The UK’s First Electric Tour Boat Is Coming To The Thames

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Eco tourism is winding its way through London

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It’s time for a new chapter in the River Thames’ storied history: the UK’s first electric tour boat is coming to the capital, with Woods’ Tours welcoming passengers aboard for The Tower of London River Tour from 2025. Here’s what you need to know.

London’s First Electric Tour Boat Is Coming

Boats have bobbed along London’s stretch of the River Thames for centuries. Before today’s many bridges transported locals from the north to the south of the city (and back again), and long before the Underground served as the city’s main mode of transport, watermen would fetch passengers from one side to the other.

London Bridge – which connects the City to Southwark – has stood in various forms from as early as 50 AD, when the Romans founded Londinium. It was the only bridge to cross the Thames in London proper for many years, until Putney Bridge was built in 1729, joined by Westminster Bridge in 1750, Battersea Bridge in 1771, Waterloo Bridge in 1817, and so on. Before all of these bridges sprung up, the wherry (a small wooden rowing boat) was the best way to traverse the murky waters. And while fewer people use boats to get from one side of the Thames to the other, plenty of passengers still use the Thames to travel across the city today.

Starting a new chapter in the Thames’ storied history is Woods’ Silver Fleet, which is currently constructing the Thames’ very-first zero emissions tourist vessel at Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall. The boat – a 39-metre long vessel called Thames Explorer – will take up to 250 passengers on The Tower of London River Tour in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces (with up to 500,000 passengers per year). The circular tour will start and end at Tower Bridge Quay, absorbing iconic sights old and new including the Palace of Westminster, Tate Modern, London Eye, Traitor’s Gate and Tower Bridge across a 40-minute journey. Meanwhile, British actor Martha Howe-Douglas (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) will narrate the journey, sharing facts and wry British humour from a script developed in partnership with leading historians to bring ancient London to life.

‘We are delighted to be partnering with Woods Tours on the first official Tower of London river tour,’ shares Andrew Jackson CBE, Governor of the Tower of London. ‘For centuries, some of the most famous Kings and Queens in our nation’s history approached the Tower by boat. Now, even more visitors will be able to experience a unique view of the Tower from the Thames, discovering more about the history of this remarkable place throughout their journey. We look forward to sharing the story with them!’

Tower of London with a boat on the Thames

(Daniel Sikpi/Pexels)

The news comes from a trusted company: the Woods family has been building sightseeing vessels on the Thames for more than a century. Best known for its private charter events, recent clients on its river yachts include Google, Net-A-Porter and Lamborghini.

‘This new vessel represents the bridge between the past and the future of river tourism, building on the generations of experience the Woods family have operating on the river whilst striving to lead the industry’s push towards sustainability,’ says Chris Kangis, CEO of Woods Tours. ‘We are delighted to partner with Historic Royal Palaces for the Tower of London River Tour. The Tower of London is one of the most significant London landmarks on the river and the perfect match for the tour.’

A first of its kind in the UK, the ships harness developments in ultra light weight aluminium design and construction technology. Woods’ innovative boats will be battery powered, and rapidly charged up between each tour using a two megawatt shore charging facility, itself fueled renewably. With a clean and contemporary design, the ships will draw on 1920s and ‘30s style to offer awning-shaded decks and single deck panoramic views, with a bespoke wool woven carpet from Kidderminster looms underfoot and upholstered leather chairs to sit on. Because the ship is newly-built, passengers can expect full 21st century accessibility, as well as LED lighting and a high-tech sound system, all hand-built by Pendennis’ team.

‘The start of the Thames Explorer project has been an exciting period for the yard and all the team involved,’ says Toby Allies, managing director at Pendennis. ‘The aluminium construction specified on the project is all in-house, providing a perfect backdrop for some of our more experienced team members to transfer their skills and knowledge to a whole new generation of fabricators.’

‘The client’s requirement for the vessel is also for it to be fully battery-powered, advancing our own in-house capabilities in this area that in turn will transfer to other market sectors that we operate in,’ Allies adds.