- Introduction
Sitting halfway between a pleasure cruise and a very functional means of transport, river buses are a great and convenient way to see the capital.
They are a relatively new addition to Transport for London’s extensive network. Originally known as Thames Clippers, they were recently bought by Uber. So now they go by the slightly longer and less catchy name of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Uber Boat is what you’ll see written on the side of the boat, so that’s what to look out for!
The Thames (pronounced Temz) was vital for the Romans, Saxons, Normans, not to mention the British Empire. It was a major point of entry for ships bearing cargo from faraway seas. In fact Canary Wharf is so named because it was the main docking area for ships bringing in fruit from the Canary Islands!
Though less industrial than the past, these days the river is still woven into the fabric of everyday life. For Londoners, you are either a “north of the river or south of the river” kind of person.
Simply put, London wouldn’t be London without the Thames!
So for priceless up close views of the majestic Tower Bridge, an unforgettable Waterloo Sunset and countless other London delights along the way, look no further than this cut-price river tour of London.
[An Uber Boat by Thames Clipper arriving at the Pier]
2. How it Works
Similar to the Tube network, river buses operate in zones. West, Central and East.
[Uber Boat Route map thamesclippers.com]
Visit the Uber Boat website to see the full route map.
Uber Boat runs the most frequent service in the centre (from Battersea Power Station onwards) at peak times on weekdays and weekends.
You will find that many London attractions are clustered along or close to the Thames’ banks: Tate Britain (Millbank), Westminster, Big Ben, the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Greenwich Observatory to name a few! So if time is short and efficiency is the name of the game, the river bus trip will tick (nearly) all the boxes.
[All twenty piers will have this Transport for London sign to indicate an official stop]
Booking Tickets
If you are planning to pack in as much as possible, the most economical option is to purchase the River Roamer. This will give you a full day’s unlimited access to the entire route from east to west (or west to east). You’ll beat the traffic on London’s congested streets, and avoid the crowds on our iconic but ageing (not to mention cramped) Tube network.
Best for families:
Purchase a Family River Roamer ticket for two adults and up to three children aged 5-15. Under 5s automatically travel for free.
River Roamer Prices:
Adult: £22.10
Child: £11.05
Family: £44.20
People with disabilities are eligible to the concession price of £11.05 and their registered carers are able to travel for free.
Single tickets in the central zone, e.g. from the London Eye to Tower Bridge are currently priced at the following:
Adult: £9
Child: £4.50
There is no family ticket option for single tickets.
From the Central Zone into Greenwich (for the Greenwich Observatory) will cost slightly more:
Adult: £10.25
Child: £5.10
(All prices are accurate as of May 2024).
Where to get tickets:
- On the Uber App
If you have the Uber App, this is definitely the easiest way to get the River Roamer (hop on / hop off) option. (All other ticket options are available to purchase too).
Just go to Uber and select Services. There you’ll see Boat. Select the kind of ticket you want to buy and once you have completed the purchase, the ticket will appear in your app. You’ll need to open it and activate the ticket and show it to a member of staff before you board.
[How to buy tickets on Uber App]
- Contactless Card Payment
If you’re just planning a single trip and you have a contactless card, this option works too! Just make sure your bank isn’t charging you commission to use your card abroad.
[Sign reminding customers to wait until the boat arrives before tapping their cards against the reader]
- Oyster Card
If you’ve opted to purchase a prepaid Oyster Card, you can use this too. River Boats are an integrated part of Transport for London (TFL). You can tell by the nautically themed TFL logo, cleverly adapted for the boats.
- On the Thames Clipper website.
Here you’ll be able to find full details of weekday and weekend timetables and you’ll be able to purchase your ticket online. Buying in advance online is always the cheapest option, so well worth a little forward planning.
London is very much moving towards being a cashless and paperless kind of city. So, while it’s technically possible to purchase your ticket from ticket machines at each pier (river bus stop), it will be more expensive.
We strongly advise using one of the options above!
Greenwich Pier has a dedicated ticket office. River cruises or tours are NOT the same as the River Bus. To avoid confusion, remember to always refer to the river bus as the Uber Boat (or Thames Clipper).
3. Routes
Millbank to Greenwich
You really can’t go wrong, but if you want to really get as much bang for your buck as possible, go for Millbank to Greenwich; it really does tick all the boxes. Starting at Millbank Pier (nearest Tube, Pimlico on the Victoria Line), and a stone’s throw from the wonderful Tate Britain, hop on an eastbound Clipper to Greenwich. That means the boat will arrive from your right hand side. It’s the stop just before Westminster Pier.
If you’re arriving by Tube, at Pimlico Station, take the exit for Millbank Pier.
[Pimlico Underground Station Exit, sign for Millbank Pier]
It’s well worth starting your journey from here as there’s nothing quite like approaching Westminster and Big Ben from the river. You’ll be taking lots of pictures!
[Houses of Parliament and Big Ben from the boat]
[Big Ben]
Next up will be the London Eye: Get off here if you’ve booked a ride on the London Eye or if you’re interested in exploring the Southbank (one of London’s major cultural centres) a little on foot. It’s home to The Royal Festival Hall (housing a music venue and various public spaces for eating and drinking), various art galleries, The National Theatre and the British Film Institute.
It’s especially lively and pleasant to walk on a balmy summer’s evening, with plenty to see and do.
[London Eye and County Hall building]
As you approach Waterloo Bridge, with the Southbank on the right, the gleaming glass skyscrapers of the City (the financial quarter) start to loom in the distance. This stop will leave you right in the heart of the action of the Southbank.
[Embankment Pier for Waterloo Bridge and the Southbank Centre]
Below, the Clipper is just departing Bankside. Harry Potter fans, get off here for a walk across Millennium Bridge. Art fans; the hugely impressive Tate Modern is here, as well as Shakespeare’s Globe. It’s also just a short walk over to St Paul’s Cathedral on the other side of Millenium Bridge.
[Bankside Pier for Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe]
The pièce de resistance has to be The Tower of London and going under Tower Bridge.
[Up close and personal: Tower Bridge from below]
[Classic and unobstructed views of the Tower of London]
Here the river widens and the boat picks up speed. The route map is deceptive as the stops appear to be quite close to each other. But after Tower Bridge, you really start to get a sense of the scale of the Thames. It’s huge! London is technically coastal as it’s on the Thames Estuary. Over the millenia, the river and all its tributaries have been built over and buried underground. You start to get a true sense of that once you’re past Tower Bridge and on your way to the Docklands, Londons’s second financial district.
[Picking up speed as we leave the old city behind. The iconic Shard on the left]
From Tower Bridge to Canary Wharf it’s a full 11 minutes (compared to the next fastest public transport option, the DLR which would take at least 20 minutes).
Canary Wharf (or the Docklands as it’s also known, referring to the larger geographic area), is a relatively new addition to London. Mostly home to banks and businesses, there are several good hotels here, a small residential area and plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. It’s a strange place to visit at the weekend or after 5pm on weekdays. Apart from the Tube station (serving as an exchange hub for the Jubilee and Docklands Light Railway Lines), it can feel eerily deserted!
For London history fans, you’ll find the Museum of London (Docklands) here with lots to see and learn about London’s past (especially connected to the river).
Don’t miss Greenwich! (Get off at Greenwich Pier (not North Greenwich). Apart from the Observatory, Greenwich itself is a charming town in its own right. Yes, technically part of London but has a distinct character all of its own!
The park and Naval Museum is a sight for sore eyes in and of itself. A short stroll up the hill will reward you with sweeping views of the Docklands and central London way beyond in the distance (you’ll just about be able to spot the Shard peeping out).
Greenwich Museum and Planetarium are not free to enter (unlike most other museums in London). A monument marking the prime meridian line (let’s not forget this is the place that put the G into GMT!) is reserved for museum ticket holders only.
However… you are welcome to enter the gift shop without a ticket. Inside there will be signs to head upstairs to the top of the dome shaped roof where you can see one of the largest telescopes in the world!
[Telescope at the Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line]
If you’ve opted for the River Roamer, jump back on a Clipper and head all the way back, this time to Battersea Power Station. Time it right, and enjoy dusk, early evening views of the city. More magical to my mind as the bridges are lit up, and the twinkling lights of the City welcome you in.
Pink Floyd fans will recognise the chimneys from the Animals album cover, but even if you’re not a Pink Floyd fan, there are plenty of reasons to head to Battersea now. The whole area has been regenerated offering more riverside leisure and public spaces to enjoy. Battersea Park is glorious for a stroll alongside the river taking you to Albert Bridge, to my mind, one of London’s prettiest bridges.
4. Operating Hours
Services operate from approximately 6:30am to 11:30pm on weekdays, and from a slightly later time of 8am until approximately 11pm on weekends and bank holidays.
Very early morning services do not stop at every single pier on the route, whereas from mid-morning onward, they tend to offer more complete services (stopping everywhere) in order to cater to visitors.
Check in advance by taking a look at the timetables here. You’ll also be able to check on your Uber App.
5. Benefits Over Other Forms of Transport
The river bus is not cheap, however, nothing beats those views. Given that so many of London’s main attractions are by or close to the river, it is actually a very efficient, not to mention relaxing way to travel.
You are always guaranteed a seat, there’s a bar on board offering snacks and refreshments, and there are outlets by every (very comfortable) seat, so bring your charger!
If you’re only in London for a few days, a River Roamer pays for itself. You can spend the day hopping on and off at your leisure and see the city without the stress of taking the wrong branch of the Northern Line, or getting stuck in traffic. It’s happened to us all!
The Tube, as wonderful as it can be, has been subject to quite a few disruptions lately, with major strikes and engineering work leading to cancellations and all round misery for commuters and tourists alike. Save yourself the hassle at least for one day by taking it easy on the boat.
[Guaranteed seating and bar on board the Clipper].
6. Tips and Tricks
- If you are travelling with kids, the family River Roamer is great value. Two adults and three kids up to 15 can travel for free.
- Bring food! London is expensive, and sight seeing is a tiring business. The seating areas are very comfortable on board, you might want to pack a light picnic just to keep you going.
- Don’t forget your charger! There are plenty of outlets on board, so take the opportunity to charge your phone as you will be taking lots of pictures.
- If you’re planning a West to East trip, board before Westminster (at Millbank or Battersea). You won’t want to miss seeing Westminster and Big Ben from the river.
- Bring a scarf! Unless you’re visiting during a heatwave, it can get a bit nippy if you’re standing outside. It’s mostly indoor, but there is a small outdoor seating area (with standing room) at the back of the boat which you’ll most likely want to experience too.
[Outlets and USB ports in the seating area]
- Finally, check the weather forecast! Blue sky makes all the difference, but the weather’s incredibly changeable in this part of the world! So pack an umbrella, AND sunglasses.