruise on the Thames

Having access to the Thames on a daily basis, kind of makes you take this beautiful piece of London for granted. I cross it every day, walk along the Thames Path a lot, but in the 13 years I have lived in London, I haven't been on it very often. So this weekend I signed up for a cruise on the Thames.

Our cruise was organised by a Dutch expat group on one of the Capital Pleasure boats, so there was lots of Heineken and cheesy Dutch music, but unfortunately the fried, Dutch snacks were missing. Although we compensated that with a bottle of very un-Dutch prosecco and some very English crisps.

We boarded at Temple pier and the 4 hour cruise took us from the heart of the City of London all the way to the bit beyond the Thames barrier.

We passed all the iconic sights like St Paul's, Tower of London, the Tower Bridge etc. But also some slightly less iconic like the Wharfs of Wapping, the Emirates Airline and London City Airport.

As the afternoon went on, we and our fellow cruisers got cheerier, the music got louder and the hips looser. I mean, who can sit still to the beats of a 2-unlimited tune. On a boat no less.

Even though this was a boat hired for a private occasion, there are lots of other ways to enjoy a boat ride on the Thames. Try City Cruises or the cruises organised by and at the London Eye. Or if you are not too bothered by hearing commentary about London's iconic sights, hop on a Thames Clipper with your Oyster card and bob along the river that way.