As the dark nights approach and summer fades away, there is no better way to capture the bright lights of the city than on a City Cruise along the River Thames.

We were invited to the launch of the new City Alpha on Tuesday, which was back afloat following a seven-figure refurbishment. Boasting a contemporary design and new upper deck offering panoramic views of London’s beautiful skyline, the cruise is ideal for those who are looking to learn everything there is to know about London’s fascinating history, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet to a Georgian tea party.

The journey began at Westminster Pier, next door to the underground station exit and so I was greeted with spectacular views of the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben before I even stepped foot on the boat.

As we got on the cruise, the staff and crew welcomed us with warm smiles and offered us a glass of fizzy wine.

The interior of the boat was decorated with a black and red theme, with an array of food and drinks available at the bar in the seating area.

The weather was surprisingly warm, considering it was late September and so we sat upstairs on the upper deck, hoping the skies would stay clear and that it wouldn’t rain.

Everyone cheered as the engine came to life and the boat began to steer away from the shore.

We travelled at a much slower speed than I was expecting, but this allowed us to admire the huge skyscrapers surrounding us, which included the Shard, as well as the various iconic buildings such as Shakespeare’s Globe and landmark bridges we passed under, including London Bridge and the Millennium Bridge.

It was very relaxing to feel the breeze of the wind in my hair and listen to the gentle sounds of the waves lapping against the exterior of the ship.

The journey ended much quicker than we would have liked, as the cruise docked at Bermondsey Pier at about 8.30pm and we went downstairs to listen to the christening ceremony, where a speech was made by Godmother, Carol John-Gordon, who was chosen after winning an Evening Standard competition, before we disembarked and returned to reality.

A pleasant way to experience crowd-free sightseeing on the Thames.

Details at citycruises.com

By Rachel Russell