Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
London Getting Around: River
The “official” (and by official I mean under the auspice of Transport for London) Thames River Bus service is provided by the MBNA Thames Clipper, which serves 21 piers between Putney and Woolwich, although the most frequent service runs between Westminster and Greenwich.
In the central area the boats run every 20 minutes, outside the central area times vary.
The Thames Clippers are high speed catamarans and they accept Oyster cards for payment. Most of the seating is inside, with a small outside area as we but be warned if you sit outside at the rear there is a good chance you will get wet when the boats hit top speed.
The service is a fast and efficient way of travelling from the West End to the East of the city, but therein lies the rub – it is a fast service and not ideal for sightseeing. Fares operate on a zonal system.
So, if your priority is getting from A-B quickly and getting a fast service from Westminster to St Katherines Pier may not be as fast as the tube but is a lot faster than going by road.
Sample journey times:-
Westminster to St Katherines Pier – 17 - 22 mins
Westminster to Greenwich – 37 -43 mins
Tower Pier to Greenwich - 15 - 21 mins
For a more leisurely alternative then City Cruises cover the same central routes but on more conventional vessels and at a more leisurely pace, for more or less the same price.
Their boats have larger outside areas but also sufficient inside space for when the weather is bad. These vessels are much better suited for travellers who want to photograph the river side sights.
The boats have a commentary, sometimes live, sometimes pre-recorded – which can be both informative and, depending on the guide, quite amusing as well.
Sample journey times:-
Westminster to Tower Pier - 40 mins
Westminster to Greenwich - 1 hour 10 mins
Tower Pier to Greenwich - 30 mins
Personally, unless I’m really in a hurry, I will always opt for City Cruises, it gives a break from the hustle and bustle of London and the views are fab.
You can get boat trips as far afield as Hampton Court from Westminster. Thames River Boats have a service running from April to October, going to Richmond, Kew and Hampton Court.
The timetable is variable and flexible, with tidal conditions playing a major part when it comes to timing. For example at high tide it is impossible for the boats to pass under Hammersmith Bridge due to the low clearance. Journey times are variable, again due to tidal conditions but the journey to Hampton Court from Westminster can be about three and a half hours.
The four boats are varied and quite old but they have plenty of character.
