London: Christmas Party Lunch Cruise

London’s Christmas lights, famous bridges, and riverside landmarks provide the backdrop for this three-hour Christmas lunch cruise from Westminster to Canary Wharf. You sit down to salmon and prawn, roast turkey with trimmings, and a festive chocolate dessert while a live vocalist supplies the music.

I like the welcome glass of sparkling wine and the fact that tea and coffee are included, keeping the $101 price from feeling like an entry fee with lots of extras to buy. I also like the chance to see the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge from the water without changing trains or walking between sights.

The main drawback is the seating. Tables hold 10 people, and the close bench-style arrangement can make it awkward to get up or chat across your own group. This is a party lunch first and a sightseeing cruise second.

Key points to know before booking

• Westminster to Canary Wharf and back: The boat follows a useful central London stretch of the Thames, passing major sights without stopping.
• A full festive meal: Expect salmon and prawn, roast turkey with the usual trimmings, and a chocolate dessert, plus tea and coffee.
• Live music and dancing: A vocalist performs festive songs, and the atmosphere can build into a proper Christmas party.
• Adults only: The cruise is not suitable for children under 18.
• Tables of 10: Smaller bookings share a table, with seats close together and limited room to move.
• Smart-casual dress: Festive clothing fits the occasion, but you do not need formal evening wear.

A Christmas party with London outside the windows

This experience works best when you think of it as a floating Christmas lunch, not as a guided tour of London. You get a moving view of the city, but no guide commentary or scheduled stops at the landmarks. The focus is food, music, drinks, and time with friends.

The boat leaves from City Cruises Westminster Pier on Victoria Embankment. Staff direct you to the correct boarding point, which matters because Westminster Pier serves several river services. Allow enough time to find the pier and board without rushing into lunch.

Once aboard, you receive a glass of sparkling wine. It is a small touch, but it sets the tone quickly. You are not waiting for the meal to begin in a quiet dining room. The festive mood starts as soon as the boat leaves Westminster.

The cruise lasts three hours and returns to the same pier. That gives you a relaxed stretch of time for lunch, music, conversation, and photos. It also means you do not need to arrange a separate return journey from Canary Wharf.

Westminster Pier gives you a strong starting point

Westminster is one of the most recognizable points on the Thames, with the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye nearby. The boat’s departure area places you right in the middle of central London, so this cruise can fit neatly into a day of Christmas shopping or sightseeing.

As the boat moves away from Westminster, you get an early look at the London Eye from the river. Its large circular frame is easy to spot, and a river view gives you a different angle from the usual photos taken on the South Bank.

The cruise does not stop at the London Eye. It simply passes by, so keep your camera ready and use the outdoor or upper deck when you want a clear picture. The boat itself gives you shelter and a seat, while the upper deck gives you the best chance of avoiding window reflections.

This is one of the experience’s practical strengths. You can see several headline sights while remaining in one place, with lunch served at your table. The tradeoff is that every view is brief. If you want detailed information about Westminster or the London Eye, plan a separate visit.

The meal is the heart of the afternoon

The festive menu follows a familiar Christmas pattern. Your starter is salmon and prawn, followed by traditional roast turkey with the usual trimmings. Dessert is a festive chocolate dish, and tea or coffee is included.

The food has received some of the strongest praise in the available feedback. One detailed account described the dinner as hot, plentiful, and good quality. That is important on a lunch cruise, where a cold or skimpy meal would quickly spoil the occasion.

You should still set your expectations correctly. This is a set three-course party meal, not a restaurant where you choose each course from a broad menu. If you have food allergies, dietary restrictions, or strong dislikes, the supplied information does not provide alternative menu details, so check before booking.

The meal also affects how much sightseeing you can do. You will spend part of the cruise seated at the table while the boat passes the sights. That is the point of the experience: a meal with views, rather than a sightseeing boat that happens to serve snacks.

Tea and coffee are included, but additional drinks are not. There is a licensed bar on board, so you can order more wine, beer, or other available drinks as you go. Keep an eye on the tab. One account specifically found the wine expensive, and another wished more staff had been available to take drink orders while meals were being served.

Music changes the mood from lunch to party

A live vocalist performs festive music during the cruise. The music is not just background sound. It is central to the experience, especially after the meal when dancing begins.

The singer received warm praise for having a strong voice, and the entertainment helped turn one cruise into a full dance-floor party. The atmosphere may depend on the group aboard that day, though. When only a few people are on the boat, the room can feel quiet and the party spirit may take longer to catch on.

That is a useful warning. You cannot book this expecting the same energy as a packed nightclub. The cruise provides the singer, music, dance floor, and festive setting, but the crowd supplies much of the enthusiasm.

If you and your group enjoy joining in, the atmosphere can become lively. If you prefer a calm meal, you can remain seated and treat the music as entertainment rather than a demand to dance. The format allows both, at least in theory.

The tables are close together, and smaller bookings share with other people. That can help the room feel social, but it may not suit you if you want a private Christmas meal. You should be ready to share a table of 10 and work around the people seated beside you.

The Thames views come in a steady sequence

The route heads east from Westminster toward Canary Wharf before returning to Westminster Pier. The listed sights are all pass-by points, so you do not leave the boat at any of them.

The London Eye

The London Eye appears early in the route, close to the departure area. From the river, its scale is clear, and the view works well for a quick photo. You will not have time to study it in detail, but the cruise gives you a clean overview without joining the ride queue.

The Shard

The Shard rises sharply above the surrounding city, making it easy to spot from the Thames. Its glass profile looks particularly striking from the water, where you can see how it towers over the nearby buildings.

This is a good example of the cruise’s value. You are not paying for access to the viewing platform, but you do get a changing city view as the boat moves past. Bring a phone or camera, and head to the upper deck when the boat approaches the best angles.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London provides one of the route’s strongest historical views. From the water, its position beside the Thames makes practical sense: the river was central to the fortress’s defenses, access, and daily life.

The boat only passes the Tower, so do not expect a visit to the grounds or an explanation of its rooms and exhibits. Think of this as a preview. If you want the full experience, return another day and allow several hours.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is probably the route’s most useful photo stop, even though the boat does not stop. Its twin towers and high walkway are easy to frame from the river, and passing beneath or near the bridge gives you an angle that street-level photos cannot match.

The upper deck is the place to be for pictures with friends. Have your camera ready before the boat reaches the bridge, since the best view does not last long. Winter weather can make the upper deck cold, so bring a coat even if you plan to eat indoors.

Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf marks the eastern end of the route. Its tall modern buildings create a sharp contrast with the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You see two sides of London in one cruise: old river defenses and historic bridges, followed by a district known for glass towers and offices.

There is no stop or shore visit at Canary Wharf. The boat turns back toward Westminster, giving you a second chance to enjoy the river views from a different angle.

What the seating is really like

Bookings of fewer than 10 people share a table. Tables are positioned close together, which helps create a communal Christmas setting but leaves little spare space.

The bench-style seating deserves special attention. One person found that getting up required asking several people to slide out. That can make it hard to move around, visit the bar, or talk with friends seated elsewhere in your group.

If you are booking for a group, keep this in mind when deciding who should attend. The arrangement may work well for people happy to settle in for the meal and entertainment. It may frustrate you if you expect to circulate freely or move between seats.

The seating also makes the experience more social with strangers. You might share conversation with people at your table, but you should not count on having a private space for your group.

Is $101 good value?

At $101 per person, the price covers the three-hour Thames cruise, welcome sparkling wine, a three-course festive lunch, tea and coffee, and live music with dancing. That is a fair package if you want a ready-made Christmas outing with food and entertainment in one booking.

The value is strongest when you would otherwise pay separately for a Christmas meal, a river cruise, and live entertainment. You also save the effort of arranging transport between several central London sights.

The value is weaker if you mainly want landmark sightseeing. The boat passes the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf, but it does not stop and does not provide a detailed commentary. For that purpose, a dedicated sightseeing cruise or a land-based visit would suit you better.

Budget extra money for drinks from the licensed bar. The welcome sparkling wine is included, but additional drinks cost more, and wine may feel expensive. You may also want to budget for a taxi or other transport after the cruise if you are heading somewhere outside central London, though the boat returns to Westminster Pier.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would choose this for an adult group looking for a festive social event rather than a formal meal or serious history lesson. It suits friends, colleagues, and couples who enjoy music, shared tables, Christmas food, and the option to dance.

It is also a good fit if you want a simple way to see major riverside sights without spending the day walking. The route delivers plenty of photo opportunities, and the three-hour timing gives the afternoon a clear shape.

You should look elsewhere if you want a quiet, private table, a flexible menu, extensive sightseeing commentary, or easy movement around the boat. Children under 18 cannot join, and the close seating may not suit everyone.

Dress smart-casual with a festive touch. You do not need to treat this like a black-tie dinner, but jeans and sportswear may feel out of place in the Christmas setting.

Should you book the Christmas Party Lunch Cruise?

Book it if you want a Christmas party that happens to cruise past London’s landmarks. The hot three-course meal, welcome sparkling wine, live vocalist, and chance to dance give the afternoon more character than a standard sightseeing boat.

Skip it if your main goal is to learn about London’s history or explore the sights at your own pace. The cruise offers a pleasant overview, but the landmarks are scenery between courses rather than the main event.

My practical advice is to book with the right group, arrive ready for shared seating, and keep your expectations focused on lunch and entertainment. With that mindset, $101 buys a convenient and festive afternoon on the Thames. Just remember that the party mood depends partly on the people aboard, and the bar bill is extra.

FAQ

Where does the Christmas lunch cruise depart from?

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

How long does the cruise last?

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

What food is included?

The meal includes a salmon and prawn starter, roast turkey with traditional trimmings, and a festive chocolate dessert. Tea and coffee are also included.

Is sparkling wine included?

Yes. You receive one welcome glass of sparkling wine. Additional drinks are not included, but a licensed bar is available on board.

Are children allowed on the cruise?

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

What should I wear?

A smart-casual or festive dress code applies. Tables seat 10 people, and bookings of fewer than 10 share a table with other people.