London River Services
Encyclopedia
London River Services is a division of Transport for London
(TfL), which manages passenger transport on the River Thames
in London, UK. They do not own or operate any boats but license
the services of other operators. The services they regulate are a mixture of leisure-oriented tourist services and commuter services.
The River Thames is generally no more than 300m wide as it runs through central London, and is easily crossed by bridge or tunnel. River boat services in London therefore mostly travel east or west along the Thames rather than across it, and the only major cross-river ferry services are to be found further downstream where the river is wider.
London's river service network is not as extensive as those of Hong Kong or Sydney
, but with recent investment in river public transport and the creation of London River Services, water transport in the British capital is experiencing a revival. More than 2,000 commuters a day now travel by river which adds up to three million people per year, a figure that is set to increase with preparations for the 2012 Olympics and tourist traffic during the games.
Before the construction of London's bridges and the Underground
, the River Thames had served as a major thoroughfare for centuries. Attempts to regulate the transport of passengers and goods began in 1197, when King Richard I sold the Crown's rights over the Thames to the City of London Corporation, which then attempted to license boats on the river. In 1510 Henry VIII
granted a licence to watermen
that gave exclusive rights to carry passengers on the river, and in 1555 an Act of Parliament set up the Company of Watermen and Lightermen to control traffic on the Thames.
For centuries the only bridge across the Thames was London Bridge
. Crossing the river by wherry
(small wooden rowing boat) was a common mode of transport.
Passenger steamboats were introduced in 1815 and the use of the river as a means of public transport increased greatly. River services ran from Gravesend
, Margate
and Ramsgate
via Greenwich
and Woolwich
into central London. By the mid-1850s about 15,000 people per day travelled to work on steamboat services – twice the number of passengers on the newly emerging railways. With increased congestion on the river, collisions and other accidents became correspondingly more frequent, most notably with the Princess Alice disaster at Woolwich in 1878.
While the introduction of large steamboats and bridge construction had taken business from the Thames watermen, the growth of the railways took passengers away from the steamboat services and the use of the river for public transport began a steady decline. River service companies struggled financially, and in 1876 the five main boat companies merged to form the London Steamboat Company. The company ran a half-hourly service from Chelsea to Greenwich for eight years until it went bankrupt in 1884. Nevertheless, river services continued under different management into the next century. Many of the Thames paddle steamers around this time were built by the Thames Ironworks
at Bow Creek
.
launched its own public river transport service to complement its new tram network
, acquiring piers and investing in a large fleet of 30 paddle-steamers. Frequent services operated from Hammersmith to Greenwich. The LCC river service was not a success; in the first year it ran up debts of £30,000. It was shut down in 1907 after only two years' service.
Numerous proposals for "river bus" services were considered throughout the Twentieth Century, although the few that were realised were cancelled after a short time in service. In 1940, a temporary wartime
river bus service was introduced using commandeered pleasure cruisers to replace train and tram services which were disrupted by the bombing of the Blitz
.
With the move of the Port of London
downstream in the 1960s, regular river transport was limited to a few sightseeing boats.
, John Prescott
, launched Thames 2000, a £21-million project to regenerate the River Thames in time for the Millennium Celebrations and boost new passenger transport services on the Thames. The centrepiece of these celebrations was to be the Millennium Dome
, but there was also a plan to provide a longer-term legacy of public transport boat services and piers on the river.
The Cross-River Partnership, a consortium
of local authorities, private sector organisations and voluntary bodies, recommended the creation of a public body to co-ordinate and promote river services. This agency, provisionally titled the Thames Piers Agency, would integrate boat services into other modes of public transport, take control of Thames piers from the Port of London
Authority, and commission the construction of new piers.
The result was the formation in 1999 of London River Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London.
Ken Livingstone
's Transport Strategy for London 2005 states that: The safe use of the Thames for passenger and freight services should be developed. Passenger services will be encouraged, particularly services that relate to its cultural and architectural excellence and tourism. Use of London's other navigable waterways for freight, consistent with their roles for leisure use and as ecosystems, will be encouraged.
LRS is responsible for integrating river transport with the rest of the public transport network, such as the Tube and buses. It promotes boat services under the London River Services brand, issuing timetables and river maps.
LRS is also responsible for directly managing eight piers on the river, and has invested in LRS-branded signage and passenger information.
Following its launch the service was criticised for its lack of subsidy for private boat operators. LRS now supports the Thames Clipper commuter service financially and has increased the peak service frequency to a boat every 15 minutes. In April 2009, the signing of a "River Concordat
" by London’s pier owners, boat operators, borough councils and Transport for London was announced, committing the various partners to improving ticketing, piers and passenger information, and to closer integration into the transport network.
London River Services is not responsible for maintaining the river itself; the Port of London Authority
takes care of river traffic control, security, navigational
safety (including buoys, beacons, bridge lights and channel surveys), and the RNLI operates Thames lifeboat services
.
.
The London River Services brand is a sub-brand of TfL which uses the familiar Tube roundel, originally devised for London Underground and now established as the corporate branding for all TfL services. The River Services roundel is a dark blue bar (Pantone
072) on pale blue circle (Pantone 299).
Corporate signage, stationery and literature all use the New Johnston
typeface in common with other TfL services.
LRS publishes diagrammatic river maps in the tradition of Harry Beck
's iconic Tube map
. Tube maps published by TfL since 2000 denote river interchange stations with a boat symbol.
These river services run to a timetable through the day with more frequent services during peak rush hour times. Most services run seven days a week, although some do not operate at weekends. Many operators offer discounted fares to Travelcard
holders. The main lines of operation are:
The catamaran
-hulled vessels have on-board coffee bars, airline-style seating, are wheelchair-accessible and have bicycle racks.
In central London, the River Thames is narrow enough to allow it to be crossed by many bridges; further downstream however, the river widens and there are fewer bridge crossings. Two ferry services are still in operation:
Two other ferry services operate upstream in west London: Hammerton's Ferry
and the Hampton Ferry
. These services are independent of London River Services as they do not serve LRS-managed piers.
Leisure boats are aimed mainly at the tourist market; as they do not usually provide rush hour services, they are not normally suitable for commuting. Some boat companies run regular scheduled services, others may run twice daily, only on certain days of the week, or only during certain months of the year. Boats may also be chartered for private hire. Destinations are often tourist attractions such as the Tate
Galleries or Hampton Court Palace
.
Charter services, usually catering for large parties, are also available from these and other operators.
In 2000, five new piers were opened with funding from the Millennium Commission
under its Thames 2000 project, with a grant of £
7,177,000:
The new piers were provided to improve previously neglected travel connections on the Thames and promote the river as an alternative means of public transport.
Unlike the underground
and bus
networks, boat operators have their own separate ticketing arrangements and charge separate fares which are generally higher than corresponding journeys by tube or bus. The only exception is the Woolwich Ferry
, which is free of charge.
Oyster card
is valid on most Thames Clipper services for single fares, offering a ten percent discount. Most boat operators offer discounts to Travelcard holders, as well as to freedom pass holders and students.
Ticket sales at piers are managed independently by the operators, and tickets are sold at separate kiosks with no facility for cross-ticketing. Many piers have a line of several sales desks, each owned by a different boat firm. Single tickets can often be bought on board the boat, but this is down to individual operator arrangements.
Some operators offer their own season tickets and carnet
s of single tickets. Thames Clipper, for example, offer a one-day Roamer ticket which allows multiple journeys within off-peak hours.
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
(TfL), which manages passenger transport on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London, UK. They do not own or operate any boats but license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
the services of other operators. The services they regulate are a mixture of leisure-oriented tourist services and commuter services.
The River Thames is generally no more than 300m wide as it runs through central London, and is easily crossed by bridge or tunnel. River boat services in London therefore mostly travel east or west along the Thames rather than across it, and the only major cross-river ferry services are to be found further downstream where the river is wider.
London's river service network is not as extensive as those of Hong Kong or Sydney
Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries is an agency of the New South Wales Government Department of Transport, providing ferry services on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River in Sydney, Australia....
, but with recent investment in river public transport and the creation of London River Services, water transport in the British capital is experiencing a revival. More than 2,000 commuters a day now travel by river which adds up to three million people per year, a figure that is set to increase with preparations for the 2012 Olympics and tourist traffic during the games.
History
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, the River Thames had served as a major thoroughfare for centuries. Attempts to regulate the transport of passengers and goods began in 1197, when King Richard I sold the Crown's rights over the Thames to the City of London Corporation, which then attempted to license boats on the river. In 1510 Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
granted a licence to watermen
Watermen
Watermen are river workers who transfer passengers across and along city centre rivers and estuaries in Britain and its colonies. Most notable are those on the River Thames and River Medway, but other rivers such as the River Tyne and River Dee, Wales also had their watermen who formed guilds in...
that gave exclusive rights to carry passengers on the river, and in 1555 an Act of Parliament set up the Company of Watermen and Lightermen to control traffic on the Thames.
For centuries the only bridge across the Thames was London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
. Crossing the river by wherry
Wherry
A wherry is a type of boat that was traditionally used for carrying cargo or passengers on rivers and canals in England, and is particularly associated with the River Thames and also with the Broadland rivers of Norfolk and Suffolk. London passenger wherries evolved into the Thames skiff, a...
(small wooden rowing boat) was a common mode of transport.
The 19th Century
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
, Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
and Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
via Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
and Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
into central London. By the mid-1850s about 15,000 people per day travelled to work on steamboat services – twice the number of passengers on the newly emerging railways. With increased congestion on the river, collisions and other accidents became correspondingly more frequent, most notably with the Princess Alice disaster at Woolwich in 1878.
While the introduction of large steamboats and bridge construction had taken business from the Thames watermen, the growth of the railways took passengers away from the steamboat services and the use of the river for public transport began a steady decline. River service companies struggled financially, and in 1876 the five main boat companies merged to form the London Steamboat Company. The company ran a half-hourly service from Chelsea to Greenwich for eight years until it went bankrupt in 1884. Nevertheless, river services continued under different management into the next century. Many of the Thames paddle steamers around this time were built by the Thames Ironworks
Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Limited was a shipyard and iron works straddling the mouth of Bow Creek at its confluence with the River Thames, at Leamouth Wharf on the west side and at Canning Town on the east side...
at Bow Creek
Bow Creek
Bow Creek is a long tidal estuary of the River Lea and is part of the Bow Back Rivers. Below Bow Locks the creek forms the boundary between the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, in east London....
.
The 20th Century
In 1905 the London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
launched its own public river transport service to complement its new tram network
London County Council Tramways
The London County Council Tramways was an extensive network of public street tramways that was operated by the council throughout the County of London, UK, from 1899 to 1933, when they were taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board....
, acquiring piers and investing in a large fleet of 30 paddle-steamers. Frequent services operated from Hammersmith to Greenwich. The LCC river service was not a success; in the first year it ran up debts of £30,000. It was shut down in 1907 after only two years' service.
Numerous proposals for "river bus" services were considered throughout the Twentieth Century, although the few that were realised were cancelled after a short time in service. In 1940, a temporary wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
river bus service was introduced using commandeered pleasure cruisers to replace train and tram services which were disrupted by the bombing of the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
.
With the move of the Port of London
Port of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
downstream in the 1960s, regular river transport was limited to a few sightseeing boats.
Revival of passenger services
In 1997 the then Secretary of State for TransportSecretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
, John Prescott
John Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
, launched Thames 2000, a £21-million project to regenerate the River Thames in time for the Millennium Celebrations and boost new passenger transport services on the Thames. The centrepiece of these celebrations was to be the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
, but there was also a plan to provide a longer-term legacy of public transport boat services and piers on the river.
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
of local authorities, private sector organisations and voluntary bodies, recommended the creation of a public body to co-ordinate and promote river services. This agency, provisionally titled the Thames Piers Agency, would integrate boat services into other modes of public transport, take control of Thames piers from the Port of London
Port of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
Authority, and commission the construction of new piers.
The result was the formation in 1999 of London River Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London.
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
's Transport Strategy for London 2005 states that: The safe use of the Thames for passenger and freight services should be developed. Passenger services will be encouraged, particularly services that relate to its cultural and architectural excellence and tourism. Use of London's other navigable waterways for freight, consistent with their roles for leisure use and as ecosystems, will be encouraged.
LRS today
LRS is also responsible for directly managing eight piers on the river, and has invested in LRS-branded signage and passenger information.
Following its launch the service was criticised for its lack of subsidy for private boat operators. LRS now supports the Thames Clipper commuter service financially and has increased the peak service frequency to a boat every 15 minutes. In April 2009, the signing of a "River Concordat
Concordat
A concordat is an agreement between the Holy See of the Catholic Church and a sovereign state on religious matters. Legally, they are international treaties. They often includes both recognition and privileges for the Catholic Church in a particular country...
" by London’s pier owners, boat operators, borough councils and Transport for London was announced, committing the various partners to improving ticketing, piers and passenger information, and to closer integration into the transport network.
London River Services is not responsible for maintaining the river itself; the Port of London Authority
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
takes care of river traffic control, security, navigational
Pilotage
Pilotage is the use of fixed visual references on the ground or sea by means of sight or radar to guide oneself to a destination, sometimes with the help of a map or nautical chart. People use pilotage for activities such as guiding vessels and aircraft, hiking and Scuba diving...
safety (including buoys, beacons, bridge lights and channel surveys), and the RNLI operates Thames lifeboat services
Tower Lifeboat Station
The Tower Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station on the River Thames in London, UK, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It is located at Victoria Embankment on the North Bank of the Thames, next to Waterloo Bridge....
.
Branding
The public presentation of London River Services is visually associated with existing TfL design standards, using identical graphic design elements to those used on London Underground publicity, signage and other elements, drawing on the design heritage of Harry BeckHarry Beck
Henry Charles Beck , known as Harry Beck, was an English engineering draftsman best known for creating the present London Underground Tube map in 1931. Beck drew up the diagram in his spare time while working as an engineering draftsman at the London Underground Signals Office...
.
The London River Services brand is a sub-brand of TfL which uses the familiar Tube roundel, originally devised for London Underground and now established as the corporate branding for all TfL services. The River Services roundel is a dark blue bar (Pantone
Pantone
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...
072) on pale blue circle (Pantone 299).
Corporate signage, stationery and literature all use the New Johnston
Johnston (typeface)
Johnston is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by and named after Edward Johnston. It is well known for its use by Transport for London....
typeface in common with other TfL services.
LRS publishes diagrammatic river maps in the tradition of Harry Beck
Harry Beck
Henry Charles Beck , known as Harry Beck, was an English engineering draftsman best known for creating the present London Underground Tube map in 1931. Beck drew up the diagram in his spare time while working as an engineering draftsman at the London Underground Signals Office...
's iconic Tube map
Tube map
The Tube map is a schematic transit map representing the lines and stations of London's rapid transit railway systems, namely the London Underground , the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground....
. Tube maps published by TfL since 2000 denote river interchange stations with a boat symbol.
Services
The service patterns advertised by TfL can vary according to season. They are divided into three main types:Commuter services
Travelcard
The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
holders. The main lines of operation are:
- Embankment – Woolwich
- Putney – Chelsea Harbour – Cadogan – Embankment – Blackfriars
The catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
-hulled vessels have on-board coffee bars, airline-style seating, are wheelchair-accessible and have bicycle racks.
Ferry services
- The Canary Wharf - Rotherhithe FerryCanary Wharf - Rotherhithe FerryThe Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry is a passenger ferry across the River Thames in the south east of London, UK. The service connects Canary Wharf Pier, serving the major Canary Wharf office development north of the river, with Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier at the Hilton Hotel in Rotherhithe...
(also called the Hilton Docklands – Canary Wharf Shuttle) operates between Canary Wharf PierCanary Wharf PierThe Canary Wharf Pier is a London River Services pier on the River Thames in London, UK. It is located to the west of the Canary Wharf district, close to Narrow Street, Limehouse....
and Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock PierHilton Docklands Nelson Dock PierHilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier is the official name of a pier on the south bank of the River Thames in Rotherhithe, London, UK.-Services:The pier is served by the Canary Wharf - Rotherhithe Ferry, operated by Thames Clipper, which crosses the Thames to the Canary Wharf business district.Boats...
at the Hilton Hotel in Rotherhithe. Boats operate roughly every 10 minutes, and can be used both by guests of the hotel as well as by passengers not staying at the hotel. - The Woolwich FerryWoolwich FerryThe Woolwich Free Ferry is a boat service across the River Thames, London, UK, which is licensed and financed by London River Services, the maritime arm of Transport for London...
is a free ferry service for vehicles and foot passengers. It connects WoolwichWoolwichWoolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and North WoolwichNorth WoolwichNorth Woolwich is a place in the London Borough of Newham. It is located north of Woolwich proper which is on the south bank of the River Thames. The two places are linked by the Woolwich Ferry and the Woolwich foot tunnel.-History:...
, and is close to King George V DLR stationKing George V DLR stationKing George V DLR station is a station on the Docklands Light Railway which opened on 2 December 2005 and named after King George V Dock, nearby. The station is in the London Borough of Newham and is located in Travelcard Zone 3. Station and on-train announcements refer to the station as 'King...
. For vehicles, the service links the London ring roads, the NorthA406 roadThe A406 or the North Circular Road is a road which crosses North London, UK, linking West and East London. It, together with the South Circular Road, forms a ring road through the inner part of Outer London...
and South CircularA205 roadThe A205 or South Circular Road is a direct route which crosses South London, UK, running from Woolwich in the east to the junction of the A406 , the M4 and the A4 at Gunnersbury in the west....
roads, at their eastern ends.
Two other ferry services operate upstream in west London: Hammerton's Ferry
Hammerton's Ferry
Hammerton's Ferry is a pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London, England. The ferry links the northern bank near Marble Hill House in Twickenham with the southern bank near Ham House in Ham...
and the Hampton Ferry
Hampton Ferry (River Thames)
Hampton Ferry is a pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in England. The ferry links Hampton, on the north bank and in the London Borough of Richmond, with Moulsey Hurst, on the south bank and in the county of Surrey....
. These services are independent of London River Services as they do not serve LRS-managed piers.
Leisure services
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
Galleries or Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
.
- Bankside – Waterloo – Millbank (Tate to Tate)
- London Eye River Cruise
- Multilingual Circular Cruise
- Greenwich Sunday Evening Sightseeing Cruise
- MV Balmoral and Paddle Steamer WaverleyPS WaverleyPS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973...
Cruises from Tower Pier - Richmond – Kingston – Hampton Court
- Tilbury/Gravesend – Greenwich
- Westminster – Kew – Richmond – Hampton Court
- Westminster – St Katharine's Hop-on, Hop-off circular service
- Westminster – Waterloo – Tower – Greenwich
- Westminster – Greenwich – Barrier Gardens
Operators
Scheduled tourist and commuter services on the river are operated by a number of private companies, including:| Operator | Services | External link |
|---|---|---|
| London Eye River Cruise London Eye The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually... (operated by Thames Clipper) |
tourist service | http://www.londoneye.com/FlightsAndPrices/Flights/LondonEyeRiverCruise/Default.aspx |
| Bateaux London Bateaux London Bateaux London is a river boat company which provides cruises on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom. The company specialises in scheduled restaurant cruises and private charters with on-board catering and live music entertainment... |
tourist | http://www.bateauxlondon.com |
| Crown River Cruises Crown River Cruises Crown River Cruises is a river boat company which provides leisure cruises on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom. Bateaux London cruises operate on the Thames under licence from London River Services, part of Transport for London.-Vessels:... |
tourist | http://www.crownriver.com |
| Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company is a river boat company which provides cruises on the River Thames in Gravesend and London, UK. Bateaux London cruises operate on the Thames under licence from London River Services, part of Transport for London.... |
tourist | http://www.princess-pocahontas.com |
| London Borough of Greenwich London Borough of Greenwich The London Borough of Greenwich is an Inner London borough in south-east London, England. Taking its name from the historic town of Greenwich, the present borough was formed in 1965 by the amalgamation of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich with part of the Metropolitan... |
Woolwich Ferry Woolwich Ferry The Woolwich Free Ferry is a boat service across the River Thames, London, UK, which is licensed and financed by London River Services, the maritime arm of Transport for London... |
http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/Travel/LocalTravelServices/WoolwichFerry.htm |
| Thames Clippers | commuter and tourist | http://www.thamesclippers.com |
| Thames Executive Charters Thames Executive Charters Thames Executive Charters is a river boat company which provides river bus services and cruises on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom. The company also provides private charters with on-board catering and entertainment... |
commuter | http://www.thamesexecutivecharters.com |
| Thames River Services Thames River Services Thames River Services is a river boat company which provides leisure cruises on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom. TRS cruises operate on the Thames under licence from London River Services, part of Transport for London.-Services:... |
tourist | http://www.thamesriverservices.co.uk |
| Turk Launches | tourist | http://www.turks.co.uk |
| Westminster Passenger Services Association | tourist | http://www.wpsa.co.uk |
| Waverley Excursions PS Waverley PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973... |
tourist | http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/thames.htm |
| Thames Pleasure Cruises | tourist | http://www.thamespleasurecruises.co.uk |
Charter services, usually catering for large parties, are also available from these and other operators.
| Operator | Charter Services | External link |
|---|---|---|
| Livett's Launches Livett's Launches Livett's Launches is a river boat company which provides cruises on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom. The company specialises in private charters with on-board catering and live music entertainment... (Chris Livett) |
private charter | http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/london_party_boats_and_thames_cruises/ |
Piers
London River Services lists 24 piers on the River Thames in its publications, of which 8 are managed directly by LRS.Millennium Piers
Millennium Commission
The Millennium Commission in the United Kingdom was set up to aid communities at the end of the 2nd millennium and the start of the 3rd millennium. It used funding raised through the UK National Lottery....
under its Thames 2000 project, with a grant of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
7,177,000:
- Tower Millennium PierTower Millennium PierTower Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, UK. It is operated by London River Services and served by various river transport and cruise operators...
- Blackfriars Millennium PierBlackfriars Millennium PierBlackfriars Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in the Blackfriars area of London, United Kingdom. It is served by boats operating under licence from London River Services and is situated on the north bank of the Thames, adjacent to Blackfriars Bridge.The pier is located almost directly...
- London Eye Pier
- Westminster Millennium PierWestminster Millennium PierWestminster Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in the City of Westminster in London, UK. It is operated by London River Services and served by various river transport and cruise operators....
- Millbank Millennium PierMillbank Millennium PierMillbank Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, United Kingdom. It is served by boats operating under licence from London River Services and is situated close to the Tate Britain art gallery on Millbank, between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge on the west bank of the...
The new piers were provided to improve previously neglected travel connections on the Thames and promote the river as an alternative means of public transport.
List of piers
Scheduled tourist and commuter services use the following piers, although no single service serves all the piers listed. The piers are listed in order going downstream:| # | Pier | Services | Nearest tube/train | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampton Court Pier | http://www.turks.co.uk/scheduled_services.htm | Hampton Court Hampton Court railway station Hampton Court railway station is a railway station in the Elmbridge district of Surrey, located in East Molesey by Hampton Court Bridge.The station also serves Hampton Court Palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and for the purposes of fare charging it is included in Travelcard... |
Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames... |
Managed by Turk Launches Ltd. |
| 2 | Kingston (Town End Pier) | http://www.turks.co.uk/scheduled_services.htm | Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the... |
Managed by Turk Launches Ltd. Head office at this pier | |
| 3 | Kingston (Turks Pier) | http://www.turks.co.uk/scheduled_services.htm | Kingston | Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the... |
Managed by Turk Launches Ltd. |
| 4 | Hammertons Landing Stage | Richmond Richmond station (London) Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains.... |
Richmond upon Thames Richmond upon Thames Richmond is a town in southwest London, England and is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is located west-southwest of Charing Cross.... Ham House |
Hammerton's Ferry Hammerton's Ferry Hammerton's Ferry is a pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London, England. The ferry links the northern bank near Marble Hill House in Twickenham with the southern bank near Ham House in Ham... , Turk Launches LTD |
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| 5 | Richmond (St. Helena Pier) | http://www.turks.co.uk/scheduled_services.htm | Richmond Richmond station (London) Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains.... |
Richmond upon Thames Richmond upon Thames Richmond is a town in southwest London, England and is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is located west-southwest of Charing Cross.... |
Managed operated by Turk Launches Ltd. |
| 6 | Kew Gardens Pier Kew Gardens Pier Kew Gardens Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, United Kingdom. It is situated close to Kew Gardens and Kew Bridge.-Services:The pier is served by boats operated by Westminster Passenger Services Association, under licence from London River Services. Services operate to Westminster Pier... |
Kew Gardens Kew Bridge Kew Bridge railway station Kew Bridge railway station is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.... |
Kew Gardens Kew Bridge Steam Museum Kew Bridge Steam Museum Kew Bridge Steam Museum houses a museum of water supply and a collection of water pumping steam engines. The museum is an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage... |
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| 7 | Putney Pier Putney Pier Putney Pier is located on Putney Embankment just to the West of Putney Bridge on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom.The pier is owned and operated by Livett's Launches and it is right at the start of the famous Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race.There is a commuter service operated... |
http://www.thamesexecutivecharters.com/rivertaxi.html | Putney Bridge Putney Bridge tube station Putney Bridge is a London Underground station on the branch of the District Line. It is between and stations and is in Zone 2. The station is located in the south of Fulham, adjacent to Fulham High Street and New Kings Road and is a short distance from the north end of Putney Bridge from which... Putney Putney railway station Putney railway station is in Putney in the London Borough of Wandsworth, in south London, and is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2 and Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains... |
Fulham Fulham Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London... Putney Putney Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.... |
Managed by Livett's Launches http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/piers_and_moorings/putney_pier/ |
| 8 | Wandsworth Riverside Quarter Pier | http://www.thamesexecutivecharters.com/rivertaxi.html | Wandsworth Town Wandsworth Town railway station Wandsworth Town railway station is in the London Borough of Wandsworth, in south London, in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.-Services:The typical off-peak service from the station is:... |
Wandsworth Wandsworth Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:... |
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| 9 | Chelsea Harbour Pier Chelsea Harbour Pier Chelsea Harbour Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, United Kingdom. It is located on the North Bank of the Thames, in the Sands End area of Chelsea... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/chelsea-pier-route-map.pdf | Imperial Wharf Imperial Wharf railway station Imperial Wharf is a railway station in Fulham, near to the boundary with Chelsea in west London on the West London Line. The station is between and stations and services are provided by London Overground and Southern.... |
Chelsea Harbour Chelsea Harbour Chelsea Harbour is a mixed-use development in Central London, situated on the north bank of the River Thames, in the Sands End area. It lies within the eastern boundary of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and on the southwestern boundary of the Royal Borough of Kensington and... , Sands End Sands End Sands End is in the southernmost part of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in London, England. Sands End was a close knit working class community but has in recent years become gentrified with flats on the market for more than £2.4 million.... |
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| 10 | Cadogan Pier | http://www.thamesexecutivecharters.com/rivertaxi.html | Chelsea Chelsea, London Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above... |
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| 11 | Millbank Millennium Pier Millbank Millennium Pier Millbank Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, United Kingdom. It is served by boats operating under licence from London River Services and is situated close to the Tate Britain art gallery on Millbank, between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge on the west bank of the... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/millbank-pier-route-map.pdf | Pimlico Pimlico tube station Pimlico is a London Underground station in Pimlico, City of Westminster. It is on the Victoria line between Victoria and Vauxhall in Zone 1. The station opened on 14 September 1972 more than a year after the rest of the line had become fully operational.... |
Tate Britain art gallery Tate Britain Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It... |
Managed by TfL |
| 12 | St George Wharf Pier | Vauxhall Vauxhall |
Managed by Consort | ||
| 13 | Westminster Millennium Pier Westminster Millennium Pier Westminster Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in the City of Westminster in London, UK. It is operated by London River Services and served by various river transport and cruise operators.... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/westminster-pier-route-map.pdf | Westminster Westminster tube station Westminster is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster. It is served by the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. On the Circle and District lines, the station is between St. James's Park and Embankment and, on the Jubilee line it is between Green Park and Waterloo. It is in... |
Palace of Westminster Palace of Westminster The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons... Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,... |
Managed by TfL |
| 14 | London Eye Pier (Waterloo Millennium Pier) | Waterloo Waterloo station Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1.... |
London Eye London Eye The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually... South Bank arts precinct South Bank South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as... |
Managed by London Eye | |
| 15 | Embankment Pier Embankment Pier Embankment Pier is a pier on the River Thames in London, UK. It is located on the North Bank of the river, immediately next to the Hungerford Bridge and directly outside the river entrance to Embankment tube station... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/embankment-pier-route-map.pdf | Embankment Embankment tube station Embankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and... Charing Cross Charing Cross railway station Charing Cross railway station, also known as London Charing Cross, is a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster, England. It is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail, and trains serving it are operated by Southeastern... |
London Eye London Eye The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually... South Bank arts precinct South Bank South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as... Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of... |
Managed by TfL |
| 16 | Festival Pier Festival Pier Festival Pier is a stop for river boat services on the River Thames, London, UK. It is immediately in front of the Royal Festival Hall and National Film Theatre, and serves the South Bank complex... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/festival-pier-route-map.pdf | Embankment Embankment tube station Embankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and... Waterloo Waterloo station Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1.... |
London Eye London Eye The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually... South Bank arts precinct South Bank South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as... |
Managed by TfL |
| 17 | Savoy Pier Savoy Pier The Savoy Pier is located just to the south of the Savoy Hotel on the river Thames, and not far from the site of the old Savoy Wharf. The pier is the central London base of Woods River Cruises. The pier was designed by Beckett Rankine in 1998 as a temporary structure and is an unusual design being... |
Embankment Embankment tube station Embankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and... Charing Cross Charing Cross railway station Charing Cross railway station, also known as London Charing Cross, is a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster, England. It is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail, and trains serving it are operated by Southeastern... |
Savoy Hotel Savoy Hotel The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by... Covent Garden Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as... |
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| 18 | Tower Lifeboat Station Tower Lifeboat Station The Tower Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station on the River Thames in London, UK, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It is located at Victoria Embankment on the North Bank of the Thames, next to Waterloo Bridge.... |
http://www.natoli.co.uk/rnli/index.htm | Only for use by RNLI lifeboats; not open to the public. | ||
| 19 | Blackfriars Millennium Pier Blackfriars Millennium Pier Blackfriars Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in the Blackfriars area of London, United Kingdom. It is served by boats operating under licence from London River Services and is situated on the north bank of the Thames, adjacent to Blackfriars Bridge.The pier is located almost directly... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/blackfriars-pier-route-map.pdf | Blackfriars Blackfriars station Blackfriars station, also known as London Blackfriars, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. Its platforms will eventually span the River Thames a short distance downstream from Blackfriars Bridge. The current entrance is located on the... |
St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother... Tate Modern art gallery Tate Modern Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year... |
Managed by TfL |
| 20 | Bankside Pier Bankside Pier The Bankside Pier is a stop on the river bus service in London. It is located on the south bank of the river Thames, close to the Tate Modern museum.... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/bankside-pier-route-map.pdf | Blackfriars Blackfriars station Blackfriars station, also known as London Blackfriars, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. Its platforms will eventually span the River Thames a short distance downstream from Blackfriars Bridge. The current entrance is located on the... |
Globe Theatre Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613... Tate Modern art gallery Tate Modern Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year... |
Managed by TfL |
| 21 | London Bridge City Pier London Bridge City Pier The London Bridge City Pier is situated on the south bank of the River Thames in London, UK, close to London Bridge... |
London Bridge London Bridge station London Bridge railway station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the London Borough of Southwark, occupying a large area on two levels immediately south-east of London Bridge and 1.6 miles east of Charing Cross. It is one of the oldest railway stations in the... |
HMS Belfast London Dungeon London Dungeon The London Dungeon is a popular London tourist attraction, which recreates various gory and macabre historical events in a grimly comedic 'gallows humour' style, attempting to make them appealing to younger audiences... Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge.... |
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| 22 | Tower Millennium Pier Tower Millennium Pier Tower Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, UK. It is operated by London River Services and served by various river transport and cruise operators... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tower-pier-route-map.pdf | Tower Hill Tower Hill tube station Tower Hill is a London Underground station at Tower Hill in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.The station is in Travelcard Zone 1 and near the Tower of London... |
Tower of London Tower of London Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space... Tower Bridge Tower Bridge Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name... |
Managed by TfL |
| 23 | St. Katharine Pier St. Katharine Pier You need 3hours and 41 minutes by sailing boat to reach the indian ocean from this pier.*Tower Gateway DLR station provides Docklands Light Railway services to Canary Wharf DLR station, Stratford and Lewisham.... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/st-katharines-pier-route-map.pdf | Tower Hill Tower Hill tube station Tower Hill is a London Underground station at Tower Hill in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.The station is in Travelcard Zone 1 and near the Tower of London... |
St Katherine's Dock Tower of London Tower of London Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space... Tower Bridge Tower Bridge Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name... |
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| 24 | Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier is the official name of a pier on the south bank of the River Thames in Rotherhithe, London, UK.-Services:The pier is served by the Canary Wharf - Rotherhithe Ferry, operated by Thames Clipper, which crosses the Thames to the Canary Wharf business district.Boats... |
– | Rotherhithe Rotherhithe Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area... |
Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry only | |
| 25 | Canary Wharf Pier Canary Wharf Pier The Canary Wharf Pier is a London River Services pier on the River Thames in London, UK. It is located to the west of the Canary Wharf district, close to Narrow Street, Limehouse.... |
Canary Wharf (DLR) Canary Wharf DLR station Canary Wharf DLR station is a Docklands Light Railway station in London, England. Built into the base of One Canada Square, between two parts of a shopping centre, it serves the Canary Wharf office complex... Canary Wharf Canary Wharf tube station Canary Wharf tube station is a London Underground station on the Jubilee Line, between and . It is in Travelcard Zone 2 and was opened by Ken Livingstone setting an escalator in motion on 17 September 1999 as part of the Jubilee Line Extension. It is maintained by Tube Lines... |
Canary Wharf financial district Canary Wharf Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square... |
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| 26 | Greenland Dock Pier | Surrey Quays Surrey Quays tube station Surrey Quays railway station is a railway station in Rotherhithe near Southwark Park. It is in Zone 2, on the East London Line. The next station to the north is , and to the south it splits into branches to and... |
Greenland Dock Greenland Dock Greenland Dock is the oldest of London's riverside wet docks, located in Rotherhithe in the area of the city now known as Docklands. It used to be part of the Surrey Commercial Docks, most of which have by now been filled in... |
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| 27 | Masthouse Terrace Pier Masthouse Terrace Pier Masthouse Terrace Pier is a pier on the River Thames in London, UK. It is located at the end of Napier Avenue, off Westferry Road, at the southern end of the Isle of Dogs, and provides river bus services managed by London River Services.-Services:... |
Island Gardens Island Gardens DLR station Island Gardens DLR station is a Docklands Light Railway station on the Isle of Dogs, just north of the River Thames. It is in Travelcard Zone 2.The station is close to the southern tip of the Isle of Dogs and the River Thames... |
Isle of Dogs Isle of Dogs The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:... |
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| 28 | Greenwich Pier Greenwich Pier Greenwich Pier is a pier on the River Thames in the London borough of Greenwich, UK. It is operated by London River Services and called at by various river cruise operators, mostly operating public cruise services to and from Central London... |
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/greenwich-pier-route-map.pdf | Cutty Sark Cutty Sark DLR station Cutty Sark is a light metro station on the Docklands Light Railway system in central Greenwich, London. One of three DLR stations in the London Borough of Greenwich, it is also known as Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich for its location within the aforementioned district.-Location:The northernmost... Greenwich |
Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time... Cutty Sark Cutty Sark The Cutty Sark is a clipper ship. Built in 1869, she served as a merchant vessel , and then as a training ship until being put on public display in 1954... National Maritime Museum National Maritime Museum The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,... |
Managed by TfL |
| 29 | North Greenwich Pier (QEII Pier) | North Greenwich North Greenwich tube station North Greenwich is a station on London Underground's Jubilee Line, opened on 14 May 1999.Despite its name, North Greenwich is not in the area historically known as North Greenwich, on the Isle of Dogs, north of the river; an entirely different station used to be there, between 1872 and 1926... |
Millennium Dome Millennium Dome The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium... |
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| 30 | Barrier Gardens Pier Barrier Gardens Pier Barrier Gardens Pier is a pier on the River Thames near the Thames Barrier. It is owned and managed by the Port of London Authority which took over the pier and adjoining Unity House from the Environment Agency and Sargent Brothers in 2009.... |
Woolwich Dockyard Woolwich Dockyard railway station Woolwich Dockyard railway station is in Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern. It is in Travelcard Zone 3... |
Thames Barrier Thames Barrier The Thames Barrier is the world's second-largest movable flood barrier and is located downstream of central London. Its purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the sea... |
Summer only | |
| 31 | Woolwich Pier | Woolwich Dockyard Woolwich Dockyard railway station Woolwich Dockyard railway station is in Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern. It is in Travelcard Zone 3... Woolwich Arsenal Woolwich Arsenal railway station Woolwich Arsenal station is a National Rail and Docklands Light Railway interchange station located in Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich. It acts as a local station on the North Kent Line between London and Gillingham, served by Southeastern, and is the southern terminus of the Woolwich... (both 600m approx) |
Woolwich South Circular |
Woolwich Ferry Woolwich Ferry The Woolwich Free Ferry is a boat service across the River Thames, London, UK, which is licensed and financed by London River Services, the maritime arm of Transport for London... only |
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| 32 | North Woolwich Pier | King George V King George V DLR station King George V DLR station is a station on the Docklands Light Railway which opened on 2 December 2005 and named after King George V Dock, nearby. The station is in the London Borough of Newham and is located in Travelcard Zone 3. Station and on-train announcements refer to the station as 'King... |
Woolwich North Circular London City Airport London City Airport London City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering... |
Woolwich Ferry Woolwich Ferry The Woolwich Free Ferry is a boat service across the River Thames, London, UK, which is licensed and financed by London River Services, the maritime arm of Transport for London... only |
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| 33 | Woolwich Arsenal Pier Woolwich Arsenal Pier Woolwich Arsenal Pier, also known as the Royal Arsenal Pier, Woolwich, is a pier on the River Thames, at Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich, UK... |
Woolwich Arsenal Woolwich Arsenal railway station Woolwich Arsenal station is a National Rail and Docklands Light Railway interchange station located in Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich. It acts as a local station on the North Kent Line between London and Gillingham, served by Southeastern, and is the southern terminus of the Woolwich... (600m approx) |
Woolwich |
Fares and ticketing
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
and bus
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
networks, boat operators have their own separate ticketing arrangements and charge separate fares which are generally higher than corresponding journeys by tube or bus. The only exception is the Woolwich Ferry
Woolwich Ferry
The Woolwich Free Ferry is a boat service across the River Thames, London, UK, which is licensed and financed by London River Services, the maritime arm of Transport for London...
, which is free of charge.
Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
is valid on most Thames Clipper services for single fares, offering a ten percent discount. Most boat operators offer discounts to Travelcard holders, as well as to freedom pass holders and students.
Ticket sales at piers are managed independently by the operators, and tickets are sold at separate kiosks with no facility for cross-ticketing. Many piers have a line of several sales desks, each owned by a different boat firm. Single tickets can often be bought on board the boat, but this is down to individual operator arrangements.
Some operators offer their own season tickets and carnet
Carnet
A carnet may refer to:in international law:*A document allowing the importation of certain goods to countries without paying customs duty...
s of single tickets. Thames Clipper, for example, offer a one-day Roamer ticket which allows multiple journeys within off-peak hours.
See also
- Transport on the Regent's CanalTransport on the Regent's CanalTransport on the Regent's Canal includes a number of water transit services which run along the Regent's Canal in London, England, UK. Several privately-owned boat companies operate services which are open to the public, providing both leisure cruises and regular scheduled "water bus" services...
External links
- London River Services Website
- Collection of Google Earth locations of London River Services Piers (Requires Google EarthGoogle EarthGoogle Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
) from the Google Earth Community forum. - Summary of Thames steamer services – historical information on former steamboat companies of London (Tramscape)