The last two decades have seen a renaissance on and around the Thames, with the walkway connecting Southbank to Bankside and new cultural draws from the London Eye to Tate Modern. It’s impossible to consider central London without the curve of the Thames, lit at night by buildings competing for attention along its banks, and more recently by the bridges themselves, with Illuminated River.
River buses were introduced in time for the Millennium celebrations, connecting central London to Greenwich, and services stepped up again with London 2012 and beyond to a steady state of around 10 million passenger journeys a year. It took a global pandemic to halt movements — first tourist services and then regular commuter services also, cutting journeys in 2020 to a quarter of pre-pandemic levels.
However, Thames operators are resilient. After a tough year, services resumed as soon as restrictions were lifted. The range of services on offer– from river tours and dinner cruises to RIB speedboat experiences, mean the options are as extensive as ever.
My overriding image of Chicago, from a brief trip nearly thirty years ago, is the view from the Chicago River. Seeing London from the unique vantage point of the Thames is not the preserve of international visitors. The Thames offers Londoners true staycation opportunities – the ability to do something a little out of the ordinary. It gives domestic day trippers and visitors countless options and access to destinations from UNESCO World Heritage Sites to developing cultural centres in the east. This is not to mention the offer of a highly agreeable journey for commuters as needs develop.
The more active among us can try out water sports on and around the Thames — look out for new TfL maps indicating which piers connect with a nearby bike bank, or find different routes from the Thames Path. The tidal Thames is a central draw for London. There is no other such expanse of open space through the heart of the city, with a visceral connection to the rural west and the sea in the east. Take a walk along the Thames Path and you can forget the stresses of the city and feel the calm of a visitor at any time.
The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry mark is displayed by many river operators to promote customer confidence. At the Port of London Authority we are working with partners including TfL and Visit London/London and Partners to highlight Thames attractions and services. See http://www.pla.co.uk/Travel #LetsdoLondon #discoverthames