Uber Boat or a Thames River Cruise?
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a fast river bus paid by contactless or Oyster; a Thames cruise is slower, with commentary. When each is the better buy, and where hop-on hop-off passes fit.
Take the Uber Boat to get somewhere on the river quickly; take a sightseeing cruise if the river is the point. The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is London’s river bus: fast catamarans between 24 piers from Putney to Barking Riverside, paid by contactless or Oyster like the Tube, with no commentary.
What the Uber Boat is
Thames Clippers has run commuter boats on the Thames since the late 1990s, and since July 2020 they carry Uber’s name under a sponsorship deal; the boats are still run by Thames Clippers, and the partnership was extended to 2030 in 2026. The river is split into West, Central and East zones, and your fare depends on the zones you cross. You tap in at the pier with a contactless card or Oyster, or buy in the Uber or Thames Clippers apps. Thames Clippers times Tower to Greenwich at about 23 minutes.
All its boats and piers are wheelchair and pram accessible except three piers, Cadogan, London Bridge City and Wandsworth Riverside Quarter, and bikes ride free.
Is the Uber Boat worth it?
For transport, yes. It is quicker than a sightseeing boat, it runs into the evening, and you just tap in. It is also a fine way to see the river if you do not need the commentary: the route past Parliament, the South Bank and Tower Bridge is the same water. The trade-offs are the ones you would expect from a commuter service. There is nobody telling you what you are looking at, the boats can be busy at peak times, and one recent rider waited 30 minutes to board at Westminster.
No ticket is needed in advance, so there is nothing to book here.
What a sightseeing cruise adds
- Commentary. On the Westminster to Greenwich cruise the crew gives it live, with an audio guide in 11 languages on your phone; on City Cruises’ sightseeing passes the captain gives it in English, with an app in 14 languages. Reviewers name the guides and quote their jokes.
- An open deck built for looking, and a heated indoor saloon for wet days.
- A booked ticket with a price fixed in advance and free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before.
The Westminster to Greenwich cruise, at US$23, takes about an hour against the Uber Boat’s quicker run, and that hour is the point: the Westminster to Greenwich page has what you pass.
How much is the hop-on hop-off boat?
City Cruises sells three passes over its four piers, Westminster, the London Eye, Tower and Greenwich, all with commentary:
| Pass | What it covers | From (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| One-day unlimited river pass | unlimited rides for a day, during operating hours | US$13 |
| Fully flexible sightseeing pass | one ride between any two of the piers, at any time that day | US$20 |
| Hop-on hop-off sightseeing cruise | unlimited rides for 24 hours | US$33 |
The passes sit between the two: sightseeing boats with commentary, used like transport for a day. They suit a day that strings together the Tower, the London Eye and Greenwich. Reviewers warn that the last boat back is not guaranteed, so plan on the second-last.
Which to take
Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise
Unlimited sightseeing boats between Westminster, the London Eye, Tower and Greenwich.
Check dates →Westminster to Greenwich
The whole central river with live commentary, and Greenwich at the end.
See the Greenwich boat →Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
The fastest boat on the river; tap in at the pier, no booking needed.
Cruise prices as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote. Uber Boat fares are set by Thames Clippers and change from time to time.
The calendar below is for the hop-on hop-off cruise:
Sightseeing Boats You Can Hop On and Off
City Cruises' River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise gives 24 hours of unlimited rides between Westminster, the London Eye, Tower and Greenwich piers, with commentary on board. Rated 4.4 from 3,310 reviews, from US$33 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 1 hour before.
Check Hop-On Hop-Off Dates