London New Year’s Eve Cruises 2026: Options & Tips

Watching the fireworks over the London Eye from a boat is one of the most memorable ways to welcome 2027. London’s New Year’s Eve cruises on 31 December 2026 range from a lively party with a DJ to a sit-down dinner with music and dancing. Some welcome children; others are strictly for adults. We have put the options in groups so you can find the one that suits your evening and your budget.

The boats sail past London’s illuminated landmarks before taking up a viewing position for midnight. Remember that the exact angle depends on other river traffic, weather and the tide. I would choose first by the atmosphere you want, then by the departure pier and whether food is included. A meal ashore followed by a cruise can be a particularly good option if you are travelling with children.

London New Year’s Eve cruises to watch the fireworks

A party or sightseeing cruise lets you focus on the Thames, London’s night-time skyline and the countdown, without paying for a formal dinner. You can eat earlier in the evening or choose a boat with snacks available. Boat names and boarding piers matter more than the word “cruise” on the ticket: allow enough time to get through the street closures and onto the pier.

Avontuur: DJ and drinks, adults only

If you want to dance into the new year, the Avontuur is one of the liveliest options. It has a dance floor, a DJ, a spacious saloon and an open top deck where you can watch the midnight display. Beer, wine, prosecco and soft drinks are included, while food can be purchased on board. This cruise is for guests aged 18 or over.

• Departure: Westminster Millennium Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH. Check-in from 8.15 pm; boarding at 8.45 pm and sailing at 9 pm.
• Return: Approximately 1 am to Westminster Millennium Pier.
• Good for: Friends and couples who want a party rather than a seated meal.
• Price shown for 2026: From £369 per person on the operator’s current listing.

London Rose: a second adults-only party choice

The London Rose combines a DJ, dancing and views from both its large upper deck and its lower deck. The two heated saloons make it easier to step inside between photographs. Beer, wine, prosecco and soft drinks are included; food is available for purchase. The event is strictly for over-18s.

• Departure: Westminster Millennium Pier. Check-in from 8.15 pm, boarding at 8.45 pm and departure at 9 pm.
• Return: Approximately 1 am to Westminster Pier.
• Good for: A party night with several areas to move between rather than a fixed table.
• Price shown for 2026: From £369 per person.

Galaxy: champagne, canapés and music

The Galaxy is a useful middle ground if you would like something to eat on board but do not want a full dinner. The 2026 cruise listing describes a roughly three-hour sailing with champagne, canapés, a live musician and a midnight fireworks view. On the current listing it starts from £379. Check its specific 31 December booking details for the boarding time and age policy before you buy.

Celestial: champagne hamper and a shorter evening

The Celestial is listed for approximately three and a half hours. A deluxe hamper with champagne, live music and a licensed bar make it a calmer option than a DJ party, while the boat has panoramic views. The current 2026 collection lists tickets from £390. City Cruises describes Celestial as one of its family-friendly boats; select the particular sailing and passenger ages on its cruise booking page before paying.

London New Year’s Eve dinner and fireworks cruises

If a long dinner, music and dancing are part of your ideal evening, book one of the dining boats. These are more expensive, but you can make dinner and the midnight view part of a single reservation. Think about dietary needs when you book; they are much easier to arrange in advance than once the boat has sailed.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise

Golden Tours’ 2026 selection includes an approximately five-hour dinner cruise with a three-course dinner, half a bottle of wine per person, champagne and music and dancing. It shows prices from £499. This suits visitors who want to be seated for a meal and then head out for the fireworks at midnight. Confirm the individual boat’s menu, age conditions and exact boarding point during booking.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Plus Cruise

For a longer dinner occasion, Dinner Plus includes champagne on boarding and again at midnight, a three-course meal followed by tea or coffee and petits fours, half a bottle of wine and water per person, plus a live band and dancing. A licensed cash bar is available. The current listing starts at £555 per person.

• Departure: Tower Pier, EC3N 4DT. Arrive before the 8.15 pm boarding; the boat leaves at 8.45 pm.
• Return: Approximately 1.15 am to Tower Pier.
• Dress: Smart casual on this sailing.

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Cruise

For a special occasion, City Cruises’ Gala Dinner takes place aboard the Diamond, with a limit of 150 guests. The evening includes champagne on arrival and at midnight, canapés, a four-course dinner, petits fours, wine, a live band and dancing. There is an open deck for the fireworks. The current booking page lists places from £629 per person; fares can change as the sailing fills.

This is an adults-only sailing with a semi-formal dress code; avoid jeans and trainers. Board at Tower Millennium Pier from 8 pm for an 8.30 pm departure, returning at approximately 1 am. If anyone in your group has dietary requirements, add them through the booking before the operator’s 96-hour deadline. Check the final menu and inclusions when you reserve.

Dinner at a restaurant and a New Year’s Eve Thames cruise

You can also have your main meal on land and then join a boat for the fireworks. We like this idea for families because children can eat earlier, and you have time to settle into the evening before the cruise. Allow a generous walk between restaurant and pier: road closures, queues and crowd barriers on New Year’s Eve can turn a short route on a normal day into a much longer one.

Doggett’s Coat and Badge plus Sapele: family-friendly

The 2026 Sapele package begins with a three-course dinner and welcome drink at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, SE1 9UD, at 5 pm. Afterwards you walk to Bankside Pier, SE1 9DT, where boarding begins at 9.30 pm for a 9.45 pm departure. On board there is live music and a bar that accepts cash; the boat returns to Bankside at around 1.15 am. Both adult and child tickets are offered, with adult tickets currently from £389.

This is one of the most straightforward choices for families because the meal and cruise are sold as a single package, and the departure time leaves plenty of room between dinner and the sailing. The booking includes the restaurant meal and cruise; extra drinks from the boat’s bar are separate. Contact the operator in advance for vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free meals. See the restaurant and pier walking route.

Choosing the right boat for your group

• With children: Sapele offers a confirmed family dinner plus cruise for this year. Celestial is presented as a family-friendly City Cruises option, but check the ages offered on its specific 2026 booking.
• For a lively party: Compare Avontuur and London Rose. Both sail from Westminster Pier at about 9 pm and are for adults only.
• For a meal on the boat: Dinner Cruise, Dinner Plus and Gala Dinner offer different levels of dining and entertainment. Decide whether a formal dinner is worth the extra cost to your group.
• For food without a full dinner: Galaxy includes canapés; Celestial offers a hamper.

Whichever boat you choose, check the departure pier on your actual ticket, your boarding time, what your price includes and the cancellation terms. Boats may return to a different part of the city from your hotel. Allow time to get away from the riverside after 1 am, and use TfL’s event travel page to plan your journey. The current 2026 cruise collection is a convenient way to compare the named boats.

London NYE on a speedboat

A high-speed Thames trip can be exciting at other times of year, and we have considered it for New Year’s Eve in the past. For this 2026 guide, choose one of the named, bookable 31 December sailings above if a midnight river view is the main reason for your trip; you can still take a Thames speedboat ride on another day of your visit.

Visit London at Christmas

Spending New Year’s Eve in London also gives you time to enjoy the city during the festive season. Take a walk through the Christmas lights, visit a market or skating rink, and use our London itineraries to plan the rest of your stay. If you prefer to watch from land, see our New Year’s Eve guide for fireworks viewing options and other ways to spend the evening.

Alberto & Amy

Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.