Guide to Thames Clippers

Thames Clippers is an awesome high speed boat service in London, which is ran like a bus service. This is nothing like the usual dreary ferry services. Thames Clippers don't hang around, they are fast and wiz between stops like a bus.

The main Thames Clippers route goes from London eye to the O2. They also run a few other routes... The Tate to Tate service which goes between Tate Modern to Tate Britain. The O2 express runs a non stop service to the O2 on event nights. and they also run a ferry between Canary Wharf and the Hilton.

In London, as well as the Thames Clippers, there are also many different companies offering boat rides in London, but they are all totally crap in comparison to Thames Clippers. These other companies boat's are painfully slow and are very dull. What annoys me is that these other companies advertise their "Cruises", and people who are new to London's boat services often go on them (like I did many years ago). Then when on one of these slow boats, a Thames Clippers overtakes, and its at that point you realise that you have just wasted your money on a stupid slow boat, when you should have gone on Thames Clippers instead. To be honest, Thames Clippers are the only boats worth going on in London. (and no, I haven't been paid by them to write this!). Just so that this page doesn't sound too bias, I best mention a bad point about Thames Clippers, which is that while most of their staff are nice, there are a few staff who are too bossy, they like to be in control and organise everybody too much.

Thames Clippers started in 1999, and today they have 13 boats. In 2008 the old fashioned Port of London Authority didn't like high speed boats, and they introduced a stupid 13.8mph speed limit in central London. The speed limit starts half a mile down stream of Tower Bridge. (this means the boats now only go at a proper speed once they have left the tourist area of central London).

FBM Hydrocat

These 3 boats (Storm, Sky and Star Clippers) were built in the early 1990s by FBM Marine on the Isle of Wight. They were acquired by Thames Clippers in 1999, and were Thames Clippers first boats.

These boats are slower than the others, and today they are not used very much. They are often used on the Tate to Tate route, and only used on the main route in busy periods.

River Runner 200 Mark 2 Prototype

This boat (Hurricane Clipper) was built in 2001 by NQEA in Australia, and was the first of the modern clippers.

This boat is very nice, and is very fast. It was originally painted in a spotty livery by Damien Hirst, as the idea was that it would run on the Tate to Tate route, but this high speed boat was pretty much wasted on that route, as the entire route is within the 13mph speed limit zone. (so most of the time it runs on the main route). This boat has since been repainted.

River Runner 150

These 2 boats (Sun and Moon Clippers) were built in 2001 by NQEA in Australia. They originally ran in Belfast, and were brought by Thames Clippers in 2005.

These boats are slightly smaller and slower than the River Runner 200s, but are larger than the Hydrocats

River Runner 200 Mark 2B

These 6 boats (Monsoon, Cyclone, Tornado, Typhoon, Meteor and Aurora Clippers) were built in 2007 by NQEA in Australia. They are almost identical to the River Runner 200 Mark 2. These are very nice and go 32mph.

Hilton Ferry

This is a bog standard slow boat. This boat runs the Hilton shuttle between Canary Wharf and the Hilton. The only thing that is interesting about this boat is the way its like a little branch line next to the main high speed route.

THE END

I hope you have enjoyed reading this guide!

Further reading...

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