Booking choice: The London Showboat, from $109 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The London Showboat leaves from Westminster Pier, on the north bank of the Thames beside Westminster Bridge. It is easy to reach, but several cruise companies use the same pier, and on a Saturday evening the streets around it are slow.
Below: when to arrive, how to find the right gate, where you may end up at the end of the night, and where London's other dining cruises leave from.
The quick answer
Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH, a two-minute walk from Westminster Underground station. Go straight to the City Cruises boarding gate. Arrive by 7:15pm: boarding is at 7:30pm, the boat sails at 7:45pm and returns at about 10:45pm. Tide permitting, you return to Westminster; occasionally the boat docks at Tower Pier instead.
Where is Westminster Pier?
On Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH, at the foot of Westminster Bridge on the Big Ben side, opposite the London Eye.
It is about two minutes on foot from Westminster Underground station. The London Eye has its own pier on the opposite bank, so make sure you are on the Parliament side of the river.
Know where you are going? Book a date with free cancellation up to 3 days before.
Check dates for the London ShowboatWhat time should you arrive?
By 7:15pm: boarding starts at 7:30pm and the boat sails at 7:45pm, and it will not wait.
Guests describe check-in as slow on busy nights, and arriving early keeps you out of the queue.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:15pm | Aim to be at the pier |
| 7:30pm | Boarding, welcome drink |
| 7:45pm | The boat leaves Westminster |
| About 10:45pm | Back at the pier, tide permitting |
How do you find the City Cruises gate?
Go directly to the City Cruises boarding gate and show your ticket for the dinner cruise.
This is where guests struggle: several reviewers say finding the boat was harder than it should be and ask for better directions. Several City Cruises boats use the pier, so tell the staff you are on the dinner cruise and check before you step aboard; one daytime guest was put on a sightseeing boat instead of her lunch cruise.
How should you get to the pier?
By Tube to Westminster if you can: on a Saturday evening, taxis around Westminster can be very slow.
One guest missed the cruise altogether: it took 25 minutes to find a taxi and 45 more to cover three miles from the hotel. "You must prepare far in advance on the Saturday", she warns. Give yourself a buffer of at least half an hour, more if you are coming by road.
Leaving a buffer? Free cancellation runs until 3 days before, not on the night.
Check dates for the London ShowboatWhere does the cruise end?
Back at Westminster Pier, tide permitting; occasionally the tide means the boat docks at Tower Pier instead.
A guest in September 2026 was dropped at Tower Pier and, with the nearest station closed, walked about 15 minutes to another. Another guest on the jazz cruise paid for an Uber home after an unplanned change of pier. Keep a travel app handy and a little cash or card for a late taxi.
Is the Showboat wheelchair accessible?
It is listed as not wheelchair accessible, and partners say all passengers must be able to walk onto the boat.
Experiences vary with the tide. One guest reports a wheelchair user boarded easily; another warns that at low tide the Tower Pier ramp was long and steep. Call City Cruises before booking to discuss your needs, and allow for the chance of disembarking at a different pier.
Ready to plan the night? The Showboat sails from Westminster at 7:45pm.
Explore the London ShowboatWhere do the other Thames dining cruises leave from?
Only the Showboat and the jazz cruise use Westminster Pier; the daytime City Cruises leave from Tower Millennium Pier.
| Cruise | Pier | Time |
|---|---|---|
| London Showboat | Westminster Pier, SW1A 2JH | Boards 7:30pm |
| Jazz dinner cruise | Westminster Pier, SW1A 2JH | 8:00pm |
| Tea on the Thames | Butler's Wharf Pier, SE1 2YE | Arrive 15 min early |
| Lunch cruise | Tower Millennium Pier, EC3N 4DT | 11:45am |
| Afternoon tea cruise | Tower Millennium Pier, EC3N 4DT | 3:30pm |
| Evening wine and canapés | Tower Millennium Pier, EC3N 4DT | Boards 6:15pm |
| Clipper Lounge tea | Embankment Pier, WC2N 6NU | Moored, choice of times |
| London Eye river cruise | London Eye Pier, South Bank | Through the day |
What can you do near the pier before boarding?
The London Eye is across Westminster Bridge, and a daytime river cruise plus a flight there makes a good afternoon before dinner.
Do it earlier in the day: one guest found the last boats of the day finished around 5pm in March. Then cross back to Westminster Pier in good time for 7:15pm.
Want the view from above first? Pair a 40-minute river cruise with a London Eye flight.
Explore the London Eye and river cruiseFrequently asked questions
Is Westminster Pier the same as London Eye Pier?
No. Westminster Pier is on the Parliament side of the river at Westminster Bridge; London Eye Pier is opposite, on the South Bank.
What happens if I am late for the Showboat?
The boat sails at 7:45pm and does not wait. A missed cruise is not refunded, because free cancellation ends 3 days before.
Can I leave the boat at Tower Pier?
No set stop is made there; the cruise is a round trip. Only the tide occasionally means the boat finishes at Tower Pier instead of Westminster.
Which Tube station is closest to Westminster Pier?
Westminster, about a two-minute walk. On a Saturday evening the Tube is far more reliable than a taxi.
Ready to book
Choose your cruise
Free cancellation on every option except the Clipper Lounge tea: 3 days before on City Cruises, 24 hours on the others. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the date.
London Showboat: Thames Dinner Cruise
- Glass of sparkling wine or a soft drink on boarding
- 3-course dinner served at your table, plus tea or coffee
- Live singer, then music and dancing until you dock
London Eye Ticket with River Cruise
Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise
- Welcome glass of sparkling wine
- 3-course dinner in a heated, glass-sided saloon
- Live jazz quintet through the evening
