Upriver Thames Trips: Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court by Boat

Boat trips to Richmond upon Thames run in the opposite direction from the cruises most visitors book first. Instead of heading downstream from Westminster toward Tower Bridge and Greenwich, these boats head west and upstream, toward Kew Gardens, Richmond and, further still, Hampton Court Palace. Here’s what I’d want you to know before you go looking for a ticket: this is a genuinely different route with its own piers and its own schedule, not a quieter version of the central sightseeing cruise.

I’ll cover what makes the upriver route different, who it actually suits, and why I’d treat it as its own day out rather than something to squeeze in alongside a central Thames cruise.

What Counts as an “Upriver” Thames Trip?

Upriver trips run west from central London, against the general downstream flow of the Westminster to Greenwich route, calling at piers serving Kew Gardens, Richmond and, on the longest services, Hampton Court Palace. The scenery shifts from the dense, built-up riverbanks of central London to a quieter, greener stretch lined with parks, boathouses and historic houses.

I’d think of it less as “the same river, further along” and more as a second, distinct experience. The landmarks, the pace and even the type of boat used can differ meaningfully from the sightseeing cruises that run between Westminster and Greenwich.

How Is This Different From the Westminster to Greenwich Cruise?

The two routes barely overlap. The Westminster to Greenwich cruise runs downstream through the historic and financial heart of London, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, in about an hour. Upriver services run the opposite direction entirely, toward suburban and semi-rural stretches of the Thames that most first-time visitors never see from the water.

My honest read: these aren’t two versions of the same trip, they’re two different rivers in character even though it’s technically the same waterway. I’d pick based on which scenery you actually want, not assume one route is simply a longer or shorter cut of the other.

Why Do Upriver Boats Run Less Often Than Central Cruises?

Demand is the simple answer. The Westminster to Greenwich stretch carries the bulk of London’s river tourism, so operators run it frequently, often multiple times an hour. Upriver services toward Richmond and Hampton Court see far less day-to-day footfall and tend to run on a more limited timetable, sometimes seasonally, with fewer sailings per day.

I’d check the current timetable carefully before planning your day around an upriver boat specifically, since a schedule that looks generous on paper can thin out noticeably outside peak summer months.

What Will You See on the Way to Richmond and Kew?

Expect a quieter, greener Thames: riverside pubs, rowing clubs, Kew Gardens’ riverside edge, and eventually the wide lawns and deer park around Richmond. It’s a genuinely different pace from central London’s landmark-dense stretch, with longer gaps between named sights and more open water and greenery in between.

I’d recommend this route specifically to anyone who has already done the classic sightseeing cruise and wants a second, calmer look at the river rather than a repeat of the same view. It’s not the trip I’d suggest for a first-time visitor with only one Thames cruise in their schedule.

Does the Route Continue All the Way to Hampton Court?

On some services, yes, though it’s typically the longest and least frequent option of the three destinations. Hampton Court Palace sits further upriver than Richmond, so a boat running the full stretch covers considerably more distance and time than a shorter Kew or Richmond run.

I’d only book the full Hampton Court leg if you’ve built an entire day around it, since the round trip can run to several hours depending on the service and the tide. A shorter Richmond or Kew sailing is the easier fit for a half-day plan.

Who Should Actually Book an Upriver Thames Trip?

This suits travelers who already know Kew Gardens, Richmond or Hampton Court is on their list and want to arrive by boat rather than train, plus anyone who has already done the central sightseeing route and wants a genuinely different stretch of the river. It’s a poor fit if your main goal is ticking off Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the Tower of London, since none of those appear on this route at all.

I’d steer a first-time London visitor toward the central cruise first, and only recommend the upriver route as a second river trip once the main landmarks are already covered.

Does This Site Sell a Ticket for the Upriver Route?

Not specifically. I want to be upfront about that rather than stretch a listing to fit: the cruises featured on this site run the central Westminster to Greenwich stretch, the same route covered in my complete Thames river cruise guide. If Richmond, Kew or Hampton Court by boat is genuinely what you’re after, I’d search GetYourGuide’s wider London river listings directly for an upriver-specific operator rather than assume one of this site’s featured tours covers it.

If you’d rather stick with a route I can speak to directly, the Westminster to Greenwich cruise is the trip I’d point you toward instead, and it remains the best-reviewed sightseeing option on this river by a wide margin.

How Do the Piers Differ From the Central Route?

Upriver services depart from and call at different piers entirely from the central cluster. My guide to every Thames cruise pier covers Westminster, Tower, Embankment, London Eye and Greenwich in detail, the piers that serve the central sightseeing and dining cruises, which don’t connect directly to the Richmond or Kew boarding points.

I’d treat the two pier networks as separate systems rather than assume you can hop from one to the other on the same ticket, since they genuinely don’t link up that way.

Is There a Faster Way to Reach Richmond or Kew Than by Boat?

Yes, honestly. The London Underground and National Rail both reach Richmond and Kew Gardens directly and considerably faster than a sightseeing boat, which is built around the journey itself rather than efficient transport. I’d only choose the boat if the river trip is part of the appeal, not if you simply need to get there quickly.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers also runs scheduled river bus services on parts of this river, worth checking if you want a faster, more transport-focused option than a leisure cruise. My guide to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers explains how that service works and where it differs from a sightseeing trip.

My Honest Recommendation

Treat an upriver trip to Richmond, Kew or Hampton Court as its own day out, not something to slot in around a central Thames cruise. If this is your first time on the river and you want the landmarks everyone pictures when they think of a London boat tour, book the Westminster to Greenwich cruise first, and come back to the upriver route on a future trip once the central sights are covered. Whichever direction you end up choosing, you can browse London boat tours to see what’s actually available before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Thames river cruises go to Richmond upon Thames? Some upriver services do, though they run less frequently than the central Westminster to Greenwich cruises and use different piers entirely.

Can you get to Hampton Court Palace by boat from central London? Yes, on some of the longer upriver services, though the trip can take several hours and runs far less often than the central route.

Is the upriver Thames trip the same boat as the Westminster to Greenwich cruise? No, they run in opposite directions, use different piers and often different operators, and show completely different scenery.

What’s the quickest way to reach Kew Gardens if I don’t want a long boat trip? The London Underground or National Rail reaches Kew directly and considerably faster than a leisure cruise built around the journey itself.