The Best Thames Piers for Boat Hire in London — A Complete Guide

 The question of which pier to depart from might seem like a small detail in the planning of your Thames event, but it is, in fact, one of the most important decisions you will make. Your choice of pier shapes your guests' first impression, determines the sights you will pass en route, and can make the difference between a smooth arrival and a last-minute scramble.

At Thames Luxury Charters, our fleet of three exquisite private charter vessels — the Dixie Queen, the Elizabethan, and the Edwardian — is based at Butler's Wharf Pier, our home on the south bank of the river, just moments from Tower Bridge. That said, we can accommodate departures from a range of piers across London to suit your guests' locations and preferences.

This guide covers the piers we use most frequently, the landmarks and transport connections you will find at each, and how to choose the right departure point for your event.

Butler's Wharf Pier — Home of the TLC Fleet

Our home pier and the natural starting point for the majority of our charters, Butler's Wharf Pier sits on the south side of the River Thames, just along from Tower Bridge in the picturesque 2:00 PM neighbourhood of Shad Thames. Once home to some of the biggest and busiest warehouses in the world, Butler's Wharf is today a Grade II listed residential and commercial district of quite exceptional beauty.

From the moment your guests arrive at the pier, they are confronted with one of the most spectacular settings in London. The iconic outline of Tower Bridge looms immediately overhead; HMS Belfast sits across the water, and The Shard presides over the skyline to the north. It is, by any measure, an unforgettable place to begin an evening on the Thames.

Getting to Butler's Wharf Pier:

• 2:00 PM Nearest tube: London Bridge station (Jubilee and Northern lines) — a ten-minute walk along the river via the south bank

• Nearest rail: London Bridge station — direct National Rail connections from across London and the South East

• Nearest tube (alternative): Tower Hill station (Circle and District lines) — a twelve-minute walk via Tower Bridge

• Parking: Butler's Wharf BCP Car Park is a two-minute walk from the pier

• Address: Admirals Court, 9–10 Copper Row, London SE1 2DZ

All viewings of our magnificent vessels take place here at Butler's Wharf Pier, as well as tasting sessions of the sumptuous menus you will experience on board.

Westminster Pier — For Guests Arriving from the West

One of five piers opened by the Millennium Commission in 2000, Westminster Pier is situated on the north side of the River Thames by Westminster Bridge, just along from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It is one of the most recognisable and visited stretches of the Thames and a spectacular place to board a private charter.

It is an ideal departure point for guests travelling from west London, the West End, or Westminster itself, with Westminster Underground Station directly opposite the pier entrance, offering connections on the District, Circle, and Jubilee lines. The Elizabethan and Edwardian are both able to call at Westminster Pier; note that the Dixie Queen, our largest vessel, is unable to pass under Westminster Bridge and, therefore, cannot call at this pier.

Getting to Westminster Pier:

• Nearest tube: Westminster station (District, Circle, and Jubilee lines) — directly opposite the pier entrance

• Nearest rail: Waterloo station — a fifteen-minute walk along the South Bank

• Landmarks nearby: Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey

• Address: Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH

• Vessels that can call: Elizabethan and Edwardian only

Embankment Pier — The City Commuter's Pier

Located on the north side of the River Thames opposite the entrance to Embankment Underground Station, Embankment Pier is a short stroll from Charing Cross Station, the Strand, and the West End. Its central position makes it a natural choice for corporate events whose guests are travelling in from offices across the city, Covent Garden, and the surrounding areas.

World-famous landmarks immediately nearby include Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Somerset House, and the Savoy Hotel—meaning guests can combine their journey to the pier with a stroll through some of the most celebrated streets in London. Like Westminster Pier, Embankment is served by the Elizabethan and Edwardian.

Getting to Embankment Pier:

• Nearest tube: Embankment station (District, Circle, Bakerloo, and Northern lines) — directly opposite the pier

• Nearest rail: Charing Cross station — a five-minute walk

• Landmarks nearby: Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Covent Garden, the Strand

• Vessels that can call: Elizabethan and Edwardian only

Tower Pier — The Most Dramatic Departure in London

Newly refurbished as part of the Millennium Commission's Thames 2000 project, Tower Pier sits on the north side of the River Thames, adjacent to the Tower of London and in the immediate shadow of Tower Bridge. It is perhaps the most dramatically situated pier on the entire Thames — and it holds one particular distinction that no other pier in London can claim.

When the Dixie Queen departs from, or returns to, Tower Pier, Tower Bridge is raised to allow her to pass through. It is a moment of pure theatre — and invariably one of the highlights of any event we host. Our full fleet of the Dixie Queen, Elizabethan and Edwardian is all able to call at Tower Pier, making it the most flexible of the piers beyond Butler's Wharf.

For international guests or clients visiting London for the first time, Tower Pier offers an arrival experience that is simply without parallel. The Tower of London, HMS Belfast, the City of London financial district, and The Shard are all within a short distance, providing a remarkable sense of the capital's history and ambition side by side.

Getting to Tower Pier:

• Nearest tube: Tower Hill station (Circle and District lines) — a two-minute walk

• Nearest rail: London Bridge station — a ten-minute walk across Tower Bridge

• Landmarks nearby: Tower of London, HMS Belfast, City of London, The Shard, Tower Bridge

• Vessels that can call: Dixie Queen, Elizabethan and Edwardian (full fleet)

• Special feature: Tower Bridge is raised for the Dixie Queen — a uniquely unforgettable moment

Greenwich Pier — For Extended Routes and East London Events

Situated on the south side of the River Thames in the historic Royal Borough of Greenwich — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Greenwich Pier is one of the most atmospheric and storied departure points on the river. The pier sits between the famous Cutty Sark tea clipper and the magnificent Old Royal Naval College, designed by Sir Christopher Wren — surroundings that give even the most well-travelled guest pause for reflection.

Greenwich Pier is best suited to events where guests are based in or near East London, Canary Wharf, or Greenwich itself and to charters that wish to explore the eastern reaches of the Thames — including Canary Wharf's extraordinary skyline, the O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula, and the Thames Barrier beyond. Our full fleet is able to depart from Greenwich Pier.

Getting to Greenwich Pier:

• Nearest rail: Greenwich station — a three-minute walk from the pier

• DLR: Cutty Sark station (DLR) — directly adjacent to the pier

• Tube (via DLR): Canary Wharf (Jubilee line) — accessible via DLR from Greenwich

• Landmarks nearby: Cutty Sark, Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Park

• Vessels that can call: Dixie Queen, Elizabethan and Edwardian (full fleet)

Which Pier is Best for Your Event?

Every event is different, and the right pier for yours will depend on where your guests are travelling from, which vessel you have chosen, and the atmosphere you wish to create. As a guide:

If your guest list spans multiple parts of London, or you are unsure which pier best suits your event, our events management team will be delighted to advise. We are experienced at coordinating arrivals from different locations and can suggest routes and wording for your guest invitations.

How to Share Pier Directions with Your Guests

One of the most common logistical oversights in event planning is the assumption that guests will easily find their way to the pier. The Thames is a large river, and piers can be harder to locate than traditional venues. A little forethought here saves considerable anxiety on the evening itself.

What to include in your invitation or guest communications:

• The full pier name and postal address — not just the pier name on its own

• The nearest tube and rail stations, with approximate walking times

• A Google Maps link or pin — we recommend linking directly to the pier, not the broader area

• A what3words code for the precise boarding point — particularly useful for large or unfamiliar piers

• What to look for on arrival — e.g., 'Look for the Dixie Queen moored on the south side of the river, immediately alongside Tower Bridge.'

• A contact number for your event coordinator, should any guest get lost on the night

For Butler's Wharf Pier – our home pier – we provide a dedicated PDF directions guide which you are welcome to send directly to your guests as part of your event communications. Your dedicated events coordinator will share this with you when you book.

Ready to Choose Your Pier and Start Planning?

Whatever your occasion — a corporate event, a wedding reception, a birthday, a hen party, or an intimate dinner cruise — our events management team will help you select the perfect pier, the perfect vessel, and the perfect route for your guests. Explore our River Thames boat hire page to discover what is possible, or get in touch directly to begin planning your event today.

Enquire with Our Events Team

We'll recommend the best departure pier for your group and arrange everything from there.

????  +44 (0)20 7357 7751     ✉  sales@thamesluxurycharters.co.uk

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