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Thames Barrier Cruises

Cruises to the Thames Flood Barrier will operate daily from the 1st April – 27th October 2019. Five sailings will cruise to the barrier each day departing from Westminster Pier, St. Katharine Pier & Greenwich Pier. After departing Greenwich Pier we cruise past the O2, under the Emirates Airline Cable Car & through the Thames Barrier before turning & returning to Greenwich Pier.

The route passes a number of artistic sculptures including Antony Gormley’s Quantum Cloud, Alex Chinneck’s Bullet From A Shooting Star & the Optic Cloak; a flue for the North Greenwich Energy Centre which has been cleverly camouflaged by Conrad Shawcross.

Departures to the Thames Barrier

Daily from the 1st April – 27th October 2019.

 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30

 10:50, 11:50, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50

 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30

Standard Ticket Prices

A 2 Day River Pass allows unlimited travel on our services for two days. Passengers can embark & disembark at Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier, Tower Bridge Quay & Greenwich Pier. A River Pass allows you to travel by boat between some of London’s most popular attractions including the New Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, Cutty Sark & National Maritime Museum.

Adult: 2 Day River Pass: £21.00

Child: 2 Day River Pass: £13.75

Senior: 2 Day River Pass: £15.00

To cruise between Westminster Pier, St. Katharine Pier & Greenwich Pier without cruising to the Thames Barrier please click the link below.

A visit to London isn’t complete without a cruise on the River Thames. Thames River Sightseeing operate regular services from six piers on the River Thames including Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Tower Bridge Quay (St. Katharine Pier) & Greenwich Pier. Thames River Sightseeing cruise 361 days a year & operate a fleet of all-weather vessels with spacious open decks perfect for the summer months & heated saloons with panoramic windows for the colder months. The vessels range from more traditional River Thames passenger boats (London Rose) to more modern vessels purposefully built for the River Thames (Thomas Doggett). A cruise between Westminster & Tower Bridge Quay takes just 30-40 minutes & passes numerous London landmarks including the New Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, London Bridge & Tower Bridge.

Passengers can embark at Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier, Tower Bridge Quay or Greenwich & take advantage of a range of ticketing options. Single tickets are suited for day trippers or passengers travelling in or out of London & return tickets allow passengers to disembark & explore before joining a return sailing later the same day. A 2 Day River Pass is the perfect option for anyone visiting London over multiple days. A River Pass allows unlimited travel on our services for just £21.00 per adult, a family River Pass is just £42.00 (for 2 Adults + 3 Children).

Thames River Sightseeing also offer excellent group rates & discounts which are perfect for families, tour companies or travel trade. Toilet facilities & a Multilingual Audio Guide are available on all sailings. The Multilingual Audio Guide is an informative commentary available through our onboard Wi-Fi in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin (Smart device & headphones are not provided, Read More).

Route

Old Royal Naval College

Old Royal Naval College

Old Royal Naval College, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Old Royal Naval College, Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Old Royal Naval College is Sir Christopher Wren’s riverside masterpiece, built in the 17th Century as the Royal Hospital for Seamen on the site of the Tudor Palace of Placentia. The Old Royal Naval College boasts beautiful surroundings & some of the most magnificent interiors in London. The Painted Hall in King William Court is home to the largest painted ceiling in Europe, a Baroque masterpiece by Sir James Thornhill depicting over 300 years of English aristocracy & British Naval Power. The Chapel of St Peter & St Paul in Queen Mary Court has a beautiful interior designed by James ‘Athenian’ Stewart. Visitors to the Old Royal Naval College can enjoy tours of the Painted Hall & the grounds & visit the cafe & gift shop located in King William Court.

The Queens House

The Queens House

aThe Queens House, Royal Borough of Greenwich
aThe Queens House, Royal Borough of Greenwich
The Queens House was the first classical building in England, built by Inigo Jones for Queen Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I. Now over 400 years old the house has been extensively refurbished and is home to an internationally renowned art collection.

Trafalgar Tavern

Trafalgar Tavern

Trafalgar Tavern, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Trafalgar Tavern, Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Trafalgar Tavern was designed by Joseph Kay & built in 1837, the year of the accension of Queen Victoria. The tavern stands on the site of the Old George Inn & is constructed in a Late Regency style with large bay windows, balconies & columns. After serving as a home for seamen & then a working men’s club the tavern was restored in 1965. The Trafalgar Tavern takes its name from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 & features an extensive collection of maritime paintings. A statue of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson was comissioned for the 200th anniversary of the battle & stands watch outside the tavern.

Trinity Hospital

Trinity Hospital

Trinity Hospital, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Trinity Hospital, Royal Borough of Greenwich

The first Trinity Hospital was built in 1613 by the Earl of Northhampton, Henry Howard. The current building dates from 1812, is home to 41 sheltered apartments & is supported by the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

Optic Cloak

Optic Cloak

The Optic Cloak by Conrad Shawcross, Royal Borough of Greenwich
The Optic Cloak by Conrad Shawcross, Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Optic Cloak, by Conrad Shawcross

West India Dock

West India Dock

West India Dock Entrance, Isle of Dogs
West India Dock Entrance, Isle of Dogs

Isle of Dogs Pumping Station (Temple of Storms)

Isle of Dogs Pumping Station (Temple of Storms)

Isle of Dogs Pumping Station (Temple of Storms)
Isle of Dogs Pumping Station (Temple of Storms)

A Slice of Reality

A Slice of Reality

A Slice of Reality by Richard Wilson, Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Borough of Greenwich
A Slice of Reality by Richard Wilson, Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Borough of Greenwich

A Slice of Reality, by Richard Wilson

Virginia Quay Settlers Monument

Virginia Quay Settlers Monument

Virginia Quay Settlers Monument
Virginia Quay Settlers Monument

Trinity Buoy Wharf

Trinity Buoy Wharf

Trinity Buoy Wharf
Trinity Buoy Wharf

The O2

The O2

The O2, Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Borough of Greenwich
The O2, Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Borough of Greenwich

The O2 (designed by Richard Rogers) was originally constructed in 2000 for the Millennium Experience and was called the Millennium Dome. After the Millennium Experience ended the dome was developed into a sports & entertainment complex by Anschutz Entertainment Group. The dome was sponsored by o2 & is now home to over 30 bars & restaurants, a bowling alley, cinema, ICON Outlet shopping complex and the O2 arena.

Quantum Cloud

Quantum Cloud

Quantum Cloud by Sir Antony Gormley, Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Quantum Cloud by Sir Antony Gormley, Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Borough of Greenwich

Emirates Airline Cable Car

Emirates Airline Cable Car

North Greenwich Cable Car, Royal Borough of Greenwich
North Greenwich Cable Car, Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Emirates Airline Cable Car is the first urban cable car in the United Kingdom & was designed by Wilkinson Eyre. The cable car was completed in 2012 at a cost of £60 million. The cable car travels between Greenwich Peninsula on the South of the River Thames & the Royal Docks on the North with a capacity of 2,500 passengers in each direction every hour.

Thames Flood Barrier

Thames Flood Barrier

Thames Flood Barrier, Woolwich Reach
Thames Flood Barrier, Woolwich Reach

The Thames Flood Barrier is one of the largest movable flood defences in the world. Since its completion in 1986 the barrier has been closed 182 times (accurate as of February 2018). 95 of these closures were to protect against tidal flooding & 87 closures were to protect against tidal/fluvial flooding.

Thames Refinery (Tate & Lyle Sugar)

Thames Refinery (Tate & Lyle Sugar)

Thames Refinery (Tate & Lyle Sugar), Silvertown
Thames Refinery (Tate & Lyle Sugar), Silvertown

Tate & Lyle’s Thames Refinery is the largest sugar refinery in Europe & one of the largest in the world. The refinery was built in 1878 & produces over 500,000 tonnes of sugar every year.

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