London: Christmas Party Lunch Cruise

The best part of this three-hour Thames cruise is the mix of Christmas lunch and London sightseeing. You sail from Westminster toward Canary Wharf while eating roast turkey, listening to a live vocalist, and watching the city slide past the windows. It feels more like a floating Christmas party than a formal sightseeing trip.

I like the welcome glass of sparkling wine, which gets the afternoon moving in the right spirit. I also like the hot, generous meal: salmon and prawn starter, traditional roast turkey with the usual trimmings, and a festive chocolate dessert. The main drawback is the seating. Tables hold 10 people and sit close together, so smaller parties share tables and bench-style seats can make it awkward to get up or chat across the table.

Key points at a glance

• A party first, sightseeing second: Live festive music and dancing shape the mood, while the Thames provides the views.
• A full Christmas meal: You receive a salmon and prawn starter, roast turkey with trimmings, dessert, tea, and coffee.
• A smart route through central London: The boat passes the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf.
• A sociable table setup: Tables seat 10 and are close together, which can feel friendly but offers little personal space.
• An adults-only afternoon: Children under 18 cannot join, making this better suited to adult groups and office celebrations.
• Drinks cost extra: Your first sparkling wine is included, but additional drinks come from the licensed bar at an added cost.

Boarding at Westminster Pier

Your afternoon begins at City Cruises Westminster Pier on Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH. Staff at the pier direct you to the correct boarding point, which is useful because Westminster is a busy part of the river and several boats operate nearby.

Once aboard, you receive a glass of sparkling wine. That small welcome matters. It gives you something to hold while people find their seats and changes the mood from ordinary city outing to Christmas event.

Plan your clothing carefully. The required dress code is smart-casual or festive, so this is not the place for sightseeing trainers and a daypack if you want to fit the setting. You do not need formal evening wear, but a little seasonal effort makes sense.

The cruise lasts three hours and returns to Westminster Pier. Starting times can vary, so you need to check availability when booking. The activity is non-refundable, which makes it wise to confirm your date and group size before paying.

A Christmas lunch with the Thames outside

The meal begins with salmon and prawn, followed by roast turkey with the usual Christmas trimmings. Dessert is a festive chocolate dish, and tea and coffee are included.

The strongest food point is practicality. This is a proper three-course lunch rather than a snack spread, and the meal is served hot and in generous portions. That makes the $101 price easier to assess, especially when you add the boat ride, entertainment, sparkling wine, and use of the licensed bar.

One useful detail is timing. The sightseeing does not replace lunch, and lunch does not replace the party. You can eat while looking through the windows, then head to the upper deck for photographs. The arrangement works well for a Christmas work event or a group of friends who want one shared activity instead of organizing a meal and entertainment separately.

Still, you should not expect a restaurant with lots of room between tables. Seating is arranged in groups of 10, with tables close to one another. If your booking has fewer than 10 people, you share your table with others. That can make the afternoon more social, but it also means you may have limited control over where you sit.

The bench-style seats deserve attention. Getting up may require several people beside you to slide along, which can be inconvenient when you want to speak with someone elsewhere in your group or reach the dance floor. For some people, that close arrangement adds to the party mood. For others, it is the main irritation of the cruise.

Westminster to the London Eye

After leaving Westminster, the boat passes the London Eye. You do not stop, and the itinerary allows no dedicated time at the attraction.

That is not a problem if you treat the cruise as a moving view rather than a guided tour. The London Eye is easy to recognize from the river, and it gives you one of the first strong photo opportunities after departure.

The important point is expectation. No guide-led explanation is described, and the listed stops are all pass-by sights. You will see London from the water, but you will not get a full history lesson or time to visit any of the attractions.

The Shard from the river

The boat continues past The Shard, whose sharp profile is one of the easiest modern landmarks to pick out from the Thames. From the boat, you get a broad city view rather than the close-up experience of entering the building.

I like this part of the route because the river puts several famous sights into one afternoon. You can enjoy the skyline without buying separate attraction tickets or spending the day moving between locations.

The upper deck is the best place to pose for pictures with friends, provided the weather and conditions suit you. The boat also gives you a different angle on the city than a street-level Christmas lunch would provide.

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge

The route then passes the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. These are the visual high points for many people, especially if you have not seen London from the river before.

The Tower of London brings centuries of royal and military history to the riverbank, while Tower Bridge supplies the classic London photograph. You should keep your camera ready, but remember that the boat does not stop for a visit to either site.

This section also shows why the cruise works best as an overview. In one sailing, you see Westminster, the central skyline, the historic riverfront, and the eastern towers of Canary Wharf. You get a useful sense of London’s shape, even though you do not explore the attractions on foot.

If learning about the sights is your main goal, I would choose a dedicated sightseeing cruise instead. This boat concentrates on food, music, and a Christmas party atmosphere. The views are a welcome part of the event, not the entire purpose.

Reaching Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf marks the far end of the listed route. The area is known for its modern business skyline, so it gives the cruise a clear change of scene after the older sights around the Tower of London and Westminster.

You pass the district rather than disembarking. That keeps the schedule simple and leaves more time for lunch and music, but it also means you should not book this expecting a tour of Canary Wharf.

The route has a nice visual rhythm: historic buildings near Westminster, modern towers around The Shard, medieval and Victorian sights near the Tower, then the newer high-rise feel of Canary Wharf. I find that variety more interesting than a short cruise that only circles the same central stretch.

Live music, dancing, and the party mood

A live vocalist performs festive music during the cruise, and dancing is included. This is where the experience either works very well for you or feels slightly flat, depending on the mood onboard.

When people join in, the dance floor can become the heart of the afternoon. A talented singer, hot food, and a moving view of London make a strong combination. The entertainment is not just background sound, it is a central part of the event.

The atmosphere can vary with the number of people onboard. A busy sailing should feel more like a party, while a quieter one may be calmer and less lively. One recent afternoon had only a few people aboard, which made the mood feel subdued despite good food and friendly staff.

That uncertainty is worth accepting before you book. The operator can provide the singer and the music, but it cannot guarantee that every group will want to dance. If you and your friends are willing to help get the floor started, you may have a better time.

The bar adds flexibility, but extra drinks are not included. The first sparkling wine is part of the package, while further wine, beer, or other drinks must be purchased onboard. Keep this in your budget. Wine has been described as expensive, and drink service can be slower when staff are also serving lunch.

What $101 buys you

At $101 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Thames. You are paying for a combined event: a three-hour river cruise, a three-course Christmas meal, a welcome sparkling wine, live music, dancing, tea, coffee, and access to a licensed bar.

The value improves if you already planned to book a festive meal and some entertainment. One ticket covers the setting, the food, the views, and the music, so you do not need to arrange separate transport between a restaurant and a show.

The value is less convincing if you mainly want sightseeing. Since the boat only passes the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf, you receive no attraction entry and no listed guided commentary.

Food quality also matters. The strongest reports describe the Christmas dinner as hot, plentiful, and good quality. That is important at this price. A disappointing meal would make the cruise feel costly, while a satisfying meal helps justify the package.

I would also set aside money for extra drinks and avoid assuming that the bar is included in the ticket. Tea and coffee are covered, but additional alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are not.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

This cruise suits an adult group looking for a shared Christmas occasion. It works well for friends, workplace celebrations, and anyone who prefers a festive afternoon with music over a quiet meal in a restaurant.

You will probably enjoy it if you like:

• A social setting with shared tables
• Live singing and dancing
• Traditional roast turkey
• Taking photographs from a boat
• Seeing several London landmarks in one outing
• A smart-casual Christmas event

It is less suitable if you want a quiet, private table or a serious sightseeing experience. Smaller bookings may need to share with other people, and the close bench seating can make movement difficult.

Children under 18 are not allowed, so this is strictly an adult activity. The non-refundable booking policy also favors people with firm plans rather than anyone still deciding which day to choose.

Practical advice before you book

Arrive at Westminster Pier with enough time to find the correct boarding point. Staff are available to direct you, but the pier is in a busy central location.

Dress smart-casual or festive. You will feel more comfortable in clothing that works for lunch, photographs, and possible dancing. Keep a phone or camera handy for the upper deck, especially around the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

If you are booking for fewer than 10 people, assume you will share a table. That is part of the design, not an unusual exception. If your group wants to sit together, include everyone in one booking and check the seating details carefully.

Consider where you want to spend your time. The upper deck gives you the best chance for photographs, while the main seating area is where you eat and listen to the singer. The weather may affect how long you want to stay outside, so do not plan the whole afternoon around the upper deck.

Finally, budget for drinks beyond the included sparkling wine, tea, and coffee. The bar is licensed, but extra drinks are charged separately.

Should you book the Christmas Party Lunch Cruise?

I would book this if you want a Christmas party with London views, not a detailed tour of London’s history. The hot three-course meal, live vocalist, dancing, and route from Westminster to Canary Wharf create a well-rounded festive outing.

I would hesitate if you dislike shared tables, close seating, or unpredictable party energy. The singer may be excellent, but the atmosphere depends partly on how many people are aboard and how ready they are to dance.

For an adult group that wants food, music, and a different view of London in one three-hour event, the $101 price can be fair. For a quiet lunch or a focused sightseeing trip, spend your money elsewhere.

FAQ

Where does the Christmas Party Lunch Cruise leave from?

It leaves from City Cruises Westminster Pier on Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH. Staff at the pier direct you to the correct boarding point.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts three hours. It departs from Westminster Pier, travels toward Canary Wharf, and returns to Westminster Pier.

What food is included?

You receive a three-course festive lunch consisting of a salmon and prawn starter, roast turkey with traditional trimmings, and a festive chocolate dessert. Tea and coffee are also included.

Is a drink included?

A welcome glass of sparkling wine is included. Additional drinks are not included, but there is a licensed bar onboard.

Which London sights can I see?

The boat passes the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. The cruise does not stop at these sights.

Is there music and dancing onboard?

Yes. A live vocalist performs festive music, and dancing is included as part of the experience.

Can children join the cruise?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18.