If you're short on time but want to pack in as much as you can during your stay in London, Uber Boats provide an affordable and speedy resolution. With unique photo opportunities from the middle of the Thames and a one-way "Central Zone" journey starting from as little as £8.30, you can go from Tower Bridge to Battersea Power Station in just 45 minutes - there really isn't a quicker (or fun) way to tick off that sightseeing bucket list!
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at 24 piers along the Thames & run from early in the morning until late at night, 7 days a week.
What is Uber Boat by Thames Clipper?
"Our River Bus service currently serves 24 piers, from Putney Pier in the west to Barking Riverside Pier in the east." ThamesClippers.com, 2023.
Uber Boat by Thames Clipper (formerly known simply as Thames Clippers but rebranded in August 2020 for sponsorship purposes) is a high-speed River Bus route that operates across 24 piers in London.
The service has been running since 1999 and on average, transports around 10,000 people per day.
In May 2022, the service carried it's 50 millionth passenger!
The fare map is divided much like the London Underground, with West, Central & East zones, and pricing dependent upon which zones you travel to or through.
To travel the entire distance of the route, you can go from Putney in the West to Barking in the East via the central London zone. This would take just over 2 hours, with an interchange at Canary Wharf Pier to swap boats.
Staying inside the Central London Zone is budget-savvy but if you do want to leave, head east to Greenwich, for great views of the business district as you loop around the Isle of Dogs, before floating up to the Millennium Dome direct from the water.
You can take your bike aboard and even dogs (which must be kept on a lead) too.
Go from one end of the Central Zone to the other for minimum spend, maximum hotspots.
How much, how long, & how do I get aboard?
Big Ben. It's not always grey in London - honestly!
Cost
As you might expect, the cost of a single fare on the boat is slightly more than a one-way trip by tube or bus however, the opportunities for sightseeing are vast so it's definitely worth it.
Author's Edit: I have had to update this article quite a lot since first publishing (in mid-February) because Uber Boat announced a new, incoming pricing structure as of 5th March, 2023, based on the ever-increasing cost of living/fuel and - although at first sight, it may appear more expensive - to offer the best cost-saving fares for passengers. The price of a one-way, Central Zone fare purchased on Oyster/Contactless has slightly increased (from £7.70 to £8.30) but Uber Boat appear to have simplified their return options, and using Oyster/Contactless remains the most cost-effective way for a return trip in the Central Zone (£16.60). Updated information is all covered below.
On a budget? Listen in: You'll end up paying more if you opt to buy a ticket from the machine at the pier, on the day. In London, when it comes to getting around town, you are rewarded with discounts for using contactless payment methods, such as the Oyster card or - even easier - your own credit/debit card. A Central Zone, single trip on Oyster or contactless card costs £8.30. Whilst the same ticket purchased from the machine at the pier, costs £10.50. Even if you're planning an out-and-back trip inside the Central Zone, it will still be cheaper to use your Oyster/contactless payment method: £16.60 return, compared to paying £17.80 for a return ticket at the pier.
So, for £8.30, you can travel as short (literally going from one pier to the next, although I wouldn't recommend this) or as far (see the Tower Pier to Battersea Power Station Pier section below) as you desire, as long as you're staying inside the Central Zone.
Pro Tip for Tourists - Pay by contactless/oyster card and save yourself £s (but beware those foreign exchange transaction fees!).
Tap your payment card on the yellow circle:
Note that if you're travelling from overseas, an easy way to save yourself a few more pounds is to not use your regular banking card as you will usually be charged a foreign exchange and/or transaction fee on every payment you make (travelling around London and constantly tapping in and out, the extra fees soon add up!).
Unlimited travel options in each zone are also available, with an adult, Central Zone unlimited ticket coming in at £21.20. This is referred to as the "River Roamer" ticket. Unlike the rest of London transport, there is not an automatic fare cap for unlimited travel applied if paying by Oyster/contactless (at present) so this is the only circumstance where it is worth buying in advance - the rule of not purchasing at the pier still applies however, where you'll pay an extra £2.30 per adult on the day (£21.20 in advance online vs £23.50 at the pier).
Pro Tip for Londoners - If your Oyster card is linked to a Transport for London (TfL) Travelcard, you will automatically receive ⅓ off.
For Londoners (or long-stayers) who regularly commute around town and choose to have a travelcard loaded onto their payment card, you'll pay less than the standard ferry fare, which is even more reason to make sure you bring the right payment method with you (see the third column in the table below)!
All prices, dependent upon payment method used, are listed in the table, and correct as of 5th March, 2023, when new pricing structures were announced.
Use the Thames Clipper Tickets App for in-advance, unlimited travel tickets. Fare timetable:
Full pricing information - including "River Roamer" tickets (best for tourists) and weekly/monthly/annual Season tickets (best for commuters) - can be found here. For all details on the the new pricing structure, visit the Uber Boat Service Changes page.
Timetables & Duration
Uber Boat runs a slightly different service on weekdays versus weekends, with all ferries operating both eastbound and westbound. All services are named using the "RB" suffix, with a number after the two letters, which denotes the route.
The RB1 & RB2 run on weekends, with the RB1 transiting between Barking Riverside Pier (the furthest pier in the East Zone) and London Eye (Waterloo) Pier, stopping at the vast majority of piers en route, and the RB2 travelling between North Greenwich (The O2) Pier and Battersea Power Station Pier, with a similar stopping schedule to the RB1 in the Central Zone, apart from the fact that it does not stop at the London Eye (Waterloo) Pier.
If you wanted to travel the full length of the Central Zone, you should use the RB2 service and go from Tower to Battersea Power Station. This takes 34 minutes and covers 9 piers. You can read about that trip here.
The RB1 & RB6 run on weekdays. The RB1 runs an almost identical service to that at the weekend, whilst the RB6 is suited to commuters, with much fewer stops in the Central Zone, and no services between 12:30-15:30. It is still open for use by tourists but ensure you've studied the service schedule to know where you can/can't exit.
To simplify things - and not accidentally end up in Putney (as lovely as it is) at the far end of the West Zone - use the RB1 service on weekdays.
A sample of the Central Zone, Weekend Timetable can be viewed below. Green columns denote the RB2 and purple columns, the RB1. You can see the full schedule of weekend/weekday services here.
Embarkation (fancy way of saying "getting on board"...)
Down the gangway to the Pier.
Piers are clearly marked and easy to find, and if you're really unsure, there'll be at least one member of staff on hand to guide you/answer any questions. They'll also be able to advise if the next service is likely to have capacity for you to embark - if not, they won't let you on the pier for boarding. This means just waiting a bit longer for the next service. As you'd expect, the piers close to tourist spots are busier. Your direction of travel from the popular piers can also dictate if you'll get a space onboard - for example, recently when travelling mid-afternoon Saturday from Embankment Pier, the eastbound was almost full and only allowed a handful of people on board, whilst the westbound had plenty of space, and all of us waiting were able to embark.
Queuing for an eastbound ferry at Embankment.
To get onto the pier itself and wait for your ferry, just walk down the gangway to river level, join the queue [line] of waiting people - you'll be directed into the correct queue based on your direction of travel. The piers do sway a bit (they're floating on the Thames after all...) so those who nauseate easily, try to choose a non-windy day to wait for your ferry!
When your boat arrives, a staff member lets you go through a barrier and asks you to tap your payment card on the reader or display your ticket. As the boat is docked, passengers exiting are let off first, before the entrance walkway opens for access.
Prime seating is at the back of the boat in the open air (although views are restricted to a relatively narrow panorama). There's not much of a standing area here so it is best to get a seat if you see one vacant. There is a glass ceiling, which also extends the views a little.
The majority of seating is in the main cabin, where it is sheltered and there's even a bar. From here, you get great views of the sights (try to get a seat by the window if you can) but miss out on the wind in your hair! I love the open air and certainly prefer being outside. There are toilets available to use onboard.
Embankment Pier to Battersea Power Station
Leave the the Houses of Parliament (left behind) & London Eye (right) behind as you head westbound towards Battersea Power Station.
This trip takes 18 minutes, is entirely in the Central Zone and offers a wealth of sights to see - the only downside is that you might find yourself wanting more when it's time to exit but with loads on offer at Battersea Power Station (see next section), the disappointment won't last long.
Just a handful of sights available to see between Embankment & Battersea Power Station.
Spend an afternoon in & around Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a London must see!
After years of neglect as a result of multiple site owners (including, at one point, a company with grandiose ideas for a Theme Park) and failed plans, Battersea Power Station is open for business. There's so much to see and do, from eating, drinking, shopping or trying something a bit different by taking a glass elevator up one of the chimneys for a self-proclaimed "epic viewing experience" in Lift 109.
You can read all about spending an afternoon at Battersea Power Station in the next Matt in London blog post right here. Believe me - there's loads of activities to choose from (for example, did you know they have car showrooms inside the Power Station now?).
Final Tip: Start at Tower Pier if you want maximum value
Briefly covered in the timetable section, was the recommendation to travel the full length of the Central Zone for optimum return on your spend, and maximum sightseeing opportunities. For £8.30 - paying by Oyster/Contactless card - you'll get 34 minutes on the water, which is plenty of time to move around the boat, sip on a coffee/beer, and take in the multitude of views around you.
Travelling east to west, you'll see these famous sights (in this order):
Tower Bridge (this will be behind you from your start point so is best viewed from the back of the boat)
Tower of London (N)
HMS Belfast (S)
The Shard (S)
Shakespeare's Globe (S)
Millennium Bridge (back of boat)
Tate Modern (S)
OXO Tower (S)
Somerset House (N)
Southbank Centre (S)
Whitehall (N)
London Eye (S)
Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police HQ (N)
Westminster Bridge (back of boat)
Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament (N)
Tate Britain (N)
US Embassy Building (S)
Battersea Power Station (S)
Key:
(N) = North: Best viewed from the right-hand side of boat as you sit in a forwards-facing position;
(S) = South: Best viewed from the right-hand side of boat as you sit in a forwards-facing position.
Obviously, the opposite rule applies for eastbound services from Battersea. I suggest Tower as your start point as this is most likely going to be closer to where you are staying if on a tourist break in London.
You're ready to go - enjoy those views from the Thames!
View this panorama moments after leaving Westminster Pier on the RB2, westbound service.