London: Dinner Cruise with Elvis Tribute on the Thames River

An Elvis show on a London dinner boat is a wonderfully specific night out. You get two live sets from Matt King, a European Elvis tribute champion, while the Thames carries you past some of the city’s best-known sights. It is part sightseeing, part supper, and part singalong.

I like the simple evening plan: a glass of sparkling wine on boarding, dinner while the boat moves, then music that gets people out of their seats. I also like that the performance is not just background music. Matt King is the main event, and the singing and dancing give the cruise a proper sense of occasion.

The main caution is value. At about $123 per person, this is more costly than a standard river cruise, and drinks beyond the included sparkling wine cost extra. The food is serviceable rather than the reason to book, and the evening may finish a little short of the advertised three hours.

Key details before you book

• Matt King performs two live Elvis sets, drawing on his championship performances in the 2015 and 2016 European Championships.
• Boarding begins at 7:45PM, with a glass of sparkling wine included when you arrive.
• Dinner is a three-course meal, followed by tea or coffee, though service of the final drink may not always be prompt.
• The cruise heads toward Tower Bridge, giving you moving views of London from the Thames.
• Elvis-themed music continues after the show, so you can dance instead of simply watching from your table.
• Children under 13 are not permitted, making this a better fit for an adult evening out.

What this Thames Elvis cruise is really like

This is not a quiet sightseeing cruise with a pianist in the corner. The evening is built around entertainment. You board the river boat, settle in with sparkling wine, and watch London pass by as the night develops into a live tribute show.

That mix matters. A concert in a theater gives you a better view of the performer, while a regular dinner cruise gives you more attention to the skyline. Here, you get a little of both. The boat gives the night movement and atmosphere, while Matt King supplies the focus.

I would choose this experience for a celebration, a date, or an evening when you want something more memorable than a standard meal. If you mainly want quiet views and a refined dinner, this may feel too lively. If you enjoy Elvis, old-school rock and roll, and dancing, the format makes good sense.

The overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 43 reviews, which fits the experience’s strongest feature: the entertainment. The singing and audience participation carry the evening, while the food and drinks are useful parts of the package rather than its star attractions.

Boarding at 7:45PM with sparkling wine

Boarding begins at 7:45PM. The included glass of sparkling wine gives you an easy start while you get acquainted with the boat and the plan for the night.

This first drink is a small but useful touch. It means you are not immediately reaching for your wallet after stepping aboard, and it helps set a celebratory mood before dinner. Extra drinks are not included, so keep in mind that the bar bill can add up. One person specifically found the drinks expensive, a fair warning if you plan to order several.

The supplied information does not give a precise departure pier or a detailed boarding procedure, so check the current booking details carefully before setting out. The important timing point is clear: you need to be ready for the 7:45PM boarding window.

I would arrive with enough time to find the meeting point without rushing. An evening cruise has a fixed departure, and arriving late is more stressful than it is for a flexible restaurant reservation.

Moving along the Thames toward Tower Bridge

Once on board, the boat heads along the Thames toward Tower Bridge. You get a changing view rather than a single photo stop, with the city skyline forming the backdrop to dinner and music.

The value of the river setting is not only the sightseeing. London looks different from the water. You are not crossing streets or moving from one attraction to the next. You can sit with your meal, look out toward the city, and let the changing view fill the spaces between songs.

Tower Bridge is the clearest named point on the route. The general promise is a cruise past London’s top landmarks, but the exact route and the timing of individual views are not specified. I would treat the sightseeing as an attractive part of the evening, not as a substitute for a dedicated landmark cruise.

That distinction helps set expectations. If your main goal is to photograph every major London sight, book a sightseeing cruise designed around that purpose. Here, the skyline supports the dinner and show. You may get memorable views, but your attention will also be on the stage and the people around you.

A three-course dinner while the boat is moving

The package includes a three-course dinner followed by tea or coffee. That gives you a full evening meal without needing to arrange a separate restaurant booking before or after the cruise.

The meal has received mixed but generally acceptable feedback. I would describe it as better than expected for some diners, but not the reason to pay the full price. One useful criticism is that a choice of dishes and advance ordering would improve the experience. The supplied details do not list the courses or menu choices, so you should not book this expecting to select from a broad restaurant-style menu.

That lack of menu information may matter if you have strong food preferences. The meal is part of the package, but the available facts do not confirm specific vegetarian, vegan, allergy, or dietary arrangements. If that affects your booking, ask City Cruises Limited before paying.

Tea or coffee is meant to follow dinner. One diner felt this final drink was not offered clearly enough, so I would not assume the coffee service will be the most polished part of the night. It is a small point, but after a three-course dinner, a hot drink helps bring the meal to a proper close.

The best way to judge the meal is as part of a moving entertainment evening. You are paying for dinner, the cruise, the included sparkling wine, and live music. If you compare the plate alone with a $123 restaurant meal, the value will look weak. If you want a complete night with transport, views, and a show built into one booking, the price becomes easier to understand.

Matt King’s two Elvis sets

Matt King is the key reason to book this particular cruise. He is described as an award-winning Elvis tribute artist and a European Championships winner in both 2015 and 2016.

You get two sets during the cruise, rather than one brief appearance. That gives the performance enough room to become the center of the evening, with dinner and the river views providing the setting around it.

A good tribute show depends on more than a costume. The appeal here is the close-up performance, familiar songs, and the chance to sing along. The strongest feedback focuses on the way Matt King keeps people involved. The result is less like passive background entertainment and more like a shared party.

I would especially recommend it if you already know the songs. You will get more from the set if you are happy singing along, clapping, and joining the mood around you. The experience is not aimed at people who want an understated concert. It is designed for a room that may grow louder and more energetic as the night progresses.

The word tribute is important. You are not seeing Elvis Presley, of course. You are seeing a professional performer recreating the style and songs associated with him. For fans, that is the point. For anyone indifferent to Elvis, the whole evening may feel narrowly themed.

Dancing after dinner and between songs

Elvis-themed music continues until the end of the cruise, with dancing encouraged. This is one of the more distinctive parts of the package because it turns the boat into a moving dance floor after the meal.

The dancing also helps explain why the age limit is set at 13 and above. This is intended as an evening entertainment event, not a family sightseeing trip. Children under 13 are not suitable for this activity.

You should expect the atmosphere to be social and participatory. The strongest praise goes to the way the music gets people singing and dancing, so I would not choose a table at the edge of the evening expecting everyone to remain seated and quiet.

At the same time, the exact dance-floor arrangement is not provided. The space available on a river boat can affect how much dancing is possible, especially if many people join in. Think of dancing as part of the atmosphere rather than a formal dance lesson or a large club-style floor.

How the three hours are divided

The advertised duration is three hours. In practical terms, the evening includes boarding, sparkling wine, the cruise itself, dinner, two performance sets, and Elvis music through the end.

That is a full night, but it does not mean three uninterrupted hours of entertainment. Time is shared among boarding, meal service, scenery, live music, and dancing. This is normal for a dinner cruise, yet it is worth knowing if you are comparing the experience with a concert.

One person felt the boat ran closer to two hours and 40 minutes and that departure at the end felt rushed. I would leave a little flexibility in your plans after the advertised finish rather than arranging an immediate pickup. The information supplied does not give an exact return time, so do not build a tight connection around the three-hour figure.

The schedule also affects the views. Since boarding begins at 7:45PM, much of the cruise takes place in the evening. You may see London lit up rather than in full daylight, which suits the music and dinner but gives you a different experience from a daytime sightseeing trip.

Is $123 a fair price?

At $123 per person, this is not a bargain dinner. It is a packaged night out with several parts included:

• A three-hour Thames cruise
• One glass of sparkling wine
• A three-course dinner
• Tea or coffee after dinner
• Two sets by Matt King
• Elvis-themed music for dancing

I see the value most clearly when you want all those pieces in one booking. You do not need to plan a separate meal, concert, and river cruise. The setting also gives the evening more character than a standard tribute show in a fixed venue.

The price is harder to justify if you care most about food quality or drinks. The meal is considered good enough by some but improvable by others, and extra drinks are not included. A few rounds at the bar could make the final cost noticeably higher.

My advice is to decide what you are really buying. You are buying an Elvis-centered experience with a Thames backdrop, not a luxury dining cruise. Fans of the music are likely to see more value than people choosing it only for the meal.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the cruise to:

• Couples looking for a lively evening out
• Elvis fans who want a full tribute performance
• Visitors who like combining sightseeing with entertainment
• Groups happy to sing, clap, and dance
• Adults marking a birthday or another special occasion

I would be more cautious if you want a quiet meal, an extensive menu, or a carefully timed sightseeing route. The cruise is also not suitable for children under 13.

People with dietary needs should check ahead because no menu details or special-meal arrangements are provided here. The same applies if you expect a choice of main courses. The available information confirms a three-course dinner, but not the menu format.

Practical tips for a smoother evening

Plan around the 7:45PM boarding time and allow room for delays on your way to the meeting point. The boat has a fixed schedule, so this is not the kind of activity where you can casually arrive after dinner begins.

Budget for drinks beyond the included sparkling wine. The bar is fully stocked, but only the first glass is part of the package. If you want to keep spending under control, decide in advance how much you are comfortable ordering.

Keep your expectations focused on the show. Matt King’s performance, the singalong mood, and the river setting are the strongest reasons to choose this night. The dinner is useful and generally acceptable, but it may not satisfy someone seeking a high-end meal.

Finally, do not arrange a ride that depends on a precise three-hour finish. The advertised duration is three hours, but one account found the evening shorter and felt the end was rushed. A little breathing room will make the night easier.

Should you book the London Elvis dinner cruise?

Book it if you want a lively Elvis tribute with dinner and London views in one evening. Matt King’s two sets and the chance to dance give this cruise a clear identity, while the Thames setting keeps it from feeling like an ordinary tribute concert.

Skip it if your priorities are a quiet dinner, a detailed landmark tour, or excellent restaurant food. At $123, the cruise makes the most sense for Elvis fans and anyone who values the complete evening more than any single part of it.

FAQ

How long is the London Elvis dinner cruise?

The advertised duration is three hours.

When does boarding begin?

Boarding begins at 7:45PM.

Who performs the Elvis tribute?

Matt King performs two sets as the Elvis tribute artist. He is described as an award-winning performer and a European Championships winner in 2015 and 2016.

Is dinner included?

Yes. The package includes a three-course dinner followed by tea or coffee.

Is sparkling wine included?

Yes. One glass of sparkling wine is included.

Are additional drinks included?

No. Extra drinks are not included in the price.

Can I dance during the cruise?

Yes. Elvis-themed music is played for dancing until the end of the cruise.

Which London sight is specifically included on the route?

The cruise heads toward Tower Bridge and also offers views of London’s skyline and other top landmarks.

Are children allowed on the cruise?

Children under 13 are not permitted.

What language is the experience offered in?

The host or greeter and the activity are in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to three days in advance for a full refund.