Westminster River Cruise to Greenwich: One Hour From £11.30

Thames River Sightseeing leaves Westminster Pier seven days a week, and its direct boat to Greenwich takes about an hour. On the low summer timetable, which runs until Sunday 1 November 2026, the first boat leaves Westminster at 10:00 and the last one carrying on to Greenwich goes at 16:00. From Monday 2 November the winter timetable takes over, with a first departure at 10:20 and a last one at 15:40. The family-owned company has cruised this stretch of the Thames for more than 50 years, and its one-way Westminster to Greenwich ticket starts at £11.30 on the official site. If your search for a river cruise begins beside Big Ben, the ticket office is at Westminster Pier on Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2JH, a short walk down the steps from Westminster Bridge.

Thames River Sightseeing describes itself as a family-owned business and one of the longest running Westminster to Greenwich river boat services. That history shows up in the details rather than the branding. The skippers are local, the crew deliver live commentary themselves, and the boats are set up for ordinary Londoners as much as tourists, with space for pushchairs and a relaxed attitude to dogs. Dogs are allowed on board as long as they are on a lead and not dangerous, which makes this one of the few sightseeing cruises you can take with the family spaniel.

The fleet mixes open-air upper decks with enclosed lower saloons that are heated and lined with panoramic windows. On a wet October afternoon that matters more than any landmark list. You can sit inside with a hot drink from the licensed bar and still watch the Shard, St Paul's dome and the old riverside warehouses slide past, then climb upstairs for the approach to Greenwich when the rain stops.

The company runs two core routes from Westminster. The direct Westminster to Greenwich run takes about an hour one way. Westminster to Tower Bridge, where the boats call at Butler's Wharf Pier on the south bank, takes 30 to 40 minutes, and the onward leg from Tower Bridge to Greenwich takes another 30 to 40 minutes. A three-stop ticket links Westminster, Tower Bridge and Greenwich in one booking.

The hop-on hop-off river pass covers six piers rather than three: Westminster, Embankment, Festival Pier on the South Bank, Bankside for Tate Modern and Borough Market, Tower Bridge at Butler's Wharf, and Greenwich. That pass is the one to buy if you plan to step off more than once. Because the company runs a multi-stop service, a return ticket also lets you get off at any pier and continue later, rather than staying aboard for the whole loop.

Prices on the official site start at £11.30 for Westminster to Greenwich and £9.80 for Westminster to Tower Bridge. The flexible one-way ticket, which lets you pick any route and board any scheduled departure on your chosen date, starts at £9.25. The three-stop Westminster, Tower Bridge and Greenwich cruise starts at £11.95. The 1-Day River Pass, which comes with a second consecutive day free, starts at £16.95, and a family version of that pass is listed at £49.90.

Children under 5 travel free and do not need a ticket. Child fares cover ages 5 to 15, and adult fares cover 16 to 59. Students get a discount, but only at the pier ticket office with valid ID, not online. Freedom Pass holders, wheelchair users and other disabled passengers with a valid card get 50% off the standard fare, and one companion per disabled passenger also gets 50% off. Groups of 15 or more get 15% off online. Oyster cards and contactless bank cards are not accepted at the gates, because this is a sightseeing service rather than TfL transport.

The company asks passengers to arrive at least 15 minutes before their departure, and London transport can be busy enough that the company links its own journey planner from the FAQ. Leave a margin, especially if you are coming by Tube with children and a pushchair. E-tickets on a phone are accepted and recommended, so there is no need to print anything.

Missed your boat? The official answer is reassuring: your ticket is accepted at any time on the same day. Need to cancel? You can get a refund if you contact the company at least 24 hours before travel, and you can change the date by email on weekdays or by phone on Saturdays and Sundays. Once the winter timetable starts and the last Westminster boat leaves at 15:40, the late-autumn plan is simple. Take a late-morning boat to Greenwich, spend the early afternoon there, and catch a return before the last sailing.

Every boat has a fully licensed bar selling hot and cold drinks and snacks, plus toilets. The rule on outside food and drink is strict and worth knowing before you pack a picnic. Only a small bottle of water or a soft drink is allowed, and alcohol can only be bought from the onboard bar. If you want to eat properly, do it in Greenwich, not on the deck.

The live commentary from the crew is the company's calling card, and there is also a smartphone audio guide in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin. Most of the boats are wheelchair accessible, and the company points wheelchair users to its Our Boats page or the ticket office staff to find out which vessel is running. Pushchairs and prams are welcome, and the official FAQ says there is plenty of room for them.

Westminster Pier puts you within a few minutes of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Before boarding, walk up onto Westminster Bridge for the classic view back toward the Elizabeth Tower, or stroll along Victoria Embankment toward Embankment Pier and Trafalgar Square. If the queue at the ticket kiosk looks long, buy online while you walk rather than standing in line.

Greenwich Pier sits on King William Walk, beside the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Market, with the Royal Observatory on the hill above the park. The climb up through Greenwich Park is steep but repays the effort with a wide view of the river you just sailed. One honest note on tickets: if you want to go out and back, skip two single fares. At the starting prices, two Westminster to Greenwich singles add up to £22.60, while the 1-Day River Pass starts at £16.95 and throws in a second day.

Departs: Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH. Low summer timetable (until 1 November 2026): Westminster departures from 10:00, last boat to Greenwich at 16:00, plus a 17:00 sailing that goes only as far as Tower Bridge. Winter timetable (2 November to 31 December 2026): first departure 10:20, last 15:40, no service on 24, 25 and 26 December. Fares from £9.25 (flexible one-way), £9.80 (Westminster to Tower Bridge), £11.30 (Westminster to Greenwich) and £16.95 (1-Day River Pass with a free second day). Under-5s ride free. Arrive 15 minutes before departure. Only a small water or soft drink may be brought aboard. Leashed dogs are welcome. Save your Greenwich lunch plan in the Karpo APP before you board.