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Sightseeing in Big Yellow Duck - London Duck Tours

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Our girls loved this it’s a belated review as catching up with trip advisor posts !! And felt I... read more

Very good day out , sadly they are not running anymore would of been good to go again , kind of... read more

Sightseeing in Big Yellow Duck

Fantastic trip around the sights of London in and around Westminster and behind, then drive straight into the Thames by the MI6 Building as seen in James Bond Movies. The tour guides knowledge was brilliant! It was informative and fun. Highly recommend this trip for everyone, couples, families anyone. See the sights from land then on the river!

A must do if visiting London. From start to finish, Nick our guide was very jovial, informative and made our tour. He was knowledgable about the history of some of the more popular buildings in the west end. He's jokes concerning current affairs were really amusing. The tour itself was a splendid way of seeing some of the famous sights of west London but with the added bonus of a short river cruise. The only downside was that the tour doesn't pass in front of Buckingham Palace as no public service vehicle or trucks are allowed to pass in front of it. All in all a tour worth doing! Our 5 year old son and his friend thought the best part was going down the bank into the Thames and waving & quacking at the other passing "ducks".

Waiting to get on is not organized very well. That's the only moan ! The youngest in our group was 2 and the oldest 62 we ALL had a great time. Yes the guide was funny and freindly and knowledgable which makes makes all the difference to your trip.would absolutely recommend this for any age or gender . Go on get on and enjoy every minute. :)

Came accross this by chance being based behind the London Eye. Great fun. The guide we had was very knowledgable and had a great sense of humour. ( Jokes were missed on some of the other people on board.) good mix of travel on land and on the river. Reasonable priced at approx £20 each.

We had a great hour and half or so on the duck tour. Guides are friendly, funny and knowledgeable. The tour itself is extensive and takes in many of the popular london sites. And driving into the river at Millbank is a great and quirky way to finish. Not much leg room but that's a tiny complaint on an otherwise fantastic experience.

Can highly recommend this tour, takes hour and 15 minutes. 30 minutes on land seeing the attactions of London, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey,Downing Street etc and then a trip on the Thames, quite a splash on going into the riverr

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London Duck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

London Duck Tours

Review Highlights

“ The tour start near to the London Eye , the vehicles, are really funny: They were used in the second World Wide and are amphibious! ” in 7 reviews

“ . Around Buckingham Palace and back through Westminster and along Millbank, we pootled over Vauxhall Bridg e taking in the MIs 5 and 6 ” in 2 reviews

“ Our ride was fun and informative as we passed all the major points of interest like Buckingham, Parliament, MI5 and MI6. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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55 York Road

London SE1 7NJ

United Kingdom

Waterloo, Southwark

About the Business

Amphibious Sightseeing Tours / Team Building Tours / Corporate Hire / Private Hire / Tailor Made Tours / Themed Tours …

Recommended Reviews

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• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

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Overall rating

We had a blast on the Ducks but when you're on something so fun how could you not? Our experience with the staff from start to finish was absolutely top-notch! Our ride was fun and informative as we passed all the major points of interest like Buckingham, Parliament, MI5 and MI6. I absolutely recommend making the Ducks a must-do part of your trip to London!

Excellent. Great tour of the city. Had an extremely great time! Sooooooo much better than the hop on off bus tour. Had a great time!!!

The other boat...

I would defiantly recommend this tour The only issue was our duck tour vehicle broke down during the tour but the guide still handled the situation very well and they brought a mechanic and once he couldn't fix the issue another duck vehicle came and picked us up for the remainder of the tour It's a great experience

I didn't believe it for a second. No way could a duck support me on a tour of London. They are not known for their strong backs. The notion that I would be getting shown around by, or transported by an actual duck were soon put to rest when I saw that we would be getting shown around in an odd looking little yellow bus thing. Imagine my surprise when after driving around for a short while the driver decided to drive straight into the Thames River. Luckily, the odd little yellow bus thing actually turns into a boat, of sorts. The reason this tour is so popular, I'd imagine, is because of exactly that; it's a road vehicle that can turn into a boat. That novelty alone would compel almost anyone to shell out £19. If you're a tourist; then why not. If you're going to do the bus tours, why not get on a weird yellow thing that also turns into a boat. But if you're a local - then think twice. Because it wasn't long into this tour that I realised I had just done what I promised myself I would never do; get an atypical tourist ride around London. The novelty of being on the water wears off in about nine seconds. Especially when you have a really annoying know-it-all tour guide. And as the dude hogging the microphone with his really weird moustache tells you "and this is Westminster..." you can't help but feel you would have been better off at home. It's not that there is anything fundamentally wrong with this tour, or my disgust that historic World War 2 boats have been turned into yellow tourist fodder - but simply, it just isn't really all that good or worthy of your money. Which brings me to my final point - which is certainly interesting. It turns out that these little yellow boat things are actually converted vehicles from the 1940's that were used during World War 2. In fact, it's entirely possible that this yellow thing that is showing you around London was a part of the D-Day invasions on Normandy. As someone who World War 2 is very important to; I would much rather see these in museums in their original state than painted yellow and showing tourists around; but that's just personal opinion.

Great fun and an interesting way to see the city. Our guide was really funny and gave lots of funny and insightful information about London. It was great to take a trip down the Thames as you really do get a different perspective on the Palaces of Westminster and London. I would like the tour to be a little longer but to be honest it's much better than a double decker bus.

I was lucky enough to go on a qype event to try this out and i am so glad to have been picked, I had a great time. I learnt some new info about london and saw buildings i hadnt noticed before, despite born n grown in london i have never been on a tourist tour so this was very iformative for me and i would definetly recommend this as you spend 45 mins on land and 30 mins in the thames. Yes this is a bus boat from the 1940s. The commentary is in english so could be a problem for non english speaking tourists.

I went on this tour with my family as a teen, close to ten years ago now. At the time, I wasn't one for tours, museums and culture, but I enjoyed the London Duck Tours back then, even as an in-door stubborn teen. I remember there were interesting facts that were informative and highlighted history and landmarks. As the bus went into the Thames, I was quiet surprised by how high the water level was and we were concerned that a single tilt would have caused the bus to flood... this was not the case. Overall I had a fairly entertaining and enlightening time. For a good ride and a bit of London history, it's worth recommending when the weather is nice.

I learnt some new info about london and saw buildings i hadnt noticed before, despite born n grown in london i have never been on a tourist tour so this was very iformative for me and i would definetly recommend this as you spend 45 mins on land and 30 mins in the thames. Yes this is a bus boat from the 1940s. The commentary is in english so could be a problem for non english speaking tourists. my sons absolutely loved this trip as they are rather quirky modes of transport and a novel way for them to learn history, look out for any deals

A unique way of having a tour around the big smoke. This yellow vehicle chauffeurs you around the streets, whilst you take in the sights and smells of London learning lots of facts along the way. The tour then takes a new turn with the amphibian vehicle plunging into the River Thames where the tour continues. Booking in advance on their website is advisable, as you can rarely rock up on the day and get on. A fun few hours for the whole family.

My boyfriend and I took the duck tour in late August on the first full day of our UK vacation. It was my first time in the city. My boyfriend is from England and spent many years working in London, but had never done the Duck tours. Nathan was our guide and Steve was our driver. They were both excellent. We sat up front ( tip- arrive early, as the seats are first come/first serve based on arrival) and both Nathan and Steve were very chatty with us. When the duck was on the Thames, Nathan walked around the boat and greeted all of the passengers, answering questions and taking pictures. The tour was extremely informative, with loads of facts, History and quirky stories. We learned a lot and got a great overview of many of the major tourist sites. I'm glad to have done this early in our vacation, as I felt it gave me a good idea as to the layout of the city and helped me plan the things that I wanted to see later on. One big negative was the driver for the Thames portion of the trip. Steve switched out with a guy who was certified to take the duck on the water. This driver was miserable. He didn't say a word to any of us, never smiled.. it brought down the tone of the outing and made the portion on the Thames, a lot less fun. We were happy to get off the water and have Steve back! The vehicles are super cute and it's a fun tour. It was well worth our time and money.

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The London City Guide

London duck tours.

One of London’s most enjoyable and unusual sightseeing tours came to an end last month. Thames Water’s compulsory purchase of the slipway used by London Duck Tours to enter the River Thames has resulted in the company now operating an occasional land only tour, with the river Thames no longer accessible. The slipway ( next to the M16 building in Vauxhall ) is needed for construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, often referred to as ‘London’s super sewer’.

London’s super sewer

                                                                             Thames slipway

New slipway required

Nearly 2 Million passengers have enjoyed tours aboard the capitals distinctive yellow amphibious vehicles ( Duck’s ) including our own family on several occasions. The open-sided Duck’s took in many of London’s famous sights by road, but it was the water borne journey from Vauxhall up to Parliament ( and return ) that will live longer in the memory. London Duck Tour’s website says we can expect an update in January 2018 on it’s attempt to resume normal operations. Our family ( like many others ) hope that a new slipway into the Thames can be found and London’s yellow Duck’s can take to water once more.   www.londonducktours.co.uk

Here are some scenes captured by me on our Duck tour’s.

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London Duck Tours

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London Duck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Best Duck Tours in London

Much to our disappointment this isn’t a tour of London’s ducks (or even a tour led by a duck) but an extraordinary tour of London by both land and sea!

Classic Sightseeing Tour:   The London Duck Tour

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Opening Hours: Every Day 9am-5pm

Getting Here By Tube

Waterloo (Jubilee, Bakerloo Lines) a five-minute walk away. Follow signs to the South Bank.

Getting Here By Bus

Duck Stop via RV1, 76, 77, 211, 341, 381, 507 and buses heading towards Waterloo.

Getting Here By Car

Waterloo Car Park, Leake St, Lambeth, London SE1 7NN

London Duck Tours

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LONDON DUCK TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

London's yellow amphibious duck buses get £250,000 makeover with River Thames return to come

The tourist favourites began life landing troops on D-Day

• 15:29, 13 JUL 2021
• Updated 15:39, 13 JUL 2021

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Most of us will count a trip down the Thames or stroll along the South Bank as a staple of a good day out in London .

The view from Westminster Bridge, the atmosphere around Waterloo Bridge, it's the place where historic sights and modern art all blends in to one. But true Londoners will know there's something missing.

Something big and yellow, with wheels and a hull - a London's duck buses.

READ MORE: 'I went on the London bus that only makes 2 journeys a week and it's the only route where everyone is happy'

They're the amphibious vehicles once used for tours of the city which go both on road and water.

Though they're currently having a little rest, we could expect a return soon according to their owners, the tour company London Duck Tours.

Unfortunately right now, you won't find the duck buses in their habitual home, the River Thames.

"We have 10 amphibious vehicles and they're all tucked up," says John Bigos, the owner and managing director of London Duck Tours.

"He explains that it was not Covid-19 or the economic slowdown which has forced his company to suspend their current tour route, but a sewer.

The duck buses use a ramp near Vauxhall to safely descend from the road into the River Thames. It's the safest place for this unusual operation which requires the bus-like vehicle to transform itself into the boat we're used to seeing glide along the river.

A sewer called the Thames Tideway Tunnel is being built underneath the ramp so the authorities have acquired the ramp to continue works, which blocks the route for the tours.

John said: "Safety is our absolute priority. The ducks have been totally and completely rebuilt. In effect, it's a brand new vessel, we've spent £250,000 per vehicle.

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"Two of them are now in Portugal, where we've been conducting sea trials." Some of his team are looking to set up duck tours in Porto so while London is on hiatus, John has been providing them with his help and expertise.

"Part of that exercise means we have been awarded a €220,000 grant by the European Union, said John.

"That was in 2019, after Brexit. We could potentially see Porto Duck Tours in 2021."

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The remaining eight duck buses, named after Shakespearean ladies, are currently in storage just off the M25.

Alistair Bigos, John's son and commercial director of London Duck Tours, described his work planning the return of duck bus tours to London:

He said: "The tour concepts will still stay the same. The core route which takes in Royal, Historic Central London will still exist. We're chatting with a few different partners about the possibility of augmented reality too."

Augmented reality is a long way from the beginnings of these incredible vehicles.

Alistair said: "They fought in the Second World War. They would drive onto the beaches to support the rapid landings at Normandy.

"They were a real, vital cog in the operations for D-Day."

The vehicles were originally military-classified and helped the Allies storm through thick mud, sand and water quickly before crossing land.

The vehicles, technically named DUKWs, were deployed from battleships in the English Channel and would drive through the water up the banks and provide back-up to the troops.

They were especially effective where there was no port. Their current role is worlds away.

In recent years, in addition to duck tours, they've starred in The Nativity 2 and were taken over by Minions in a promo for Despicable Me.

"They also served in the Korean War in the Battle of Incheon," John added.

The unusual nature of these vehicles mean there are additional operating challenges the company has to consider.

A bit like the current rules on e-scooters , there is no specific law for duck buses meaning they have to follow certain rules as if they were buses or boats even though mechanically they are neither.

Alistair said: "For a bus you would need your bus driver to be low and close to the road so they can see any last minute obstructions but on the water you need to be high up or you will be off-balance and splashed by waves."

The meticulous design means the vehicles, some of which date from the 1940s were well ahead of their time. "It's like an amphibious Ferrari," Alistair adds.

John explains how the rigid regulatory framework can lead to some bizarre situations. "There's no code in the system for a duck when you go for an MOT," he said.

"We've had to go to Swansea to speak with the DVLA and they provided us with an 18 point mathematical formula which allows the ducks' MOTs to follow the legal parameters."

He remains optimistic that the duck buses will continue to operate: "The regulators have been practical and pragmatic to be fair to them."

John and Alistair have a unique challenge trying to comply with Transport for London (TfL), Port of London Authority (PLA), Department for Transport (DfT) regulations as well as usual business laws.

When the tours start again, for example, he will have to negotiate with TfL which bus stops can be used again. In 2019, he submitted evidence to a parliamentary review on the matter .

"We are heavily regulated yet if your vehicle has fewer than 12 seats on the water, there's almost no regulations," he points out.

The company should get access back to its ramp to resume full operations at some point next year, September 2022 is the current working date.

In the meantime, you can still hire a duck bus privately and it will drive you around London, just not along the Thames. They are also continuing the trials in Portugal.

"It's something really unique in the capital," said Alistair.

"Of course, we want the support of Londoners, we know they [the duck buses] inspire people.

"We know they're popular and we know that London, the Home Counties and particularly school trips are significant markets."

Even before Covid, he explains there was a growing trend of people from outer London and the Home Counties who just wanted to spend time having fun, unique experiences in the capital, like a duck bus tour.

Almost two million people had taken a duck bus tour prior to the hiatus starting in 2017. The duck bus, much like the cable car, has great social media potential.

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We will keep you informed about the latest news that affects your daily commute to work, as well as at the weekend.

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Alistair said: "Second World War veterans love to go on the ducks due to the historical connection. That's why when we do restart operations we want to make the ducks as accessible as possible and will stick to any remaining Covid regulations."

The exact details of the tour revival are being hammered out now in this family-run business.

"Christmas is like a board meeting. We know it's gonna take time and we'll see where we get to," Alistair said.

"It's a niche skill to run such a unique operation so it's really a team approach. There's a lot of pride though."

Do you miss the duck buses? Want to see them back soon? Let us know in the comments below.

Got a quirky transport story MyLondon should know about? Email [email protected]

• River Thames
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London Duck Tours

In a nutshell

Jump on the Duck Tours for a unique experience and see from land and water all that London has to offer. London landmarks, special boat rides and much more.

55 York Road, London SE1 7NJ

Contact details

Tel: 020 7928 3132

Activity type

Historical Sites, Outdoor Activities, Trips and Transport

Suitable for

Ages 5 - 12, All ages, Schools and Groups, Teenagers, Under 5s

Price guide

£70.00.

(based on family of 4)

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London Duck Tours details...

Get set for an amphibious adventure with the family in a yellow vehicle and climb on board and experience an exciting road and river adventure. London Duck Tours offers so much more than just an ordinary sightseeing tour and is certainly memorable.

Take your pick from a huge range of tours tailored for all interests, whatever the age; for example, the Classic Sightseeing Tour which takes you around the beating heart of London where royalty mixes with parliament and pageantry, catching some of London’s most iconic landmarks from the London Eye to 10 Downing Street with a final splashdown onto the River Thames.

The James Bond Tour will have you on the edge of your seat as you visit some of the locations used in the classic film series. Then never say never again as you launch into the river, Bond-style, alongside MI6!

The D-Day Duck tour is suitable for the whole family, as the character tour guide will take you around London’s most important WW2 sights including Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and the underground Cabinet War Rooms of Sir Winston Churchill. There is live commentary from a tour guide in English and tours last for approximately 75 minutes and are non-stop.

Make sure you wrap up warm, as it can be a little chilly on the River Thames. All scheduled tours leave from Belvedere Road, Waterloo, London, SE1, which is near the London Eye, and is only a short walk from Waterloo tube and rail stations. It is possible to buy tickets online.

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London River Tour

PLEASE NOTE that from since September 2017 the River element of all tours has ceased due to the construction of the Thames super tunnel. Due to this we are not running our usual daily schedule of tours, but instead we are offering a choice of three road-only tours, all available on a private hire basis. Please see our private hire page for details.

Sightseeing on the River Thames with an Amazing Amphibious Adventure

London Duck Tours offers more than just a land based sightseeing experience, and believe that no trip to London is complete without a trip on the river as well. Our distinctive yellow DUKW vehicles are designed to drive into the River Thames, so join us on one of our range of Classic Sightseeing or limited edition themed tours and enter the wonderfully unique world of amphibious travel.

The Centre of the Ancient City

The River Thames, 215 miles long and at the centre of this ancient city for 2000 years, was and is a focus of activity, a commerce hub, a means of defence and a method of transport.  This is the same river that the Roman’s sailed down when they built Londinium. The same river used by Henry VIII and the Tudors. The river used to dampen down the Great Fire of London. The same river that allowed the Pool of London to drive the economy of the Victorian British Empire to new heights.

The Advantage of a River View

Each one of our tours includes a thrilling splashdown into the Thames, followed by a peaceful cruise around this famous river.  The river provides the perfect vantage point from which to view the awesome sight of the Palace of Westminster – including the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It offers a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of London’s busy streets, and a chance to take those all-important photos of sights, bridges and buildings from a unique angle.

The River as Muse

At London Duck Tours we are a little obsessed with the mighty Thames – quackers about it in fact – but don’t just take our word for it. The great bards and poets have for centuries been transfixed and beguiled with the ancient river Thames.

As Wordsworth wrote –

Glide gently, thus forever glide, O Thames! that other bards may see, As lovely visions by thy side As now, fair river! come to me. Oh glide, fair stream! for ever so; Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, ‘Till all our minds forever flow, As thy deep waters now are flowing.

So let the Thames inspire your day and book your London river tour today!

Private Hire

On Hold. Update Coming 2024

Classic Sightseeing Tour

Sit back and let us show you a selection of central London’s best loved sights

City of London Tour

The ancient city, packed with world renowned landmarks.

D-Day Duck Tour

A road-only tour to whisk you back to the blitz and tell the story of the Normandy beach landings

Pirate Treasure Hunt Tour

Solve the pirate-themed puzzles in order to snatch the treasure from under your opponent’s noses!

James Bond Tour

Simply Bond, Fleming and spies. Nobody does it better!

Code Breaker Challenge

Work as team to crack the secret code and stop London’s Tourist Attractions from being stolen!

A Quackmas Carol

A festive Charles Dickens themed tour for all the family. The perfect Christmas land and river adventure.

Update Coming 2024

Please note that we are no longer able to operate our usual range of sightseeing tours due to Thames Water’s compulsory purchase of our slipway to build the next phase of the Thames Tunnel super sewer.

London Duck Tours: Guided Adventure Through London

The amazing amphibious adventure begins with a land tour through the streets of London, as you explore the capital’s historical landmarks, such as 10 Downing Street, Nelson’s Column and St James’s Palace. After this, you head down to the water at MI6’s Secret Intelligence Service and cruise along the Thames to see the Houses of Parliament, the Buxton Memorial and MI5. Each landmark offers up its own highlights, stories and secrets. Perhaps the best part of the Duck Tour is the live-action commentary, which includes alternative titbits which you wouldn’t hear on ordinary sightseeing tours.

In addition to the standard land-and-sea package, you can choose a themed tour too, including a D-Day special where you’ll hear about your vessel’s interesting wartime history. There is also the James Bond commentary tour where you get to see all of the famous settings for the movies, plus some additional MI5 and MI6 extras. Whether you’re new to the city or you’ve done it all before, the London Duck Tours offer up a fantastic alternative way to explore famous London scenery while taking in the finest riverside views.

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An amazing amphibious adventure

You can view the city by Boris bike, by `pied-à-terre` and now by London Duck Tours, a unique and quirky alternative to see the sights. It’s an amazing amphibious adventure - just hop aboard one of the distinctive yellow vehicles, and enter the wonderful world of river-borne travel. The tour takes in all the sites and is accompanied by an entertaining (English) commentary, full of interesting stuff about the City. The tour`s highlight is splashing into the River and `motor sailing` past the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye.

The Duck itself is quite safe and secure; a relic from the Normandy landings in World War Two, it was rebuilt from scratch and modified to meet the stringent safety regulations. Originally built in 1942, this was the first vehicle to allow the driver to vary the tire pressure from inside the cab; tires could be fully inflated for hard surfaces like roads and less inflated for softer surfaces, especially beach sand. In 1944, thousands of these real-life Ducks were used during D-Day to bring supplies from ships to Normandy`s beaches (over 18 million tons of supplies ashore over 4 months), whilst also saving countless lives by transporting causalities to hospital ships. Each vehicle seats 30 passengers with the tour lasting approximately 75 minutes.

The tour is extremely informative full of facts, history and stories. You learn a lot, get a great overview of many of the major tourist sites and its provides visitors a good idea of the layout of the City from a completely different perspective.

This classic tour takes you around the beating heart of London – where royalty mixes with Parliament and Pageantry.

It starts with the City’s millennium landmark, the London Eye. Then you are lead past the world famous Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the home of our current Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street.

Admire the immaculate soldiers and horses at Horse Guards Parade, then onto Trafalgar Square, a tribute to Britain’s greatest sailor, Admiral Nelson. On to the refined roads of St James with its gentleman clubs, ancient royal Palace, shops fit for a King and the Hotel to top them all, The Ritz!

But still there’s more...how about the head quarters of our Royal family, Buckingham Palace, Tate Britain, MI5 & 6 before the dramatic splashdown onto the Thames.

Tour duration

Approximately 75 minutes

• , close to river
• , Adventure/Action
• , The Southbank
• , The Striking South East

Shared Collections

from £16.00-24.00 per person

For operational reasons you may be asked to transfer onto another Duck at the slipway before entry into the river

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News | London

Last London Duck Tour as capital bids farewell to iconic tourist attraction

London’s iconic yellow Duck Tours make their final journeys on the River Thames this weekend, with the popular tourist attraction set to disappear from the capital.

The last tours are set to take place on Sunday before owners shut up shop, with the operators having lost access to the Albert Embankment slipway.

The slipway was used by the amphibious tourist vehicles, which are half boat and half truck, to drive into the Thames, but the ramp is needed for part of Thames Water's £4.2 billion ‘super sewer’ scheme.

Construction is not expected to finish until 2024.

The Duck Tours have become an iconic part of London’s tourist scene, with nearly two million passengers having used the amphibious trucks since the company started in 2002.

Managing Director John Bigos told the Standard last month: “The 18th of September will be a very sad day for the company, which was going from strength to strength, but it was vital not to delay construction of this much needed infrastructure project.

“Tourists worldwide and Londoners will surely miss our iconic bright yellow DUKWs travelling around town. They have become a landmark in their own right.”

During the Duck Tours, passengers are treated to unique views of London’s most iconic sights, as well as special James Bond and Pirate-themed tours

Thames Water has already begun working on its so-called ‘super-sewer’ system, which is designed to stop 39 million tonnes of raw sewage spilling from London’s Victorian sewers into the Thames every year.

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