Uber Boat by Thames Clippers — London’s river bus, reviewed

What Uber Boat is (and isn’t)

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is London’s river bus: fast catamarans that run on a timetable between 24 piers from Putney in the west to Barking Riverside in the east. Transport for London lists it as the city’s River Bus service, and you pay much as you would on the Tube — tap a contactless card at the pier. Uber Boat isn’t a sightseeing tour: there’s no guide and no commentary. But the route passes the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Tower, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and Greenwich, which is why so many visitors use it as a cheap cruise.

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Uber Boat fares in 2026

Adult fares from Uber Boat’s ticket page. Travelcard holders pay less again — for example £5.20–£6.30 in one outer zone and £9.60–£10.95 in Central. Uber Boat says the contactless and Oyster fares apply until 31 October 2026 and revised fares will follow. A trip from Tower to Greenwich needs a Central and East fare.

Three ways to save: tap contactless rather than buying at the pier; buy online at least three days ahead for 15% off singles, returns and day passes; and if you have a Travelcard, load it on Oyster for a third off.

The Hop-on Hop-off pass (looking for the River Roamer?)

The day pass pays off with three or more trips that cross into Central — say Westminster to the Tower, the Tower to Greenwich and back. For a simple there-and-back to Greenwich, two contactless taps are cheaper.

Uber Boat tickets on the platforms

Combo: Uber Boat Single Trip and London Cable Car

• 4.4★ 1,862 reviews

See on Headout

Thames River Uber Boat Trip

• 4.3★ 1,505 reviews

from £12per person

See on Headout

London: Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Single River Ticket

• 4.0★ 1,173 reviews

from £10

See on GetYourGuide

London: Uber Boat Single Trip and London Cable Car

• 4.2★ 941 reviews

from £22

See on GetYourGuide

London: Uber Boat 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off and Cable Car Tickets

• 4.3★ 464 reviews

from £42

See on GetYourGuide

Prices and ratings checked 21 Oct 2026; they change daily.

Check which zones a platform single covers before you buy — the GetYourGuide listing says it’s valid between any piers from Battersea Power Station to Barking Riverside, which is excellent value for a long trip and no saving for a short one.

Uber Boat routes

• RB1 — daily, Battersea Power Station or London Eye (Waterloo) to Barking Riverside, via Westminster, the Tower and Greenwich. The main visitor route.
• RB2 — weekends only, Embankment to Battersea Power Station in about ten minutes.
• RB4 — the Canary Wharf to Rotherhithe cross-river ferry, £4.10 a trip.
• RB6 — daily, Putney to Canary Wharf or North Greenwich, with more stops than RB1.

Sample times from Uber Boat: Tower to Greenwich 23 minutes, Battersea Power Station to London Bridge City 37 minutes, Putney to Blackfriars 54 minutes. Millbank Pier isn’t currently step-free; check the route map for the others.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Cheapest way onto the central Thames, from £6.20 by contactless
• Fast, and runs from early morning to late at night, seven days a week
• No ticket needed in advance — tap in at the pier
• Half-price fares for children, Freedom Pass holders and disabled passengers; under-5s free
• Combos with the London Cable Car on the platforms

Cons

• No commentary — it’s transport, not a tour
• Peak fares apply almost all day and all weekend
• Zone pricing is confusing, and pier prices are much higher
• TfL daily caps don’t apply, and each person needs their own card
• Not every pier is step-free — Millbank currently isn’t

Verdict

4.0 / 5. Uber Boat is the best-value way for a visitor to see London from the river, and the only one that also gets you somewhere useful. It loses marks for a fare chart that needs a table to explain, a peak period that covers most of the day, and the absence of any commentary — first-timers who want the stories will enjoy a City Cruises sightseeing boat more. For everyone else: tap in at Westminster and ride to Greenwich.

Alternatives: City Cruises’ £10 one-day pass for commentary; a Thames speedboat for thrills; the river cruise bundled with many hop-on hop-off bus tickets; or a sightseeing pass from our London Pass vs Explorer Pass comparison if you’re buying several attractions.