LONDON UBER BOAT GUIDE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!
If you want to experience the famous London Uber Boat ride, this blog post will tell you everything you need to know before getting on board!
London is a huge city and has several different types of transportation, and Uber Boat is one of them. If you want to skip the Tube and buses, but don’t feel like paying for Taxis, Uber Boat can be a great way of travel. Especially if your destination is near the Thames.
Keep reading to learn what’s an Uber Boat, why use them, and how exactly can you use them!
WHAT IS AN UBER BOAT?
If you’re in London, you’ll see several boats branded with the “Uber Boat” name while walking by the Thames. London Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a river bus service that operates on the River Thames, and it’s a scenic and efficient way to travel across the city.
Although it says “Uber Boat” on the boats, the fleet is still operated by Thames Clippers, a company that operates on the Thames. Uber partnered with them to make boat rides easier and more accessible. I would highly recommend checking out Uber Boat and taking at least one ride during your stay!
WHY USE THE UBER BOAT AS TRANSPORTATION
There are so many reasons why I would recommend using Uber Boat over other transportation options.
Firstly, the boat ride is one of the most picturesque ways to see London. As opposed to being underground in the Tube, this way you’ll enjoy a scenic ride with the views of some of the most iconic landmarks in London, from Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, to the London Eye and Big Ben.
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Secondly, this is way less crowded than the Tube or certain bus lines. The Tube is very rarely a comfortable ride. If you’re in Central London, it’s usually full of people, humid, and dark. Uber Boat still attracts people, but it’s never as crowded as the Tube. Additionally, as it’s on the river, it’s light, breezy, and overall, a more enjoyable ride.
Finally, Uber Boat stops at every major landmark, so it’s very convenient while sightseeing. You can use it to get from one landmark to another without walking to a bus or Underground station.
WHO CAN USE THE UBER BOAT?
Anyone can use Uber Boat. The boats are mostly used by tourists who want to enjoy the views from the Thames, and Londoners who want to commute more efficiently and need to reach locations near the river.
LONDON UBER BOAT PRICES
Uber Boat is not the cheapest way of travel, but because of the incredible views and relaxed way of travel, it does justify the price. Here are all the ticket options with their prices, so decide which one is the best for you:
SINGLE TICKET is used to travel from point A to point B and it can be used only once. If you’re traveling within the Central London piers, the ticket will be 9£. If you’re travelling more east/west the prices will rise. Children travel for less, from 4.5£ onward.
RETURN TICKET is used to travel from point A to point B and return back. Returns are 18£ and 9£ for children. You don’t have to return from the same exact pier, only within the same zone you’ve travelled to (for example anywhere in Central London).
There are also HOP-ON HOP-OFF TICKETS which are great if you want to travel by Uber Boat multiple times in a day. Hop-On Hop-Off ticket for 1-day costs 22.5£ per person, and 37£ per person for 2 days. These are an excellent option if you’re travelling with kids, because you can buy a family ticket where the kids travel for free!
LONDON UBER BOAT: HOW TO PAY?
Paying for Uber Boat is really not complicated. There are a few different options when it comes to grabbing your ticket.
Firstly, you can pay on the spot with your credit card or your Oyster card. All you need to do is go down to the pier and tap in once the boat arrives, and then tap out once you’re off the boat. Make sure you don’t tap in before the boat arrives and you’re sure you can get on board. Sometimes, if they’re too crowded you need to wait for another one, and if you tapped in you don’t have another option except wait or lose money.
Secondly, you can buy tickets in person at the pier or you can buy them online. If you don’t have a card, you must buy the ticket, since you cannot pay in cash on the boat. If you buy the tickets online try and buy them 7 days in advance, then they’re a couple of pounds cheaper!
We just used our credit cards whenever we decided to go for a boat ride. It’s the quickest and easiest way of travelling, exactly like you’re entering the Tube!
LONDON UBER BOAT TIMETABLE
If you’re not on strict schedule, there’s no need to check the timetable because they go every 10-20 minutes, depending on your location. The boats start just after 5 a.m. and sail until around midnight, which makes them reliable and frequent mode of transportation. If you’re on a tight schedule with detailed itinerary, here’s the complete timetable for all Uber Boat routes!
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LONDON UBER BOAT STOPS/ROUTE
Uber Boat stops at 24 piers along the Thames. All the stops are between Barking Riverside Pier in the East and Putney Pier in the West. Here’s a map of their routes from their website, you can check it out below.
HOW TO USE THE UBER BOAT IN LONDON
Using the London Uber Boat is a piece of cake, but here’s a short step-by-step guide if you think you need some help.
- Choose the pier – Check out the photo of the route map above and choose the best pier for you. There is one pier for both West and Eastbound boats, so make sure you go to the exact location of the pier you’ve chosen.
- Prepare your ticket/card – before you go down to the pier, prepare your online ticket or buy the ticket at the pier. If you have a credit card, just use the card to pay for the boat ride.
- Tap in with your card/show the ticket
- Enjoy the gorgeous boat ride
- Tap out once you’re out of the boat
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL SAILINGS ON THE UBER BOAT?
There are a few special sailings, but these two are the most popular and fun. If you’re lucky, you could grab a ticket for one of these 2 events!
Illuminated River Official Boat Tour
If you want to see the lights of London in a special way, check out this bout tour. It happens every Saturday and it’s a 40-minute return trip accompanied by commentary. It departs from Tower Pier at 21:30 p.m. and the adult ticket is 14£.
River Bus Comedy Night
The comedy night on the boat happens once a month and it’s a special event where you can enjoy a stand-up comedy show while sailing next to iconic London landmarks. It’s a round trip from the Embankment Pier starting at 6:30 and it’s 20£ per person.
