An historic day out on The Thames

Tower of London

You’ll get a thousand years of London history in one day out at the Tower of London (nearest pier: Tower Bridge Quay). The iconic White Tower was constructed in the 1080s by William the Conqueror and the complex was expanded and used as a royal palace until the Tudor period, when it became more famous as a prison – surprisingly it was still used as a jail until the early 1950s, and the infamous Kray twins were amongst the last ever people to be held there – they were detained for a few days in 1952 for avoiding National Service.

This summer, you can join in a live theatrical performance around one of the Tower’s most famous prisoners, Anne Boleyn. Detailing her imprisonment, trial and execution, The Last Days of Anne Boleyn is a 35 minute outdoor performance suitable for all ages.

Circular Cruises has a Tower of London special offer – by booking your tickets for both, you can save money on ToL entry and a massive 50% off Circular Cruise tickets. Click here for more details.

Cleopatra’s Needle

By taking a Circular Cruises boat along the River Thames, you’ll get to see plenty of historic sites, such as Cleopatra’s Needle (nearest pier: Embankment). The obelisk is a 3,500 year old Egyptian relic that was brought to England in 1878 to celebrate Britain’s victory over Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Alexandria. Crowd-funded by the British public, it was transported in a specially-built container ship and nearly didn’t make it. Set adrift in a storm around the Bay of Biscay, in which six crew members drowned, it was only saved by the buoyancy of the container. The names of the lost crew members are commemorated in a plaque at the base of the needle.

The Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre (nearest pier: Bankside) is simultaneously old and new! The current theatre, opened in 1997, is a replica of the early 17th Century theatre that introduced Shakespeare to the world, giving audiences a taste of the performances enjoyed by Elizabethan audiences, but with the advantage of all mod cons! If you don’t fancy going to a performance, you can always opt for a guided tour.

The Houses of Parliament

Learn more about the history of British government by taking a guided tour of the historic buildings that make up the Houses of Parliament (nearest pier: Westminster). Check the website for opening times as the tours do not take place on Sundays or whenever Parliament is sitting.

HMS Belfast

If you’re interested in the Second World War, visit HMS Belfast (nearest pier: Tower Bridge Quay). Get a glimpse of what life was like on a Royal Navy warship and find out the important role the ship played in the Allies victory.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge (nearest pier: Tower Bridge Quay) is one of the world’s most recognisable historic bridges and is well worth a visit. All our cruises pass underneath it so if you want to see what the bridge looks like from below, hop on a Circular Cruise boat!

Click here to book your Circular Cruise hop-on hop-off tickets and enjoy cruising past 1,000 years of history!