A Sightseeing Tour of London with London Duck Tours

I have done a few sightseeing tours of London in my time, but a sightseeing tour aboard a giant yellow duck has to be the most fun.

Before you wonder if we were bobbing about on the river Thames in a giant yellow rubber duck, a DUKW (known as a Duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2½ ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military in World War II.

For the safety conscious it is reassuring to  know that these vehicles have all been rebuilt according to stringent safety regulations to create the vehicles for this wacky, one-of-a-kind sightseeing tour.

We signed up for the classic sightseeing tour although there are others which include a D-Day Tour, Pirate Tour and James Bond. All scheduled tours leave from Belvedere Road, which is just behind the London Eye, between Jubilee Gardens and The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall) in central London.

London Duck Tours

We started the tour on land, heading past the Palace of Westminster and up past Downing Street where we were instructed to quack at the police standing guard at the gate. We were then treated to seeing the Horse Guards heading up the road to change the guards.

London Duck Tour

We also got to take in Trafalgar Square, St James’ Palace and Buckingham Palace before we headed back towards the River Thames where we entered the water next to the MI6 building – all very James Bond!!

The plunge into the River is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time as water shoots past the open windows. It is a bizarre feeling as the Duck goes from running on land to being a boat and I was quite surprised by how low to the water we were as I could have reached the water with my hand out the window.

London Duck Tours

We headed up the river with the tide as far as the Houses of Parliament and then turned around back towards the MI6 building with our tour guide pointing out all the sites along the side of the river.

London Duck Tour

The transition from water to land wasn’t quite a dramatic as the entry but was still fun as you could feel the Duck fighting against the tide. It was then back to the London Eye to disembark.

London Duck Tour

The whole tour took approximately 75 minutes and was an experience we will never forget as it was people’s reactions to seeing us in the Duck that was most fun to watch!

Country Kids

32 thoughts on “A Sightseeing Tour of London with London Duck Tours”

  1. We suggested this to our kids when we were up in February half term and none of them wanted to go, I was quite shocked as it sounded great to me and looking at your photos I really think they would have enjoyed it. I know I would have. I’m off to show them the photos now and see if I can make it happen next time we are up!

    Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids

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  2. This looks like so much fun! A couple of years back we saw the duck driving by! I think I managed to get a photo of it, I’ll have to take a look. It’s definitely something different to do in London.

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  3. How cool is that! I so want to go myself. I love the photos, it looks like you had a great time ☺️

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  4. I love the duck boats, they are such a fab idea. Although never been able to enjoy one as yet. Perfect for a family adventure.

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  5. I’ve lived in and around London for most of my life so I’m ashamed to say I’ve not tried this. Looks like so much fun and a great place for family to have an adventure.

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  6. I have walked past this so many times (it’s very close to my Brother in law’s house!), and we have always said, “we should go on that one day”… It looks like you had a great day out! 😀 #mondayescapes

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  7. Love the Duck Tours – they are such a brilliant way to see some of the sights of London. I went on one years ago and it was so much fun. Definitely something that I need to try with the girls at some point. Looks like you had a fabulous trip 🙂 #countrykids

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  8. I used to see the Duck tours going by when we were in London,and I always wanted to go, but couldn’t quite justify it seeing as how we actually lived there and everything. And now you tell me there are themed tours! Blast! Could have gone after all.

    Still, something for a future visit.

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