All 24 Uber Boat stops ranked by us

Grab your shades and your snacks and let's journey down the Thames ranking all the riverboat stops. Which ones are worthy of a visit?

Published: April 7, 2025
Thames

Please note this attraction is no longer available with your London Pass. 

Top of the stops

Embankment
Best for… everything really

This pier is popular for a reason. It gives you perfect access to central London for shopping, museum-ing, dining, and seeing a show. Access a tripple whammy of entertainment hubs – Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus – with ease. And there's a Gordon's Wine Bar just a few steps away!

Westminster
Best for peeps into politics

Pull up by the Palace of Westminster and get your political fix. From here you'll have easy access to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Jewel Tower, and Churchill War Rooms. After seeing the sights, enjoy a leafy stroll through nearby St James's Park – perfect. 

Tower Pier
Best for beheadings

…at least it was back in the 15th Century when you’d cruise straight though Traitor’s Gate to meet your fate. Nowadays, you can hop off to explore the Tower of London and learn all about those gristly deaths without getting involved. There's also Tower Bridge to explore nearby too.   

Blackfriars
Best for St Paul’s and a pint

Stop here to explore the splendid St Paul’s Cathedral and then swing by some of London’s oldest pubs. Or, do it the other way round if you need some dutch courage to tackle that dome. Any pub that has 'olde' in its name is probably appropriately historic. You've got Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Ye Olde Mitre Inn and Ye Olde Watling, to name a few.

St Paul's

Pop into St Paul's after a pint

Greenwich
Best for boat lovers

If being on a boat isn’t enough boat action, stop at Greenwich to explore the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum. London’s quirky corner also boasts the Royal Observatory where you can hop between east and west on the Prime Meridian Line. And there’s the Fan Museum which… well, is full of fans.   

Bankside
Most wondrous for doth who cherish the arts

Yep, you guessed it (we hope)! Disembarketh here for Shakespeare’s Globe where you can take a tour of the olde theatre or see a show. This is also the perfect stop for exploring South Bank – a riverside esplanade abuzz with street performers, restaurants and bars. 

London Eye (Waterloo)
Best for kids (and parents too)

Got little ones to entertain? Stop here for The London Eye and get gorgeous views over the city, not to mention those pods keep kids in one place for a full 30 minutes – result! There are plenty of kid-friendly attractions in the area too, plus the Jubilee Gardens – a great picnic area and playground.

London Bridge City
Best for London’s bucket list sights

Hop off here for The View from The Shard where you can see all of London in one go. Many of the city's must-sees are also within reach – Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, and more. If you need to grab a bite, head to Borough Market – one of London’s largest food markets with over 100 stalls to browse. 

The Shard

Stop by The Shard and Southbank's sights

Well worth a hop

Battersea Power Station
Best for shoppers with cash to splash

It's not on the main tourist trail but this stop takes you right up to Battersea Power Station which has had a fabulous facelift. The all-new powerhouse boasts over 150 swanky shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. There's also a futuristic-looking playground and a bougie soft play. 

Canary Wharf
Best for hidden gems

Forget skyscrapers, suits and business vibes, Canary Wharf has touristy things on offer too. Themed bars, the largest collection of outdoor public art in the city, and London Museum Docklands which explores the history of the River Thames.

North Greenwich
Best for daredevils

Sightseeing not scary enough for you? Be sure to make a stop at North Greenwich where you can get strapped into a harness to climb right over the o2. This 90-minute experience takes you 52-metres above the arena for a thrilling adventure. 

o2 arena

Climb all the way up the o2 arena if you're feeling brave

Millbank Pier
Best for art enthusiasts

Not only is this pier the gateway to the Tate Britain, it’s also a work of art itself. It was designed by Marks Barfield, the same architects as The London Eye – definitely worth a stop if you're into art and design. You can also get to the International Institute of Visual Arts and The Garden Museum from here.

Vauxhall (St George Wharf)
Best for cricket and gin

It might not look like much, but Vauxhall boasts a few under-the-radar attractions. There’s the Beefeater Gin Distillery, The Kia Oval – the birthplace of cricket’s Ashes – and even a city farm. You’ll sail right under the Grade II listed Vauxhall Bridge to get there. 

Getting a bit meh

Chelsea Harbour Pier
Best for football and flower fans

Stop here for Stamford Bridge Stadium and explore Chelsea’s famous football grounds. You’ve also got the Chelsea Physic Garden – a unique alternative to your regular parks and gardens with 5,000 medicinal, herbal and edible plants to discover.

Wandsworth Riverside Quarter Pier 
Best for putt in the park

Discover Wandsworth Park – a Grade II listed green area that’s within walking distance of the pier. Play a round of Putt in the Park if you fancy working on your swing.

Royal Wharf
Best for Thames fans 

Royal Wharf is London’s longest pier and includes a 162m² viewing platform for unparalleled views along the Thames. You can also see the Thames Barrier nearby and discover how it protects the city from flooding.

Woolwich (Royal Arsenal)
Best for being able to say you discovered a new area

This up-and-coming South London town is well worth a visit if you’re keen to see something different. There’s bustling cultural centre Woolwich Works, the Royal Arsenal Heritage Site, and the Woolwich Foot Tunnel which goes right under the Thames.

Masthouse Terrace
Best for sheep fans

This stop is your gateway to the Isle of Dogs – a quiet pocket of London with a great urban farm and some nice bars and restaurants, including a converted fire station. It loses kudos points for not having as many dogs as we’d like, despite the name.

Putney
Best for watching the Oxbridge Boat Race

For one day a year Putney pier rises right to the top of the charts for the famous Boat Race. Beyond that, it’s a nice little area to potter around but not worth the journey (soz).

Putney Pier

Putney Pier – not much beyond the sign tbh...

Glide on by

Rotherhithe
Best for broken guitars

There’s not much here, readers, besides a DoubleTree hotel. In fact, the pier used to be named DoubleTree Docklands after said hotel. There’s also a guitar hospital if you’ve got a poorly guitar to attend to.

Plantation Wharf Pier
Best for if you forget to get off at Battersea Power Station

Accidentally found yourself at Plantation Wharf? Just wait here for the next Uber Boat. Yeah… there’s not much else to do.

Cadogan
Best for if you’re fancy

Well this pier is actually a private stop owned by the Cadogan Estate. So if you’re paying a visit to your old friends, the Cadogans, simply ring the bell labelled 'River Bus Services' to hop off. Otherwise it’s probably best to sail on.  

Greenland (Surrey Quays)
Best for if you live there

...otherwise it’s a no from us – sorry Surrey Quays.

Barking Riverside
Best for finishing the race

This eastern stop is where all Uber Boat journeys come to end. So, if you really want to complete an entire end-to-end journey, be sure to sail all the way to Barking. Otherwise, it’s more of a gateway to Essex, which is a whole other adventure.

Check out Uber Boat's route map to see where all these stops are located (even the rubbish ones).


Enjoyed this? Then read why London's Uber Boat is the VIP way to travel. Or find out all about London's famous bridges.

Step up your sightseeing with The London Pass®

We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. 

See more, do more, and experience more with The London Pass® - just choose a pass to get started!

Selina Whitby
Content Lead

Selina is a copywriter and seasoned backpacker who has visited over 50 countries if you count Vatican City, which she does. Her most memorable travel experiences include tubing in Vang Vieng, doing New Zealand’s Nevis Bungee with a fear of heights, and taking a nine-hour flight with a toddler. On her bucket list is Rio Carnival in Brazil, walking the Camino de Santiago, and flying First Class (when she wins the EuroMillions).

Build your unique London itinerary with our trip planner

Who's going?
Adult
1
Child (5-15)
0
How many days?

What do you want to see?

Continue reading

Blog

Discover These Top Facts about Christopher Wren

Discover more about one of Britain's greatest architects with these top facts about Christopher Wren! Wren could have had a very different life as an astronomist Christopher Wren was a passionate scientist with a big penchant for astronomy, which he excelled at. He translated seminal astronomical works into Latin and was well-versed in the subject, becoming a professor of astronomy at Oxford. However as the years went by, he was wrangled into a project in 1662 helping design the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and never looked back since. The Great Fire of London actually opened doors for Wren His gravestone is laid to rest in one of his own creations Wren is perhaps best known for his work designing St Paul's Cathedral, which is also where he was buried after his death in 1723. His gravestone is transcribed with the Latin text, 'If you seek his memorial, look about you.' His designs for St Paul's Cathedral were initially rejected St Paul's Cathedral is Wren's most notable masterpiece, however initial drafts of the structure were actually rejected by Parliament. This happened a couple of times and you can actually still see early drafts of the building online, which retain his dramatic Baroque sensibility. Third time was the charm for Wren and the work finally got started, though it took a little while. Learn more about this iconic London landmark with our Top 10 Facts about St. Paul's Cathedral! It took over 30 years for St Paul's Cathedral to be fully built London isn't the only city filled with Wren masterpieces The project that kickstarted Wren's career was a theatre out in Oxford and although a bulk of his work is located in London, there's a few more scattered around the country. From Cambridge to Oxford to London, he got around quite a bit which made sense given that he was a royal architect. He has a piece of Mercury named after him Astronomists have had the fun task of naming Mercury's various craters and they've introduced a little rule - all new craters should be named for accomplished creatives with over 50 years of experience and who have been dead for over 3 years. Wren ticked all the boxes, meaning he now has a crater on Mercury.
Vanessa Teo
Penguins at London Zoo
Blog

Top London Zoo Facts You Didn't Already Know

One of London's most popular attractions and the world's oldest scientific zoos, the ZSL London Zoo houses 698 species of animals, with over 20,000 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom. Located in Regents Park, it's a fun, fascinating and peaceful animal oasis in the heart of London. Visitors are invited to get up close with some of their favourite animals, watch live feedings and explore the exhibitions. We've got some London Zoo facts that you may not have heard before to help you learn about London's most adorable attraction. 1. It's the oldest in the world Founded in 1826 by the Zoological Society of London, the ZSL London Zoo was originally built to keep animals for scientific research. It was the creation of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles who is also famous for the founding of Singapore (and the famous Raffles Hotel). For the first 20 years, only fellows from the Zoological Society were allowed into the zoo. It was in 1847 that the zoo was opened to the public, to help the Society's funding. 2. It doesn't receive government funding The London Zoo doesn't actually receive any public funding. Its funding comes from admissions, charges and donations. 3. It's a listed landmark While the zoo has plenty of beautiful listed buildings (don't miss a visit to the incredible Reptile House. You might recognise it from when Harry Potter spoke to a Burmese python in the Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone film) While at Penguin Beach be sure to seek out the Grade I listed classic telephone box. Painted white with red windows, it's one of only two left in Britain - the other one is in Scotland! 4. A place to call home Home to 698 species of animals, with over 20,000 individual animals, London Zoo stretches over 36 acres in Regents Park. For the bigger animals, you'll need to head to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, which has 600 acres for the elephants, rhinos and other creatures to wander. 5. Such a cool guy The gorilla statue at the entrance to the zoo is a tribute to one of the zoo's famous residents. A western lowland gorilla arrived at the zoo on 5 November 1947, which happened to be Guy Fawkes Night, and so he was named "Guy". He became a mini-celebrity, attracting thousands of visitors for over 30 years. 6. Think big In 1865, the London Zoo welcomed an African bull elephant who was named Jumbo. Growing to 11ft tall, his name came to inspire the word "jumbo" meaning "very large." 7. Finding inspiration One of the world's best-loved children's characters was inspired by a former London Zoo resident. A black bear named Winnie lived at the zoo from 1914 to 1934 and unlike many bears, was gentle, tame and loved being handled. Author A.A. Milne was so inspired by this gentile bear that he created the Winnie the Pooh character after visiting her with his son Christopher Robin. 8. Darwin's girl While writing the Origin of the Species, Charles Darwin (who was a fellow of the Zoological Society of London) regularly visited ZSL London Zoo to study the first orangutan that lived there, named Jenny. He noticed the human-like behaviour and characteristics of the ape such as listening to the zoo-keeper, throwing tantrums when she didn't get a snack and being surprised by her reflection in a mirror. 9. A baby polar bear is born The first ever British-born captivity-bred polar bear was born at ZSL London Zoo in 1949. His name was Brumas and his arrival caused zoo attendance to jump to 3 million in 1950 with books, postcards and toys created in his image. The amusing part of the story is that none of the papers realised that he was in fact a she! 10. Homemade fertilizer With more than 20,000 creatures calling ZSL London Zoo home, it's no surprise that there is a significant amount of excrement in each enclosure. All the animal poop is recycled and used as fertilizer! 11. Zoo to the rescue In 2006, 950 exotic fish and corals were seized by Customs officers at Heathrow Airport. ZSL London Zoo rescued them and rehoused them in the zoo's aquarium. 12. The golden eagle escape In 1965, a golden eagle named Goldie brought the traffic around Regents Park to a standstill when he escaped his enclosure during a cleaning. He evaded recapture for 12 days with the saga being covered in the papers and on the BBC, as well as being mentioned in a debate in the House of Commons. During his time out he ate a duck in the American ambassador's garden and tried to attack two terriers in the park. He was finally caught, in good health, by the zoo's deputy head after using a dead rabbit to tempt him back. 13. The last creatures of their kind The only living quagga ever to be photographed lived in ZSL London Zoo before the species sadly became extinct in the 1870s. The zoo also housed a number of Tasmanian tigers before their extinction in the 20th century. 14. The human zoo In 2005, the zoo displayed an exhibit called the Human Zoo for four days, during which eight people were "on display". The idea was to showcase the nature of a human as an animal and highlight the impact people have on the animal world. Experience everything London has to offer with The London Pass®  Planning your London trip? With The London Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.   ✈️ Buy The London Pass® ✈️   
Vanessa Teo
The London Eye
Tower of London

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Tower Bridge
St Paul’s Cathedral