| Viewing London from Thames is the least | | | | beautiful buildings and sights from a |
| stressful way to travel in London and is | | | | completely different view. The tour |
| heap of fun. There are 9 piers from | | | | guide gives you loads of information |
| which to stop or start one's journey. | | | | about the buildings and views one pass. |
| These are: Hampton Court Pier, Richmond | | | | One of these tours goes to the London |
| Pier, Kew Pier, Putney Pier, Westminster | | | | Tower, a museum located at Tower Bridge. |
| Pier, Charing Cross Pier, Tower Pier, | | | | During this trip one canview several |
| Greenwich Pier and Thames Barrier Pier. | | | | well-known bridges, like Blackfriars |
| A visit to London is incomplete without | | | | Bridge, London Bridge and Tower Bridge. |
| a cruise along the Thames, either as an | | | | There are several famous and/or |
| introduction to the many sights and | | | | beautiful buildings (for instance the |
| scenes to be enjoyed during one's stay | | | | Royal Festival Hall, Shakespeare's globe |
| or as a treasured memory of one's visit. | | | | which was used by him as a theatre, the |
| All year round, there are that boat | | | | oldest pub of London and last but not |
| service leaves regularly from | | | | least the Tower of London), landmarks |
| Westminster Pier, passing historic and | | | | (like Cleopatra's Needle and the Oxo |
| modern places of interest. Over the | | | | tower) and wharves to be seen on the |
| centuries the river has brought life to | | | | way. One can view the HMS Belfast, a |
| London. Hustling boats, teeming | | | | naval ship that is used as a museum |
| wharves, trade and commerce at every | | | | nowadays. |
| turn. Reminders of days gone by are | | | | Another tour starts from Hampton Court, |
| still to be seen along the riverbanks. | | | | which has been the Royal residence for |
| The classic architecture of Greenwich | | | | centuries from the 16th century onwards. |
| contrasts with the modern style of | | | | The route this boat sails is the same as |
| Canary Wharf. | | | | the kings used to travel to Hampton |
| To travel by water is one of the easiest | | | | Court. There are several beautiful and |
| ways to get around London. At the time | | | | or famous buildings for instance Big |
| of the Romans until the 18th century | | | | Ben, Houses of Parliament and Lambeth |
| there was only one bridge across the | | | | Palace. One passes several well known |
| Thames, and naturally it was clogged | | | | bridges like Westminster Bridge, Lambeth |
| with traffic. It was quicker and easier | | | | Bridge and Hammersmith Bridge. Going |
| to hire water boats to carry travelers | | | | through two locks through a boat is |
| from one bank to the other, or up and | | | | quite an experience in itself. |
| down the Thames. | | | | One prominent feature is the further |
| The early 19th century saw a | | | | away one comes away from the centre of |
| proliferation of canals built into and | | | | London, the more expensive the houses |
| around London, usually for goods | | | | became. There are also more and more |
| transport. These canals fell out of | | | | yachts which slowly became more |
| service as rail transport became a | | | | expensive too. Around Kew and Richmond |
| viable option, but now they offer a | | | | there was number of expensive yachts |
| relaxing way to travel about the city. | | | | vying with each other. |
| Along river Thames one can find several | | | | The best part of tour was the natural |
| tour boat operators, where one can buy | | | | scenery. Sometimes it looked that one |
| tickets for a sightseeing tour on the | | | | was not in London anymore. There was |
| river. These tours are recommended | | | | nothing but peace and quietness all |
| because one travel on the beautiful | | | | around and all one could hear was the |
| river Thames and see London and its | | | | pounding of the boat itself. |