Mind The Gap - Uber Boat

You’d be forgiven if you didn’t know that the Uber Boat is part of the Transport for London network. London has many travel options, including the tube, trains, bus, cable car, Santander bikes, and the river bus.

The riverboat has served the capital for the last 20 years. It is a great way to beat the crowds and enjoy a pleasurable ride up and down the River, even during the cold winter.

Travel In Style

I used it often while commuting when I worked in Canary Wharf; it was a welcome relief after a long day in one of the Towers. I never experienced any cancellations, and rarely did I experience late arrivals. The River Bus is a boon, especially during a tube strike.

Travelling on the boat is a great experience, especially during the warm summer. I now take the Uber Boat whenever I can and for fun. It’s a speedy, fresh and easy way to travel from one end of London to the other.

The Oldest Cross-London route.

It was the brainchild of two Co-founders who wanted to maximise the oldest cross-London transport route. Along with Alan Wood, Sean Collins Co-founded the Thames Clipper in 1999.

Today, the River Bus is recognised as one of the quickest and easiest routes in and out of London’s business districts in the West End, City and Canary Wharf. There are 24 piers along the River from the Barking Riverside Pier in the East Zone to Putney in the West Zone.

The Route

It spans from one end of London to the other. The River bus route covers many landmarks, including the following:

❇️North Greenwich Pier for O2 and Emirates Air Line

❇️Westminster Pier for the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey

❇️Tower Pier for the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

❇️Bankside Pier for Tate Modern and Shakespeare Globe Theatre

❇️Greenwich Pier for Greenwich

❇️London City Pier for HMS Belfast, The Shard and Borough Market

❇️London Eye Pier for London Eye, The London Dungeon and The London Aquarium

Oyster Card

It works out cheaper if using an Oyster Card and Visitor Oyster Card. A discount is applied for single and return trips. A Roamer daily ticket is available for £22.10 for an adult. So, you can get on and off as many times as you want along the banks of the River Thames.

You can also use your contactless card from the U.K., but it will cost you more than the Oyster price. Also, I wouldn’t recommend international visitors use their debit cards to tap in and out. They may exchange incur fees from the bank.

Window With the Best View

Aim for the window or front seats is good when you take the river bus. My favourite journey is from Battersea Power back to Tower Hill. Not only am I guaranteed a seat, but I’m also in for a very scenic route. As the boat heads into London, you’ll recognise all the major attractions and icons.

Many also choose to sit at the back during more excellent weather, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you suffer from motion sickness.

Facts

❇️In the beginning, the boat carried 80 passengers on the first day from Greenwich Pier to the Savoy.

❇️On average, 10,000 people use the river Bus daily.

❇️The Oyster Card pays as you go was accepted onto The River Boat in 2009.

❇️Forty million customers had been on the Thames Clipper as of 2019.

❇️In 2018, it was 4.2 million passengers.

❇️You can also purchase Uber Boat by Thames Clippers tickets on the Uber app.

Opening times

Services run seven days a week and 363 days a year. Weekdays: 5.25 am to 11.28 pm. Weekends: 8 am to 11.46 pm. Check the timetable before travelling.

Full list of fares

https://www.thamesclippers.com/about-us/about-uber-boat-by-thames-clippers

Who said travelling around London had to involve crowded tunes and buses? The river bus is the way to go.

Thank you for your attention

Tabby