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The 12 Best Boat Tours in London

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Bring your sea legs and hop aboard one of London’s fun-filled boat tours. Whether you want to float past the landmarks, laze down a sleepy canal or speed your way to Canary Wharf, you’ll see the best of the UK capital from floating level.

City cruises.

Hop on and off as you please with City Cruises, which runs from Westminster , Waterloo, Tower and Greenwich Piers. There are many ticket options on offer, so you can opt for an unlimited day cruise, stick to a shorter journey or push the boat out with an afternoon tea or dinner experience.

Thames Clippers

This river bus service runs every 20 minutes daily between Royal Arsenal Woolwich in South East London and St George Wharf Vauxhall in the west of the city, stopping at all major piers along the way. On event nights at The O2 Arena, the company even operates a fast shuttle direct from Waterloo, London Bridge and Canary Wharf where champagne upgrades are available. Although there is no tour guide aboard these journeys, there is a free app that can be downloaded for audio commentary.

Turks Launches

Turks Launches has been offering tours along the Thames for 300 years. The route, from Richmond Pier to Hampton Court, is full of historic sights to see, including Eel Pie Island (where The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart used to party) and Teddington Lock’s Dunkirk Memorial. If you fancy something more lively, there are disco and jazz cruises on offer, too.

Vintage Red Bus and Thames Cruise

Tour both land and sea with the Vintage Red Bus and Thames Cruise. You’ll board a restored red double-decker bus at Victoria Coach Station and view London icons Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye and the Tower of London. Then you’ll hop on a boat to check out Shakespeare’s Globe, Cleopatra’s Needle and, of course, London Bridge. Lastly, jump back on the bus to swing by Buckingham Palace before returning to Victoria Coach Station.

For an arty ride, take this catamaran service connecting London’s two Tate art galleries, Tate Modern on the South Bank and Tate Britain in Pimlico. The exterior and interior of the boat itself were designed by world-renowned artist Damien Hirst, so you basically get to ride a floating artwork.

London Waterbus Company

This first come, first served tour is perfect when you want to make a plan in a pinch. You’ll float down Regent’s Canal in a narrowboat exploring Little Venice, Regent’s Park, London Zoo and Camden Lock. As you can’t book in advance, going at off-peak times is highly recommended.

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Thames RIB Experience

If racing is more your style, don’t miss speeding down the Thames in a RIB (rigid inflatable boat). You’ll head to Tower Bridge from Westminster before the turbo engines blast on, but when they do you’ll be travelling at 30 knots (35 miles per hour) all the way to Canary Wharf. This is a boat ride you’ll never forget.

Thames Rockets

For an alternative RIB experience, try Thames Rockets. Advanced booking is not required, so you can just show up at London Eye’s Millennium Pier, hop aboard and get ready for the ride of your life.

Canal Museum Tunnel Boat Trip

Not for the faint-hearted, the Canal Museum Tunnel Boat Trip will take you down Regent’s Canal’s dark and musty tunnel built way back in 1820. It’s over a kilometre long and offers a true piece of canal history. Back in the day, boats had to be helped through the tunnel by ‘legging’, a system wherein the men onboard had to push the vessel along by pushing their legs against the tunnel walls. Tickets through the tunnel are best booked in advance as there are only 12 spots on board and they include entry to the London Canal Museum to boot.

Operating since 1968, Walker’s Quay is a family-run business based in Camden . Its boat, the Jenny Wren, offers daily 90-minute, round-trip cruises from Camden. Float down Camden Lock, sail through London Zoo and Regent’s Park, and then onwards to Robert Browning’s Island in Little Venice before heading back.

Jason’s Trip

Flip the Jenny Wren itinerary around with Jason’s Trip. Set sail from Little Venice, then continue down Regent’s Canal through picturesque Regent’s Park before reaching Camden Lock and coming back again. The boat is over a century old and this tour has been operating the same route since 1951.

Bow Boat Company

For a truly bespoke option, try Bow Boat Company. Its narrowboat seats up to 12 and comes equipped with a skipper and tour guide. Get a group together and hire the vessel for as long as you want. You can opt for the five-hour East London Loop, which cruises from Olympic Park to Victoria Park, a less demanding two-hour tour from Hackney to King’s Cross or you can even create your own itinerary.

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The best boat trips in London

See the city from the Thames or one of London’s canals with these great London boat trips

London boat tours are a truly fabulous way to see the city’s top spots. The River Thames is a destination in itself, of course, and most London boat tours will take in famous landmarks such as the Tate Modern , St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, The O2 and Canary Wharf . You’ll be spoiled for choice with footage for your Instagram story.

If you fancy something a little bit different, there are some charming London boat tours along Regent’s Canal, many leading to the incredibly picturesque  Little Venice . Whether you’re a seasoned sea dog or a naval novice, there are definitely one or two London boat tours for you.

RECOMMENDED: The top 50 attractions in London

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

City Cruises

• Things to do
• Walks and tours
• Victoria Embankment

City Cruises operate on a hop-on, hop-off basis and run from Westminster, London Eye, Tower and Greenwich Piers with commentary along the way. The River Red Rover ticket allows unlimited one-day cruising; there's also the Rail and River Rover ticket allowing unlimited one-day travel by river and on the DLR. Single or return tickets are available for shorter journeys, too. The London Showboat is an evening dinner and dance cruise running from Westminster Pier. Afternoon tea and lunch cruises are another popular option during peak periods. 

Thames Rockets

• Ships and boats

This slick RIB (ridged inflatable boat) operation offers a thrilling, high-speed ride on the Thames. You can book by phone or online, or just turn up and pay on the day at the London Eye Ticket Office. Arrive 20 minutes before the off to be kitted out with a waterproof jacket, a life jacket and goggle-style visors (fun in itself). The trip starts calmly enough and the guide will keep kids and adults entertained with fun facts and celebrity stories. But once the boat passes Wapping, it’s pedal to the floor all the way to Canary Wharf. 

Tate to Tate Boat

Running every 20 to 30 minutes, the boat service connecting London’s two Tate galleries, Tate Modern and Tate Britain, takes you through the heart of London, with plenty to see on both banks (head to the outdoor deck at the back of the boat for the best views). The catamaran service boasts specially commissioned exterior and interior designs by artist Damien Hirst, but there’s no commentary, so take a map.

Thames Clippers

River bus services running daily between Royal Arsenal Woolwich in the east and Battersea Power Station in the west. A daily commuter service operates every 20 minutes calling at all major central London piers. On event nights at The O2, the River Bus Express operates a fast direct shuttle service from London Eye (Waterloo) and London Bridge with optional champagne upgrades. There’s no tour guide on board, but you can download a free app for an audio commentary. 

Thames RIB Experience

• Sightseeing

Hurtling about the Thames at 30 knots (roughly 35mph) is the closest thing we’ve got to a white-knuckle ride in central London. It takes just under 40 minutes to travel from Westminster to Tower Bridge. Then the turbo engines kick in and you’re off, bumping about on the open water between Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, turning in terrifyingly tight figures of eight. It’s the quickest, most thrilling way to travel the Thames.

Vintage Red Bus Tour and Thames Cruise

Two tours in one. The first, departing from Victoria Coach Station on a restored double-decker bus, will take in views of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and Tower of London. The second is a cruise on the River Thames passing Shakespeare’s Globe, Cleopatra’s Needle and London Bridge before arriving at Embankment pier, where you hop back on the bus and head for Buckingham Palace. The tour will finish back at Victoria Coach Station.

Turks Launches

Turks Launches have been operating boat tours along south-west London’s pretty stretch of Thames for 300 years. Running from Richmond Pier to Hampton Court, their routes pack in more historic sites than you might realise, including the seventeenth-century pile Ham House, Eel Pie Island (where Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones used to party), and Teddington Lock’s Dunkirk Memorial. Turks tours run daily from March until September; look out for special disco and jazz cruises during peak months.

London Waterbus Company

• Camden Market

Navigate Regent’s Canal in a narrowboat with the London Waterbus Company. Trips run along the Regent’s Canal linking Little Venice, Regent’s Park, London Zoo and Camden Lock. Warwick Avenue is the closest tube if you’re catching the boat from Little Venice. There’s no advance-booking option – these tours are first come, first served – so if you arrive at peak time, just before lunch, you might have to queue. 

Canal Museum Tunnel Boat Trip

• King’s Cross

These trips are best suited to the brave. Regent’s Canal’s tunnel – built in 1820 – is long, dark, dank and three quarters of a mile long. Once upon a time, boats normally pulled by horses on the towpath had to be inched through the tunnel by a process of ‘legging’ – with the men on board having to brace their legs against the tunnel walls to power the boat along. The tunnel tours take place during the summer, and tickets also includes admission to the London Canal Museum proper. There are only 12 places on each boat tour, so booking is definitely recommended.

Jason’s Trip

• Little Venice

Jason’s Trip navigates the picturesque route along Regent’s Canal from Little Venice, through Regent’s Park, on to Camden Lock and back again. The boat is more than 100 years old and the trip, which includes a live historical commentary and lasts for 45min each way, has been a feature on the canal since 1951. Tours run from the first week of April right through to the first week of November. 

• Camden Town

Hop aboard for an hour and a half's cruise from Camden Lock, past London Zoo in Regent's Park, through the tunnel to Robert Browning’s Island at Little Venice and back to Walker’s Quay. A commentary is included on the cruise, and picnic lunches are available from the company’s waterside restaurant. If you prefer the idea of more formal onboard dining, try the My Fair Lady cruising restaurant boat, operated by the same company.

Bow Boat Company

Bow Boat Company offers a more bespoke kind of canal tour. Its cute narrowboat seats up to 12 people and can be hired (complete with skipper and tour guide) for special-occasion tours of east London’s waterways. You can decide exactly how long you want to tour for, and precisely where you’d like to stop. The comprehensive ‘east London loop’ takes in everything from the Olympic Park to Victoria Park and stretches out over a leisurely five hours; a shorter tour from Hackney’s buzzy Broadway Market to bustling King’s Cross takes just two hours. 

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Embankment Pier

Take the Thames to Theatreland! Embankment Pier is at the heart of the West End.

Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2N 6NU

Central Zone

This pier is accessible

Accessible entrance: ///catch.jaws.deep

Ticket machine and Oyster Readers and staffed ticket office

Ticket office opening times: 10:00 - 18:00*

*Subject to change

Pier facilities

This pier is sheltered

The pier is well located for tourists, residents and commuters wishing to access Central London. Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Carnaby and Mayfair are all a short walk from Embankment Pier.

Tickets can be bought at ticket machines at the pier before travel, but to save time and money touch in and out with your Oyster or contactless card. You can also buy your tickets online or use the Uber app or the Thames Clippers Tickets app .

River Bus service patterns

The times below indicate the first and last departures from this pier. However, these services may not call at all piers. Please always check the timetable before travelling.

Eastbound departures:

Westbound departures:

Continuing your journey from Embankment Pier

Embankment Station is across the street from Embankment Pier and is on London Underground's District, Circle, Bakerloo and Northern lines.

On National Rail, Southeastern trains terminate at Charing Cross station which is a short walk from the pier.

Embankment Pier is on CS3 on the Cycle Superhighways network.

The nearest Santander Cycle Stations are on Northumberland Avenue or Savoy Place.

Ongoing bus, Uber and taxi travel are available from Victoria Embankment.

Do you have The London Pass?

Good news! Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is now one of the 80+ attractions included in London’s market-leading digital multi-attraction pass. We're also the perfect transport option between attractions, with many just a short walk from our piers.

We accept The London Pass at Embankment Pier, as well as Westminster, London Bridge City, and Tower piers. Simply download the pass to your phone and present it at the ticket office to receive your all-day Hop-on Hop-off ticket.

If you haven't purchased your London Pass by Go City yet, use promo code  BUYLDN5  and get a 5% discount.

Find out more

Things to do near Victoria Embankment

Embankment Pier is ideally situated for tourists, commuters and residents alike, with a great deal of London's top attractions nearby, and access routes to central London.

For other ideas and inspiration, please visit our dedicated page for   things to do in London .

Trafalgar Square

Located at the intersection of Whitehall, home of many UK Government departments, The Strand, home of many West End theatres and The Mall, the driveway to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square is London's most famous public square. Nelson's column, the monument to Admiral Nelson, who led the British to victory in the Napoleonic wars, towers over the square which plays host to a number of events throughout the year. The square is also home to the Fourth Plinth, a rotating gallery showcasing interesting and unusual works from emerging artists.

Covent Garden

Formerly London's central wholesale fruit and vegetable market, nowadays Covent Garden is a hub of shopping, theatre, restaurants, bars, history and culture at the heart of the West End. A must-see for all visitors to the UK capital, Covent Garden's piazza is often alive with street-performers and is fringed by a number of theatres and entertainment venues including the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House.

Somerset House

A neoclassical masterpiece, Somerset House dominates the Victoria Embankment. Built in 1776, Somerset House originally sat directly on the river bank until the embankment was built in the 1860s. The complex has housed a number of government services throughout its lifetime including the Inland Revenue and Stamp Office, the Royal Navy and the Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Nowadays, Somerset House is home to a creative community nurturing creativity, education and the arts. The complex's courtyard is open to the public and regularly hosts events including gigs, exhibitions and an ice rink during the winter months.

Piccadilly Circus

Across the UK, Piccadilly Circus is synonymous with the busyness, hustle and bustle that London is famed for. Chinatown, Leicester Square, Regent Street and Soho all meet at the statue of Eros which is a well-known meeting spot. No trip to London is complete without seeing the brightest lights in the city.

Centred on Carnaby Street, Carnaby's reputation as one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods was cemented in London's swinging sixties. To this day Carnaby remains one of the most fashionable districts in the capital. The pedestrianised shopping and dining area is home to many designer stores, quality restaurants and quirky pubs and bars.

National Gallery

Founded in 1824, The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster. The National Gallery is free to visit and houses one of the most significant collections of art in the UK consisting of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to modern times.

London Transport Museum

London Transport Museum is situated in the heart of Covent Garden and filled with stunning exhibits; the Museum explores the powerful link between transport and the growth of modern London, culture and society since 1800. Little ones can even captain their own "Thames Nipper" boat in the All Aboard playzone! 

Benjamin Franklin House

Benjamin Franklin House at 36 Craven Street in the heart of London is a heritage 'gem' and the world's only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin.

Please read our full FAQ’s page.

Embankment Station is just a one-minute walk away and it offers ongoing travel via the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Northern Lines. Charing Cross Underground Station is the closest railway station and is around an 8-minute walk from the pier. Charing Cross offers both underground and overground travel, connecting to the Bakerloo and Northern lines.

The postcode for Embankment Pier is WC2N 6NU

Travellers with accessibility needs will be pleased to know that Embankment Pier is wheelchair, mobility scooter and pram accessible by ramp.

Yes, you can touch in and touch out with contactless payment cards or Oyster to pay as you go on all our river boat services.

Yes, tickets can be bought at the pier before travel.

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London Catamaran Cruises

Catamaran cruises in london.

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Top london catamaran cruises.

• Get all the best views of London in 1 day!
• Go on the Emirates Airline Cable Car and a Thames River Sightseeing Cruise. Read more
• See the city and learn about it too with commentary.

What You'll Do:

• Cruise up and down the River Thames on the hop-on-hop-off Thames Clippers River Roamer boat with unlimited 1 day travel.
• Glide across the river as you enjoy a birds-eye-view look of the Thames on the Emirates Airlines Cable Car ride.
• See all the iconic sights of London from the water and from the sky.

What It Includes:

• Return journey on the Emirates Airlines Cable Car
• Unlimited 1 day travel on the River Roamer boat.
• 16 piers to hop-on-hop-off at.

Travellers Talk:

• This combo ticket is well received by visitors to London receiving mostly 4 and 5 star ratings.
• People love it because of the views.
• One traveller said We had a lovely boat trip along the Thames with the option to hop on and off and a cable car ride at the end

Is It Right:

• A great way to see London as you focus on the Thames both above it and on it.
• A fun day for the entire family.
• The ability to tailor the day to your own needs with 16 hop-on-hop-off stops so there's plenty of time for extra sightseeing.
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Full-Day Self-Guided Paris Tour from London by Eurostar with Seine River Cruise

Cruise on the Thames River with Hotel Pick Up

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Enjoy your best-ever Halong Bay tour on the only catamaran of Nothern Vietnam with luxurious facilities and services.

Get to know Halong Catamaran

Welcome to The Halong Catamaran - the premium cruise line that offers the perfect mix of traditional elegance and modern comfort. We are the only catamaran in all of Northern Vietnam. When you set out on The Halong Catamaran, you experience the world’s natural heritage sites, Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, in absolute yachting style and luxury.

A Premium Yachting Experience

At The Halong Catamaran, we are renowned for the special care and attention to detail that we give to everything we do. From the upscale décor and stunning interior design of our ship, to the friendly, personalized service we offer each guest, we are committed to ensuring that every part of your journey is perfect.

A mix of Elegance and Modern Comfort

Once you enjoy The Halong Catamaran, our hope is that you will be back for another. Our beautiful cruise ship features 99 seats, an open air top deck for viewing and photo shoots, and the highlight of the catamaran design is the beautiful hammock like loft nets suspended over the water between the two hull point of the ship, so you can sit back and water the water rushing below you.

Why Choose The Halong Catamaran

We guarantee great value for your money regardless of your budget.

Luxury Transportation

Always go by new toll EXPRESSWAY and use luxury modified vans with 4G wifi, cold water.

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Our team is always by your side through Email, Whatsapp, Kakao talk, Line, Viber.

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Our Customers

See how our guests feel about us.

We really enjoyed our trip with Halong Catamaran. The crew is really nice, the food is delicious and the program is well organized. I definitely recommend them

We loved our trip on The Halong Catamaran. The service was excellent, food amazing and the most helpful staff.

I managed to find a ticket on this cruise, but I had to wait for long as it's fully booked at weekends for ages... The staff is very nice and the service is super good: they were worried I was not having enough food and drinks for the intense activities of the cruise. It's a one day cruise, but it takes you to all the places that you'd visit on the classic two days-one night cruises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your catamaran accept children.

Yes, we accept people of all ages coming to our catamaran, including children. So bring your children along and let them explore Halong Bay- the world heritage.

Do You Have Group Offers?

Yes, we have special group offers. The offer depends on the number of the pax in the group

Do You Accept Paypal Payment?

Currently, we don’t accept Paypal payments. We will update that in the future.

If I Get A Problem On The Catamaran, Who Can I Talk With?

Our team always stands by your side, so feel free to contact anyone in the Catamaran. They will do their best to solve your problem. Besides, you can contact us via telephone and email. Scroll down to the footer to get details.

Do You Offer Discount Codes?

Not yet, we will update that in the future. But we occasionally have great offers to let you enjoy Halong Bay at the bargain. Sign up for our newsletter, and follow our social media to stay updated with them.

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Lynch Yacht Sinking Off Sicily Proves as Baffling as It Is Tragic

As bodies were recovered, the authorities and experts wondered how a $40 million, stable and secure vessel could have sunk so quickly.

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By Emma Bubola and Michael J. de la Merced

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Michael J. de la Merced from London.

Two months after being cleared in a bruising legal battle over fraud charges, the British tech mogul Mike Lynch celebrated his freedom with a cruise. He invited his family, friends and part of his legal team on board his luxury sailing yacht, a majestic 180-foot vessel named Bayesian after the mathematical theorem around which he had built his empire.

On Sunday night, after a tour of the Gulf of Naples, including Capri, and volcanic islands in the Eolian archipelago, the boat anchored half a mile off the Sicilian coast in Porticello, Italy. It chose a stretch of water favored by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago for its protection from the mistral wind and, in more recent times, by the yachts of tech billionaires. The boat was lit “like a Christmas tree,” local residents said, standing out against the full moon.

But about 4 a.m., calamity unfolded. A violent and fast storm hit the area with some of the strongest winds locals said they had ever felt. Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman, said he saw a flare pierce the darkness shortly after 4.

Minutes later, the yacht was underwater. Only dozens of cushions from the boat’s deck and a gigantic radar from its mast floated on the surface of the sea, fishermen said.

In all, 22 people were on board, 15 of whom were rescued. Six bodies — five passengers and the ship’s cook — had been recovered by Thursday afternoon, including that of Mr. Lynch, an Italian government official said, adding that the search was continuing for his daughter.

It was a tragic and mystifying turn of events for Mr. Lynch, 59, who had spent years seeking to clear his name and was finally inaugurating a new chapter in his life. Experts wondered how a $40 million yacht, so robust and stable could have been sunk by a storm near a port within minutes.

“It drives me insane,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company, Perini, that made the Bayesian. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

The aura of misfortune only deepened when it emerged that Stephen Chamberlain, 52, a former vice president of finance for Mr. Lynch’s former company and a co-defendant in the fraud case, was killed two days earlier, when he was hit by a car while jogging near his house in England.

Since June, the two men had been in a jubilant mood. A jury in San Francisco had acquitted both on fraud charges that could have sent them to prison for two decades. There were hugs and tears, and they and their legal teams went for a celebratory dinner party at a restaurant in the city, said Gary S. Lincenberg, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlain.

The sea excursion was meant as a thank-you by Mr. Lynch to those who had helped him in his legal travails. Among the guests was Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a scion of a prominent New York family of lawyers who had represented Mr. Lynch for 12 years. He and his wife, Neda, 57, were among the missing.

So, too, was Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a veteran British insurance executive who chaired Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered. All the other crew members survived. Among them was Leo Eppel, 19, of South Africa, who was on his first yacht voyage working as a deck steward, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.

Since the sinking, the recovery effort and investigation have turned the tiny port town of Porticello, a quiet enclave where older men sit bare-chested on balconies, into what feels like the set of a movie.

Helicopters have flown overhead. Ambulances have sped by with the sirens blaring. The Coast Guard has patrolled the waters off shore, within sight of a cordoned-off dock that had been turned into an emergency headquarters.

On Wednesday afternoon, a church bell tolled after the first body bag was loaded into an ambulance, a crowd watching in silence.

The survivors were sheltering in a sprawling resort near Porticello, with a view of the shipwreck spot, and had so far declined to comment.

Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said that the yacht had most likely been hit by a fierce “down burst” — when air generated within a thunderstorm descends rapidly — or by a waterspout , similar to a tornado over water.

He added that his agency had put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about storms and strong winds. Locals said the winds “felt like an earthquake.”

Mr. Costantino, the boat executive, said the yacht had been specifically designed for having a tall mast — the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world. He said the Bayesian was an extremely safe and secure boat that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing.

But he said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, is to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

The New York Times attempted to reach the captain, James Cutfield, who had survived, for comment through social media, his brother and the management company of the yacht (which did not hire the crew), but did not make contact.

So far none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened that night.

Fabio Genco, the director of Palermo’s emergency services, who treated some of the survivors, said that the victims had recounted feeling as if the boat was being lifted, then suddenly dropped, with objects from the cabins falling on them.

The Italian Coast Guard said it had deployed a remotely operated vehicle that can prowl underwater for up to seven hours at a depth of more than 980 feet and record videos and images that they hoped would help them reconstruct the dynamics of the sinking. Such devices were used during the search and rescue operations of the Titan vessel that is believed to have imploded last summer near the wreckage of the Titanic.

After rescuers broke inside the yacht, they struggled to navigate the ropes and many pieces of furniture cluttering the vessel, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for Italy’s national firefighter corps.

Finally, as of Thursday morning, they had managed to retrieve all but one of the missing bodies, and hopes of finding the missing person alive were thin. “Can a human being be underwater for two days?” Mr. Cari asked.

What was certain was that Mr. Lynch’s death was yet another cruel twist of fate for a man who had spent years seeking to clear his name.

He earned a fortune in technology and was nicknamed Britain’s Bill Gates. But for more than a decade, he had been treated as anything but a respected tech leader.

He was accused by Hewlett-Packard, the American technological pioneer that had bought his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion, of misleading it about his company’s worth. (Hewlett-Packard wrote down the value of the transaction by about $8.8 billion, and critics called it one of the worst deals of all time .) He had been increasingly shunned by the British establishment that he sought to break into after growing up working-class outside London.

He was extradited to San Francisco to face criminal charges, and confined to house arrest and 24-hour surveillance on his dime. In a townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood — with security people he jokingly told associates were his “roommates” — he spent his mornings talking with researchers whom he funded personally on new applications for artificial intelligence. Afterward, he devoted hours to discussing legal strategy with his team.

Despite his persistent claims of innocence, even those close to Mr. Lynch had believed his odds of victory were slim. Autonomy’s chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted in 2018 of similar fraud charges and spent five years in prison.

During Mr. Lynch’s house arrest, his brother and mother died. His wife, Angela Bacares, frequently flew over from England, and she became a constant presence in the San Francisco courtroom during the trial.

After he was finally acquitted, Mr. Lynch had his eye on the future. “I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” he said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Pallanza, Italy.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced