Why go to London (Greenwich, Tower Bridge, Tilbury)?
Sailing up (or down) the Thames River reveals London’s massive redevelopment in a way few visitors get to see.
London is expensive -- transport, food and accommodation -- so budget accordingly
Tower Bridge and Greenwich ports plant you in the heart of one of the world’s great capital cities
London (Greenwich, Tower Bridge, Tilbury) Cruise Port Facilities?
Tilbury does not have too many facilities for passengers. There is an information desk, a cafe/restaurant in the passenger lounge, a small general store, free Wi-Fi and public pay phones. A taxi rank is immediately adjacent to the terminal. The nearest ATMs are in Tilbury's town center or Asda Supermarket, about one mile away.
There is not a great deal to see round Tilbury, though Tilbury Fort is worth a look. It is one of the U.K.'s finest examples of 17th century fortifications and is near the site where Queen Elizabeth I rallied her troops to face the Spanish Armada in 1588. Tilbury owns a couple of claims to fame other than the royal association. In the remake of "Alfie," scenes of what was supposed to be Pier 49 in New York were actually shot at Tilbury, and scenes from the 1989 movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" were filmed there, too. In 1948, SS Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury, bringing Caribbean migrants. The arrival was seen as pivotal in the emergence of modern multicultural Britain.
Good to Know?
London is a big, crowded city, and like other big cities, petty crime is common. Take care of your bags and belongings at all times.
Getting Around?
On Foot: Walking is a great way to get around London. Look out for black and yellow street signs and maps -- they give useful information about the area, including key landmarks, with realistic five- and 15-minute walking times.
By Subway: Because distances between points of interest can be too far to reach on foot, there is always an Underground station within reach. Tourists can recognize locations by means of the Tube's logo, "the roundel," a red circle crossed by a horizontal blue bar. The Tube is hugely efficient and the world's oldest underground railway. The nickname originally applied to the Central London Railway, which was called the Twopenny Tube because that was the fare, besides the fact it had cylindrical tunnels. Now it refers to the whole system.
Fares are considerably more since then -- in fact, the Underground is one of the most expensive in the world if you choose to pay with cash. The cheapest ways to use it are either to pay as you go with a touchless credit or debit card, or purchase an Oyster card and load it up with credit.
Made up of 11 lines (plus the separate Docklands Light Railway), six zones and hundreds of stations, many Tube stops are within steps of major attractions and shopping districts. For the most part, the service is very good with trains running every few minutes on most lines.
On Tube escalators, remember the unwritten rule, "stand on the right, walk on the left." Note that many of the older stations in the heart of the city are not wheelchair accessible, all of which are identified on Tube maps. Services run regularly from around 5 a.m. to midnight on most routes, with overnight service on some lines over the weekend. Check www.tfl.gov.uk for details. Avoid morning or evening rush hour if possible -- before 9:30 a.m. and between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Note: The shortest distance between two stations on the Underground network is 260 meters (853 feet). The journey between Leicester Square and Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line takes around 20 seconds but costs £4.30. It remains the most popular journey with tourists -- many of whom don't realize it's better to walk the short distance.
By Bus: London's buses are a little more complicated to navigate, but they have the added incentive of letting you see the city through their windows. Bus routes good for sightseeing are the No. 11 (the City, St. Paul's, Fleet Street, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben) and the No. 9 (Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus).
Another more touristy way to get around is by hopping aboard any one of many double-decker tour buses. Some allow you to get on and off over a 24-hour period, making it one of the best ways to see the sights. The Big Bus Company offers several routes, with either a live guide or recorded commentary and the opportunity to cruise between Westminster Pier and Greenwich. The company also offers three walking tours: St. James' Palace and Buckingham Palace, Harry Potter film locations and "Ghosts by Gaslight." Principal starting points are Baker Street Station, Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square, Green Park and Victoria Station. Tours run approximately every 10 to 20 minutes.
The Oyster card is a plastic smartcard to use instead of paper tickets. It is preloaded with money for travel around London. The system automatically calculates the cost of each journey you make based on the service you use, when you travel and in which zone(s). Along with tapping in using your touchless bank card, Oyster is the cheapest way to pay for travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London. Travel is more expensive during peak hours, Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. London's public transport network is fully integrated, so it's easy to switch between services. Buying an Oyster card before you leave home makes it even easier to travel around. See www.visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk. When using the Tube, you need to validate your Oyster upon entering and exiting -- so keep it handy to exit at your destination.
By Taxi: The drivers of London's famous black cabs -- which actually come in a variety of colors -- know every nook and cranny of the city. Cabs can be hailed in the street or at designated ranks, often in front of railway stations. If the yellow TAXI sign at the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire. They are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles (20 miles at Heathrow Airport taxi ranks). Fares are metered, and there is a minimum charge of £2.40. Additional charges apply on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Many black cabs accept payment by credit or debit card, but check with the driver before the trip starts. You can tip taxi drivers what you like, but most people round up to the nearest pound. All black cabs are wheelchair accessible and carry assistance dogs at no charge.
Reputable, licensed minicab companies, though less regulated, can offer a cheaper alternative to the black cab. They should be booked at an office, by telephone or email. Their fares are not metered, so ask how much the trip will cost when you make a booking.
Uber: Uber has been operating in London since 2012 but not without controversy; in 2018 the ride-hailing app was declared to be not a "fit or proper" operator. In June 2018, Uber was granted a probationary 15-month license to operate, with Transport for London watching the company's every move. The story of Uber's relationship with London will continue to unfold.
Other Transportation: You also can get around London by sailing along the Thames on a London River Services boat trip, flying through the air on the Emirates Air Line cable car or exploring at street level courtesy of the city's bike network, "Boris bikes," so called after London's former cycling mayor and available across the city. Today they're known as Santander Cycles and you need a credit or debit card to use the bikes -- go to one of the more-than 750 docking stations with your card to get started. (+44 (0)20 8216 6666; bike access costs just £2 for 24 hours)
Currency & Best Way to Get Money?
The national currency is the pound sterling. Currency exchange can be made in airports, banks, post offices and travel agencies. For up-to-the-minute currency exchange information, go to www.oanda.com or www.xe.com. Traveler's checks should be exchanged at banks or exchange offices. For the best exchange rate, use ATMs, which are found almost everywhere.
If you are visiting from outside the European Union, you can get back some of the VAT (Value Added Tax) you pay on certain goods. Not all shops participate, and stores that do set a minimum purchase level. You need to carry your passport with you and fill in a form at the time of purchase. Present the forms to customs officials at your final departure from the European Union, but keep in mind the agents probably will ask to see the goods. Visit www.globalblue.com for more information.
Where You're Docked?
London is a major port of embarkation and debarkation, although few ships actually dock near the city center. The city is linked to five different ports, all of which are commonly referred to as "London" by the cruise industry. The ports of Southampton and Dover are each located about 80 miles from downtown London (southwest and southeast, respectively). These ports handle the larger ships carrying 2,000 passengers or more; see the individual port profiles for travel hints and tips.
The Port of Tilbury is 25 miles east of central London, near the mouth of the Thames, and home to a purpose-built cruise facility, the London Cruise Terminal. Tilbury is situated less than an hour from the London City or Gatwick airports, but about 90 minutes from Heathrow Airport by car or coach. Links into town have been improved with the Thames Clipper, fast catamaran river buses carrying 220 passengers, taking 50 minutes to reach Tower Bridge.
But two ports are located near the heart of London, and if you are lucky enough to be docking at Tower Bridge or Greenwich it means you're on a small, luxury vessel. Tower Bridge is the most scenic place to dock, with the Tower of London and the City easily accessible by foot. There are also fashionable shops, restaurants and delis at Butler's Wharf on the south bank. Greenwich, a fascinating, historic suburb, is within easy reach of the West End. Greenwich is a great place to be moored; the Greenwich Observatory, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and the shops and weekend market are just minutes away on foot.
