Last updated: August 2026. An honest, checked-this-year guide to boat parties on the Thames, with approximate prices. Line-ups and sailings change constantly, so always check the operator before booking.
The short answer: yes, London has a lively boat-party scene on the Thames. You can dance to a DJ on a late-night party cruise, join a silent disco aboard the Dutch Master, sail on a bottomless brunch boat, soak in a floating hot tub, or laugh through a comedy boat. Prices start from around $32 (£25). Below is what to book, and where each departs. For calmer sightseeing and dinner cruises, see our separate Thames cruise guide.
Want a night out with a difference? Few cities do it like London on the water. From full-on floating raves to relaxed brunch sailings, the Thames turns into one of the capital's best venues after dark. Here is our honest run-down of the boat parties worth your money, sorted by the kind of night you are after.
London 4 dummies: boat parties made simple
- Book ahead. The good nights, and anything themed or over a weekend, sell out fast, especially in summer. Do not leave it to the day.
- Most boats are covered and heated. The British weather will not sink your night, but the open decks get breezy, so bring a layer.
- Know your vibe. DJ cruises are proper clubbing; brunch boats are daytime fun; comedy and hot-tub boats are relaxed. Pick to match the group.
- Bring ID. These are licensed bars, so over-18s only and photo ID is expected. Themed nights often reward fancy dress.
- Check the pier. Most leave from Westminster, Tower or Embankment. Arrive fifteen minutes early, because boats do not wait.
The best boat parties in London
Grouped by the kind of night you want, from full-on party cruises to something a little different. Anything bookable through our partners has a Book button.
Party cruises and club nights
A late-night DJ party cruise
The classic Thames party boat: top DJs, a fully stocked bar and club energy as you glide past a floodlit Tower Bridge. Runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and sells out fast in summer.
Book →ABBA, Bollywood and throwback boat parties
Floating theme parties for every taste, from ABBA singalongs and Bollywood and Bhangra nights to nineties throwbacks and drum and bass, with fancy dress encouraged. Operators like Let's Get Anchored run a rotating calendar.
Book →The big-name party boats
Long-running operators such as London Party Boats and Thames Party Boats run reliable, well-organised nights for birthdays, work dos and stag or hen groups. Good value and a guaranteed crowd.
Book →Silent discos and boozy brunches afloat
A silent disco boat party
Dance to three channels through headphones aboard the two-storey Dutch Master, so you pick your own soundtrack while everyone floats past the landmarks. One of the most fun and photogenic nights on the river.
Book →Bottomless brunch boat parties
The Garage and Hip Hop Brunch parties take their cult events onto the water, pairing DJs and bottomless drinks with a skyline backdrop. The best daytime option, and a riot for a group.
Book →Something different on the water
A floating hot tub tour
You, your friends, a bubbling hot tub and a Prosecco, drifting past the skyline with Skuna Boats. Wonderfully silly and surprisingly relaxing, with wetsuits provided if you want one. Booked directly with the operator.
The Boat Show Comedy Club
A long-running floating comedy club aboard a moored boat, with big TV names, rising stars and the river lit up behind them. Great value for a date night or a relaxed catch-up. Book direct.
Private party and canal cruises
Hire your own boat for a birthday, proposal or work do, from a sleek Thames vessel with Westminster Party Boats to a cosy, bring-your-own canal cruise around King's Cross. Groups from a handful to several hundred.
New Year's Eve is the big one: several operators run fireworks cruises on the Thames, with the best view in the city of the midnight display. They sell out months ahead, so book early if you want to see in the year on the water.
Planning your trip? You can book a cruise port transfer with Chauffeurz.
Prefer a calmer cruise?
Not everyone wants a DJ and a dancefloor. If you are after a relaxed afternoon tea sailing, a sunset sightseeing cruise or an elegant dinner on the water, those are a different thing entirely, and we cover them all, with prices and booking, in our dedicated Thames river cruise guide. For a romantic evening on the river, our romantic things to do guide has more ideas.
Sailing on a real cruise? The ports are outside London
A quick clarification, because "cruises in London" means two different things. The party boats above all sail on the Thames in the city. Ocean cruises, the big ships bound for Norway, the Mediterranean or beyond, do not leave from central London; they sail from ports around the coast. The six main ones are Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Tilbury (the London International Cruise Terminal, and the closest, about 30 miles east), Harwich and Bournemouth. If you are catching one, a fixed-price, cruise-timed transfer with Chauffeurz cruise-port transfers takes the stress out of getting there with your luggage, with a meet at the terminal and help with the bags.
Browse and book Thames boat parties →Frequently asked questions
Are there boat parties in London?
Yes, plenty. The Thames has a busy boat-party scene, from late-night DJ cruises and silent discos to bottomless brunch boats, themed nights, floating hot tubs and even a comedy boat. Most run from spring to autumn, with New Year's Eve fireworks cruises the highlight of winter.
How much is a boat party in London?
Tickets start from around $32 (£25) for a standard party cruise, with silent discos roughly $34 to $60 (£27 to £47) and a floating hot tub from about $50 (£39). Themed nights, bottomless-drinks packages and New Year's Eve cost more. Book early for the best prices.
Where do boat parties depart from in London?
Most leave from central Thames piers, usually Westminster, Tower or Embankment, with some from the Docklands in the east. Your ticket names the exact pier. Arrive about fifteen minutes early, as the boats depart on time and do not wait for latecomers.
Do ocean cruises leave from London?
Not from central London. Large ocean cruises sail from ports around the coast: Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Tilbury (the London International Cruise Terminal, the closest at about 30 miles east), Harwich and Bournemouth. A pre-booked chauffeur transfer is the easiest way to reach them with luggage.
What is the difference between a boat party and a Thames cruise?
A boat party is a night out, with a DJ, a bar and a dancefloor. A Thames cruise is about the sights, whether a sightseeing hop, an afternoon tea sailing or a dinner cruise. Choose a party for the atmosphere, and a cruise for the views and the meal; our separate cruise guide covers the latter.
Clara, Welcome2London's AI travel curator, presents our guides to London for visitors, with a focus on honest, practical detail and genuine local knowledge. Her guides are reviewed regularly to stay current.
Sources and verification (August 2026): operators, departure piers and approximate prices cross-checked against the boat-party companies' own listings this year. Ocean cruise ports confirmed as Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Tilbury, Harwich and Bournemouth, with Tilbury the London International Cruise Terminal. Line-ups, prices and sailings change often, so confirm before booking.
Disclosure: Welcome2London earns a commission from some partner experience bookings, and Chauffeurz is our partner transfer service, at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our guides free, and our recommendations are made on merit alone.
Clara Whitby is Welcome2London’s AI travel curator, known to readers as The Londonologist. She was created by our editorial team to help first time visitors plan London and the rest of the UK with confidence: where to stay, how to get around, what is worth your money and what you can happily skip. Every guide she presents is researched from official sources and checked by the Welcome2London team before it goes live.
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