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Times and Tides

The river trip from Westminster to Hampton Court is unique. At 35 kilometres (22 miles) one-way, it is the longest regular scheduled boat service available from London.

On a fiercely tidal river such as The Thames it is difficult and sometimes impossible to provide an exact time of departure and arrival. The latest sailings estimate departure and journey times based on current tides and conditions

It is worth listing here the factors taken into consideration when preparing the latest sailing timetable

• There are two tides a day on the Thames it takes approximately five hours to come in and little over seven hours to go out
• Each high tide occurs slightly more than twelve hours later than the next
• Near to the new and full moons (about every two weeks) we have spring tides when there is a rise and fall between low tide and high tide of up to 8m (26')
• Seven to eight days after spring tides we have neap tides where the difference between low water and high water is around 5m (16')
• Other factors such as wind in the estuary and land water from the hills, all have a bearing on the time and height of tide.

The most obvious way the tide affects vessels is direction. Traveling along with the tide ~upstream with the flood and downstream with the ebb, is more efficient than pushing against the ebb going up and the flood going down.

Approximate Journey Times

Westminster to Kew : 90 minutes each way* Westminster to Richmond : 2 hours each way* Westminster to Hampton Court : Three hours each way*

*Times are subject to tidal conditions

Richmond lock and footbridge is described as a half tide lock. In each arch of the footbridge there is a shutter known as a curtain.  Two hours after high water the curtains are lowered into the river, creating a barrier to maintain the level of water above this point.  While the curtains are in the lowered position , vessels are obliged to use the lock, and transit time will vary depending the tide. Two hours before the next high water the curtains are lifted, which allows vessels to navigate unimpeded through the bridge.

• Cockney Sparrow

The Cockney Sparrow was built in 1976 at Eel Pie Island. She is a two level boat with a deceptively large enclosed saloon and an open top deck. 

M.V Connaught was built by Salter Brothers of Oxford in 1911 & has been cruising between Westminster, Kew, Richmond & Hampton Court for over 100 years. Connaught regularly operates on our services & is also available for private charters.

• Princess Freda

Princess Freda was built in 1926 by T.C. Letcher on the Isle of Wight, and has been restored to a particularly high standard.

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Explore London by boat

Enjoy comfortable seats, fantastic views and an onboard café bar

Take to the Thames and make travel time part of your London adventure! Departing major central piers every 10-20 minutes and connecting 20+ piers along the River Thames, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (also known as London's River Bus) provides a fast and safe way to get around the capital. With step-free access, guaranteed seats when on board, open back-decks and onboard café bars, you’ll get the best views of London’s landmarks.

Travelling with your family? Children aged 4 and under travel for free on all our services and children between the ages of 5 and 15 receive a 50% discount on all fares. Children go free when you buy a Family Hop-on Hop-off ticket!

Buy your tickets now

See all the sights

Sail through London and see all the iconic sights including Big Ben, London Eye, The Shard, Tower Bridge and Greenwich.

Comfortable seats

Comfortable seats in climate controlled cabins or enjoy the fresh air on the outside back deck. 

Onboard café bar

A whole range of refreshments and snacks are available from the café bar from hot chocolate and coffee to beer and prosecco. 

Accessible travel

All our boats and piers are step-free and wheelchair accessible except for Cadogan, London Bridge City and Wandsworth Riverside Quarter piers

What can you see and do?

Spot iconic London sights from the river or hop on and hop off across our piers to visit top London landmarks and attractions.

Here are some ideas for you.

Need more inspiration? Check out our page ' Things to do in London '. 

How does it work?

The River Bus network is divided into zones, just like the tube. Our services operate in three zones: West, Central and East and the fare will depend on which zones you travel in. Your ticket must be valid for all the zones you travel through. For instance, if you are travelling between Tower and Greenwich piers you will need a Central and East ticket. 

With a Hop-on Hop-off ticket you can travel across All Zones. It's that easy!

Central Zone: All piers between Battersea Power Station and Canary Wharf East Zone: All piers between Canary Wharf and Barking Riverside

Online price

We have different options available to pay for river travel so you can choose the most convenient for you. The table below gives you our online prices (up to 10% cheaper than buying at the pier) for our most common journeys.

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Find all our prices

Book your ticket now

All-day unlimited travel across 20+ piers. Best ticket to explore London. Kids go free with a Family ticket.

Buy a single or return ticket if only travelling between two piers.

Joint tickets

Combine a trip on the river with a visit to St Paul's Cathedral, Painted Hall or a flight on the cable car for a Tik Tok moment!

Travel tools

Accessibility, ticket information, find your pier, things to do in london, covid-19 safety measures.

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Paying for river travel with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers couldn't be easier, we have different options available. Choose the most convenient for you.

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On select event nights, sail back into town after the show ends! Pre-book your ticket for a guaranteed seat on the Express or Request Post-Show services.

The Express service will depart promptly, 15 minutes after showdown, followed by the first Request service. Passengers will be boarded in the order they arrive at the pier. Pre-book your ticket before the event.

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City Cruises Greenwich Pier

Greenwich pier.

Plus there’s plenty of attractions to be seen in Greenwich including the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, Painted Hall, Greenwich Market, Greenwich Royal Park, Green Chain Walk, Queen’s House, Old Royal Naval College, Royal Observatory Greenwich and many more.

Quaint streets, attractive parkland and stunning, palatial grounds await you in this pretty, relaxed part of London and boat trips leave from Greenwich pier regularly.

Nearest Tube Station:

Cutty Sark Station – DLR

Nearest Bus Stop:

• Greenwich Town Centre / Cutty Sark (C)
• Greenwich Town Centre / Cutty Sark (D)
• Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich (A)

Disabled Access:

Greenwich Pier is accessible to wheelchairs, with step free access from the ticket office to the boats.

Ticket Booth Open Times:

Daily 10am – 5pm

Things to do at Greenwich Pier:

Why not check out our sightseeing or 24hr River Pass Cruises you can hop on from Greenwich Pier and make your way through to the heart of the city.

Closest Attractions

• National Wartime Museum
• Royal Observatory

Other pier locations

How to get to greenwich pier.

There are a few ways to get Greenwich Pier, the nearest tube station is Cutty Sark on the DLR and then is a 6-minute walk to the pier. Or the nearest bus stop is Greenwich Town Centre from there it is an 8-minute walk. Also if you are coming from the water, you can get to Greenwich Pier on our Hop on Hop off sightseeing cruise.

Where is Greenwich Pier?

Greenwich Pier is on the south bank of the River Thames in Greenwich.

Are boats running to Greenwich?

Yes, our boats run every 40-minutes.

How long is the boat trip from Greenwich to Westminster?

The duration of the cruise is 1hr 15mins.

Who owns Greenwich Pier?

Transport for London owns and operates the Greenwich and North Greenwich piers.

What pier is Cutty Sark on?

Cutty Sark is opposite Greenwich Pier

How do I get to Greenwich market by boat?

You can get to Greenwich Pier from either Westminster or Tower Pier. From the pier to the market it’s a 3-minute walk.

What is Greenwich Pier’s nearest railway station?

Greenwich Pier’s nearest station is Cutty Sark on the DLR Line. Don’t be confused with North Greenwich that is on the Jubilee Line.

What is the Greenwich Pier postcode?

Greenwich Pier’s postcode is King William Walk, London SE10 9HT

Is Greenwich Pier accessible?

Greenwich Pier has wheelchair accessibility.

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Sightseeing At Its Best

Explore london with thames river sightseeing.

Make the most of your adventure! Join our local skippers and friendly team for an unforgettable Thames River cruise.

THAMES RIVER CRUISE TICKETS

Tickets & packages.

• Thames River Sightseeing Cruise Ticket

Westminster to Greenwich

Travel from Westminster to Greenwich and enjoy beautiful views over London’s famous landmarks with our River Thames Sightseeing cruise.

Westminster to Tower Bridge (Butler's Wharf Pier)

See the best of beautiful London from the waters on this  Thames River Sightseeing cruise, from Westminster to  Tower Bridge.

2 Day River Pass | Hop On Hop Off

Our 2-day hop-on and hop-off Thames River Sightseeing ticket is the best way to explore London from the water – with unlimited river travel over two consecutive days to enjoy at your own pace.

Tower Bridge (Butler's Wharf) to Westminster

Climb aboard our sightseeing cruise at Tower Bridge (Butler’s Wharf Pier) and head to Westminster.

THAMES RIVER SIGHTSEEING

Featured Attractions

There’s so much to see when you’re on your Thames River Sightseeing cruise that you’re bound to find at least one place you’ll want to visit. Explore iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Shard, & more!

• Closest Pier: Bankside Pier

TOWER OF LONDON

• Closest Pier: Greenwich Pier

ROYAL OBSERVATORY

Shakespeare's globe, st. paul's cathedral.

• BEAUTIFUL VIEWS
• EXPERT CREW

Are you a group of 15 or more? Book now and get 15% off your tickets. Please select a cruise below and the discount will automatically be applied for group bookings of at least 15 people.

Select a cruise for your group and get 15% off your tickets when check out.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our common answer to your common questions. Didn’t see what you are looking for? Click the button below to read all our FAQs.

The Thames is a chock-a-block full of London landmarks, including the iconic Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Cutty Sark, as well as modern attractions like the London Eye and the Shard. Rest assured your skipper will point out all the points of interest in an entertaining and informative commentary.

• Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London, SW1A 2JH
• Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2N 6NU
• Festival Pier, Riverside Walk, London, SE1 9PX
• Bankside Pier, Bankside, London, SE1 9PD
• Tower Bridge Quay, St Katharine Docks, 50 St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1LA
• Greenwich Pier, King William Walk, London, SE10 9HT

• +44 (0) 20 3778 700
• [email protected]

Travel across London by river

Take to the Thames and discover a new way to move through the capital by boat.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at 24 piers along the Thames between Barking Riverside Pier in the East and Putney Pier in the West. Services run from early in the morning until late at night 7 days a week.

Like the tube, the river is divided into zones: West, Central and East. Your ticket must be valid for all the zones you travel through. For instance, if you are travelling between Embankment and North Greenwich piers you will need a Central and East ticket.

All our boats and piers are wheelchair and pram accessible except for Cadogan, London Bridge City and Wandsworth Riverside Quarter piers. You can even bring your bike on board at no extra cost.

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River Guide

Discover everything London has to offer with our River Guide. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, our free interactive map will help you plan the perfect adventure across the capital.

Start exploring

Fast and convenient

Avoid the rush-hour hassle and take to the river. Make time yours! With a guaranteed seat and personal space, what are you going to do with your time? Catch up on emails, call a friend or read a book? Perhaps just enjoy the views?

RB1, our main route, operates from early in the morning until late at night 7 days a week across the Central and East Zones. The RB1 stops at piers between Battersea Power Station or London Eye (Waterloo) and Barking Riverside (depending on time of the day) allowing you to easily travel across London and enjoy the capital’s landmarks such as Westminster, The London Eye, Tower or Greenwich.

Please check the timetable before travelling.

On weekends, RB2 operates across all our zones (West, Central and East) stopping at main piers between Putney and North Greenwich via Battersea Power Station. Our RB2 service connects Tate Britain at Millbank Pier and Tate Modern at Bankside Pier, the easiest way to travel Tate to Tate.

The RB4 Canary Wharf to Doubletree Docklands ferry service provides regular river crossings between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe 7 days a week.

RB5 operates on weekdays during off-peak hours, calling at North Greenwich, Royal Wharf, Woolwich (Royal Arsenal), and Barking Riverside piers once an hour in both directions.

The RB6 operates weekdays during morning and evening peak times between Putney and Canary Wharf piers located in the West and Central Zones of our route. During the off-peak daytime the service operates hourly between Putney and Royal Wharf in the East Zone.

RB6 regularly calls at Embankment, Blackfriars and London Bridge City piers but does not always stop at all piers along its route. Please check the timetable before travelling.

Useful links

Ticket information, accessibility, book tickets, latest service updates.

For the most up to date information on our services please follow   @thamesclippers on X (formerly known as Twitter). You can also find live departure information at the piers or on the Thames Clippers Tickets app.