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Sightseeing in London Along the Thames – Your Day On the Water
London is huge, loud and sometimes quite chaotic – but from the water, the city shows its most beautiful, most relaxed side. The Thames is London's lifeline, and those who travel along it experience the city in the truest sense "in flow". If you're staying at the a&o Hotel London Docklands Riverside, you have the perfect starting point: Rotherhithe Pier is just around the corner – from here, you can cruise straight into the heart of London with the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Completely stress-free, without traffic jams or Tube rush.
Your Start at the a&o Hotel London Docklands Riverside
Your day begins completely relaxed by the water. The a&o Hotel London Docklands Riverside lies directly on the south bank of the Thames, opposite the glittering skyline of Canary Wharf. Here you can grab a coffee in the hotel lobby or on the terrace in the morning and enjoy the view of the water.
The hotel is perfect for budget-conscious London travellers: modern, clean, friendly – and significantly cheaper than many other accommodations in the city. Particularly practical: from the hotel, you can walk to Rotherhithe Pier in just a few minutes, where your sightseeing day on the Thames begins.
Tickets & Prices for Your Thames Adventure
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers boats run daily between Putney Pier in the west and Barking Riverside in the east – over 20 stops in total. You can hop on and off quite flexibly.
You're best off getting a Hop-on/Hop-off day ticket. With this, you can travel back and forth between all piers all day long – as often as you like.
Current Prices (2025):
- Day Ticket (All Zones): £25.40 (Adults) | £12.70 (Children 5-15 years)
- Family Ticket (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £50.80
If you're only travelling shorter distances, e.g., between Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge, you can get single journeys from £5.90.
You can book tickets directly online or pay contactlessly with a bank card or Oyster card at the pier.
Timetables:
The boats run daily from around 5:30 am until late at night, every 20–30 minutes. So you can hop on flexibly at any time. Perfect if you want to start early in the morning or return in the evening at sunset.
Let's Go: Sightseeing Along the Thames
From Rotherhithe Pier, you board your boat, find yourself a seat by the window or outside on deck – and off you go! After just a few minutes, you'll have the best view of London's skyline.
Canary Wharf – Glass, Glitz and Modern Architecture
Just a short ride from Rotherhithe Pier, you reach Canary Wharf, London's financial district. Here, the skyscrapers of glass and steel rise into the sky, including the distinctive One Canada Square – one of the tallest buildings in the country.
Around the docks, you'll find many cafés, bars and restaurants, which are ideal for a breakfast break. Particularly lovely is a stroll through the old warehouses at the West India Docks – here, maritime history mixes with futuristic city vibes.
Tower Pier – Tower of London & Tower Bridge
Onwards upstream towards the west. The boat glides beneath the majestic Tower Bridge – one of London's most famous landmarks. From the water, you have one of the most spectacular views in the city here.
Directly next to it lies the Tower of London, one of England's oldest fortresses. Once it served as a royal palace, later as a prison and treasury. Today, you can visit the legendary Crown Jewels there or take a tour with the famous Beefeaters.
If you'd like to take your time, hop off at Tower Pier, explore the grounds and treat yourself to fish and chips with a view of the bridge before boarding again.
London Bridge City Pier – Shard, Borough Market & Southwark
Just a few minutes further, the next highlight awaits: The Shard, London's glass giant, towers directly above you. At 310 metres, it's the tallest building in Western Europe – and from its viewing platform "The View from The Shard", you have an incredible panoramic view over the city.
Right next to it lies the legendary Borough Market, one of London's oldest and most beautiful food markets. Here you'll get street food from around the world – perfect for a lunch break! From fresh oysters to Indian curries, handcrafted cheese and fragrant bakery stalls, it's all there.
If you fancy some culture: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern are both nearby, right on the south bank of the Thames.
London Eye Pier – Westminster, Big Ben & South Bank
Now it gets classically British: from the water, you'll see the London Eye, the huge Ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames, majestically rising above the skyline. Directly opposite, the imposing Houses of Parliament tower with the famous clock tower Big Ben.
Feel free to hop off here and take a stroll along the South Bank Promenade – here street artists, musicians, small food stalls and galleries line up one after another. The London Eye is also a highlight in the evening, by the way, when the city lights reflect in the water.
Westminster Pier – Historic Heart of London
From here, you can continue directly on foot to London's most important sights: Westminster Abbey, where British monarchs have been crowned for centuries, or to St. James's Park, one of London's most beautiful green spaces.
If you're interested in history, it's worth making a detour to the Churchill War Rooms, where Winston Churchill worked during the Second World War.
Back at the pier, you board the boat again and make your way comfortably back eastwards – perhaps with a drink in hand and the evening sun on your face.
Optional: Greenwich – Maritime History & Prime Meridian
If you'd rather explore the eastern part of the Thames instead of heading towards Westminster, travel from Rotherhithe to Greenwich. Here, the charming area awaits with the historic Royal Observatory, where the Prime Meridian runs – the point where east and west meet.
Also worth seeing: the impressive Cutty Sark, a restored sailing ship from the 19th century, and Greenwich Market with arts and crafts, fashion and delicious street food. The view from Greenwich Park over London is breathtaking.
Tips for Your Perfect Day on the Water
- Start early! There are fewer tourists about in the morning, and the light is perfect for photography.
- Best seats: Outside on the upper deck – here you'll get the full panoramic view.
- Clothing: Even in summer, it can be chilly on the water – you'd better bring a jacket.
- Food & Drink: You're allowed to bring snacks and drinks, but there's also a small bar on board.
- Use the app: The Uber Boat app shows you live timetables, current waiting times and the route.
- Return in the evening: The return journey at dusk is magical – the skyline sparkles, the bridges are lit up, and London shows its most romantic side.
Sightseeing with Flow
A journey with the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is probably the most relaxed way to discover London. Instead of rushing from sight to sight, you let the city pass by – with wind in your hair, a view of the skyline and plenty of photo opportunities.
If you're staying at the a&o Hotel London Docklands Riverside , you have the perfect starting point for this: directly on the Thames, affordable, modern and with ideal connections. This way, your day on the water becomes a real highlight of your London trip.
