thames clipper travel card

Family River Roamer on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Review

When we spent a weekend in Greenwich we stayed in Greenwich but did Up at the O2 and needed to get to the O2 one lunchtime. We looked at all the transport options – from tubes to cabs – and ended up deciding to take the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers .

What is Uber Boat by Thames Clippers?

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services are the fastest, most frequent and reliable boat service on the River Thames. It’s another form of transport in London for commuters and tourists, carrying over 4 million passengers each year, operating from Putney all the way to Woolwich Royal Arsenal and stopping in so many places along the way.

How can you pay for the Thames River Clippers service?

You can pay for your tickets with an Oyster Card or contactless payment. You can also use the Thames Clippers Tickets app or the Uber app. However, we chose to book our tickets in advance online.

How much does the Uber Boat cost?

The Thames Clippers London River Bus is divided into zones, much like when you travel on the tube. The boats operate in three different zones – West, Central and East and the fare you pay will depend on which zones you travel in.

You can save up to 23% off the standard fare by buying tickets online, via the apps or when travelling using a Contactless or Oyster card. Children and Freedom Pass holders receive 50% off adult fares and under 4s travel free, TfL Travelcard holders receive a third off standard fares and Uber Boat season tickets.

Thames Clippers roamer tickets

Much like daily travelcards or hop on hop off tour buses, you can get a river roamer ticket for the Uber Boat, letting you travel wherever you like, as many times as you like. The River Roamer tickets give unlimited all day travel across all of the Uber Boat stops or you can choose an East Zone River Roamer to explore the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the local area.

We found that a Thames Clippers Family Roamer Ticket for the East Zone was much more affordable than any other travel option. It cost us just £19.60 for our family of four when we booked online but you can also book in advance on the app too.

The East Zone covers all piers from Canary Wharf through to Woolwich at the end of the line and it’s a lovely part of the Thames to explore. You get to see the O2, the Thames Barrier, the massive business district at Canary Wharf and so many historic buildings along the way.

Exploring the rest of the route you can see everything across London from London Bridge at the London Bridge City pier to Central London, the London Eye , the Tower of London and the Tate Modern all the way to Wandsworth Riverside Quarter piers and Battersea Power Station. It’s a great way to do some sightseeing without breaking the bank whilst seeing London from a whole new perspective,

We got on the Thames Clippers boat at Greenwich, travelled to the end of the line at Woolwich and then travelled back, getting off at the O2 at the North Greenwich piers on the Greenwich Peninsula. We saw the Old Royal Naval College, the Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark from the river. It felt like such an adventure and was a great addition to our weekend in Greenwich and such a nicer experience than just getting on the tube or jumping in an Uber.

Uber Boats are a really frequent service. We only had to wait a couple of minutes each time we wanted to travel and the staff were super friendly. Unlike tubes or trains, staff have to dock the boat at each pier and set up the walkway for travellers to embark and disembark. It makes for a really interesting way to travel.

What are the Thames Clippers boats like?

We had no idea what to expect with Thames Clippers and we have been on a lot of boats over the years, all varying in quality, cleanliness and amenities. It’s safe to say we were pretty impressed with Thames Clippers from the moment we first stepped on board.

The Thames river boats have comfortable seating and plenty of space. Seats are in rows with both forward and rear facing seating. It feels much line being on an aeroplane, with two aisles running through the seats.

There are big windows down each side and a huge window at the front that gives great views if the Thames. There’s also seating outside the main cabin where we sat on our return journey. It’s windy but a great experience and something you should definitely do, even just for a short journey.

The larger river boats all have licenced onboard cafes and bars, with a range of coffees, snacks and alcoholic drinks plus they all have toilet facilities, and some have baby changing facilities too plus they have Metro and City AM newspapers available on board and Free Wi-Fi is available at the main piers.

We loved our Thames Clippers adventure and our Family River Roamer ticket was a great value sightseeing option. We’d definitely spend time on Uber Boats again in the future.

You can find out more over on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers website and you can see the full Uber Boats route map here and check timetables including first and last boat times .

Similar Posts

Using Google Maps as Sat Nav Abroad

A Midweek Break at Needham House Hotel

Learning Maths the Fun Way with Matific Galaxy | AD

Visiting Portchester Castle {English Heritage}

Teaching Kids to be Kind to Strangers

Charlecote Park {National Trust} Review

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jan 22, 2018

How To Use London Transport: Using the Thames Clipper Boats

Paschalis Angelopoulos

London can seem scary and so can London’s transport. If you have never used the boat, here is a useful guide explaining how to use it.

The Thames Clipper boats  are an ideal way to travel around London on the River Thames, because you get to see the cities iconic sights and the boats also offer more space than the tubes.

Step 1: To go on a Thames Clipper, you must have a ticket or a card to tap in and out with. You can use your contactless card, an Oyster card or you can purchase a ticket for your boat trip. If you are buying a ticket, it is advisable to book or buy online , so you get a cheaper fare. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets at the piers, either from the ticket office or from a ticket machine. If you want more information on ticket prices, click here .

Step 2: At the pier, there will be display boards that show where you should stand to board the boat and what time it will arrive. Make sure you are waiting for the correct boat, because not all of them stop at every pier, if you aren’t certain which boat to board, ask a member of staff. Step 3: Once your boat is ready to board, a member of staff will ask you to move forward and either scan your card or show your ticket. Do not scan your card before you are asked to do so, because a member of staff needs to see that you have scanned it.

Step 4: Once you have boarded the boat, make your way into the vessel and find a seat. Alternatively, you can stand at the back of the boat to see the sights on the river. On board, there is a bar with food and drinks, should you wish for some refreshments and there is also a toilet.

Step 5: All stops are announced before the boat docks, so that you know when to get off and a member of staff will tell you whether to depart from the front or the back of the boat. You can find all routes and where the boats stop here .

Step 6: Once the boat is safely docked, a member of staff will then allow passengers off the boat. If you used your card to access the boat, remember to tap out again (so you aren’t charged an incorrect fare).

Fun fact: You will see many famous London bridges on your boat ride, such as London Bridge and Tower Bridge. If you watch out, you will also see the remains, some large red pedestals, of the original Blackfriars Rail Bridge, which is in between Blackfriars Road and Rail Bridges. The original was built in 1864 and demolished in 1985.

You may also like

London's Festive Delights!

Looking to get in to the Christmas spirit?

Our Guide to English Language Proficiency Exams

Not sure what IELTS is all about?

How To Use Dublin Public Transport: Buses

Our step-by-step guide to a stress-free bus journey in Dublin !

We use technology on our website to personalize content, customize and measure advertising, and analyze website traffic. By clicking OK, you agree to the use of these technologies in their entirety.

Learn more in our Privacy Policy .

Which is better: Oyster, contactless or travelcard?

Which card should you choose?

One of the first decisions that a tourist has to make when travelling around London is whether to use an Oyster card , contactless card or travelcard .

The first thing to be aware of is that using cash to buy individual tickets is definitely the worst idea, as single tickets on the train are more than double the cost of Oyster and contactless, and you can’t even buy single tickets on the bus anyway. So which of the three cards do we recommend?

Oyster cards

An Oyster card is a credit card-sized piece of plastic. You load it up with money before you travel and then tap it down on the Oyster card readers on the buses and trains. The computer will then automatically deduct the correct fare from your credit. When you start running low on credit you can just top it up again at a ticket machine.

They come in two different types: normal blue Oyster cards are aimed primarily at the locals, whereas Visitor Oyster cards are aimed primarily at the tourists (although they are basically both the same, so it doesn’t really matter which one you get).

What are the benefits of using an Oyster card?

• The biggest benefit of using an Oyster card is its joint cheapest fares for single journeys (along with contactless)
• The Oyster daily cap is always cheaper than buying a 1-day travelcard
• Oyster pay-as-you-go credit can be used in zones 1-9, whereas travelcards are only valid in the zones you buy them for
• If you register your card online then you can turn on the ‘auto top-up’ feature which takes money out of your bank account whenever your credit gets low, so you don’t have to worry about running out
• Pay-as-you-go credit never expires, so you can carry on using any leftover credit on your next visit
• Visitor Oyster cards also come bundled with a book of discounts vouchers which can save you money at shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. These discounts are constantly changing all the time, but in the past they’ve included things like 10% off a boat ride, 10% off souvenirs in a particular gift shop, or 20% off a meal in a particular restaurant. The instructions for each venue will come with the vouchers, but most of the time all you have to do is show your Visitor Oyster card when you pay the bill, and the staff will apply the discount

What are the downsides of using an Oyster card?

• One of the downsides of using an Oyster card is that you can’t pay two fares with one card, so each traveller in your group will need their own
• The weekly cap only works from Monday to Sunday, whereas weekly travelcards can start on any day of the week you like
• You have to pay a £7 deposit whenever you buy a new Oyster card, or a £5 activation fee when you buy a Visitor Oyster card, which can’t be put towards fares
• You can’t buy a Visitor Oyster card in central London, only the normal blue Oyster cards. If you want a Visitor Oyster card then you have to buy it online in advance and have it posted to you

Contactless cards

A contactless payment card is just your normal everyday debit or credit card. It works in exactly the same way as a London Oyster card . You just tap it down on the Oyster card readers on the buses and trains and the computer will automatically deduct the correct fare from your bank account.

What are the benefits of using a contactless card?

• One of the main benefits of using a contactless card is that it’s just your normal everyday bank card or credit card, so you probably already have one
• Contactless also has the joint cheapest fares for single journeys (along with Oyster)
• The contactless daily cap is always cheaper than buying a 1-day travelcard
• Contactless can be used in zones 1-9, whereas travelcards are only valid in the zones you buy them for
• Unlike Oyster cards, you don’t have to pay a £7 deposit to set it up
• Unlike Oyster cards, there’s no need to keep topping it up with credit because the money comes straight from your bank account
• Contactless cards can be used in conjunction with Mobile Pay on your phone

What are the downsides of using a contactless card?

• One of the downsides of using a contactless card is that you can’t pay two fares with just one card, so each traveller in your group will need their own
• Unlike with Oyster, you can’t load a travelcard onto a contactless card
• Not all foreign-issued cards are accepted, and foreign cards might have a transaction fee added on by your bank every time you buy a ticket, bumping up the price of your journey

Travelcards

Travelcards are credit card-sized pieces of paper. They can also be loaded onto an Oyster card . You choose the duration you want it to cover (either 1-day, one week, one month or one year), whether you want it to cover just the bus/tram, or the train/bus/tram together, plus the zones you want to travel through, and then you’ll be entitled to unlimited travel in those zones until it expires.

What are the benefits of using a travelcard?

• The biggest benefit of using a travelcard is that you can make an unlimited number of journeys over one day, one week, one month or one year
• Depending on how many journeys you make in total, a weekly travelcard might work out cheaper than the Oyster and contactless weekly cap
• Unlike Oyster cards, you don’t have to pay a £7 deposit the first time you buy it
• You can take advantage of National Rail’s 2-for-1 offer to get cheap entry into 150+ tourist attractions. All you have to do is print out the relevant voucher from daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london and then hand it over at the attraction, alongside a valid National Rail travelcard for the same day of travel. But here’s the catch: the travelcard has to be printed on orange paper. That means that you have to buy it from a National Rail station (the big overground hubs like Euston , King’s Cross , Liverpool Street , Paddington , Victoria and Waterloo ). Travelcards bought at London Underground stations are no good, because they will be printed on TFL’s pink paper. And travelcards loaded onto an Oyster card are no good either

What are the downsides of using a travelcard?

• One of the downsides of using a travelcard is that you can’t share one between two people, so each person in your group will need their own
• One day travelcards are always more expensive than the daily cap on Oyster and contactless
• Unlike the pay-as-you-go-credit on Oyster and contactless cards, travelcards can only be used in the zones you bought it for. If you later decide that you want to travel outside of those zones then you’ll have to buy a completely separate ticket
• Travelcards are only valid for 1-day, one week, one month or one year – you can’t buy a travelcard that covers any other stretch of days

How do Oyster, contactless and travelcard fares compare?

Bear in mind that travelcards only allow you to travel between a set period (either one day, one week, one month or one year), whereas the Oyster daily cap and contactless daily cap apply all the time.

You can think of the daily cap as a price ceiling – it doesn’t matter how many buses or trains you ride each day, the maximum amount that the computer will take from your Oyster or contactless card will never rise above the cap.

Peak and off-peak fares – For Oyster and contactless peak fares apply to all journeys that start between 6:30 AM and 9.30 AM (Monday to Friday), or 4.30 PM and 7 PM (Monday to Friday). It doesn’t matter what time the journeys finish. Any other journey is classed as off-peak. Note: Between the 8th March and 31st May 2024 TFL are running a trial called ‘Off-Peak Friday Fares’, where Fridays will be classed as off-peak all day.

For travelcards, off-peak applies to any journey that starts after 9.30 AM (Monday to Friday).

Which is the cheapest: Oyster, contactless or travelcard?

The Oyster and contactless cap is always cheaper than buying a one day travelcard … but bear in mind that you also have to pay an £7 deposit on top the first time you buy an Oyster card , so a 1-day travelcard can still work out as better value.

The Oyster and contactless weekly cap is identical to buying a weekly travelcard, but you need to make enough journeys to make a weekly travelcard worthwhile. If you make at least three or more journeys on six days, or two or more journeys on seven days, then a 7 day travelcard will be worth it, otherwise you should go for an Oyster card or contactless instead.

Where can you use Oyster, contactless and travelcards?

Buses – Oyster cards, contactless cards and travelcards can be used on TFL buses all over London. And because buses don’t have zones you can use a train/​bus/​tram travelcard in whichever zone you like, regardless of which zones you actually bought it for.

London Underground, London Overground, DLR, TFL Rail, National Rail – The pay-as-you-go credit on Oyster cards and contactless can be used in all of the Oyster zones (1-9), but travelcards can only be used in the zones you bought it for.

You can also use Oyster and contactless on the Heathrow and Gatwick Express, but bear in mind that it won’t count towards the daily cap – it will just be deducted from your credit.

Taxis – Contactless cards can also be used to pay for black cabs (assuming that the fare is less than the current limit of £100). But Oyster cards and travelcards cannot.

IFS Cloud Cable Car & Thames Clipper – You can use Oyster cards and contactless to pay for a ticket on the cable car and Uber’s Thames Clipper service, but bear in mind that the cost will not count towards the daily cap – it will just deduct the relevant fare from your credit. Travelcards cannot be used to pay the fare.

How long do Oyster, contactless and travelcards last?

The pay-as-you-go credit on an Oyster card lasts forever. If you don’t use all the money up during your first holiday then you can simply carry on using it during your next visit.

Contactless cards don’t expire either, because they take the money straight out of your bank account.

A travelcard is the only one with an actual expiry date, because you have to choose a start date and duration when you buy it – either one day, one week, one month or one year. Once the duration has passed then the travelcard will stop working.

Which is best: Oyster, contactless or travelcard?

So which is better? If you’re a foreign visitor coming to London for just one day then we recommend choosing a one day travelcard . The Oyster and contactless daily cap might seem cheaper, but when you factor in the Oyster card’s £7 deposit, and the fact that your bank might add on a transaction fee every time you use a foreign bank card overseas, then a travelcard will likely work out cheaper.

If you’re a foreign visitor coming to London for more than one day then we recommend buying an Oyster card or Visitor Oyster card instead… unless you’re planning on making two or more journeys on seven consecutive days, or three or more journeys on six of those days, in which case a weekly travelcard will work out cheaper.

If you’re a UK visitor then we always recommend using your contactless card , regardless of how many days you’re staying, because the fares are the same as Oyster and you don’t have to pay a deposit to get one.

Your comments and questions

Jane Is a two traveling together card, work out cheaper than a pay as go Oyster card

Staff Hi Jane. No, if you're talking about the railcard then it doesn't apply to Oyster pay-as-you-go fares. It's only really any good if you're travelling on trains outside of London - twotogether-railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

JohnP My sister and I are coming to London for a week of museums and galleries. We've been there three times before, but each time I get confused between travelcards, Oyster cards, etc. We arrive and depart through Heathrow, and we're staying near Holland Park/Kensington, so I THINK the 7 Day travelcard is what we should use, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions or help in explaining it more clearly would be greatly appreciated

Staff Hi JohnP. Weekly travelcards always have a start date on them (which you choose when you buy it) and they're valid for for seven consecutive days. You also have to choose which zones you want it to cover. You'll probably want zones 1-2, but it depends where you're going. Oyster cards 'might' be better because they don't have a date on them, they can be used in all the zones, and they cap the maximum price you can spend each day (regardless of how many journeys you take). You can look up the daily caps on our Oyster card page - city-guide.london/​transport/​oyster-cards.php . This might work out cheaper, but if you're making at least three or more journeys on six days, or two or more journeys on seven days, then a weekly travelcard will be better

Tony Hi. I'm London travelling across zone 1 and 2 for 3 days. Is it right that if I use a contactless card the cap will allow me to travel off-peak for less than a one day travelcard

Staff Hi Tony, that's right. The daily cap for zones 1-2 is only about half the cost of a 1-day travelcard

Bobbie I'll be in England for a month with several train trips. I just purchased a Senior Railcard. Can I get discounted fares on the tube? And how do I use it in conjunction with contactless credit card payment?

Staff Hi Bobbie. Most of the savings come from buying National Rail tickets, The only discounts you get on the tube are 33% off the daily cap for Oyster fares (off-peak only), 33% off single Oyster fares (off-peak only), and 33% off a zone 1-9 one day travelcard (when bought as part of a journey to London from outside London). You have to buy an Oyster card and get the Senior railcard loaded on to it. It doesnt work with contactless because its not possible to load the railcard onto your bank card - senior-railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

Susan Tchudi We're coming to London for ten days. We're staying in Kensington. We've always used travelcards in the past, but we'll probably want to go beyond zones 1 and 2, for example to Kew Gardens. So would it be better to get the Oyster card?

Staff Hi Susan. If youre staying for ten days then it will be cheaper with an oyster card, because you can only buy 1-day and 7-day travelcards. the maximum you'll pay with Oyster is the weekly cap x 1 (which is the same price as a weekly travelcard) plus a daily cap x 3 (which are cheaper than a 1-day travelcard) for whichever zones you travel through. all the caps are here: city-guide.london/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

JennyJ Hi, I am JennyJ. I go betwenn zone 1&3, there and back 3 times a week and also twice a week to zone 5 (hayes& harlington). I use an Oyster card and top up 20.00 as and when its low. What is the cap for this journey each weekplease. Is it £9 or £11 or neither. I dont know how to work out but dont think I am better off buying a card to cover zones 1-5 as only go max twice a week.

Staff Hi Jenny. The daily cap for the days when you're doing zones 1-3 is £9, and when you're doing zones 1-5 it’s £13,10. a weekly travelcard for zones 1-5 is currently £65,70, so its not worth it - city-guide.london/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php

Wangui Going through this information has been super helpful, thanks so much! My family of 4 foreigners are coming to London for 11 days from Heathrow Airport and staying at a location in Zone 6, are likely to be visiting attractions in Zone 1 everyday but also traveling to Surrey on 2 days. What is the cheapest means of travel payment to use? -VOC or travel card considering the £7 deposit and postage fee to a UK address for VOC? -If VOC then how much credit should be loaded on the cards? -Also is the weekly/daily cap applied to VOC automatic or how does it work; do the particular days eg Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday need to be specified?

Staff Hi Wangui. If it was me I would probably just keep it simple and get Visitor Oyster cards for everyone, and forget about the travelcards. Visitor Oyster cards have a weekly cap which is the same cost as a weekly travelcard anyway, so you wont be losing anything (apart from the £7 deposit - which you'd have to pay anyway because you'll need something to cover the other four days). How much credit you need will depend on where you’re going. The maximum amount you will pay each day is the ‘daily cap’ for the zones you travel through. The daily cap for zones 1-6, for example, is currently £14,10 - but maybe you’ll only be making 2 journeys each day, going there and back, so then you’d just pay two single fares instead - 2x£5,50 . If the running total between Mon-Sun reaches the weekly cap then the cost will be capped at that (currently £70,30). The caps all get applied automatically. Its all explained on our Oyster card page - city-guide.london/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

jan Hi, I am currently travelling to work from slough to zone 3, (i would also sometimes go to the other zones (1-6) - by bus/underground after work. I am using the contactless method. The job is Monday to Friday, I wanted to know if buying a weekly/ monthly travelcard would work out cheaper as I also have a 16-25 railcard. Also how does the weekly cap work? does it add your daily charges and refund you if you go over the cap?

Staff Hi Jan. Travelcards usually work out cheaper if you’re making two or more journeys on seven days a week, or three or more journeys on six days a week. You wont get it cheaper with for your railcard either, because it only gives a discount on 1-day travelcards for zones 1-9. I would recommend getting an oyster card instead because the fares and weekly cap are identical to contactless, but you can have your railcard added to it. You can’t do that with contactless. But check the travel times apply to you first, because they might not - 16-25railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/ . The weekly cap will kick in when the sum total of all your journeys that week reaches the relevant amount (its the same price as a weekly travelcard). The computer will then automatically stop charging you. Bear in mind that it only counts up the fares between Mon and Sun, and not any other combination of days, like Tue to Mon

frankie Hi, I would like to ask, if you use the same contactless card but one day you use it as the actual physical card and then the next day you use your mobile phone to pay (but with the same debit card) would it count towards the weekly cap?

Staff Hi Frankie. Unfortunately not, no. The computer wouldn't recognise it as the same card because things like Apple Pay don't pass over your card number (it passes over a unique number based on your bank card and device instead). TFL says “Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out… For example, don't touch in with an iPhone and touch out with an Apple Watch or contactless card” - tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/contactless-and-mobile-pay-as-you-go

Betty Hi I will be in London for a week. I will be staying at a hotel at the Heathrow airport and going back and forth between there and the actual city of London. Is the Travel card best and what zones would I pick? Thank you

Staff Hi Betty. it depends how many journeys you're going to be making. If you make two or more journeys on seven days, or three or more on six days, then a weekly travelcard will probably be cheaper. We’d normally recommend getting an oyster card. All the pros and cons are described above. Heathrow to central London is zones 1-6.

Canan Hi, I'll be visiting London this summer. My daughter is 10 years old (born in 2013). Is she going to be free of charge or discounted?

Staff Hi Canan. Under 11s are free on the buses and tube (as long as she’s accompanied by an adult on the tube) - city-guide.london/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Cristina Grilo Amaral Hi, we are a family of 4 and will be in London for 6 days. We will be riding transport a lot on those days, in zones 1- 2; meaning we should make about 6 tube trips a day. We will arrive and depart via Heathrow so we have 2 journeys (1 outbound, 1 return). Can you please indicate which card you recommend? Thank you so much.

Staff Hi cristina. Price-wise, the best would be a zone 1-2 weekly travelcard put onto an oyster card, and then adding some pay-as-you-go credit onto the same oyster card to cover the two journeys out to heathrow zone 6. But if you want to keep it easy and dont mind paying a bit more, then just get zone 1-6 weekly travelcards instead

Elaine I am travelling with a 14 year old and I would use contactless for myself but what would be the best option for my 14 year old.

Staff Hi elaine. It depends on how many journeys you're making. If you're just talking about one day, there and back, then i would buy her single tickets at the self-service machine (using your card), and then use your card on the gate for yourself. So she will end up paying the adult cash fare, and you’ll get the adult contactless fare.

Mike M We are arriving in London in late May for 3 days and another 4 days in early June after travelling around UK on Britrail Pass. While in London what would be the best card to use on Underground and 1 day to Watford

Staff Hi Mike. I would get an oyster card. there are no dates on those, so you can carry on using your credit when you return in june. You can also use them out to Watford (assuming you’re going to see the Harry Potter studios)

Ali Hi, we are a family of 4 travelling to London over Easter from the UK. We have a friends and family railcard, and I'm just wondering what is the best way for us to travel around, given we will be sightseeing in London for a few days, and also travelling to Paris via Eurostar. We also will be visiting London again in the summer for a few days. It is myself, my partner and 2 kids (ages 7 and 14). Am I right in thinking contactless is best for 3 of us (and doesn't my 7 year old travel free?). Or should I sort getting an oyster cards for us instead? Thank you for your advice in advance. Cheers Ali

Staff Hi Ali. Contactless will be the cheapest for the two adults. Your 14-year-old can't use contactless if they don't have their own bank card (the system doesn't allow you to tap your card down twice to pay two fares), so I would get the 14-year-old an Oyster card and then have the 'Young Visitor Discount' applied to it once you arrive in London - more info about that here - city-guide.london/​transport/​child-train-fares.php . The 7-year-old will travel for free.

Ali Thank you so much for that perfect and swift response. Amazing!

Sue Can we pay contactless for ourselves and our grandchildren?

Staff Hi Sue. No, each person needs their own bank card. The system doesn't allow you to tap down multiple times to pay multiple fares. What you can do is use your card to buy them a paper ticket at the machine (which will be charged as a cash fare) and then tap down on the gate for yourself (for a contactless fare)

Sue We are coming to London for one day with two grandchildren 12 and 25 years old. If we use our debit contact less card for us can the grandchildren use our credit contactless card? Although we know that would be a full fare.

Staff Hi Sue. If you mean you want to use one debit card to pay two contactless fares, and one credit card to pay two contactless fares, then no. The system doesn't let you tap down twice to pay two fares. Each individual needs their own card. But you can use one card to buy more than one paper ticket from the machine. But then you'll be paying the cash fare.

Hiko Hi,I’d like to know about 7day travel card. I’m plannning to go to Birmingham,Brighton,Wembley,and sightseeing inside zone1-2.(My son loves soccer!) My hotel is in zone1.I will stay there about 8days. If I buy 7day travel card with zone1-2,how can I go outside of that zone? Can I ride the national rail with my travel card such far area?? Does the card pay the difference, when I go outside of the zone2,like Wembley zone4?

Staff Hi Hiko. I would buy yourself an Oyster card and have the travelcard loaded on to that (rather than getting a paper travelcard). Then you can load some extra pay-as-you-go credit onto the same Oyster card to cover the extra fares. You can ride National Rail trains with a zone 1-2 travelcard, but only in zones 1-2. If your journey goes further than that then the computer will recognise that the travelcard covers 1-2, and automatically take the extra money from your pay-as-you-go credit. But places like Birmingham and Brighton are too far away for travelcards and Oyster. You will have to buy totally separate tickets for those.

Siegrid I want to go by train from city airport London to St. Pancras and may pay cash. Is there a chance for paying?

Staff Hi Siegrid. Not sure what you mean by ‘chance’, but you can pay cash at some of the self-service machines, Some will accept cards only, and some cards and cash. it will say which at the top

Peter I have a 7 hour layover at Heathrow and wish to go into Covent Garden for the day. Which is the best option for me to travel into London.

Staff Hi Peter. If that's the only place you're going then I would just buy a single ticket at the machine (zone 1-6). You can choose a return journey and it will give you two single tickets. It's not worth getting an Oyster card or travelcard just for there and back.

Julia Dear all, we a family of two adults and one 12 year old want to spent Saturday and Sunday in London. We would only need zone 1 tickets. We arrive at Gatwick and already organized this transfer by bus because of the train stikes this weeekend. Would You recommend the visitors Oyster or just day travelcards for us?

Staff Hi Julia. If it's just one day then I would probably go for a travelcard, which is easier (they sell cheaper ones just for the bus, if that's what you're planning on doing). The fares with a Visitor Oyster Card are cheaper, but they make you pay an extra £5 activation fee on top the first time you buy one, which would wipe out any savings. But if you think you'll come back to London another time then it would be worth getting Visitor Oyster cards, because you can carry on using the same ones then.

Mike Is a monthly travel card valid for a calander month or 28 days

Staff Hi Mike. It lasts until the previous date the next month. So if you choose a starting date of 20th February it will end on 19th March. If you choose 10th December it will end on 9th January. So it could be a different number of days.

Marcella Am coming to London for two nights with husband, sister and brother in law who has dementia. Will be making trip from Stansted airport to Deptford and home again via Gatwick and staying mostly around Greenwich area. We can use contactless cards but my brother in law can’t really do any cards himself and we can’t use ours to put him through the barrier? Do we just get him a ticket? Are their staff available to help if need be Thanks

Staff Hi Marcella. Its not possible to pay two fares with one contactless card (it doesnt deduct two fares if you tap it down twice). Maybe the best thing to do is get him an oyster card with some credit on it, but tap it down on the gate yourself and send him through the barrier, then just follow straight behind him after youve tapped your contactless card down. It would only take a few seconds to get you both through. Or you could ask a member of staff to help. You can usually find them standing behind the extra wide barrier they always have for wheelchairs and buggies.

Cheryl Stefanik We live in the state of Washington (zip code 98198). What is the charge/fee to order an Oyster card vs. the charge/fee to get a Visitor's Oyster card? Is the only difference in function that we cannot add money to the Visitor's Oyster card online?

Staff Hi Cheryl. there's no way to order an Oyster card online and have it posted overseas. You can only do that with Visitor Oyster cards. If you want a normal Oyster card you'll have to buy it when you arrive in London. There are a few more minor differences. You can't load travelcards onto visitor oyster cards (but you probably wouldn't want to do that anyway). And visitor oysters come with their credit already added, whereas normal oysters will have it loaded on when you buy it. Visitor oysters also have a non-refundable £5 deposit, whereas normal oysters have a non-refundable deposit of £7. The full list of differences can be found here - city-guide.london/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

Gordon Jamieson If your journey requires 2 tubes how does contactless work?

Staff Hi Gordon. You tap down at the start of your journey, and again at the end. You don't have to tap down for the station in the middle because you shouldn't have to pass through any barriers when changing platforms. (If you did happen to pass through a barrier then that would be the end of the journey)

Alex A Family of 5 travelling to London in early October. 2 adults, 2 children between 11-15 years, and 1 child who is 9 yo. Which ticket/card should we opt for as the youngest child travels free (I think) and the other 2 children get discounted fares. Can we arrange for a discounted fare oyster card when we arrive in London or do I need to arrange this from Australia before I leave? Or is there a travel card that can be bought for ‘students’? We will spend most of the time in Zone 1/2 but need to go to Watford for the Harry Potter Studios one day. PS we are arriving in London on the Eurostar as I heard you could buy oyster or visitor oyster cards on the train. Thanks, Alex

Staff Hi Alex. You can get Visitor Oyster cards posted to you overseas, buy them on Eurostar, or buy a normal Oyster card when you arrive in London. i would get either of those for everyone (apart from the 9 year old), and then have the ‘Young Visitor Discount’ applied to the kids cards when you’re in London. Its not possible to do that beforehand. it’s explained on this page - city-guide.london/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

Carol Two of us are headed to London for 14 days, most of that staying in Fulham. We are def there to sightsee in all directions. I want the card that's best for use on all forms of transportation including the Thames Clipper. Help!

Staff Hi carol. If you have a UK bank card then I would just use that, and pay contactless fares. Otherwise you should get an Oyster card - city-guide.london/​transport/​contactless-cards.php

HFPOM Hi, me and my wife are staying for 3 months in London, and we will be going from city center to Stanmore. What would be the best option? Thank you

Staff Hi Hfpom. There are pros and cons to all of them, which we’ve described on this page. But you’ll probably find that you’re better off with an Oyster card. If you have a UK bank card then might want to use contactless instead.

Chris Borland Hi, my and and I are coming to London for a long weekend, (Fri-Mon) what do you recommend we use for getting about seeing the sights?

Staff Hi Chris. It depends whether you're from the UK or abroad. Like we say above, if you have a UK bank card then the cheapest fares are with your contactless card. If you have a foreign bank card then you should go with Oyster in case your bank adds on a transaction fee every time you use it overseas

You must enable javascript to leave a comment

> Forum: London Buses, Taxis & Trains

Oh, the Places We See . . .

Never too old to travel!

Cruise the Thames with London’s Oyster Card

You never know just how valuable a concierge can be ’til he gives you information that 1) saves you money and 2) gets you where you want to be!  Thanks to Grosvenor House: JW Marriott for hiring a man who understands Southern tourists (We have a drawl, ya’ll) and knows how to make their day.  When we approached the desk and asked the best way to get to The Globe from the Mayfair section where Grosvenor House is located, the concierge immediately said, “Have you heard of London’s Oyster Card “?

Good on most any London transport — the Oyster Card!

And that’s how we discovered this little gem.  With an Oyster Card , you can tool around London on just about any form of transportation:  public buses, London Underground (the Tube), Docklands Light Railway (DLR), and trains.  River boat fares are discounted with an Oyster Card , the little blue smartcard you pre-load with money at any tube station. When you want to ride, hop on and touch your Oyster Card to an electronic reader which deducts the price of your trip and shows you how much you have remaining.  No cash involved.  Don’t use it all in one trip?  You can get a refund both for your deposit and what you didn’t spend.  Check it out at participating tube stations.

Is it only crazy, old Americans who take Thames Clipper selfies? Surely not.

Passengers on a SunClipper, cruising the Thames

Purchasing an Oyster Card in London is pretty convenient, but you can order a  Visitor Oyster   Card  before you leave home and have it mailed to you.  It wasn’t, however, much more expensive to purchase one onsite.

Boarding a ThamesClipper for the route to The Globe is easy.  Just walk down behind Parliament where ships dock.

London’s Parliament

Follow the covered walkways to the waiting areas where you wait — but not long.  Many boats ensure short wait times.

Covered walkways leading to the docks.

Scan your Oyster Card .  Board.  And off you go.

If you want clear shots of the skyline, head to the back of the boat, stand up facing the back, and brace yourself.  It’s worth it to get shots like this one of the London Eye . . .

London Eye at sunset — great time of day to catch this shot!

or boats wrapping up their business for the day.

A scene on the Thames.

Of course, not all is lovely on the river.  But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This seagull must like what he sees!

Traveling on the river takes you close to architecture you can’t see from a bus, like these ornate details on one of the bridges . . .

Spectacular details on this bridge on the Thames.

or passengers crossing Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral .

London Millennium Bridge was once called Wobbly Bridge when crossers felt a sway. But it was revamped and reopened, better than ever, in 2002.

It’s just another day on the Thames for those making a living on the water.

Birds know the right boats.

But for us, it was a sight to remember.

For pennies on the pound, a Thames River cruise may be one of your best memories of London.

For more scenes of London, check out our series Postcards from England .

Share this:

• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

23 thoughts on “ Cruise the Thames with London’s Oyster Card ”

Lovely photos! London is one of my favorite cities!

Oh, the Places We See

Thanks so much. It’s true what they say about the two times per day to take photos: morning and sundown. I love the lighting!

tinboxtraveller

The Oyster Card makes getting around London s simple. I use my contactless credit card any time I go as it does the same job. The water is definitely a great way to see the city. Thanks for sharing with #MondayEscapes

We thought the Oyster Card was a terrific invention — so easy to swipe and get around. Kudos to whoever created this system. And for a city this big, it works surprisingly well!

Rainbowsaretoobeautiful

We have an Oyster card and should do this! #mondayescapes

We were surprised that a city would include river transportation in a city card, but London is right on top of things. Have fun on your trip!

Public transportation in Europe is so much better and functional than here in the US. Beautiful photos.

The public transportation was so responsive, frequent, and easy to use. I don’t know if it’s all better than U. S. transportation, but for such a large city, they really do have it down pat! Thanks for commenting.

I totally agree with you Rusha

Curt Mekemson

Great perspective from the Thames with fun photos, Rusha. Really like the evening shot of the ferris wheel. –Curt

Thanks for the compliment and your preference. We were so fortunate to take the river boat at sundown. Fun to see how setting sun casts golden light on the iconic skyline. Would go back again anytime!

I’ve written it down for the next time I find myself in London, Rusha. 🙂 –Curt

Great blog, glad you enjoying your stay. I don’t live in London but I have an Oyster card!

Thanks for the compliment! I don’t live in London, and I still have my Oyster card!! Maybe it’s the incentive I need to go back and use up what’s left on it!!! 🙂

Camp That Site

We enjoyed the Thames cruise via the Oyster card as well it was a great addition to the regular transit options. Relaxing and great views

Those cards really are fantastic and make travelling around in London so much easier!

I was amazed. Especially on the buses where you just have to click and then sit down. Great invention!

cindy knoke

Great shots of a wonderful city!

It really is a great city. We had been before, but it was 42 years ago!!! Wish we had had more time on this trip. Now, I’ll HAVE to go back!

Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread

Love your photos. We road above and underground but didn’t take a cruise. 🙂

We like using public transportation because it saves so much money. But I would also like riding in one of those black taxis!!!!

It’s so fun to come upon something we can do for so little money that brings great pleasure! And this was it. Walking was another option, but cruising gave us a chance to feel the breeze and enjoy the sunset. Thanks for taking a look!

Wish to visit London one day! Cruise looks beautiful.

It makes our day to hear from you. Cancel reply

Discover more from oh, the places we see . . ..

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Loading service updates...

• Live train times
• Assisted travel
• Delay Repay
• Buy tickets

Service updates

Travel updates Latest travel information and updates

Industrial action Information about upcoming train strikes and industrial action

Timetables Find Southern timetables by station and download train times

Planned engineering work Details of planned engineering work on our network

Live map Real-time service status and route display

Cambridge closures Network Rail are constructing a brand new station at Cambridge South

Alternative route maps Alternative train, bus and tube maps

Onboard travel

Bikes & Scooters Storage of bikes and scooters on board

Wi-Fi on board Keeping you connected

Baby on board Priority seating for new and expectant parents

Find a quieter train Want to have the best chance of getting a seat?

Luggage Guidelines and support for carrying luggage on board

Travelling with pets Policies for travelling with pets

Station information

Car parking Parking availability and information across our stations

All stations (A-Z) Facilities, addresses, maps and more, for all stations

Getting to the station Find out about taxis, buses and how to get to the station

Airport travel

Gatwick Airport Gatwick airport is just a train away with Thameslink

Luton Airport Easy travel to London Luton Airport

Tickets & Payment methods

Off-Peak Reduced fares during off-peak hours

Super Off-Peak Reduced fares during off-peak weekdays

Anytime Tickets valid for travel at any time

Advance tickets Discounted tickets booked ahead of travel

Carnet tickets Buy a book of pre-paid single tickets

First Class Guarantee a seat and power socket

Child tickets Child fares and discounts for young people

Season tickets Discounted long-term tickets for regular commuters

Flexi Season Flexible season ticket options for part-time commuters

Transport for London Off-Peak Fridays trial Off-peak fares on Fridays for a limited time

Ways to pay eTickets, Smartcard and Oyster card payment methods

Discounts & Offers

2FOR1 offers 2-for-1 entry at attractions in London, Brighton and more

Railcards Save up to 1/3 off tickets with railcards

GroupSave Off-peak saving sfor 3-9 adults travelling together

PlusBus Combined train, bus and tram tickets

Kids for £2 Cheaper child fares starting from just £2

Accessibility

Book assistance Our online form for booking assistance for your journey

Assisted travel Assistance for those with access needs

Priority seat card A badge for those who require priority seating

Support whilst you're travelling Information and guidance on accessing our trains

Wheelchairs & Mobility scooters Guidelines for wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Help & Support

Contact us Need help? Find out how to get in touch

Delay Repay Compensation for unexpected delays and cancellations

Refunds & Amendments How to refund and change your ticket

Penalty fares Information on penalty fares and prosecutions

Failed to carry Submit proof of your ticket or railcard

Lost property Lost property services, collection and enquires

First Class claim form First class claim form for reimbursement

Using an Oyster card

How to use your Oyster card on Thameslink trains in London.

Oyster on Thameslink services

Oyster is a smartcard which can hold credit to pay as you go, as well as Travelcards.

Using pay as you go with an Oyster card on the train is simple. Just touch in on the yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. The correct fare is automatically deducted from your card.

You can use your Oyster card on all Thameslink trains within the London Zones 1-6 – as well as on buses, Tubes, Trams, The Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London.

Buying and topping up your Oyster card at a Thameslink station

You can buy or top up your Oyster card at:

• Any London Underground station
• Any Oyster Ticket Stop
• London Overground and TfL Rail ticket offices
• Online at tfl.gov.uk/oyster
• Top up using the TfL Oyster app

Top up your balance at any self-service ticket machine at our stations within the London zonal area, as well as stations between Merstham and Gatwick Airport and Epsom. You can also top up at London Underground, London Overground and TfL Rail stations and many newsagents across London, or use the TfL Oyster and contactless app as well as online at the TfL website .

Oyster cards will no longer be available at some of our ticket offices

From 1 March, these ticket offices won't provide Oyster services:

• Blackfriars
• City Thameslink
• Drayton Park
• East Croydon
• Finsbury Park
• Gatwick Airport
• London Victoria

You can top up at a ticket machine, at a newsagent, the TfL Oyster and contactless app, or at tfl.gov.uk/oyster .

From 29 March, Oyster cards will no longer be available at Essex Road station. As this station doesn’t have ticket machines, you can top up at a nearby newsagent, the TfL Oyster and contactless app, or at tfl.gov.uk/oyster .

Find out more about Oyster .

Discover how you can travel paperless on our trains with the Key Smartcard, eTickets or with Contactless instead .

Oyster PAYG to Radlett

These extensions allow customers to customers to use either a contactless card, mobile device or an Oyster card to pay for travel.

As Oyster PAYG is based on single fares, there are occasions when Oyster may not be the cheapest option for your combination of journeys. Details of PAYG single fares can here found here . Details of caps for extension stations can also be found on the TfL website .

There are some important differences to be aware of:

• These stations will not be included in the advertised London zonal area; instead it offers customers and alternative way to pay for their travel using PAYG
• Season tickets will not be available on Oyster along the extended route. If you normally buy a season ticket you are advised to continue to buy this using the Key Smartcard or a paper ticket
• Whilst a daily cap will apply; it is important to be aware that it will not always be cheaper than buying a return paper ticket. There will also be a weekly price cap for those using a Contactless card or mobile device; but it will still be cheaper to buy a season ticket on the Key Smartcard or paper
• Children’s ZIP Oyster cards, London Freedom Pass, 60+ London Oyster photocard and Veterans Oyster photocard holders CANNOT travel free on these routes

Capping costs

The daily cost for pay as you go on Oyster is capped, so if you’re making several trips it could work out cheaper than buying separate tickets.

You won’t normally pay more than a daily pass or Travelcard, however many trips you make in one day.

Find out more about Oyster capping

Oyster Travelcard Season Ticket

If you want unlimited travel you can buy an Oyster Travelcard Season Ticket.

This will let you travel as much as you like on any National Rail, London Overground, London Underground, buses, Docklands Light Railway and London Tram service within the London Zones 1-9 (depending on the zones you purchase).

You can use Oyster PAYG on all National Rail routes for journeys wholly within the London zones 1-6 and certain other locations.

Do you have a railcard? If so, then make sure you register it when you get an Oyster card.

Your railcard will give you 34% off the price of your tickets if you’re travelling outside the rush hour.

You can read more about Oyster cards on the Transport for London website.

You can also call Oyster customer services:

• Telephone: 0345 222 1234
• Textphone: 0800 112 3456

The Oyster Conditions of Use set out your rights and obligations when you use an Oyster card to travel on Thameslink or other National Rail services. They apply in addition to the National Rail Conditions of Travel .

Please contact TfL on:

Telephone: 0343 222 1234 available 08:00-20:00 Monday to Friday (09:00-17:30 Saturday to Sunday)

Textphone: 0800 112 3456 available 08:00-20:00 Monday to Friday (09:00-17:30 Saturday to Sunday)

Or visit the TfL Contact us page for Contactless and Oyster

Yes, you can claim Delay Repay in the same way as you would with a rail ticket but you must accompany your claim with a printout showing where you touched in and out and the cost of your journey.

Please visit Delay Repay if you were delayed on a Thameslink service.

Zip Oyster photocards

Children under the age of 11 can get a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard to:

• Travel free on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services where PAYG is accepted.
• PAYG at child rate on the London Cable Car
• PAYG at half adult rate on Thames Clipper River Bus services

Children aged over 10 years and 11 months and under 16 on 31 August can get an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard to:

• Travel free on buses and trams
• Travel at child rate on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, London Cable Car and most National Rail services in London
• Travel at half adult rate on Thames Clipper River Bus services

Find out more information on Zip Oystercards and under 18 travel. 

Why not go contactless?

Use your debit or credit card to travel around London

Railcards, season tickets and contactless travel

See our railcards, season tickets, contactless travel, stay up-to-date.

Subscribe to email updates. Get travel inspiration, journey updates and exclusive offers delivered straight to your inbox.

We will not pass on your personal information to any organisation outside of Thameslink.

Should we no longer operate the Thameslink franchise, please be aware that we will pass your details to the Successor franchise or Secretary of State for Transport to allow you to continue receiving service and/or marketing emails if you have consented to them.

Subscription confirmed

Thank you for subscribing to receive relevant updates from Thameslink.

Subscription Failed

Something went wrong with your submission, please try again later.

Access Card

< Back to search results

Thames Clippers

"Thames Clippers is the leading river bus service on the River Thames in London. Services run at 20 minute intervals between key London piers including North Greenwich for The O2, Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tower, London Bridge City Pier, Westminster and London Eye for Waterloo, as well as several residential piers."

Contact details

Tower Millenium Pier Lower Thames London London EC3N 4DT United Kingdom

https://www.thamesclippers.com/about-thames-clippers/accessibility-information

[email protected]

Access guidance

• We can have a maximum of four wheelchairs on our larger boats and can accommodate a further three folding wheelchairs. Electronic wheelchairs are also welcome. Members of our Mobility Scooter Recognition Scheme are able to bring their mobility scooters on board. All piers are wheelchair accessible except London Bridge City, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter and Cadogan piers. Ramps are used for boarding. We have introduced a Mobility Scooter Recognition Scheme which has been designed to help anybody with a mobility scooter who wishes to use Thames Clippers vessels. For more information, please visit our website.
• All boats except the Star, Storm and Sky Clippers have accessible toilets and larger boats have baby changing tables.
• You can bring a Guide or Assistance dog on board with you without charge.
• Any person with a valid Disabled I.D. badge/card, irrespective of the Council that this was issued from, or a Freedom Pass will receive a 50% discount off the online fare. A carer accompanying passengers with a Disabled I.D. badge/card will receive a complimentary ticket (same as the ticket bought by the person they are accompanying). Please talk to a member of staff at one of our ticket offices; if the pier is not manned please speak to the crew when boarding the boat. The person with a Disabled I.D. badge/card will need to buy their ticket before boarding and are allowed one complimentary ticket per person.
• All of the boats have audible next stop announcements on board, letting passengers know which stop is coming up.
• The piers have visual next boat information, letting passengers know when the next boat will arrive and where it is going to.
• Our crews on board the boats and staff at piers are more than happy to offer help and assistance.