The official Tower of London River Tour has launched a dedicated offering for education groups, including schools, colleges, universities, Scouting and Guiding groups, combining reduced group rates with learning resources designed to bring London’s rich history and heritage to life on the River Thames.
To make educational visits to the capital more accessible, engaging and rewarding, group rates start from just £9.99 per pupil, complemented by a collection of free downloadable worksheets linked to the National Curriculum in England, covering Key Stages 1 to 4. The tour’s new schools webpage provides information to help teachers and group leaders plan their visit, access the learning resources and make a booking enquiry.
Operating in official partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, the charity responsible for the Tower of London, the 40-minute experience combines entertaining live historical storytelling with spectacular views of more than 20 London landmarks, all aboard Silver Raven, Britain’s first purpose-built electric sightseeing tour boat.
Departing from Tower Bridge Quay, just moments from the Tower of London, the circular journey travels along the Thames towards Westminster and back, passing Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. For pupils, it offers a remarkable opportunity to see how the Thames has shaped London over centuries, connecting the stories of monarchs, merchants, prisoners and ordinary Londoners with the growth of one of the world’s great cities.
A new way to explore London’s history
At the heart of the Tower of London River Tour is a lively and entertaining historical narration written by Martha Howe-Douglas, co-creator and star of the BBC’s award-winning comedy ‘Ghosts’, whose passion for history and distinctive humour bring London’s past vividly to life.
Touching on everything from royal intrigue and daring escapes from the Tower of London to secret messages written in invisible ink, the Great Fire of London and stories behind the capital’s bridges, the narration introduces pupils to some of the fascinating people, places and events that shaped the city.
For pupils, the experience provides an opportunity to see familiar historical landmarks in context, spark curiosity and make connections with subjects studied in the classroom.
Martha Howe-Douglas says: “I’ve been on a deep dive through the Thames’ murky past (thankfully not literally!), unearthing the stories that have shaped London. To see the Silver Raven set sail from the Tower, carrying those tales into the future, is very special. It’s such an honour to be part of the brilliant team who are bringing the past to life, on a boat designed for the future.”
London’s floating classroom: free learning resources for Key Stages 1 to 4
To help teachers make the most of their visit, the Tower of London River Tour has developed a collection of free downloadable educational worksheets, specifically designed for different age groups and linked to the National Curriculum in England.
Drawing on stories featured during the tour, the resources explore London’s history through four different themes:
KS1: River Detectives
KS2: Thames Time Travellers
KS3: Power, Protest and the River
KS4: History on Trial
From Roman London and Tudor monarchs to the Great Fire and the changing role of the River Thames, the worksheets combine historical facts with questions, investigations and activities designed to inspire curiosity, encourage discussion and develop historical understanding.
The resources can be used before a visit to introduce key themes, during the journey to encourage observation and discovery, and afterwards to extend learning back in the classroom.
All four worksheets are available to download free of charge from the tour’s new dedicated schools page, which also provides practical information to help teachers plan their visits.
See more of London in just 40 minutes
Designed to complement an educational visit to the capital, the Tower of London River Tour offers a practical and memorable way to explore some of London’s most important historical sites without travelling between individual attractions. Departing from and returning to Tower Bridge Quay, the experience is particularly convenient for groups combining the tour with a visit to the Tower of London.
Aboard Silver Raven, pupils and teachers can enjoy panoramic views from spacious indoor and outdoor viewing areas, with the vessel’s quiet electric motors creating a comfortable environment for listening to the live narration and taking in the sights. The tour also provides a welcome opportunity to sit down between other educational activities, while continuing to explore the capital’s extraordinary history.
Accessibility has been an important consideration in the design of the experience, with leading accessibility experts Nimbus consulted to help make the tour as welcoming and accessible as possible. Schools are encouraged to discuss individual requirements with the team ahead of their visit.
Where London’s past meets its future
The educational experience also introduces pupils to a pioneering example of British engineering. Silver Raven, the UK’s first purpose-built electric sightseeing tour boat, is a 39-metre catamaran built in Cornwall by world-renowned superyacht specialists Pendennis Shipyard. The vessel was designed by the Woods family, whose connection to the Thames stretches back five generations to the 1800s, in collaboration with leading naval architects.
Silver Raven’s innovative electric propulsion also provides a starting point for discussions about sustainable transport, advances in marine engineering and the future of tourism on the Thames.
Speaking about the launch, Lee Stupple, Travel Trade and Ticketing Manager at the Tower of London River Tour, said:
“What better place to learn about London’s history than on the river that has played such an important part in shaping it? We wanted to create an experience that takes learning beyond the classroom, allowing young people to discover the capital’s extraordinary history for themselves. “By introducing reduced rates and dedicated learning resources, we hope to make the experience accessible to as many young people as possible, inspiring a lifelong curiosity about London, its history and the River Thames.”
