Bateaux London

Cynics may dismiss the river cruises that constantly patrol the Thames as tourist traps, but there’s much to be said for an evening aboard one of Bateaux London’s fleet. You can idle past the capital’s premier sites on the company’s flagship, the Symphony, & soak up stunning views, wherever your table is located on the glass-topped cruiser. The food has a strong British slant: a typical meal might begin with goose liver & pork rillettes with piccalilli, followed by pan-roasted rump of lamb with rosemary-roast potatoes & minted pea purée, finishing with a dessert of strawberry & almond tart. The food may play second fiddle to the views, but it’s capably executed. Traditional Sunday roasts with live jazz are an added fillip for families.