Thames Sightseeing, Brunel’s River Cruise – “not just a good walk, a perfect walk” (Lawrence Fox’s review)
Embankment underground station, London (river exit)
Guided by Andy W. or Maribeth or Martin or Robert
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5 · Plus boat fare and tube ride costs
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Weekly | 10 am | 1 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
| Sunday | Weekly | 10 am | 1 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
| Friday | Weekly | 10 am | 1 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
| Thursday | Weekly | 10 am | 1 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
25-12-2025Don’t just take it from us
Walker Elizabeth McNally from Canada recently went on the walk. Here’s Elizabeth’s review. “I took this walk on Saturday, March 1st. It was fantastic! This is the best walk I have experienced in any city. Robert is a Professor! So passionate and knowledgeable. I feel he should be running a course (online, so I could take it …)
What a fabulous day. Thank you. Please let Robert know how much I appreciated and enjoyed that outing. I would do it again. Take joy.
Elizabeth McNally
Canada”
N.B. This Tour leaves promptly in order to catch the boat.
This is more than just a sightseeing cruise, this is an exploration of London attractions along the river Thames, an adventure through time with Brunel supremo* Robert and his merry band of handpicked (and mentored by Robert) guides.
It All Comes Down to the Guiding
You will have a London river cruise with live commentary and guided tour included. What’s not to like, what better way to explore London.
*An internationally recognised authority on Brunel, Robert was the founding director of the Brunel Museum. (Robert is to the Brunel Museum what Brunel was to the Great Eastern.) The author of the standard books on the subject – Brunel’s Great Eastern and The Brunels’ Tunnel – he has lectured all over the world on the greatest civil engineer in history. For good measure, he’s wrestled naked in front of a wood fire.**
**When Robert came down from Oxford he was, in the first act of his career, an actor; his first film credit was playing DH Lawrence in DH Lawrence High Priest of Love – so, yes, like Alan Bates, Robert’s been on the big screen wrestling naked in front of a wood fire!
MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SIGHTSEEING CRUISE
This is much more than just a sightseeing cruise, this is an exploration of London attractions along the river Thames, an adventure through time with Brunel supremo* Robert and his merry band of handpicked (and mentored by Robert) guides.
It All Comes Down to the Guiding
Meet Your Guide
Here’s a little podcast in which Robert talks about the tour.
And here’s one where he talks rather more about himself – running away to the circus and being an international banker and taking your sword into your Oxford exams and castrating bulls, etc. etc.
Tour Practicals
Meeting time: 10 am every* Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
*To be on the safe side always check the date on the calendar. Or heed the top-level announcements that read: Click for dates this walk does not take place.
Meeting point: Embankment Tube (riverside exit)
Price: £20 per person (full adult); £15 for Super Adults (over 65s), full-time students and people with the London Walks Loyalty Cards; £10 for Concessions Loyalty Card holders (full-time students and over 65s); £5 for kids 8-15 (tinies, under 8s, go free).
The price does not cover:
• Thames Clipper boat ticket (the London Walks Group Discount is very handsome)
• Zone 2 journey London Underground (Oyster recommended)
Itinerary
Once the group has assembled at Embankment Tube, we will make our way past the monument to WS Gilbert (light opera with Sullivan) and down to the Pier. Your Thames Clipper sightseeing voyage starts here. The best views in central London will glide past your window. The chimes of Big Ben. London’s attractions and famous landmarks all laid before you. And the story of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, voted second Greatest Briton (after Churchill) and our most famous engineer. Little man, big hat, big cigar, big chains, big ideas.
To Westminster Pier
Under Hungerford, our first Brunel Bridge, past the monument to Bazalgette – the man who built the sewer and moved the river. On your right, Royal Horseguards, a five-star hotel that started out as a property scam. The building with green roofs and all the flags is the Ministry of Defence. Here is the first of the four white ensigns on your trip. The golden eagle is the memorial to the Royal Air Force ‘Per Ardua ad Astra’ and the bas relief in bronze is the memorial to the Battle of Britain. The woman on the chariot is Boadicea, mother of all rebels, next to the mother of all parliaments (Charles Barry and Pugin).
To Waterloo Bridge (1942 Sir Giles Gilbert Scott), known as the Ladies’ Bridge
Westminster Bridge (1862) a seven-arch, cast-iron bridge designed by Thomas Page, Gothic details by Charles Barry. Cast iron good for arches (compression), but no tensile strength, so Brunel didn’t like it. At this end of Parliament, the seats are green, and the bridge is green. At the far end, House of Lords, the seats are red, and Lambeth Bridge (1932 Humphreys, Blomfield, Forrest) is red. Just colour coding for the intellectually challenged. Old Scotland Yard and through the gap a glimpse of Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. The first Waterloo Bridge (1817 Rennie) was broken up and bits given to Commonwealth countries. The present bridge built by women.
To Blackfriars Railway Bridge (1886 Brunel & Wolfe Barry) our second Brunel Bridge
Wonderful views of the famous dome St Paul’s Cathedral (Christopher Wren). Royal Festival Hall is on the site of the Festival of Britain held 1951, exactly one hundred years after the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park (1851), first international trade fair, sponsored by Prince Albert. Blackfriars Road Bridge is red & white. Peeping through the arches, the orange piers of Cubitt’s railway bridge for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (grand pediment in gold, green, red and blue crest). The grey bridge with canopies is Blackfriars Railway Bridge, our second Brunel bridge, built by Henry Marc Brunel and Sir John Wolfe Barry. Three generations of engineers in the Brunel family. Gold rosettes on the road bridge, and above the onyx columns, swans! Travelling under bridges, you see all the details. Blackfriars railway station is the first railway station in the world to span a river
To Shakespeare’s Globe
This is the famous millennium bridge, the Wobbly Bridge. Do you know the command before a regiment crosses a bridge? A sign ‘Break Step!’ Is still on Albert Bridge. Otherwise ’sympathetic resonance’ shakes it apart – it happened in Manchester. But this isn’t a bridge, look at it, it’s a hammock! Low stanchions give wonderful views up and downstream.
We go past Tate Modern, previously Bankside power station, the most successful visitor attraction in London. In the background, you will see the Shard, the tallest building in the United Kingdom.
London’s biggest thatched roof. White half-timbered building, rebuilt by American actor, Sam Wanamaker. Brunel also built a theatre, an underground theatre, which was the entry hall to the Thames Tunnel. Here there were sword swallowers, fire eaters, Indian dancers, Ethiopian serenaders, Chinese singers. Brunel’s theatre is half the size of Shakespeare’s Globe, but built above the ground and then sunk under its own weight. A giant one thousand tonne pastry cutter, but for the engineer the world’s first caisson.
To Tower Bridge (1894 Brunel & Wolfe Barry) our third Brunel Bridge
Downstream of the Tower pier, as we see the Tower of London, above a bricked-up arch is written in white letters “ENTRY TO TRAITOR’S GATE”. Difficult to see from the north bank, and from the south bank you look right across the river, but you get the best view from this boat. Actually, I suppose traitors got the best view, but you will enjoy it more…
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world, and our third Brunel Bridge (Henry Marc again), but the Victorians hated it. They thought it dishonest. The bridge is made of steel but clad with masonry to fit in aesthetically with the Tower of London. The conceit is that Tower Bridge is the drawbridge for London, but the Victorians thought if you build a steel bridge, it should look like a steel bridge. If you want it to look like a masonry bridge, build it out of masonry.
To Masthouse Terrace
We pass six famous riverside pubs. Town of Ramsgate where condemned men had their last drink (before left at Execution Dock where the tide covered them three times); Captain Kidd named for a notorious pirate who was hanged here twice (the rope broke); The Angel where Captain Cook planned his first voyage (now haunted by hanging Judge Jeffries); the Mayflower from where the Pilgrims sailed; Prospect of Whitby (named for the coal ships); and The Grapes, Sir Ian Mckellen’s local (Gandalf’s staff is behind the bar). We pass the King’s Yard, where Samuel Pepys worked, and Drake’s Steps, where Queen Elizabeth knighted her explorer, privateer and the first Englishmen to circumnavigate the globe.
We disembark at Masthouse Terrace where Brunel built his last ship, SS Great Eastern, the first iron ship in the world and the first luxury cruise liner.
Walk to Island Gardens DLR
I’ve brought you here for the view. This is sometimes called the ‘English Versailles’. Not a hundredth the size of Versailles, but an English attempt at grand perspective and formal architecture. There’s a column for every ship that was at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Perched on the hill and looking down on everything, the Royal Observatory, established by King James to solve the longitude problem.
Train Journey to Rotherhithe
From Island Gardens we journey by elevated railway through the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf (Docklands Light Railway ‘the coolest of the top 10 train journeys in Britain’: Daily Mail). The new financial centre, dubbed ‘Manhattan on Thames’, is a temple of stainless steel and marble. Then a train journey through the doric columns and classical portico of Brunel’s Thames Tunnel, one-time shopping arcade, fairground and underwater banquet hall, now the oldest tunnel in the oldest subway system in the world.
Our journey ends at Mayflower pub where The Royal Society met on Brunel’s birthday and the jetty where the Pilgrims embarked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy my ticket for the Thames River Cruise in advance?
No, you can buy the tickets on the day.
Do I need a Travel Card for this tour?
You need a ticket/card for Zone 2 journey Island Gardens to Rotherhithe
What the guide says
A sightseeing voyage by Thames Clipper. Relax with the best views of central London as Big Ben chimes and London’s attractions and famous landmarks unfold before you: historic Westminster and the famous Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the palaces of Greenwich and the Tower of London.
See how Tate Modern, now a palace of art, was once a palace of industry. Past three famous cathedrals: Westminster, St Paul’s and Southwark, and under three famous Brunel bridges to three theatres at Shakespeare’s Globe. Here is HMS Belfast, the ship that fired the first shots at the Normandy Landings.
Hear the story of Brunel’s Shakespeare Room in his London home, opposite Buckingham Palace. Pass over and then through Brunel’s Tunnel, birthplace of the subway and oldest tunnel in the London Underground. On to Canary Wharf and the launch ramps of Brunel’s last great ship, the world’s first luxury cruise liner built ten years before the Cutty Sark.
A short river walk, the launch site of Brunel’s Great Eastern on one shore, Greenwich Pier on the other, there, in one view you span centuries of British maritime history, the Royal Observatory where East meets West at 0* the Meridian, then on to our train under the river for afternoon tea or lunch at the Mayflower.
Reviews
“I have been on several London walks but this was simply the best, with a boat ride thrown in and an amazing surprise at the end! Our guide was knowledgeable and great fun. I would and have highly recommended this to anyone, whether or not they are particularly interested in Brunel” JoJ70
Brad Feuer –
A French speaking woman on the boat asked Robert if he were a “comedien” meaning “actor.” And indeed Robert is an actor. And a comedian. A very funny one. He is also extremely passionate about this walk/boat ride/history lesson/excursion/tube ride through Brunel’s tunnels/and a grande finale of a lunch with the Pilgrims at the Mayflower! This is a fabulous adventure and I loved every second of it. I learned a lot – even though I had already taken walks with Brunel themes and I laughed a ton. This is Robert’s passion and he shows it off magnificently. And if you’re up for extra time on the walk, well so is Robert. Take your time, enjoy the boat, enjoy the history and definitely enjoy the guide if you’re fortunate enough to spend a few times with Robert. Bravo Robert.
Barbara Sadick –
Guide Robert here…
To anybody thinking about going on this one: by all means bring a camera on your London Walk! Splendid river views all the way, and if you find it tricky filming through the windows of a moving boat, there is a small outside area at the stern. We don’t sit out there because it’s directly above and next to the waterjet engines, so hard to hear anything. But stretch your legs and take a break from the travelogue and take some pictures. And for sure, we don’t use “whisper” sets. This reviewer says ‘time to modernize and use earpieces’, but we prefer talking to people rather than talking into headset microphones. More presence, more drama, better experience. Aside here, directly to reviewer Barbara: I think most people, Barbara, want to see who they’re talking with, want to see their eyes, their face, how they hold themselves, their gestures. Indeed their attire, the slant of their hat, etc. So, another “device,” another bit of technology crowding in on us, “screening” us, separating us, it may be for you, Barbara, but I assure you it’s not for everybody.
It also needs must be said, Thames Clippers travel at speed – it’s part of the fun of that ride – so there will sometimes be some splashes. The boats are immaculately clean, the presentation, the coffee, food and on board customer service is excellent. We have never been troubled by dirty windows, but if you are unsure, try one of the companies that do open top tours. No windows to get in the way, and you can be inside or outside, but not – as reviewer Barbara discovered – at the same time.
Barbara’s review follows:
My husband and I took this tour today with Martin. We had been especially looking forward to the time on the river and that was a real disappointment. The group sat inside, near the back of the boat, and, while Martin described what we were passing, nothing could be seen. The boat’s pitted, dirty windows made that impossible! It would have been a much better tour if we were seated outside. And, if that wasn’t possible, it would have worked if there were some kind of earpiece “whispers” for the participants to use, so that we could have been outside while Martin delivered his guidance. Instead, we had to stay inside, if we wanted to know what he was saying and, being inside, we couldn’t see much of anything and certainly couldn’t take photos.
Martin, obviously, knows a lot about the subject matter, but it was hard to hear him. Time to modernize and use earpieces…especially for a group of 14+ people! I also strongly suggest that the tour use a boat where passengers can sit outside. It would have made the tour into a great one!
Johanna Schoen –
We did this walk with Robert last Saturday and it was absolutely fabulous. The tour includes walking, a longer boat ride on the Thames (so beautiful to see the city from the water) and a bit of the tube. Robert is incredibly knowledgeable and funny and a really lovely person. One of the best tours I have ever taken. I highly recommend!
J. Burke –
I enjoyed this walk on April 12, 2025. Robert blends a great mix of deep historical anecdotes and topical current events to connect what happened long ago to what we see today. The multi-modal transport keeps this ‘walk’ lively, as we stroll, boat, and train over and under the Thames. What I love about London Walks is that the city’s countless nooks and crannies come alive with hidden history. It sometimes seems as if every brick has a backstory. This edition is no exception. What distinguishes this walk is it highlights the vital role the river played in London, and world, history. Highly recommended.
Eileen Stan –
A very well thought out and informative tour led by Robert Hulse. Robert was not only knowledgeable about the history along the Thames and the engineering accomplishments of Brunel but his delivery is humorous and fun. Ending the tour with lunch and a pint at the Mayflower Pub made it a perfect outing. This river/walking tour is highly recommended!
Diane Whiting –
Excellent morning today. Robert is very informative, very engaging and has a great sense of humour and his own brand of leitotes – he will doubtless explain this to the uninitiated. Rather than a simple boat trip along the river we also explored the history of Brunel via underground and overground. I learned more about the engineer than I had expected, all of it fascinating. The trip ended at the very evocative Mayflower pub where some of us including Robert had lunch together. A lovely man and a lovely ramble. Thank you so much.
Elizabeth McNally –
“I took this walk on Saturday, March 1st. It was fantastic! This is the best walk I have experienced in any city. Robert is a Professor! So passionate and knowledgeable. I feel he should be running a course (online, so I could take it …)
What a fabulous day. Thank you. Please let Robert know how much I appreciated and enjoyed that outing. I would do it again. Take joy.
Elizabeth McNally
Canada”
Kristine Duncan –
We really enjoyed this tour. It was a nice mix of sightseeing by boat and walking. The history was really interesting. We loved the Mayflower pub where the tour ended. The food is excellent. I definitely recommend this tour.
Rachel –
We were in London for a few days and did a number of guided tours with various organisations but this one was by far the best of them all! Our guide was Robert and he was not only a wealth of information, he was really funny too. We laughed a lot on the tour and I learnt so much about Brunel that I did not know. Robert’s acting past meant that the delivery of his tour was excellent – good, clear speaking voice and use of dramatic effect when telling the stories. It was great that there was a mixture of walking, boat trip and train on the tour. I would highly recommend this tour
Abe –
One of the greatest walking tours that I have ever taken. The tour guides of London Walks are the best tour guides out there. The tour guide Robert gave the most informative, passionate and interesting tour that I have taken with London Walks ( all of their guides are excellent) and I probably will re-book again with Robert if I ever make it back to London during the summer time just to get a different experience than you get during a cloudy and cold day.