With the summer holidays now underway, many of us are looking for things to do with the kids. This time last year when we were all cooped up at home so it’s great that we’re now able to organise and plan activities again during the school holidays and return to some semblance of “normal”.

A couple of weekends ago, we were invited to experience a boat tour on the Thames—but with a difference.

Horrible Histories Thames Tour

The boys are big fans of Horrible Histories, so they were rather excited to find out that we would be boarding a newly refurbished boat along Tower Bridge Quay to learn about the horrible history of the Thames.

Take a dive with Horrible Histories into the stories of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Boudicca, Jack the Ripper and Captain Kidd in this history of the Thames with the nasty bits left in!

The Horrible Histories Thames Tour lasts around 40-45 minutes and is led by two actors as teacher and pupil from both the Birmingham Stage Company and Woods Silver Fleet’s production based on the TV show of the same name, which was a massive success. The actors tell us stories and give us fun facts from historical characters as the boat sails along the Thames. It’s worth noting here that, unlike the Horrible Histories stage show, they do not dress up as historical figures to tell the stories. There were lots of belly laughs from M as there was talk of poo and wee, and he remembered a lot of the facts he learnt.

As you embark on a sensational sightseeing tour of the River Thames, you’ll see HMS Belfast, the Monument, London Bridge, The Globe, Westminster, and many more. You’ll also learn lots of fun facts about many of these world-famous London sights.

All ages are welcome aboard The Terrible Thames tour, but they say it’s probably best suited for children aged 5 and above. My boys are 8 and 11, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. The actors will have you clapping and singing by the end of your fun sightseeing tour of the Thames.

All in all, we enjoyed the experience, from cruising the Thames River to learning new historical facts about London and taking in the sights during the extremely engaging 45-minute tour – what’s not to love?

If you want to make a day of it, you could head to the Tower of London before or after your boat tour as it’s very close by.

Things to know before your visit

• Tour lasts around 40-45 minutes
• Departs from Tower Bridge Quay (not to be confused with Tower Pier). Follow signs to St Katherine’s Docks.
• There’s some audience participation (singing and clapping)
• Hand sanitisers on both upper and lower decks
• COVID-19 secure with enhanced cleaning measures in place
• Toilet facilities are available on the lower deck
• Head to St Katherine’s Dock if you fancy grabbing a bite to eat, as there are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from

Booking Tickets

Horrible Histories Thames Tour will have daily sailings from Execution Dock starting 17th July. Tickets start from £22 (Adult) £14 (Child), under 3’s are free. You can also buy a family ticket for this wonderfully entertaining way to tell incredible stories. Not only are you guaranteed a good time, but you get wonderful views thanks to an incredible immersive theatre experience. It is worth noting there are limited passenger numbers per trip, so booking in advance is advisable so as not to be disappointed.

Head over to the website to book and find out more www.terriblethames.com

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• Our GoBoat Adventure in London
• Review: Matilda The Musical

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