How to get to Greenwich in London

There are many different ways to get to Greenwich – from a quick train ride to a scenic boat trip along the river. Find out which route best suits your travel style and needs.

Where is Greenwich?

Greenwich is located in south-east London, on the south bank of the river Thames. It’s easily and quickly accessible via many transport links from central London.

Find out more about how to get to Greenwich’s key sights with this handy Greenwich map.

Getting from central London to Greenwich

Greenwich is very well connected by public transport to central London’s iconic attractions.

• Get to Greenwich Pier by river boat from the Tower of London within 20 minutes.
• Greenwich is only 25 minutes away from St Paul’s Cathedral by train.
• Designer shopping at ICON Outlet in North Greenwich is just 20 minutes from Bond Street’s luxury boutiques by Tube.
• Visit beautiful Greenwich from The Monument in the City of London in less than 30 minutes by DLR.

Find out more about how to get to Greenwich’s key sights with this handy map.

Take the boat to Greenwich

With its rich naval heritage, arriving in Greenwich by boat seems somehow fitting. River boats sail regularly from Westminster, Embankment, London Bridge City, Canary Wharf and Tower piers.

Greenwich Pier

Greenwich Pier is the stopping point for river services to and from Greenwich. It's located next to Cutty Sark, and within walking distance of other key attractions such as the Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Greenwich Market.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

The fastest route by river boat to Greenwich is on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ catamarans, which depart every 20 minutes throughout the day:

• From London Eye Pier within 40 minutes.
• From London Bridge Pier within 25 minutes.
• From Tower Pier within 17 minutes.

With more than 20 piers across the capital, sail past famous sights such as the London Eye, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben. You can also disembark at North Greenwich Pier for The O2 and the IFS Cloud Cable Car, or continue on through the Thames Barrier to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.

City Cruises

City Cruises is ideal for sightseeing trips with its hop-on, hop-off ticket offers, live commentary (free audio guides available in other languages) and cruise experiences that include lunch, dinner or afternoon tea.

• From Westminster Pier and London Eye Pier in 70 minutes (180 minutes return).
• From Tower Pier in 30 minutes (70 minutes return).

Thames River Sightseeing

Thames River Sightseeing, the oldest established passenger sightseeing company on the Thames, also offers river services to Greenwich:

• From Westminster Pier in one hour (two hours return).
• From St Katharine Docks in 20 to 30 minutes (one hour return). Or 90 minutes (two hours return) if going via the Thames Barrier (note: this option is not available from November through to the end of March).

For further water-based fun in the area, hire a pedalo or rowing boat in Greenwich Park during the warmer months! Or, try out the Thames Rockets and Thames RIB Experience for a faster-paced ride.

Trains to Greenwich

Travel to Greenwich station on a quick train journey from central London with Southeastern and Thameslink.

• From London Bridge station in less than 10 minutes.
• From Cannon Street station in less than 15 minutes.

From Greenwich train station, it’s just a five-minute walk to the heart of the village – taking you past many tempting Greenwich restaurants. If you’re heading directly for the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Planetarium or the National Maritime Museum, earmark a good spot for lunch or dinner on your way.

For visitors to Eltham Palace and Gardens, you can travel direct from London Bridge station to Eltham station in less than 20 minutes.

Greenwich Tube services

North Greenwich station is right next to The O2 and the IFS Cloud Cable Car. So, whether you’re after live music, shopping, dining or stunning views, the Jubilee line to North Greenwich Underground station provides quick Tube services from central London.

The Jubilee line from North Greenwich connects to the following destinations:

• Canary Wharf in one minute.
• London Bridge in nine minutes.
• Westminster in 13 minutes.
• Bond Street in 17 minutes.

Docklands Light Railway

Docklands Light Railway, or DLR as it is best known, has two stations in Greenwich: Greenwich station, where national trains also arrive; and Cutty Sark, located close to its namesake, the historic tea clipper.

There is also Island Gardens station just across the river, which is accessible via the underwater Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

The DLR connects Greenwich and Cutty Sark stations to major London stations:

• Bank in around 20 minutes.
• Stratford (alight here for shopping at Westfield Stratford City mall) in 30 minutes.
• Tower Gateway (for the Tower of London and Tower Bridge) in 25 minutes.
• London City Airport in 30 minutes.

It also connects to Lewisham (five minutes), from where you can take a train to Eltham station and visit another jewel of the Royal Borough of Greenwich: Eltham Palace and Gardens – a favourite childhood haunt of King Henry VIII.

Why not stop also off at Woolwich Arsenal station (35 minutes) to explore a different side of the Royal Borough of Greenwich? Visit the modern riverside development of Royal Arsenal Woolwich – home to more than 20 heritage buildings, a riverside walk, some lovely places to eat and drink, and Woolwich Works – London’s newest cultural hub.

Greenwich cable car

The UK’s only urban cable car, the IFS Cloud Cable Car, stretches over the river Thames – connecting Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks – giving you a chance to see London from a whole new angle (and height).

The journey across takes about 10 minutes, giving you plenty of time to explore local attractions such as The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula side, and City Hall, formerly known as The Crystal, on the Royal Docks side.

Don’t forget to check the Greenwich cable car timetable beforehand.

Arriving by plane

Just over the river from Greenwich sits London City Airport (LCA), with flights arriving from all over the world.

The airport is handily connected to the DLR and Tube network:

• Travel to Greenwich and Cutty Sark stations (changing at Westferry) in around 30 minutes.
• Arrive in North Greenwich (changing at Canning Town for the Jubilee line) in under 30 minutes.

Accessible transport

All DLR trains have a lift or ramp to the platforms, with level access onto the trains. If you’re looking for a step-free route, taking a DLR train to Greenwich or Cutty Sark is a good option.

The DLR network also connects to the Jubilee line at Canary Wharf station, from where you can take the Tube to other step-free stations including North Greenwich (for The O2), Stratford, Southwark, Waterloo, Westminster and Green Park. See how easy it is to travel in this Transport for London video, in which presenter Sophie Morgan makes the accessible journey from Waterloo to The O2.

Most London piers are wheelchair accessible – check with individual river service providers to see how accessible its boats are before booking.

The IFS Cloud Cable Car offers step-free access and is accessible for most wheelchairs and mobility scooters. For more accessibility information, check direct with the attraction ahead of your visit.

For more information about getting around Greenwich, check out this interactive map and plan your visit to this area’s greatest attractions.