Thames River Cruise Piers: Where to Board in London

Thames river boats depart from a handful of named piers across central London, and which one you need depends entirely on which cruise you’ve booked. Here’s what I’d check first: don’t assume every Thames cruise leaves from the same pier, since several genuinely different departure points serve different routes along this river.

I’ll run through the main piers, the nearest station for each, and which type of cruise typically uses it, so you’re not guessing on the morning of your booking.

How Many Piers Do Thames River Cruises Use?

Most sightseeing, dining and speciality cruises on this river use one of five main piers: Westminster, Tower, Embankment, London Eye and Greenwich. A handful of routes use more than one, picking passengers up at several piers along a single journey, while others are fixed to just one.

I’d always check your specific booking confirmation rather than assume, since the pier listed there is the one that matters, not whichever pier you’ve heard mentioned most often.

Embankment Pier, just along the river from Westminster, is worth knowing by name too, even though fewer of this site’s featured cruises use it directly. It’s a backup boarding point for some operators during maintenance or high-tide restrictions at Westminster, so I’d treat any mention of it on your confirmation as a genuine instruction rather than a typo.

Westminster Pier

Westminster Pier, on the Victoria Embankment next to the Houses of Parliament, is the busiest and most central departure point on the river. It’s a short walk from both Westminster and Embankment Underground stations, both served by multiple lines. The classic Westminster to Greenwich sightseeing cruise and the Thames dinner cruise both depart from here.

I’d default to Westminster Pier if more than one of your options departs from roughly the same area, since it’s genuinely the easiest pier to reach from most central London hotels.

Tower Pier

Tower Pier sits on Lower Thames Street, right next to the Tower of London and within sight of Tower Bridge. Tower Hill is the nearest Underground station, a short walk away. The Thames afternoon tea cruise, the lunch cruise and the illuminated night cruise all depart from here.

I’d pair a Tower Pier cruise with a visit to the Tower of London itself if your schedule allows, since you’re already standing right next to one of London’s most-visited sights before or after your boat departs. The pier itself sits in view of Tower Bridge too, which makes it a genuinely good spot to arrive early and take photos before your boarding time rather than rushing straight onto the boat.

London Eye Pier

Also known as Waterloo Millennium Pier, this departure point sits at County Hall, directly beneath the London Eye. Waterloo station is the closest major transport hub, a short walk across Westminster Bridge. The London Eye river cruise combo and the Thames speedboat tour both leave from here.

I’d book from this pier specifically if you’re already planning to ride the London Eye the same day, since the two bookings sit a few steps apart rather than requiring a separate trip across town. It’s also one of the few piers with a genuinely fast approach to Waterloo station, which matters if you’re connecting onward by train rather than heading back into central London on foot.

Greenwich Pier

Greenwich Pier marks the end point of most eastbound sightseeing cruises and one of the four stops on the hop-on hop-off route. It’s a short walk from Greenwich Market, the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory, with Cutty Sark DLR station close by.

I’d build in extra time around a Greenwich Pier arrival, since it’s genuinely worth stepping off the boat here rather than treating it purely as a turnaround point. My Greenwich boat trip guide covers what’s worth seeing once you’re ashore.

If you’ve booked a one-way ticket to Greenwich, I’d check your return options before you set off rather than after you arrive. The DLR back into central London is usually the quickest return leg, faster than waiting for a return sailing, so I wouldn’t assume you need to board a boat again just because you arrived on one.

Which Pier Does the Hop-On Hop-Off Cruise Use?

All four of the piers above except Embankment: Westminster, London Eye, Tower and Greenwich, run as a single loop. You can start your day at whichever one is closest to your hotel, since the ticket’s 24-hour validity doesn’t require a fixed starting point. My full hop-on hop-off cruise guide covers exactly how the loop works.

I’d pick your starting pier based on where your day already begins rather than Westminster by default, since starting closer to your hotel saves a pointless cross-town trip before you’ve even boarded.

Do Any Cruises Depart From Piers Further Upriver or Downriver?

Yes. A few routes head the opposite direction from the Westminster-to-Greenwich flow entirely, running upriver toward Richmond, Kew and Hampton Court from their own piers rather than the central cluster covered above. My upriver Thames trips guide covers those piers and schedules separately, since they genuinely run on a different timetable than the central sightseeing routes.

I’d treat an upriver trip as its own day out rather than squeezing it in alongside a central sightseeing cruise, since the piers don’t connect and the boats run less frequently than the Westminster-to-Greenwich services.

Is a Pier the Same as a River Bus Stop?

Not quite, and I think this trips up more visitors than you’d expect. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs a separate scheduled river bus service using some of the same piers as the sightseeing cruises, but it’s a transport service rather than a guided tour, with no commentary and a different ticket entirely. My guide to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers explains the difference if you’ve seen that name mentioned and weren’t sure whether it was the same thing as a sightseeing cruise.

I’d double-check which service you’re actually booking if a pier name alone brought you to this page, since sharing a dock doesn’t mean sharing a product.

How Early Should You Arrive at Your Pier?

Around 15 minutes before departure for most sightseeing and dining cruises, giving enough time to find the right boarding point and get through any check-in queue. Boarding points at busier piers like Westminster are sometimes numbered or lettered, so I’d double-check your confirmation for the exact spot rather than just the pier name.

I’d add extra buffer time in peak summer, when queues at Westminster Pier specifically can build up faster than the stated 15-minute guidance accounts for. Arriving a little early costs you nothing; missing a fixed sailing because of a slow queue costs you the whole booking.

Step-free access also varies by pier rather than being guaranteed across the board, which matters if you’re traveling with a wheelchair or a buggy. My full accessibility guide lists exactly which piers confirm wheelchair-friendly boarding, based only on what operators publicly document.

My Honest Recommendation

Check your booking confirmation for the exact pier and boarding point before you travel, since guessing from the cruise name alone is the easiest way to end up at the wrong spot. Westminster Pier is the safest default if you’re still deciding where to stay, since it serves the most cruises and sits closest to the Underground. My full Thames river cruise guide covers every route these piers connect to, and you can book your London boat tour once you know which pier fits your day best.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pier do most Thames river cruises leave from? Westminster Pier is the busiest and most central, serving the classic sightseeing route and the dinner cruise among others.

Is Tower Pier the same as Tower Bridge? No, Tower Pier is a boarding point on Lower Thames Street near the Tower of London, within sight of Tower Bridge but not the bridge itself.

Do I need to book a specific pier, or can I choose any? Your ticket is tied to the specific pier your cruise departs from, so check your confirmation rather than assuming you can switch to a more convenient one.

Which pier is closest to the London Eye? London Eye Pier, also called Waterloo Millennium Pier, sits directly beneath the Eye at County Hall.