london riverboat services

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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
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London River Boats

About London River Boats

London River Boats operate M.V Connaught, an Edwardian river cruiser steeped in history & available for public & private cruises on the River Thames.

Built by Salters Brothers of Oxford in 1911 for Joseph Mears of Richmond, M.V Connaught has been plying the smooth waters of the River Thames between Westminster & Hampton Court for over 100 years.

Today Connaught operates as part of the Thames River Boats Fleet cruising from Westminster to Kew, Richmond & Hampton Court on a daily basis during the summer months. During the low season Connaught is a popular choice for private charters & is well suited to a range of events including sightseeing cruises, wedding transfers & jazz cruises.

Private Charters

At times when M.V Connaught is not operating public services, she is available for private hire.

Connaught is the perfect vessel for private sightseeing cruises, river transfers, corporate events & family celebrations. Connaught’s open decks, richly decorated saloon & fully licensed bar are the perfect setting for your private event.

Public Cruises

Thames River Boats operate one of the oldest continual services on the River Thames. Cruises travel between Westminster Pier, Kew Pier, Richmond Landing Stage & Hampton Court Landing Stage passing peacefully from the busy city to the open countryside.

The cruises take place on traditional River Thames passenger boats & pass stately homes, palaces, & famous landmarks.

M.V Connaught usually operates the full route calling at Kew & Richmond on her journey between Westminster & Hampton Court Palace.

Dining Menus

Our dining menus have been curated to perfectly compliment private events on-board Connaught. From traditional options including Afternoon or Cream Tea to more casual Barbecues or Canapés you are sure to find the perfect menu for your private event.

© Copyright 2022 London River Boats. All Rights Reserved.

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About Thames River Boats

Thames River Boats operate cruises from Westminster Pier, Kew Pier, Richmond Landing Stage & Hampton Court Landing Stage with a fleet of traditional River Thames passenger boats. Our services make the perfect day out whether you are visiting the City of Westminster, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the bustling town of Richmond or Hampton Court Palace. Our boats are perfect in any weather & have indoor & outdoor seating, fully licensed bars, toilet facilities & heating for colder days. Our boats are also available for private hire & are ideal for corporate events, birthdays, celebrations, wedding receptions, sightseeing cruises & river transfers.

Our Services

We are currently cruising on a regular basis from Westminster Pier, Kew Pier, Richmond Landing Stage & Hampton Court Landing Stage. Our sailing times can vary from day to day due to the tides. Click the link below to view our upcoming sailings. Tickets can be booked online through our booking system or at our ticket offices.

View Upcoming Sailings     Book Tickets  

Westminster Pier

Richmond Landing Stage

Hampton Court Landing Stage

Testimonials.

My daughter has gone twice now and it is so worth it. For the price to I would definitely recommend. Peaceful atmosphere lovely staff also beverages are served downstairs.

Special Offers

• 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.

Go unlimited

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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London Waterbus Company

Regents Canal Waterbus

Cocktails Ahoy!

Boat cruise / trip/ experience/ tour / sightseeing

ENJOY LONDON FROM A DIFFERENT

Perspective, canal boat trips & experiences on london’s canals.

NEW: COCKTAILS AHOY ! ADULTS ONLY TRIPS

Tickets available for 13:30 & 16:30 departures on sunday 21 july) from camden (rtn), new: cocktails ahoy adults only trips 〰️ tickets available for 13:30 & 16:30 departures on sunday 21 july) from camden (rtn) 〰️ new: cocktails ahoy adults only trips 〰️ tickets available for 13:30 & 16:30 departures on sunday 21 july) from camden (rtn) 〰️.

REGENTS CANAL WATERBUS

ABOUT REGENTS CANAL WATERBUS (FAMILY FRIENDLY)

Enjoy a delightful 45-minute one way family-friendly canal boat trip between LITTLE VENICE & CAMDEN in either direction. Cruise along the tranquil waters, passing by charming houseboats and picturesque scenery, Regent's Park and London Zoo from a unique perspective. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the canals as you relax and take in the surroundings. Perfect for a leisurely outing.

NARROW BOAT WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE GUIDED TOUR

Tickets from £12 - £16 one way (including taxes and fees)

Children aged 0-4 years travel free - booking required

Dog friendly

COCKTAILS AHOY!

ABOUT COCKTAILS AHOY! CRUISE (Adults Only)

Discover a sophisticated way to experience London with our adult-only cocktail canal boat trip from CAMDEN. Cruise along the tranquil waters and passing scenery of the Regents Canal as you indulge in delicious crafted cocktails. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the unique ambiance as you travel along the canal. Immerse yourself in this experience, perfect for couples, friends & travellers looking for something different to do in London.

Good vibes only! Eclectic upbeat music

Licensed bar open throughout for drinks and nibbles | Comfy table booth seating

Tickets £25 including taxes & fees (over 18’s only)

Sorry no children / no dogs

This is not a guided tour

80 mins approx.

NEW: COCKTAILS AHOY ! ADULTS ONLY TRIP

New: cocktails ahoy adults only trip 〰️ tickets available for 13:30 & 16:30 departures on sunday 21 july) from camden (rtn) 〰️ new: cocktails ahoy adults only trip 〰️ tickets available for 13:30 & 16:30 departures on sunday 21 july) from camden (rtn) 〰️.

LONDON WATERBUS COMPANY LIMITED Registered in England 01061531 Registered office: LABS Dockray, 1-7 Dockray Place, London NW1 8QH

We no longer offer trips to or from London Zoo. ZSL closed the waterside entrance in 2019

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40 million up: what does the future hold for London’s Thames Clippers?

This October, London’s river bus operator, MBNA Thames Clippers, celebrated carrying its 40 millionth passenger. What role is the service playing for tourists and commuters, and what steps are being taken to expand the service for the future?

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No picturesque London postcard is complete without the river Thames – the 95-mile long waterway that passes through the nation’s capital and to the North Sea beyond. And over the last two decades, the super-sleek river buses that trundle stoically up and down the river have become an increasingly welcome sight for tourists and commuters.

Since coming into being in 1999, the MBNA Thames Clippers service has moved from a one-boat service to a hardy squadron of 17 catamarans, charting a course from Putney in south-west London to Royal Arsenal Woolwich in the east. Every 20 minutes, a boat sets down at various piers spanning a number of London hotspots, including Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tower Hill, London Bridge, Westminster and Waterloo.

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Recently, the Clippers announced a major milestone: more than 40 million passengers have set foot on the river-buses since the first boat set off nearly 20 years ago.

“If someone had just said to me ‘did you know you are up to your 40 millionth passenger?’ I probably would have looked a bit surprised,” says MBNA Thames Clippers CEO and co-founder Sean Collins. “But actually when it’s been worked out you can see how it’s true.”

Since its inception, Thames Clippers have proven that the river can be an asset for passenger travel, alongside its burgeoning freight successes. But what does the future hold?

Rolling on the river

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Passenger numbers have “ebbed and flowed” on the river, says Collins. However with an increase from around 30,000 annual passengers at launch, to more than four million today, an appetite has definitely developed.

Collins says that the major contributors to the upsurge has been a combination of adding new boats to the fleet, expanding routes and services and the success of both commercial and residential developments alongside the river.

Routes pass through major commercial, residential and leisure hotspots. Tourists, for example, can hop on at Westminster after a good gawk at the Houses of Parliament, and sail eastwards to gawk at Greenwich’s Royal Observatory instead. Battersea Power Station was added to the network in 2017, providing a new stop-off for residents, workers and visitors.

“We’ve had some real key attractions and developments very close to the river that have contributed to driving that footfall – and where we’ve added the capacity, and where we’ve added the routes, the footfall has come running,” says Collins.

Bringing commuters on board

Convincing commuters to come aboard has been a challenge, but Collins says that efforts to improve the riparian areas around piers and information and announcements have borne fruit. Better integration with other services run by Transport for London (TfL), which licenses the Thames Clippers, has also proven beneficial. From November 2009, MBNA Thames Clippers services began to accept Oyster pay-as-you-go and contactless payments across its services, allowing it to dispense with the complex ticketing system that was in place.

Enhancements extend to the ferries themselves. At the end of October, MBNA unveiled the name of its 18 th vessel – the Catamaran Venus Clipper – set to launch in early 2019. The new boat will feature more space and 50 extra seats when compared to its immediate predecessors, the Mercury Clipper and the Jupiter Clipper .

Existing vessels in the fleet have recently had an interior retrofit, but Collins says that boats tend to not deviate too far from the arrangements of the original craft so as to provide “a consistent level of standard” across the fleet.

Thames riverboat services recently came under fire when environmental organisations claimed that more stringent emissions rules for buses and trains had not been reflected on the river. Collins says the service worked with naval architects on a sleeker hull format to reduce the power needed to operate its vessels by up to 20%.

“We can only purchase from the engine suppliers what is on the market and we are making every effort to purchase the suitable engine for our operation with the least impact,” he says.

New waves of development

In October 2019, Clipper services will begin running to the new Royal Wharf, a massive new neighbourhood on the north bank of the Thames being developed by Ballymore and Oxley. Other major housing developments to the east of central London, such as Barking Riverside, could present opportunities for expansion in the future.

“These examples demonstrate the [rate] at which housing is going to develop down the Thames corridor, and as those developments do take place, river transport is obviously going to be a major part [of that],” he says.

“Bridges are going to be a lot less frequent the nearer you get to London because of the width of the river and the size of the ships’ ply. So there is a significant difference in the future to transporting large volumes, if not into central London, onto other mass transit modes.”

Collins says that piers need to receive money to encourage outside investment from companies, or at the very least make sure they have good access channels and are being managed properly. But while private investment in piers has proven a major boon, TfL money could well be running dry.

Fickle finances

At the time of writing, the organisation is suffering a £1bn deficit, bolstered by a freeze on public transport fares introduced by current mayor Sadiq Khan. The delayed opening of Crossrail, London’s multi-billion pound railway project, will reportedly cost £200m – a further squeeze on TfL.

“Without the continued investment in piers and infrastructure, as well as signage and marketing of interchangeability with river against other modes of transport, it will suffer,” says Collins. “Both the Port of London Authority (PLA) and TfL need to recognise the importance of these factors to allow the infrastructure of such services to operate, to meet the customer needs and demands and also achieve the passenger footfall they have set as a target.”

“I think the biggest single thing that TfL can do is include the River line in the tube map – that will really demonstrate to people how the river and other forms of transport can be connected.”

MBNA Thames Clippers is one of many stakeholders participating in the PLA’s Thames Vision , which highlights key targets for the river’s future – one of which is doubling the number of river passengers by 2035. However, Collins says that there needs to be more clearly defined targets to build momentum towards this goal.

“Imagine the number of mayors between now and 2035,” he says. “There should be four yearly targets at the very least that are aligned with the mayoral terms, and that way you can measure how much support has been given to the river in every aspect, and how much the PLA and operators can support them.”

“At the end of the day the vast majority of this infrastructure – both piers and boats out to the west and out to the east – is being delivered by the private sector. There are not many other forms of transport in London having that done. So in these times of financial pinch, we should be looking at the private sector.

“London has this amazing asset and the vast majority of it is heavily underutilised,” Collins concludes. “It needs to be utilised a lot more.”

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Parks and fields under water after two days of record-breaking rain

It could take several days before water drains, says conservation authority.

Harris Park is under water following days of heavy rain

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London residents were urged to stay clear of watercourses for the rest of the week, Wednesday, as parks along the Thames River and Thames Valley Parkway experience flooding. 

The warnings came in the wake of two consecutive days of record-breaking rainfall in London, and mark the third consecutive day of flooding in the region.  Heavy rainfall on Monday broke local weather records set more than a century ago. Tuesday's rainfall of 44.7 mm barely surpassed a 43 mm record set in 1988, according to Environment Canada.

Gibbons Park, including the spray pad, playground and pool, was closed in response to the flooding. The North London Athletic Fields, Northridge Fields and Fanshawe Quarry golf course were also closed. Greenway Park, Harris Park and River Forks Park were among areas also under water Wednesday. 

"During this time, Londoners should be extremely cautious around the river, and keep children and pets away from any flooded areas," the City of London said in a statement. "Watercourses are fast-moving and the riverbank is soft and slippery." 

• Torrential rainfall in London, Ont., breaks century-old records

The ground is now saturated thanks to Tuesday's additional rainfall, and there is nowhere left for the water to be absorbed. It will take several days for floodplain areas to drain and river levels to return to normal, said Eleanor Heagy, communications and marketing co-ordinator for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).

"If you're looking for when this system is going to pass through the upstream areas, you know, Mitchell and Tavistock down through St. Marys, those flows are kind of hitting their peaks now," said Heagy. "And so the peak flows are gradually making their way downstream. We expect the Thames through London to be peaking later today and into tonight." 

Predicting the return to normal levels depends on whether or not there's more rainfall, she added. Until then, Londoners are not allowed to do any boating, canoeing or kayaking along the Thames River and elsewhere in the watershed. 

• Video London homeowners deal with flooded basements in aftermath of 'freak storm' rainfall

Flooding from the rain on Monday halted traffic in and around the city. Additional rain on Tuesday damaged basements and led to the cancellation of the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival scheduled this weekend in Harris Park.

Environment Canada measured 59.3 mm of rainfall in the region on Monday, breaking the previous record of 45.2 mm set for that day in 1923. 

More to come, predicts climatologist

Rains like what London and other parts of southern Ontario like Toronto experienced in recent days, are becoming more common, according to a climatologist at Western University.

"[These rains] are having very tragic effects on people and institutions and properties. It's the reality of the changing climate, where we're having global warming take place. It's ramping up the number of extreme weather-related events like heavy precipitation," said Gordon McBean, a professor emeritus at the university.

As explained by McBean, a warmer atmosphere means more evaporation, a better capacity for the atmosphere to hold water vapour and more condensation. That means more intense concentrated rainfall events, like the one on Monday, during which almost 60 mm of rain fell in roughly two hours.

Moving forward it will be imperative for cities, including London, to keep climate change in mind when designing and upgrading sewer and drainage infrastructure, according to McBean.

McBean said he expects more records to be broken each year. 

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Assault suspect jumps in river in an attempt to flee from police in New London

T rain services were temporarily interrupted on Thursday afternoon when authorities apprehended an assault suspect who had fled near railroad tracks in New London and into a river, where he refused to come out for over an hour, police said.

Officers responded to an unspecified location in the New London around 1:11 p.m. on Thursday after a woman called 911 and said she had been assaulted, according to the New London Police Department .

Police said they were given a description of the suspect, who fled when officers arrived. He was later identified as 59-year-old Richard Kaczmarczyk of New London, according to police.

Police said Kaczmarczyk fled toward a set of train tracks, prompting authorities to contact Amtrak to have train services temporarily stopped. He then jumped into the Thames River and swam to a construction barge.

A large contingent of agencies swarmed the area, including the U.S. Coast Guard and officers from the Waterford, Groton Town and Groton City Police Departments.

Police said Kaczmarczyk refused to come out of the water and held onto a mooring line for over an hour. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody before being transported toLawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, according to police.

Police said they learned that Kaczmarczyk was wanted in connection with eight outstanding arrest warrants. He was charged in connection with the warrants as well as the allegations on Thursday.

Kaczmarczyk faces four counts of second-degree failure to appear and two counts of first-degree failure to appear as well as a single count each of interfering with police, third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace, violation of probation, violation of a protective order and second-degree harassment. He was held on bonds totaling $150,000.

Police noted that a protective order violation Kaczmarczyk faces did not stem from the alleged assault on Thursday, which was not considered domestic violence.

The female victim suffered injuries not considered life-threatening and was also taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

Police said they are still investigating and asking anyone with information to contact the New London Police Department at 860-447-5269, ext. 0.

©2024 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Eastbound services

Weekday timetable

Weekday – westbound services.

Services stopping at piers from Barking Riverside to Putney via central London

Weekday - RB4

Ferry service between Doubletree Docklands in Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf

Weekend timetable

Weekend – westbound services, weekend – eastbound services.

Services stopping at piers from Putney to Barking Riverside via central London

Weekend - RB4