Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Camden Lock Market to browse through trendy arts and crafts (daily 10:00-18:00, busiest
on weekends, a block from Walker's Quay,
www.camdenlockmarket.com
).
Commuting by Clipper
Thames Clippers,
which uses fast, sleek, 220-seat catamarans, is designed for commuters
ratherthansightseers.Thinkoftheboatsasexpressbusesontheriver—theyzipno-nonsense
through London every 20-30 minutes, stopping at most of the major docks en route: Em-
bankment, Waterloo/London Eye, Blackfriars or Bankside, London Bridge, Tower, Canary
Wharf (Docklands), and Greenwich (roughly 20 minutes from Embankment to Tower, 10
more minutes to Docklands, 10 more minutes to Greenwich). However, the boats are less
pleasant for joyriding than the cruises described earlier, with no commentary and no open
deck up top (the only outside access is on a crowded deck at the exhaust-choked back of the
boat,whereyou'rejostlingforspacetotakephotos).Anyone-wayridecosts£6,andaRiver
Roamerall-dayticketcosts£13.60(33percentdiscountwithTravelcard,10percentoffwith
a pay-as-you-go Oyster card, tel. 020/7001-2222,
www.thamesclippers.com
)
.
Thames Clippers also offers two express trips. The
Tate Boat
ferry service, which direc-
tly connects the Tate Britain (Millbank Pier) and the Tate Modern (Bankside Pier), is made
for art-lovers (£6 one-way, covered by £13.60 River Roamer day ticket; buy ticket at gallery
desk or on board; for frequency and times, see the Tate Britain and Tate Modern listings,
later, or
www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-boat
). The
O2 Express
runs only on nights when there
are events going on at the O2 arena; from Waterloo Pier, £7 one-way, £14 round-trip, 30
minutes).
Cruising Upstream, to Kew Gardens
Boats operated by the Westminster Passenger Services Association leave for Kew Gardens
from Westminster Pier (£12 one-way, £18 round-trip, cash only; 4/day, April-Oct daily at
10:30, 11:15, 12:00, and 14:00; 1.5 hours, about half the trip is narrated, tel. 020/7930-2062,
www.wpsa.co.uk
). Romantic as these rides sound, it can be a long trip.
(See “Westminster Walk” map,
here
.)
JustabouteveryvisitortoLondonstrollsalonghistoricWhitehall fromBigBentoTrafalgar
Square. This walk gives meaning to that touristy ramble (most of the sights you'll see are
described in more detail later). Under London's modern traffic and big-city bustle lie 2,000
fascinating years of history. You'll get a whirlwind tour as well as a practical orientation to
