24 Piers, 6 Routes: Thames Clipper Plan for Visitors

River boat approaching a London pier

Thames Clippers runs a River Bus calling at 24 piers between Putney and Barking Riverside, and it works equally well for commuting and sightseeing. Buy a Hop-on Hop-off pass online ahead if you’re sightseeing, since that trims the price further, or tap in with contactless or Oyster for a simple point-to-point journey. Whichever you choose, check the current service alerts before you set off.

TL;DR:

  • Booking tickets online in advance can save up to 30 percent compared to purchasing at the pier, with additional discounts for multi-day passes.
  • Most boats run every 10 to 20 minutes daily, but service alerts should be checked beforehand for seasonal or maintenance disruptions.
  • Single-zone adult fares start at £6.20, with children under 4 traveling free and half-price for ages 5 to 15, making the service family-friendly.
  • The Hop-on Hop-off pass offers unlimited travel across all zones for one or two days, ideal for visiting multiple piers in a single trip.
  • Thames Clippers is best suited for sightseeing and scenic journeys, especially on open decks and in good weather, rather than quick point-to-point commutes.

Table of Contents

Thames Clipper routes and piers: how the network works

Six numbered RB routes divide the river between them, and knowing which one you need saves a lot of standing about on a pontoon. RB1 is the backbone, running from early morning until late at night between Putney and Woolwich, calling at most central piers along the way. RB2 operates as a weekend and seasonal link extending the network further west. RB4 is the one to know for a fast cross-river hop between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe, and it’s quicker than most surface alternatives for that specific crossing. RB6 extends coverage out towards Barking Riverside for a wider eastern reach.

The network splits into three fare zones: West, Central and East. A trip from Embankment to Greenwich, for example, crosses from Central into East, so you’ll need a fare covering both. Bank to Tower is a single Central-zone hop. Putney to Canary Wharf spans all three. The official route map shows exactly which pier sits in which zone, and it’s worth screenshotting before you travel rather than relying on memory.

Six river routes across three fare zones

Most piers are run by Thames Clippers itself, but a handful (including some central London stops) are privately managed or shared with other river operators, which occasionally affects where signage points you. Look for the blue Uber Boat livery and the pier name boards. If you’re unsure which pier is closest to where you’re staying, cross-reference the map against a London Underground or rail station: several piers, such as Embankment and London Bridge City, sit within a few minutes’ walk of major transport hubs.

What does a Thames Clipper ticket cost?

Fares run on the same zonal logic as the routes. A single adult fare within one zone starts from £6.20 when booked online or through the app (https://thamesclippers.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201927822-An-Easy-Guide-to-Our-Prices-and-Routes), and prices climb from there depending on how many zones you cross. Children aged 5 to 15 pay half price, and under-4s travel free, which makes the service more affordable for families than it first appears.

Buying at the pier costs more than buying online, and buying through the app or website in advance costs less again. For sightseeing rather than a single hop, the Hop-on Hop-off pass gives unlimited travel across all zones for one or two days. A one-day adult pass starts from £27.90 online. Booking that Hop-on Hop-off pass in advance provides additional savings on the already discounted online price, on top of fares that can be cheaper than paying pier-side. If you know your travel dates, there’s little reason to wait.

Regular travellers can look at multi-ticket savers or season tickets, which work out considerably cheaper per journey than single fares. For point-to-point trips, tapping a contactless card or Oyster works exactly as it does on the Tube and bus network, and the same contactless rules that cap daily spending on land transport also apply here. Touch in at the pier reader before boarding and touch out on arrival, since missing either step can trigger a maximum fare charge.

When do Thames Clippers boats run, and how do I check for delays?

Boats run seven days a week except Christmas Day, with services roughly every 10 to 20 minutes at the busiest central piers during the day. Weekend and summer timetables differ from the weekday schedule, and seasonal adjustments (a summer timetable shift is typical) can change stops or frequency at short notice, so it’s worth checking before you commit to a tight schedule.

The official service alerts page is the place to check for disruption, and tidal conditions or planned maintenance are the most common causes of a call being skipped or a sailing delayed. The Thames Clippers Tickets app does more than sell tickets: it tracks boats in real time, sends alerts if something changes, and lets you download timetables for offline use, which is handy if you’re planning a day without reliable signal.

Pro Tip: Arrive five to ten minutes before your planned sailing. If you miss one, don’t panic, another is usually along within 20 minutes at central piers, and your Hop-on Hop-off pass or return ticket still covers it.

Boarding, accessibility and what’s on board

Boarding is generally first-come, first-served, though season ticket holders get a preferred sailing queue at staffed piers, and passengers who need assistance board first where staff are present. Companions travelling with a season ticket holder but without their own pass should expect to queue in the general line.

Wheelchair and pushchair access varies by pier and by boat, so it’s worth calling ahead if step-free access is essential for your trip. Bicycles travel free, but ramp gradients shift with the tide, so cyclists should avoid the busiest commuter windows and allow extra time at low tide when ramps are steeper. On board, expect a café bar serving hot drinks, snacks and alcohol, onboard toilets, and Wi-Fi at most major piers. Baby-changing facilities exist on some but not all boats, so check before you rely on one.

Best Thames Clipper sightseeing routes and photo tips

Two itineraries cover most first-time visitors’ needs. For a central sights circuit, board at Westminster and ride through to Tower, passing the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and the Tower of London on the way. That single hop takes under 25 minutes and crosses from Central into a broader stretch of river frontage most people only glimpse from bridges. For a modern riverside route, start at Battersea Power Station pier and ride to Canary Wharf, taking in the newer riverside developments before crossing to Greenwich, where the Cutty Sark and the Old Royal Naval College are a five-minute walk from the pier.

Outdoor rear seats give the best photo angle and fill up fast on sunny weekends, so head there first if the light matters to you. Late afternoon light on the eastern stretch towards Greenwich tends to flatter the old naval buildings; midday suits the Westminster to Tower run, when the sun sits higher over the Houses of Parliament.

Greenwich landmarks viewed from river boat

If you’re hopping on and off at three or more piers in a day, the Hop-on Hop-off pass pays for itself quickly and removes the friction of buying single tickets each time. If you only plan one or two legs, a single A to B fare usually works out cheaper. River travel has shaped how visitors experience London for generations, and pairing a short river hop with a walk inland, along a stretch of the canal network near Limehouse, for instance, turns a 20 minute boat ride into a half-day out.

When we recommend Thames Clippers over the alternatives

Thames Clippers earns its place in a London itinerary when comfort and scenery matter as much as getting somewhere. It beats sitting in traffic on a tourist coach, and the open-deck views of landmarks along the central stretch are hard to replicate from a bus window. It’s not always the fastest option for a short hop, but for anyone building a day around the river rather than around a deadline, it’s the right call. Pair a trip with one of London Vacation Guide’s neighbourhood guides for the pier you land at, and check the app for alerts before you leave.

— Matt

Plan the rest of your day around your river trip

A Thames Clipper hop is a brilliant way to open or close a day out, but the boat only covers the water. What you do once you step off the pontoon is where the day actually takes shape, and that’s where London Vacation Guide’s planning pages earn their keep. London for First-Time Visitors: The Essential Guide builds a full day around exactly this kind of river journey, with timing suggestions for landmarks, lunch stops and museum visits worked in around your boat schedule, rather than leaving you to figure it out on the pier steps.

Landed near London Bridge? The London Bridge Neighbourhood Guide covers where to eat and what’s worth the short walk. Stepping off at Westminster or heading towards Richmond further upriver, the Richmond Neighbourhood Guide fills in the local detail an official timetable never will. Browse the full set of London Neighbourhood Guides before you travel and you’ll land at your pier already knowing where to head next.

Official pages to check before you travel

Sources

FAQ

Is it cheaper to book Thames Clipper tickets in advance?

Yes. Booking online rather than at the pier already saves up to 30%, and booking a Hop-on Hop-off pass three or more days ahead adds a further 15% saving on top of the online price.

Can you hop on and off Thames Clippers throughout the day?

Yes, with a Hop-on Hop-off pass you get unlimited travel across all zones for one or two days, which suits anyone planning multiple stops rather than a single point-to-point trip.

How much does it cost to travel on the Thames Clipper?

Single fares start from about £6.20 within one zone when booked online, rising with each additional zone crossed, while a one-day Hop-on Hop-off pass starts from £27.90 online.

Is the Thames Clipper worth it for sightseeing?

For most visitors, yes. The open-deck views of landmarks along the central river and the on-board café make it a genuinely enjoyable way to see the city, not just a way to get between two points.

Do I need to book Thames Clipper tickets before travelling?

Booking isn’t compulsory for single fares, since you can tap in with contactless or Oyster at the pier, but pre-booking a Hop-on Hop-off pass through the app secures the advance discount and lets you skip the ticket queue.