Plan a London day out by boat
Choose a day plan to see the stops, ticket decisions and return arrangements.
Tower of London to London Eye
- Tower of London visit
- Walk to Tower Pier
- Westbound boat towards Westminster
- South Bank and optional London Eye
Check the route: For London Eye, some westbound RB1 services turn at Westminster before calling there. Other services require you to leave at Westminster and cross Westminster Bridge. Check with crew and the current timetable.
Tickets to consider: Book Tower admission and river transport separately. Add Eye admission only with a generous gap after the Tower visit.
Read the full day plan →Central London to Greenwich and back
- Your chosen central London pier
- Boat to Greenwich Pier
- Painted Hall or waterfront time
- Return boat or land transport
Check the route: Use Greenwich Pier for maritime Greenwich, not North Greenwich for The O2. Check your last useful return before leaving the pier.
Tickets to consider: Compare transport-only tickets with the pass plus Painted Hall option. Other attraction admissions remain separate.
Read the full day plan →An easy family river day
- Choose the Tower or London Eye
- Enjoy a single useful boat leg
- Food and a riverside break
- Return by the route that suits your family
Check the route: Keep the second half of the day flexible. Check access at both piers and give children time ashore rather than filling the day with connections.
Tickets to consider: Compare the actual family ticket total. An unlimited pass is useful only if you will make enough journeys.
Read the full day plan →Sightseeing followed by a dining cruise
- Explore near your departure pier
- Leave a boarding buffer
- Afternoon tea, lunch or dinner sailing
- Return from the stated disembarkation pier
Check the route: Dining cruises are fixed departures. They are not hop-on hop-off transport and cannot be assumed to stop at the attractions you pass.
Tickets to consider: Check menu, drinks and table arrangements before paying. Choose a meal format that fits the rest of your day.
Read the full day plan →Suggested itineraries, not bundled tours or live journey predictions. Confirm your date, direction, ticket validity and boarding point before booking.
Official Uber Boat route map ↗ · Check current river-bus departures ↗
South Bank and Westminster
London Eye (Waterloo) Pier serves the Eye and South Bank. Westminster Pier sits across the river near Parliament. Check London Eye’s special westbound service pattern when returning from the east.
Tower and the City
Tower Pier is the relevant river-bus stop for the Tower of London. London Bridge City and Bankside serve different parts of the riverfront. Follow the named pier on the ticket for sightseeing operators.
Greenwich and The O2
Greenwich Pier is for maritime Greenwich. North Greenwich is for The O2. Treat them as separate stops in your plan, especially when pairing a boat trip with the cable car.
Routes vary by time and day
Not every boat calls at every pier. Use the operator’s route map to understand the network, then its timetable to check a specific journey. A schematic route is not a live departure board.
Check access at the exact pier
The operator publishes pier-specific accessibility information and temporary service notices. Check both ends of your journey rather than assuming all piers have the same facilities.
Read the individual experience guides
Sources and booking details
Our recommendations compare the experience and practical fit. Check current operator information and the selected ticket or tour before booking.
