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Like almost all big cities, London developed around a major river, and visiting by that river is a great way of getting to know it. The Thames was my original local water source. I grew up in Putney, London’s SW15 district, and outings with my family invariably involved the Thames, be it walking on the beaches at low tide near Putney Bridge or one of the many riverside parks and paths, and occasionally taking trips on the river busses.

As London developed over the centuries the Thames was the most important transport link for goods and people. Wherries were the original water-taxis, with thousands plying the Thames during Elizabethan times. By the end of the 19^th century the river bus service had developed and since then has seen many changes in operators, vessels and service. Currently it extends from Putney downstream to Barking, a total of 24 stops (at piers or docks). It is operated by Thames Clipper under licence from Transport for London (TfL, London’s public transit system), and runs under the branding of Uber Boat by Thames Clipper. It is well integrated into London’s public transit system, and can accept payment using TfL's Oyster cards or regular contactless credit/debit cards.

As you'd expect with such an extensive system, not all boats make all stops, and the service is tailored to demand— which means you should check the current official route maps and timetables before making plans. I chose to start at North Greenwich, which is not quite as far downstream as it goes, but has frequent service and is close to a Tube station and the O2 Millenium Stadium. It is also right next to one end of the London Cable Car which connects across the river to the Royal Docks and easy access to the Docklands Light Railway. I wanted to travel all the way upstream to the end of the line at Putney to take a walk down memory lane, and just happened to chose a time with a boat that made the trip without any changes; at most other times I would have had to change at one of the piers on the way.

As North Greenwich was the starting point for that service I chose, the boat was nearly empty and I was able to snag an outdoor seat at the stern fairly easily. Even though it was still March, the boat filled with tourists as we progressed through central London, and seats and access to the best views were then at a premium. So beware of overcrowding, especially at busier times and if you board at some of the more popular spots like Westminster Pier.

As a ferry the service works well if it happens to be right for you. London has got a great Tube (underground railway) and bus network that will get you most anywhere, but if your start and end points are near the river, then the River Bus may well be your best bet.

I used the service as a tourist, enjoying a long cruise at a low cost and taking in many of London’s most iconic sights as well as some of the nitty-gritty of a well-used waterfront. I saw a lot of London and very much enjoyed the trip. But my advice is to make sure you see London both by land and by boat to get the most of it. There are also many dedicated tourist tour boat services which concentrate on the highlights and give a commentary, but at a higher price. Take your pick, choose the style which suits you best.

Follow the External Links below for the official details, timetables, fares and route maps. This isn’t a travel guide, so I won’t attempt to describe all the sights—just follow along the photos below.

It was a fun day!