Posts filed under ‘Thames Passenger Boats’
Charter a Boat this summer on the River Thames
Summer time in London can be hot, sticky and uncomfortable. With crammed tubes and buses, boiling temperatures outside and freezing air conditioning inside the fresh air and space on and around the River Thames attracts people in their thousands. Riverside bars and pubs heave with punters, but to really get away and enjoy the fresh air and get a breeze the only answer is to get out on a boat.
There are several permanently moored ships which provide pub style open deck fun on the Embankment at Charring Cross. The two that instantly spring to mind are the Tattershall Castle opposite the London Eye and the Queen Mary which is only a few 100m further down the North bank. They do get very busy though, for the obvious reasons!
If you have a group then a Thames riverboat disco cruise is great fun, + you can usually smoke on the outside decks…
The ultimate is to charter your own London party boat and there are a lot to choose from. Personally I would recommend one with a signisicant amount of outside deck space. For example the Erasmus has as much outside deck space as internal deck space so if the British weather does it’s thing it won’t ruin your party. Of course if it is a glorious evening then everyone onbaord has the option to get outside too….
The Elizabethan is an incredibly elegant vessel, but one of the best for the summer time. She has a companion way circling the entire vessel so guests can simply hang on the rail sipping a cocktail. Over her dance floor is a retractable roof so you can dance under the stars as the night rolls on. Each boat really has it’s own unique options. As I said earlier though I would avoid boats with n, or limited outside deck space and similarly those which are mainly open – you never know what the weather is going to do!
For drinks why not the classic Pimms on reception as guests board, or maybe a Pink Champagne or sparkling Rose. Alcoholic Punch or cocktails are also lots of fun and get everyone in the mood!
With regard to catering you may want to consider a barbecue, very seasonal again for obvious reason, but a great way to really get that summer feeling into your London boat party.
Another fun idea is to charter a London Jet Boat or maybe a RIB, as these fast speed boats really get the wind whistling through your hair. If you have a larger party and are planning to charter a larger Luxury Charter Boat you can always have the speed boat come alongside at a pier and take small groups out for 15 minute blasts. Always goes down well with the gents!
If you would like any further information please drop a comment on the bottom of this blog.
Thanks
Websites with information on boats on the River Thames in London
The following websites will help you find information on the River Thames in London, boats for hire and private charter:
River Thames:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames#External_links
http://www.portoflondon.co.uk
http://www.tfl.gov.uk
London Speed Boats:
http://www.londonspeedboats.co.uk/
http://www.thamesspeedboats.co.uk/
http://www.thamesspeedboathire.co.uk/
http://www.londonjetboats.co.uk/
http://www.thamesjetboats.co.uk/
London Party Boats:
http://www.londonpartyboat.co.uk/
http://www.partyboatlondon.co.uk/
Thames Boat Hire:
http://www.boathirelondon.co.uk/
Marine Filming:
http://www.filmlondon.org.uk
http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/2.55.html
http://www.divingservicesuk.com
http://www.theknowledgeonline.com
Please let me know any more I can add to this list.
A guide to boats for hire on the river Thames in London
There are a wide range of different boats for hire on the Thames in London. Depending on the type of boat party or celebration you are looking to host on the river Thames in London there are a wide range of different styles of boats available to charter.
Here is a list of a selection of boats available to hire grouped by style.
Speed boats
If you are looking for a speed boat to hire there are many different options available including the most incredible adrenaline rush – a London Jet Boat Experience!
- Voyager RIB’s
- Jet Boat
- Fletcher Arrowhawk
- Lima Lima II
Luxury Powerboats
Moving up from small speed boats their are a number of large luxury powerboats / superyachts available for charter on the Thames. Ideal for important business meetings, corporate entertaining and intimate celebrations for smaller groups these craft push the boundaries of service, quality and luxury.
- Princess V48
- Zephyr / Zodiac
- Rum Jungle
Small Launches
Often a simple river transfer from one part of London to a venue and back is considered to avoid London’s busy transport network. There are several small launches suitable for such transfers and very reasonably priced when compared with other ways of transporting larger numbers in a group around London!
- Thames Swift
- John Harriot
- Cabot
Large Launches
Getting a larger group from one place to another in London can be a complete nightmare. A boat is a simple and cost effective solution and even adds another element to the event. For larger parties it can be efficient to charter a private passenger vessel or a Thames river bus. Here are a few options:
- Thames Clipper
- Sarpedon
- Sapele
- Edwardian
- Golden Salamander
London Party Boats
There is a simply massive selection of party boats for hire on the Thames in London. Choosing which one suits you can be a bit of a headache – should you pay the extra money for one boat – is it worth it?
Here are a list of a selection of ‘approved’ London Party Boats which are generally considered good value for money. Note these boats are not comparable by size or standard, but value for money. If a boat is not included that you feel should be please reply to the thread.
- Havengore
- High Society
- Spirit of London
- Edwardian
- Golden Salamander
- Elizabethan
- Erasmus
- Silver Barracuda
- Silver Sturgeon
- Dixie Queen
For further information on hiring a boat on the river Thames in London see: Boat Hire London
I hope this information has been useful?
A cruise through London on the River Thames
Booking a River Thames Boat Cruise is an exciting and enjoyable way of viewing London’s most unique and famous landmarks – from the oldest to the newest. At night the visual feast is enhanced further with an interactive lighting system on key bridges and buildings in the heart of the city which changes the colour of the illuminations as boats pass by.
The River Thames carves it’s way through the very heart of London from West to East as it flows down to the sea from it’s source in the Cotswolds. The section of river downstream of Teddington, i.e. between Teddington, through London and down to the estuary is called the tidal Thames. As the name suggests the river here is tidal, rising and falling by around 7 meters a day.
The tide is actually one of the biggest factors on the river in London. It dictates where boats can go, how fast they will get there and what the river and London will look like. When the tide is low or out you
For more information on the tide and how it affects activity on the Thames see this link: http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/2.45.html
When cruising through London the sights most people are excited to see are:
- Putney Pier – the start of the famous Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race
- Albert Bridge
- Battersea Power Station
- MI6 Building – where the James Bond chase scene began
- Big Ben and The House of Parliament
- BA London Eye
- Tate Modern and Tate Britain
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
- The Millennium Bridge – The Blade of Light
- HMS Belfast
- Tower of London
- Tower Bridge
- Canary Wharf
- Cutty Sark
- The O2
- Thames Barrier
- QEII Bridge
There are many river boats in London of varying size and with different levels of quality. Some are very pretty and luxuriously appointed, designed for fine dining, others are much more simple, built for disco cruises, parties and club nights. The choice will usually be based around budget as the more you have available the more choice there is, as with most things in life!
It is worth pointing out that it doesn’t matter which boat you are on, the Thames and London’s sights will look the same…
For more information on the River Thames see this link: http://www.the-river-thames.co.uk/thames.htm
A guide to chartering a boat on the Thames in London this Christmas
Searching for a unique venue to celebrate Christmas and New Year in London, be it a company Christmas party or group of friends or family, you will find a London Party Boat on the river Thames an exciting and different venue.
With festively decorated boats cruising the Thames you and your guests will get to take in London’s most famous landmarks lit up in all their splendour. The size of your group and type of boat party you want to have will guide your choice of vessel. The Thames in London has many different boats of different shapes and sizes. Options include:
- An exclusive meal for 2 on your own private luxury power boat
- Company Christmas party for 20 – 300 guests on a Thames party boat
- Tickets to join New Years Eve celebrations on a London Party boat
- Scheduled Riverboat Disco Cruises for small and large groups
Land venues simply cannot compete, the Thames offers views of the most famous of London’s landmarks, viewed through unique and exciting venues of every style and price range imaginable. Funky contemporary party boats such as the Erasmus or Silver Barracuda contrast with the traditional Elizabethan replica paddle steamer or Edwardian replica steam ship. For smaller parties charter a luxury powerboat or a traditional wooden speed boat for the ultimate in exclusivity. All are fully heated and comply with the most rigorous of Europe’s safety standards – the strictest in the World.
When researching which boat is best for your Christmas or New Year celebrations I strongly recommend you view the boats that match your requirements. You will get a better idea of the size and quality of the boat and straight away see the level of service you can expect when onboard. Generally you get what you pay for, but there are exceptions – London Party Boats that do not present the quality the price they are charging suggests they should.
Once you have chosen the boat make sure you provisionally hold the date and times you would like. Friday and Saturday evenings are very popular so I would highly recommend booking several months in advance if you are after a key date. For example New Years Eve tickets are usually sold out by the beginning of December.
Once booked the operator will take you through the process of designing your boat party. Be aware you will need to pay in advance, often in full.
A London Party Boat is truly a fantastic and memorable way to celebrate this Christmas and New Year.
