Getting Around · Our pick in London
Thames Rockets
A speedboat ride on the Thames
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Gswaby · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Thames Rockets
Thames Rockets runs fast rigid inflatable boat trips from the London Eye Pier, passing the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s and Tower Bridge before speeding up on the open stretches downstream. Guides give a commentary along the way. Passengers wear lifejackets and are given waterproofs when needed, and the trips have age and health conditions set out on the website. Waterloo and Westminster stations are a short walk from the pier. Booking ahead is advised.
Why it's on our list
- From the London Eye Pier
- High-speed stretches
- Commentary
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Thames Rockets before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Thames Rockets are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- WestminsterDistrictCircleJubilee0.2 mi5 min walk
- WaterlooJubileeNorthernBakerlooWaterloo & CityNational Rail0.3 mi5 min walk
- EmbankmentDistrictBakerlooNorthernCircle0.3 mi6 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Cab Road0.4 mi7 min walk
- Taxi rank, Station Approach Road0.4 mi8 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- London Eye0.1 miWalk 1 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 3 min
- Westminster Abbey0.4 miWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Trafalgar Square0.5 miWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Covent Garden0.6 miWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Leicester Square0.7 miWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Buckingham Palace1.0 miWalk 20 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- The British Museum1.2 miWalk 24 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- The Shard1.5 miWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Harrods1.9 miWalk 37 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Tower of London1.9 miWalk 39 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
Main rail terminals
- Waterloo0.3 miWalk 5 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Charing Cross0.4 miWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Victoria1.1 miWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- London Bridge1.5 miWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Euston1.8 miWalk 37 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Liverpool Street1.9 miWalk 39 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.9 miWalk 39 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)2.0 miWalk 41 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Paddington2.5 miCycle 16 minCar or taxi 22 min