London by boat
A river bus at Tower Millennium Pier
London is now starting to follow the example of cities such as Sydney and Bangkok by promoting a network of river bus and pleasure cruise services along the River Thames. London River Services (part of Transport for London) manages regular commuter boats and a network of piers all along the river and publishes timetables and river maps similar to the famous tube map. While boat travel may be slower and a little more expensive than tube travel, it offers an extremely pleasant way to cross the city with unrivalled views of the London skyline - Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, etc. Sailing under Tower Bridge is an unforgettable experience.
Boats are operated by private companies and they have a separate ticketing system from the rest of London transport; however if you have a Travelcard you get a 33% discount on most boat tickets. Many boat operators offer their own one-day ticket - ask at the pier kiosks. Generally, tickets from one boat comapny are not valid on other operators' services. Oyster cards can be used as payment for the 'Clipper'-styled commuter services but not for tour boats.
View from Greenwich Observatory which is easily reached by boat services plying the Thames
Boats run on the following routes:
Bankside - Millbank
Barrier Gardens - Greenwich - St. Katharine's - Westminster
Blackfriars - Embankment - Cadogan - Chelsea Harbour - Wandsworth (RQ) - Putney
Canary Wharf - Hilton Docklands
Canary Wharf - London Bridge City
Embankment - Blackfriars - Chelsea Harbour - Cadogan
Embankment - London Eye - Bankside - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenland - Masthouse Terrace - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal
Embankment - London Eye - Blackfriars - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenland - Masthouse Terrace - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal
Embankment - London Eye - Blackfriars - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal
Embankment - London Eye - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenland - Masthouse Terrace - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal
Greenwich - Tilbury - Gravesend
Greenwich - Tower - Westminster - London Eye
Hampton Court - Kingston (Town End Pier) - Kingston (Turk's Pier) - Richmond (St Helena)
Hampton Court - Richmond - Kew - Westminster
Hilton Docklands - Canary Wharf
London Bridge City - Canary Wharf
Millbank - Bankside
Putney - Wandsworth (RQ) - Chelsea Harbour - Cadogan - Embankment - Blackfriars
Richmond (St Helena) - Kingston (Turk's Pier) - Kingston (Town End Pier) - Hampton Court
Tilbury - Gravesend - Greenwich
Westminster - Embankment - Festival - Bankside - London Bridge City - St. Katharine's - Westminster
Westminster - Embankment - St. Katharine's - Westminster
Westminster - Kew - Richmond - Hampton Court
Westminster - London Eye - Tower - Greenwich
Westminster - St. Katharine's - Greenwich - Barrier Gardens
Woolwich Arsenal - QEII for the O2 - Greenwich - Masthouse Terrace - Greenland - Canary Wharf - Tower - London Bridge City - Bankside - Embankment - London Eye
Woolwich Arsenal - QEII for the O2 - Greenwich - Masthouse Terrace - Greenland - Canary Wharf - Tower - London Bridge City - Blackfriars - Embankment - London Eye
Woolwich Arsenal - QEII for the O2 - Greenwich - Masthouse Terrace - Greenland - Canary Wharf - Tower - London Bridge City - Embankment - London Eye
Some key tourist attractions that are easily accessible by boat include:
- Hampton Court Palace
- Greenwich
- Shakespeare’s Globe
- Tate Galleries
- London Dungeon
- Tower of London
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- Tower Bridge
- St. Katharine Docks
- Millennium Dome/The O2
- Ham House
- Kew Gardens
- HMS Belfast
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plus all the central London sights in Westminster and the South Bank
As well as the Thames, consider a trip along an old Victorian canal through the leafy suburbs of North London. The runs scheduled services (more in summer, less in winter) from Little Venice to Camden Lock with a stop at the London Zoo (pick up only). The 45-minute trip along Regent's Canal is a delightful way to travel.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about London
