A simple guide to tourism in London
Wondering where to go in London? Discover the best London tourist spots to visit with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers!
London - a vibrant city that’s rich in history and boasts a variety of interesting tourist attractions, it’s no wonder it’s such a popular place to visit.
It’s also very easy to sail along the River Thames and access the best tourist places in London by water.
In this article, we discover the top London tourist spots to visit via boat so that you can experience all of the best tourist sites in London with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, London’s River Bus.
Popular places along our route
So that you can start planning where to visit in London, let’s talk piers. We have 24 piers in total between Putney in the west and Barking Riverside in the east. Discover our different piers and see which of the main tourist attractions in London you can visit by River Bus.
Battersea Power Station Pier
A vital part of the London skyline, this once abandoned building has been brought back to life by an investment of £9million.
This project has given the power station a much-needed facelift and introduced new homes, shops, restaurants, entertainment and leisure facilities. Take a look at our blog to find out more about the project: Battersea Power Station – the new 15-minute live, work and play neighbourhood.
London Eye (Waterloo) Pier
Also known as Waterloo Pier, London Eye Pier is located on the south bank of the River Thames, below the London Eye.
With over 3 million visitors a year, The lastminute.com London Eye is one of the city’s biggest attractions, giving you a birds-eye view of all the best sights of London in just one 30-minute ride. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Windsor Castle!
Other top attractions you can visit from this pier include:
- The SEA LFE London Aquarium
- The London Dungeon
- The Florence Nightingale Museum
- Southbank Centre
- National Theatre
- South Bank area
Westminster Pier
Westminster Pier takes you straight to the heart of London. Next to Westminster Bridge, you’re just a short walk away from the Palace of Westminster, where you can see the famous Elizabeth Tower and if you’re lucky, you may hear the iconic chimes of Big Ben!
Home to the Houses of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster was built way back in the 11th century, and the architecture is truly a remarkable sight to behold.
What’s more, from this pier you can also visit:
- Westminster Abbey
- St James’ Park
- Buckingham Palace
- The Churchill War Rooms
- No. 10 Downing Street
Embankment Pier
Embankment Pier gives you the perfect access to central London, whether you want to shop ‘til you drop, visit a museum, or watch award-winning shows in the West End.
This pier also gives you easy access to:
- Trafalgar Square
- The National Gallery
- Covent Garden
- Piccadilly Circus
- Carnaby Street
- The London Transport Museum
Bankside Pier
If you have a passion for art, you can visit the famous Tate Modern from Bankside Pier. Housed in what used to be Bankside Power Station, Tate Modern is home to an impressive selection of international modern art.
You can travel directly by boat from Tate Modern to Tate Britain near Millbank Pier, home to the biggest British art collection in the world. The Tate to Tate service, operated by our RB2 route, runs every 30 minutes and takes only 20 minutes.
You can also visit these iconic landmarks from Bankside Pier:
- Shakespeare’s Globe
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Borough Market
- Southwark Bridge
London Bridge City Pier
Located on the south bank of the River Thames, the London Bridge City Pier is right next to the famous HMS Belfast, as well as all the other interesting attractions Southwark has to offer.
The HMS Belfast is one of the few surviving navy warships from the second world war and is famous for protecting the arctic convoys and its efforts during D-Day. The famous ship now lives on the River Thames and is a popular museum.
Don’t miss The View from The Shard, the perfect place to take in breath-taking 360° panoramic views of London, 310m above the ground. Check out also The View from The River, a 50-minute circular cruise and see London’s most iconic landmarks while listening to live commentary provided by our London Expert.
From this pier, you can also visit:
- London Bridge
- Tower Bridge
- Vinegar Yard
- The Golden Hinde
- City Hall
- Bermondsey Street
Tower Pier
Right next to the iconic Tower of London, Tower Pier drops you straight into an area of rich history.
The Tower of London is a World Heritage Site and has plenty of things to explore, featuring the famous beefeaters, a historic prison which once housed Anne Boleyn and Guy Fawkes, and even the Queen’s crown jewels!
Or you can visit the iconic Tower Bridge - built over 125 years ago, explore the incredible engineering in the engine rooms, or watch the hustle and bustle of the capital from a different perspective through the high-level, glass floor walkways.
You can also visit:
- The Monument
- The girl with a dolphin statue
- The financial district of London, such as the stock exchange
- St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
Greenwich Pier
Maritime Greenwich is also a World Heritage Site, and you may even recognise some areas as they have been used as the set for several films and TV series (such as Les Misérables and the Netflix hit series - Bridgerton).
Greenwich is also home to the Old Royal Naval College, with a 500-year history to explore. Built on a former palace site birthplace of Tudor monarchs Henry VIII, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, the college was once a Royal Hospital before it became a prestigious Naval college.
You can also visit:
- Greenwich Park
- Queen’s House
- National Maritime Museum
- Cutty Sark
- Royal Observatory
- Greenwich Market
- The Fan Museum
North Greenwich Pier
Marvel at the artistic architectural sites and museums in North Greenwich. The Design District hosts a collection of extraordinary commercial buildings that were designed by eight different architecture companies, representing the natural development of cities.
You will also see Antony Gormley’s Quantum Cloud Sculpture, forming a part of ‘The Line’ – a walk featuring 20 different art sculptures.
When you go by boat you can’t miss The O2, the world’s most popular music, entertainment and leisure venue. It’s home to The O2 arena and indigo at The O2, Up at The O2 a roofwalk climbing experience and Icon Outlet, one of London’s most exciting retail destinations with up to 70% off superstar brands plus over 30 bars and restaurants.
From this pier, you can also access:
- London Cable Car
- Now Gallery
- Greenwich Peninsula
- Golf Range Ikea
Experience the Best London Tourist Spots with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
What are you waiting for? Plan your journey and experience the best tourist places by boat!
See all the major sights with a River Roamer ticket. Hop-on and hop-off Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services all day across 24 piers in London. With a Family River Roamer kids go free!