Westminster Pier is the main embarkation point for river trips. From here, there are services east (downstream) or west (upstream).

City Cruises operates sightseeing cruises east to Tower Pier (journey time - 30 minutes each way), and Greenwich Pier (journey time - 1 hour each way). In addition they also offer a 'Red Rover' day pass for its tours, enabling visitors to hop on and off at four different stops. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket office before boarding.

Going west, summer services depart from Westminster Pier upriver to Kew Gardens, Richmond and Hampton Court. Tickets must be purchased before boarding and the journey time is 90 minutes to Kew, and three hours to Hampton Court.

Providing a 50-minute non-stop multilingual cruise from Waterloo, Westminster and Embankment Piers, Catamaran Cruisers also operates a hop-on, hop-off service, covering Embankment Pier, Waterloo Pier, Bankside, Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier. The 'Hopper Pass' allows for a day's worth of free travel, otherwise individual tickets are available. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket office before boarding.

Runs unconventional tours on an amphibious craft, which departs from Chichley Street (behind the London Eye) and rumbles through London's streets, taking in Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, before plunging into the River Thames for a 30-minute cruise.

For those who like to experience life in the fast lane, London RIB Voyages offers small group tours on the Thames on board purpose-built rigid inflatable boats (very similar to those used by the police and emergency services). The tour lasts for an hour, takes in all the main sights and includes a running commentary (in English only) by a knowledgeable and entertaining guide. Admittedly not cheap, but great fun.