Image courtesy of Jepoirrier

Options are something you’ll never be short off if you set aside time to discover London. No two London days and London nights are the same and the part the River Thames plays in it making it such a tourist-friendly city should not be underestimated.

There’s a definite feeling of mystery and intrigue that surrounds the Thames itself, which is over 200-miles long in its entirety. A range of activities can be enjoyed on or near it, including canoeing, fishing, rowing or sailing, although in central London you’re much likely to just sit back and enjoy one of the many leisure cruises that are continually traveling between Westminster Bridge and the O2 Arena, or the Millennium Dome as it was formally known.

Some of the most iconic landmarks in the world can be found on the banks of the River Thames, making a nice relaxing ride on the water a real must. Now, there’s plenty of different companies offering various different deals if you fancy taking a trip on the water. For the best value for money and to ensure you get good value for your hard-earned cash, it’s worth going with one of the many sightseeing firms that also offer an open-top bus ride and walking tours as well as the river cruise. It enhances the overall experience and means that in one action-packed day you’ll learn all about London’s rich history and heritage.

Imagine a scenario where you spend the morning floating effortlessly down the Thames taking in the sights and sounds of ‘Big Ben’, the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Canary Wharf. Then, in the afternoon, you hop on board an open-top bus and cross over the Thames at regular intervals to see the likes of St Paul’s Cathedral, Fleet Street, Globe Theatre, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Downing Street. That’s pretty much all the major attractions ticked off in the space of a few short hours and all without having to trudge around tiringly on foot.

Staying on the Thames, HMS Belfast is a floating museum located between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Get a feel for what it was actually like for those people that lived and served on this warship during the Second World War and Korean War and explore the nine decks. There’s all sort of interactive displays and exhibitions to keep people of all ages happy for hours on end.

Venture a little down the Thames to find the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. This is the world’s largest museum of its kind and contains all sorts of nautical paraphernalia, as well as the Royal Observatory, London’s only planetarium. Find out everything you need to know about the solar system and do a spot of star gazing yourself.

That’s a flavour of the type of things waiting in store for you to see and do on or near the River Thames on your next trip to London.

Lifecruiser ♥ London nights