ORIENTATION TO LONDON - London 2015 - page 52

Tower Pier (North Bank) is at the Tower of London, at the east edge of The
City and near the East End.
St. Katharine's Pier (North Bank) is just downstream from the Tower of Lon-
don.
Canary Wharf Pier (North Bank) is at the Docklands, London's new “down-
town.”
In outer London, you might also use the piers at Greenwich, Kew Gardens,
and Hampton Court.
For details—including prices, schedules, and exactly which piers each company
uses—check their websites or look for ticket kiosks at the docks. If you'd like to compare
all of your options in one spot, head to Westminster Pier, which has a row of kiosks for all
of the big outfits.
Cruising Downstream, to Greenwich: Both City Cruises and Thames River Ser-
vices head from Westminster Pier to Greenwich. The cruises are usually narrated by the
captain, with most commentary given on the way to Greenwich. The companies' prices
are the same, though their itineraries are slightly different (Thames River Services makes
only one stop en route and takes just an hour, while City Cruises makes two stops and
adds about 10 minutes). The Thames Clippers boats, described later, are cheaper and
faster (about 20-45 minutes to Greenwich), but have no commentary and no seating up
top. To maximize both efficiency and sightseeing, I'd take a narrated cruise to Greenwich
one way, and go the other way on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), with a stop in the
Docklands (Canary Wharf station; see The Docklands Walk chapter).
Cruising Upstream, to Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace: Boats operated
by the Westminster Passenger Service Association leave for Kew Gardens from West-
minster Pier ( £ 12 one-way, £ 18 round-trip, cash only, discounts with Travelcard, 2-4/
day depending on season, 1.5 hours, boats sail April-Oct, about half the trip is narrated,
www.wpsa.co.uk ). Most boats continue on to Hampton Court Palace for an additional £ 3
(and another 1.5 hours). Because of the river current, you can save 30 minutes cruising
from Hampton Court back into town (depends on the tide—ask before you commit to the
boat). Romantic as these rides sound, it can be a long trip...especially upstream.
Commuting by Clipper
The sleek, 220-seat catamarans used by Thames Clippers are designed for commuters
rather than sightseers. Think of the boats as express buses on the river—they zip through
London every 20-30 minutes, stopping at most of the major docks en route (including