FAQ - Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

Routes, Times, Tickets and Booking

Which piers do you stop at?: Please see our route map and learn more about where the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services stop.
At what times do the boats leave?: Our boats depart frequently from central piers. Please check our timetable before travelling.
What are the journey times?: Please click here to see our timetable.
How often do the boats run?: This varies depending on the time of day and route. There is usually a 10-20 minute frequency at key London piers. Please see our timetable.
Do you run on bank holidays?: We operate our weekend timetable on Bank Holidays. Open our timetable
Do you run all year round?: We run every day of the year apart from Christmas Day. Our Festive timetable for travel over the Christmas period is added to this page in December.
How much do journeys cost?: All of our prices can be found here.
Can I use Oyster?: Yes, you can touch in and touch out with contactless payment cards or Oyster to pay as you go on our services.

Our card readers are situated by the boarding ramps at our piers, please touch in when instructed to board.

A member of our staff must see you touch in.

The card readers support auto top-up. We do not have top up facilities at our piers.

Paying with your contactless payment card or your Oyster card does not apply to your daily maximum fare cap.

Please see the Oyster section further down this page for more information.
Are your fares included in travelcards?: No, but TfL Travelcard holders get 1/3 off Standard fares.

If you have an underground monthly, weekly or annual Travelcard (either paper or on your Oyster Card) you can also receive 1/3 off Standard fares, this will apply automatically if the Travelcard is loaded on to the Oyster Card.

Passengers with paper Travelcards will need to purchase their tickets via self-service machine, online, ticket office or via the Uber or Uber Boat by Thames Clippers app.

Please note that London Bus and Tram Pass season tickets are not eligible for the travelcard discount.
Can I buy tickets on the day?: Yes, tickets can be bought at the pier before travel, online (until a certain time) or on the Thames Clippers Tickets or Uber apps.
Can I pay using cash?: No, we only accept card payments.
What discounts do you offer?: 50% child and concession discount, 1/3 Travelcard holder discount, and more. Please check here to see if you're eligible for a discount.

What's a Freedom Pass?: Please see the Freedom Pass website for more details.
Do carers travel for free?: If you require the assistance of a carer we will issue a complimentary companion ticket to match your own from any of our staffed ticket offices. Alternatively, you can buy a single, return or river roamer pass with a carer’s companion ticket in the Thames Clippers Tickets app; just choose the “Concession + Carer” pricing option. Should you require the assistance of more than one person please contact our Customer Service team at least 3 working days before you travel. Alternatively, speak to a staff member at one of our ticket offices before travelling.
Do police officers travel for free?: Yes, Police officers who present a valid Warrant Card can travel on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers for free.
Can I change the date or time of my ticket?: Yes. Please email us at web@thamesclippers.com or call us on 0207 001 2200.
Can you email a copy of my tickets?: Yes, all tickets booked through our website are emailed.
I can't print my ticket. Can I get on without it?: Our Single, Return, River Roamer and Post-show sailings tickets can either be printed or shown on a smart phone with sufficient charge. Passengers who purchase our joint tickets will need to have a printed copy of their tickets for valid travel and use for the attraction.
Residential 'move in' offers: From time to time Uber Boat by Thames Clippers work with developers along the river on move-in offers. These offers may differ depending upon the location and developer. These vouchers are non-transferrable and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers may remove these offers at their discretion.
Do you have a group rate?: Yes, please see our group rate and how to book here.
How do I get the tickets I book on the website?: All tickets bought on our website are emailed to you.
Can I cancel my booking and get a refund?: We can issue a refund for tickets purchased online and we require 72 hours’ notice before travelling in order to arrange a refund. Tickets purchased via the Thames Clippers Tickets or Uber app have a 90-day validity and will not be refunded.
What are the Conditions of Carriage and refund policy?: Click here to view the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers refund policy and Conditions of Carriage
Do you run to the ExCeL?: Royal Wharf Pier is the nearest pier to ExCeL London. Alternatively, you can disembark at North Greenwich Pier and take London's Cable Car to the Royal Docks, only a few minutes away from ExCel.
Why can't I book tickets on Internet Explorer?: Internet Explorer is an outdated browser, meaning it is no longer supported. You will be able to book tickets online using modern browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge.

On board Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

Is the service affected by the weather?: We run in all conditions apart from extreme fog.
Are the boats covered? Do you have an open section?: All of our Clippers are covered and have inside seating. Most boats also have an open deck area.
How much time should I leave to get to the pier?: We can’t predict passenger numbers, but recommend that you arrive 10 minutes before boarding and allow more time if you’re buying tickets at the pier.
What will the queues for the boat be like on the day?: Unfortunately, we are unable to predict passenger numbers as these depend on so many things, such as how the underground is running, the weather and if there are arena events on at The O2.
What is the boarding process?: We operate a first come, first served boarding process at our piers, with season ticket holders (weekly, monthly and annual) boarded to their preferred sailing first* right behind any customers with disabilities.

Each of our vessels has a maximum capacity which we cannot exceed under any circumstances. This means if the vessel reaches capacity, boarding will be stopped. At staffed piers the team are at hand to help with information regarding capacity and wait times. All customers are advised to arrive at the pier at least 5 min prior to their intended sailing. Ticket inspections are carried out at staffed piers during pre-boarding, before the vessel arrives. To pay the correct fare, customers should only touch-in (if using Oyster/Contactless) when asked to do so. To ensure our vessels depart on time, customers who do not have the right tickets or arrive after pre-boarding has commenced or after the vessel is alongside, may be required to board the following sailing.

*At select piers only whilst staff are present
How does preferred sailing work?: If you are a weekly, monthly or annual season ticket holder, join the special Preferred Sailing queue at staffed piers and be the first to secure your spot on board. Staffed piers include Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tower, London Bridge City, Embankment, Westminster and Battersea Power Station. Preferred Sailing is available during staffed hours (generally 10am – 6pm and later in the summer) every day of the week. Accompanying passengers who do not hold a season ticket will be asked to join the general queue. Please note that customers with disabilities may be boarded first.
Is there food and drink on the boat? Can I take my own?: Please only buy your hot and cold drinks, snacks and refreshments from the kiosk on board.
Are dogs allowed?: Dogs are allowed on board. Please make sure they are on a lead.
Are bikes allowed?: We can accommodate up to 14 bicycles (depending on the type of vessel) on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s no extra charge for bringing a bicycle on board but you are not able to reserve a space.
Are e-scooters and e-unicycles allowed?: Effective from Monday 10 January 2022, in line with Transport for London (TfL) e-scooters and e-unicycles will no longer be permitted on board our vessels or on our piers. This includes models that can be folded or carried.

Following incidents on the TfL network, caused primarily by the Lithium-ion batteries’ malfunction, a TfL risk assessment has concluded that whilst not all e-scooters and e-unicycles pose the same risk, it is currently too difficult to differentiate between the quality of their build and manufacture.

Important Note: this ban does NOT affect e-bicycles and mobility scooters, which are still permitted on board and on our piers. Mobility scooters remain subject to pre-approval, via our Mobility Scooter Recognition Scheme.
Are Uber Boat by Thames Clippers wheelchair accessible?: All Clippers are fully wheelchair accessible and all piers are wheelchair accessible apart from Cadogan Pier, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter Pier and London Bridge City Pier.

Please note mobility scooter users must join Uber Boat by Thames Clippers' Mobility Scooter Recognition Scheme in advance of travel to ensure passengers' safety.

For more information about accessibility please click here
Do you have a lost property department?: All items found on our vessels are logged onto the NotLost database. Please note, it can take between 24 – 48 hours for a found item to be registered. For more information please click here.
Can I take luggage on board?: You may bring luggage on board provided it does not obstruct access to safety equipment, gangways, stairs and passageways and is not placed on seats.

You may not bring onboard any item that is more than 2 metres long, hazardous or inflammable substances

As per our conditions of carriage, we reserve the right to refuse permission for you to take any item on to a vessel.
Do children need to be accompanied by an adult?: Children up to the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Buying tickets on the apps

I can't see the tickets on my Uber app

Firstly, press the profile icon on the bottom right corner, then press Boat tickets to access your ticket wallet.

If your tickets do not appear please, try the below:

Close the app, open it again and retry.
Log out of the app, wait two minutes, then log back in.
Restart your phone and try again.
Delete and reinstall the app and try again.
Check for phone software and app updates to make sure you're on the latest version.

If your tickets are still not visible, please send a screenshot of your ticket wallet and the email address linked to your Uber account to web@thamesclippers.com

Using Oyster or Contactless to Pay as You Go

Can I use my Oyster card to pay for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers travel?: Yes, you can touch in and out with Oyster to pay as you go to travel on all Uber Boat by Thames Clippers River Bus services.

Touch in when instructed to board and remember to touch out to avoid paying an incorrect fare. The Oyster card must hold pay as you go credit and have sufficient pay as you go credit prior to boarding. You will save money on the Standard fare by paying with Oyster pay as you go. See our prices page for details.

Please note that our staff must see you touch in. Also, Oyster functionality is based on single trips only; if you are making a return trip then you must disembark and touch out before completing the return leg of your journey or the system will register your trip as 2 incomplete singles and you may be charged two ‘maximum fares’ instead. The Oyster pay as you go will not calculate the fare for hop-on, hop-off travel. The River Roamer ticket is best for all-day travel, this is available to purchase online, at ticket offices and on the app.
Can I use my contactless payment card to pay for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river travel?: Yes, you can touch in and out with your contactless payment card to pay as you go on our services. This fare is the same as an adult Oyster fare.
How can I use my contactless payment card to pay as you go?: Touch in when instructed to board and remember to touch out to avoid paying an incorrect fare. Please note that our staff must see you touch in.

Ensure you touch in and touch out with the same contactless payment card on the same device. If you touch in with your card and touch out with your mobile, you will be charged an incorrect fare. Note that this applies even if both card and device are linked to the same card number.

The fare cr one person using one contactless payment card.

Please be aware of card clash.
What do you do when you change services?: When making an interchange, for example, when travelling from Doubletree Docklands to Greenwich, you will need to touch in and out.

For the journey mentioned above, you would touch in as you board the Doubletree Docklands ferry and touch out when you reach Canary Wharf Pier. You would then need to touch in again to board the RB1 from Canary Wharf and touch out again at Greenwich pier. This will be calculated as one single journey.
Are fares included in the daily cap, like the TfL network?: River Bus journeys do not apply to customers daily maximum fare cap. Oyster pay as you go will not calculate the fare for hop-on, hop-off travel. Our River Roamer ticket is best for all day travel, this is available to purchase online at pier ticket offices and on the Uber and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers apps.
How do I know if I have been charged the correct fare on my Oyster card?: Our Oyster card readers are programmed to charge you the correct fare based on the zones you have travelled within. Should you wish to check if you have been charged a correct fare you can download a journey history from the TfL website or call the TfL helpline on 0343 222 1234.

You need to wait 24 hours before you can see your statement. You can only see this via the TfL website. Please note that you need to register your Oyster card to view your history online. If your Oyster card is unregistered please contact TfL for a journey history statement.
Is it possible to upload my season ticket on my Oyster card?: Unfortunately no, there is no functionality to link a season ticket to a pay as you go Oyster card. However, you can purchase a weekly or monthly season ticket via our mobile ticketing app.
What happens if I don't have enough money on my Oyster card? How much money do I need?: If you do not have sufficient credit on your pay as you go Oyster card you will need to use another method of payment or top up your Oyster card.

You will need the minimum balance for the zone in which you touch in. Find out more.
How many people can pay with one Oyster card?: Only one Oyster card can be used per person per journey. That means if you are travelling in a group, each person will have to use a separate Oyster card, or find another way to pay for their journey.
Does auto top-up work on the river Oyster card readers?: Yes it will, make sure to set up auto top up on the TfL website We recommend that you have at least a £10 limit set on this.
Can I buy an Oyster card or top-up my Oyster card at the pier?: No. You can purchase an Oyster card from a tube station, a Visitor Information Centre, shop or order online/over the phone. Oyster cards can only be topped up at the tube station, some shops, online, ticket stops or at Visitor Information Centres.

See here to find your nearest top-up point.

The Oyster validators at the piers will support auto top-up. We therefore recommend this option - please ensure you have at least a £10 limit set on this to ensure you never have trouble using your Oyster card.
Can I touch out at the tube/DLR station?: No, you can’t. We do not interact with any TfL services: London Underground, London Overground, DLR.
Can I receive discounts with my Oyster card?: Can a Child’s Oyster card be used on touch in/out Oyster card reader and still get 50% discount?

Providing card is a Child Zip Card or Child visitor Zip Card they will receive 50% off the fare. Note that the card must hold sufficient credit to travel.

My Travelcard is linked to my Oyster card. Will I receive 1/3 off when I touch in and out?

Yes, if you have a weekly, monthly or annual Travelcard you get 1/3 off the Standard fare.

I want to use my pay as you go Oyster card to pay for a single journey on the boat. I also have a paper Travelcard – can I still get a 1/3 off when touching in/out with my Oyster card?

The discount will not be applied this way. To receive 1/3 off Travelcard discount when you have a paper Travelcard, purchase a Travelcard discounted ticket using the mobile app, from the ticket office or self-service machine at piers.

Do Freedom Pass holders get 50% off when using Oyster PAYG?

Freedom Pass holders cannot touch in or out with Oyster card readers. However, they can receive 50% off the Oyster fare by purchasing online, with the mobile app, at the self-service machine or at the ticket office.
Topping up online: If you have topped up online, the credit will be ready to upload to your Oyster card in 30 minutes or less. There is no longer a need to nominate a station or pier when you add credit or Travelcard products to your Oyster card online; simply touch in on the yellow reader within four days of purchase. Our piers are included in this.

Going to The O2

Can I use your service to get to The O2 for an event?: Yes, our scheduled service runs every 20 minutes throughout the day. Alight at North Greenwich Pier for The O2, it's a short walk from the pier. Check the timetable before travelling.
Do I have to pre-book the post-show service?: Pre-booking a ticket on the post-show Express or Request service is the only way to guarantee a seat. If there are still spaces available on the day, you will be able to board using a contactless/oyster card (on a first come, first served basis).
It says there are no post-show services on the website. Have you sold out?: Post-show services will only be available for select shows. Please visit our post-show page regularly to check if services are available for the event you are going to. Tickets can be purchased until 5pm on the day of the event.
What time do your services leave after an event at The O2?: Fifteen minutes after the event finishes. Head straight to North Greenwich Pier after the event has finished to avoid missing the boat.
If I miss my post-show sailing can I get the next one?: It’s your responsibility to make sure you are at the pier on time. In exceptional circumstances we will have multiple post-show sailings but that’s not guaranteed.
I want to see a performance at indigO2, will there be post-show services?: Post-show services won't be scheduled for indigO2 events, but tickets may be available if it coincides with an event at the arena.