Boat from London to Greenwich: Thames Cruise Guide

A boat from London to Greenwich almost always means one specific trip: the Westminster to Greenwich Thames river cruise, the busiest and most scenic sightseeing route on this river. Here’s what I’d check first before you book anything: whether you want a one-way ticket or a round trip, since that single choice changes both the price and how you get back into central London afterward.

I’ll walk through the route, the one-way versus round-trip decision, how long it actually takes, and a short, honest note on what’s worth doing once you step off the boat at Greenwich, without turning this into a full standalone Greenwich guide.

What Boat Goes From London to Greenwich?

The Westminster to Greenwich sightseeing cruise is the boat most people mean when they search for this route. It leaves from Westminster Pier, next to the Houses of Parliament, and sails downstream for roughly an hour, passing the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London before docking at Greenwich Pier.

I’d call this the default choice rather than one option among many, since it’s the single most reviewed boat trip on the entire river. A handful of other cruises touch parts of the same stretch, the hop-on hop-off ticket included, but if someone simply wants a boat from central London to Greenwich, this is the one they’re asking about.

How Long Does the Boat From London to Greenwich Take?

About an hour one way, though the operator books the slot as 1 to 2 hours to allow for tide and river traffic. I wouldn’t plan your day around the boat arriving at exactly 60 minutes, since river conditions genuinely shift the timing by 10 or 15 minutes either way.

My honest advice: build a buffer into whatever you’ve planned at the Greenwich end, especially if you’re connecting to a tour or a timed ticket there. A boat that runs a little long is far more common than one that runs short.

Should You Book One-Way or Round-Trip?

That depends entirely on what the rest of your day looks like. A one-way ticket, from around EUR 20.40, gets you to Greenwich and leaves you free to come back however you like. A round-trip ticket costs more but brings you straight back to Westminster Pier on a return sailing.

I’d book one-way for most plans. Greenwich sits on the Docklands Light Railway, so the return leg into central London by train is usually faster than waiting around for a return boat, and you’re not locked into a fixed sailing time to head back. I’d only pick the round trip if you specifically want more time on the water, or if getting back to Westminster Pier itself, rather than just central London, actually matters for your evening plans.

What Will You See on the Way to Greenwich?

The route runs past the London Eye and the South Bank first, then under Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern, before the most photographed stretch of the journey: The Shard, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge itself. After that the scenery shifts to the glass towers of Canary Wharf as the boat continues east toward Greenwich.

I’d grab a spot on the open deck a few minutes before Tower Bridge comes into view rather than scrambling once it’s already passing, since that’s the stretch almost everyone wants a clear photo of. My guide to the landmarks and history on a Thames cruise goes deeper into each one than the onboard commentary has time for.

How Much Does the Boat From London to Greenwich Cost?

The one-way ticket starts at around EUR 20.40, which makes it one of the cheaper ways to see this much of London’s skyline in a single hour. The round-trip price is higher, since you’re paying for a second sailing rather than a train ride back.

I’d treat this figure as a starting point rather than a locked quote, since prices move a little with season and demand, and this one was checked on the date this guide was published. My full Thames cruise pricing comparison breaks this fare down against every other ticket type on the river if cost is your main deciding factor.

Where Do You Board, and Where Does the Boat Arrive?

Boarding is at boarding point B on Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, a short walk from both Westminster and Embankment Underground stations. Arrive around 15 minutes before departure, since there’s no ticket office queue to allow for, just a straight walk to the boat.

The boat ties up at Greenwich Pier, a short walk from Greenwich Market, the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory. My guide to every Thames cruise pier covers the nearest station for each boarding point on this river, which I’d check the night before rather than on the morning of your trip.

What’s Worth Doing Once You Arrive in Greenwich?

I’d keep this short and practical rather than trying to cover all of Greenwich here. Greenwich Market is a few minutes’ walk and worth it if you like food stalls and craft stands. The Cutty Sark, the preserved 19th-century tea clipper, sits right by the pier and is easy to visit even on a tight schedule. The Royal Observatory, up the hill in Greenwich Park, is the one I’d prioritise if you only have time for a single stop, since it straddles the Prime Meridian and gives a genuinely good view back over the river and the Canary Wharf skyline.

My honest take: give yourself at least two hours ashore if any of those three interest you, since rushing Greenwich into a 30-minute window undersells it. If you want the fuller picture of the area rather than just this pier-side slice, I’d treat that as a separate day out rather than an add-on to the boat trip itself.

Is There a Faster Way to Get to Greenwich by Water?

Not really, if sightseeing is the point. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers also runs a scheduled river bus service that stops near Greenwich, but it’s built for commuting rather than touring: no live commentary, fewer stops along the scenic stretch past Tower Bridge, and a different ticket entirely. My guide to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers explains the difference if that name came up in your research and you weren’t sure whether it was the same thing as this cruise.

I’d pick the sightseeing cruise over the river bus every time your goal is the view rather than just arriving. The commentary and the slower pace past the landmarks are exactly what you’re paying the extra few pounds for.

Which Thames Cruise Should You Compare This to Before Booking?

If you’re still deciding between this and a different Thames cruise entirely, my guide to choosing the best Thames river cruise ranks the main options by what each one actually does well, rather than repeating this page’s focus on the Greenwich route specifically.

I’d only look elsewhere if you want something this cruise genuinely doesn’t offer, more flexibility across multiple piers, a sit-down meal, or straight-up speed. For a simple, well-reviewed way to get from central London to Greenwich by water, this route stays my default recommendation.

My Honest Recommendation

Book the one-way Westminster to Greenwich cruise unless you have a specific reason to return by boat. It covers the most scenic stretch of the river for a fair price, and the DLR gets you back into central London faster than waiting for a return sailing would. Give yourself real time at the Greenwich end rather than treating it as a quick turnaround stop, and you can book a London boat tour once you’ve settled on one-way or round-trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a direct boat from London to Greenwich? Yes, the Westminster to Greenwich sightseeing cruise runs directly between the two, taking about an hour.

Is it cheaper to go one-way or round-trip to Greenwich? One-way is cheaper. A round trip costs more since it includes a second sailing back to Westminster Pier.

How do I get back to central London after a one-way boat to Greenwich? The Docklands Light Railway from Cutty Sark station, a short walk from the pier, is usually the fastest way back.

Does the boat to Greenwich stop anywhere along the way? No, the standard Westminster to Greenwich cruise is a direct one-way or round-trip sailing with no stops. The hop-on hop-off ticket is the option that lets you get off along the route.