Small Boats for Hire in London

So you’ve decided to start looking around for a small boat for hire in London? There are a few things to keep in mind before you book to ensure you maximise the best possible service for your money:

• Passenger limit – As you can imagine, most small private boats on the Thames have a strict passenger limit. This is usually between 20 and 35 guests per session, so plan accordingly.
• Cruise purpose – There are a variety of services offered by boat venues in London so you should pick one based on the goal for your cruise. If you just want to enjoy the view, then ensure you book a boat that can accommodate passengers on deck in comfort. Dinner cruise? Ensure that it has dining facilities on board! A boat party? Make sure to check the boat's party rules before you book. And if you are planning a Christmas party cruise, check the available dates at least a few months in advance.  

Now that you’ve officially decided that yes, hiring a small private boat on the Thames is the way to go, let us have a look at the price. These vary based on services offered onboard as well as the purpose of the cruise, but there are some general baselines to keep in mind:

• If you’re looking to hire a small private boat on the Thames for a cruise, you’re going to be looking at a roughly £2000 minimum spend (where you pay nothing to hire the boat itself but agree to spend a set amount on food and drinks)or a £1200 hire fee with food and drinks added on separately as it would be at a typical restaurant or bar!
• If instead, your interest leans more towards sharing a good meal and drinks on the water (rather than cruising up and down the Thames), you’ll often find more flexible pricing options. Flat hire fees typically range around £500, minimum spend remains at around £2000, and per-person pricing is typically around £35 per head.