REVIEW · LONDON
London: Uber Boat Return River Ticket + IFS Cloud Cable Car
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Two skies, one river, and London in motion. This day ticket pairs an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers return journey with the IFS Cloud Cable Car, so you get London from the water and from above.
I like the flexibility of boarding at many piers between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside, plus the comfort on the boat with indoor seating and covered outdoor areas. I also love the cable car roundtrip from North Greenwich—short (about 20 minutes) but great for skyline photos and that feeling of seeing the city as a model.
One consideration: this combo leans more transportation-and-views than you-only-do-peak-sights, so it can feel less central than icons like the London Eye or the Tower of London. If you want the densest classic sightseeing, you’ll need a tight day plan.
In This Review
- Quick key points before you go
- Uber Boat + IFS Cloud: a smart two-mode London day
- Riding the Thames with return flexibility between Battersea and Barking
- You get options, not a single route
- You’re not stuck outside the whole time
- Picking a starting pier: aim for the views you want
- North Greenwich: the junction point for cable car views
- The IFS Cloud Cable Car ride: skyline photos from above the Thames
- Why this is a good addition even if you’ve done London attractions before
- Small group size can make the cabin feel calmer
- How to plan your day so it feels relaxed, not rushed
- Start by deciding the role of each mode
- Don’t overpack your schedule
- Use the River Guide to make the boat ride more meaningful
- Think about where you might want to hop off
- Comfort, food, and practical details that can make or break the day
- Boat comfort
- Food and drink
- What you should know before boarding
- Rules for the boat
- Price and value: is $45 fair for a boat return plus cable car?
- Who this experience fits best (and who might feel underwhelmed)
- You should like it if…
- You might want to rethink it if…
- Should you book the Uber Boat return + IFS Cloud Cable Car?
- FAQ
- What is included in the Uber Boat return ticket and IFS Cloud Cable Car combo?
- Where can I board the Uber Boat?
- Where is the IFS Cloud Cable Car and which pier is nearest?
- How long is the IFS Cloud Cable Car ride?
- Is this ticket valid for other boat services or the West Zone?
- Can I use the ticket on a different date than the one selected?
- Is the experience wheelchair accessible?
- Are food and drinks included?
- What are the rules for children?
Quick key points before you go
- Flexible river hop-on/hop-off within the Central and East zones between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside
- Water views that change every stop, not just one long ride
- IFS Cloud Cable Car roundtrip from North Greenwich with sky-high Thames perspective
- Comfort on the boat, including indoor seating and covered outdoor areas
- Small group size (limited to 9), which can make the cable car experience feel more personal
- Not valid for West Zone or specific O2 express services, so check the zones before you rely on it
Uber Boat + IFS Cloud: a smart two-mode London day
This is a great setup if you want variety without adding extra tickets. You start with the Thames—wide, windy, full of moving landmarks. Then you switch to the air, where the Thames looks like a ribbon cutting through the city grid.
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers handles the river part. You’re not stuck at one pier or one direction; the return river ticket lets you travel to and from piers along the Central and East stretches. Then the IFS Cloud Cable Car gives you that different angle: not just looking at London, but looking over it.
The best part is how easy it is to turn the day into something that fits your pace. Sit and ride when you feel like relaxing. Step off when you want to wander. Then get back on when you’re ready to keep moving.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in London
Riding the Thames with return flexibility between Battersea and Barking
The river ticket is built for flexibility. You can board Uber Boat by Thames Clippers at any pier within the Central and East zones, specifically between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside. That means you can pick where you want to start, where you want to get off, and how you shape your sightseeing loop.
Two things make this section work well for real life:
You get options, not a single route
Most river tickets act like a one-time transfer. This one acts more like a scenic transport pass within the allowed zones. If you hop off somewhere and decide you want to keep exploring, you’re not trapped. You can take another boat within the same coverage area and continue your day.
You’re not stuck outside the whole time
Uber Boat includes indoor seating and covered outdoor areas. On a windy Thames day, that matters. You can watch from outside when the weather is good, then retreat indoors when you want warmth or a more comfortable ride.
What to keep in mind: this ticket has zone limits. Tickets are not valid for the O2 Post Show Express, and they don’t cover West Zone services (Putney to Battersea Power Station). So if your plan depends on those specific segments, you’ll need another ticket or another route choice.
Picking a starting pier: aim for the views you want
You can board at any pier in the eligible area, but most people naturally choose piers that line up with their other plans. One helpful tactic is to think in two stages:
- Stage 1: use the boat to reach North Greenwich, where the cable car is
- Stage 2: keep riding for the return and for sightseeing stops along the river
Even if you don’t get off, the ride itself gives you a steady stream of London landmarks sliding past. And if you do get off, you can swap passive viewing for walking and quick exploring.
You can also read our reviews of more boat tours in London
North Greenwich: the junction point for cable car views
The nearest pier for the IFS Cloud Cable Car is North Greenwich. That’s your key anchor for planning.
If you time it right, North Greenwich becomes a natural break point in your day. You can ride the boat, watch the Thames and the skyline approach, then switch to the cable car without fighting complicated transit.
A nice bonus is how easy it is to resume your sightseeing after the aerial ride. Since the cable car is tied to North Greenwich, you can go back to the river quickly and keep moving along the Thames.
One practical point: the ticket is valid only for the selected date, and departure times can vary depending on which pier you use. Before you commit to a schedule, check the service timetable for the piers you’re considering.
The IFS Cloud Cable Car ride: skyline photos from above the Thames
The IFS Cloud Cable Car is a roundtrip experience, so you go up, ride the span, and return. The ride is short—about 20 minutes per trip—which makes it feel doable even if you’re already spending most of the day on the river.
What you’ll notice right away is how the Thames changes in perspective. From the cable car, the river stops being a moving surface you travel alongside and starts looking like a corridor shaping the city. That’s where the value of a dual-perspective day really shows up: boat views are horizontal and human-scale; cable car views are vertical and map-like.
Why this is a good addition even if you’ve done London attractions before
This isn’t trying to replace the London Eye or the Tower of London. It does something different. The cable car gives you a unique angle of London’s skyline and the Thames itself, and it’s often an easy win for photos because you get consistent, wide views over the water.
It also tends to work well at different times of day. One review highlighted the experience as especially good at night, which makes sense—London’s lights behave beautifully from above. If your day has flexibility, consider aligning your cable car ride with the time of sunset you’re aiming for.
Small group size can make the cabin feel calmer
The package is described as a small group experience, limited to 9 participants. That matters mostly for comfort and pacing. You might find it feels less crowded than bigger attractions, and one account mentioned having a car to themselves, which is the kind of scenario that makes photo-taking way easier. Just don’t count on private-cabin magic every time—treat it as a potential perk when the group is small.
How to plan your day so it feels relaxed, not rushed
This is a one-day plan, and because you’re mixing two transport modes, your main job is timing. Here are the tactics that keep it feeling smooth.
Start by deciding the role of each mode
- Boat = your sightseeing workhorse
Use it to enjoy views and move between piers without tiring yourself out.
- Cable car = your viewpoint moment
Treat it like a short, high-reward stop you can fit between boat rides.
Don’t overpack your schedule
The cable car ride is quick, but the day still includes travel time to reach your chosen piers and wait for the right departure. A calm plan looks like:
- Ride the boat to North Greenwich
- Do the cable car roundtrip
- Get back on the boat for more Thames views and a relaxed return
If you try to cram too many major landmarks in one day, the transportation portion can start to feel like a chore instead of part of the charm.
Use the River Guide to make the boat ride more meaningful
Uber Boat also offers a free River Guide. It’s available here: https://www.thamesclippers.com/explore-london/river-guide
Use it as a way to turn what could be just an hour of staring out the window into active sightseeing. Even if you only read a few notes, it helps you understand what you’re seeing and why it’s there.
Think about where you might want to hop off
Because your ticket covers piers between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside, you can get off when something catches your eye—then hop back on when you’re ready. This is where the ticket feels better than a fixed sightseeing itinerary. You can adapt to the weather and your energy level.
Comfort, food, and practical details that can make or break the day
This combo is built for comfort, but London days still have surprises. Here’s what the provided details tell you to plan for.
Boat comfort
Uber Boat includes indoor seating and covered outdoor areas. That’s your safety net for rain or strong wind. If you’re traveling in cooler months, plan to spend time inside and come out for photo moments.
Food and drink
Food and beverages aren’t included. You can buy them on Uber Boat, and you can also find options at the cable car stations. If you’re picky about meals, consider grabbing something before you start, then treat onboard purchases as convenient snacks.
What you should know before boarding
- Present your printed or e-ticket at any Uber Boat pier within the Central and East zones and at the cable car stations.
- Pick-up is not included. You’re responsible for getting to a pier between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside.
- It’s wheelchair accessible.
- Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Children 4 and under travel free (up to two children per paying adult).
Rules for the boat
Prohibited items include hazardous materials, inflammable substances, and items over 2 meters in length. If you’re traveling with large equipment, it’s smart to plan ahead.
Price and value: is $45 fair for a boat return plus cable car?
At about $45 per person, this is one of those deals that makes sense because you’re stacking two different viewpoints.
On one level, it’s simple: you get a return river journey on Uber Boat within a large stretch of the Thames plus a roundtrip on the IFS Cloud Cable Car. On another level, value depends on how you use the flexibility.
If you treat the boat as transportation only and you stay mostly on board, you still get a scenic ride and a decent amount of sightseeing value. If you hop off and explore a bit along the Thames, the same ticket becomes much more rewarding because it lets you build a loop instead of doing one linear ride.
That’s also why the day’s main tradeoff shows up in the reviews and in your own expectations. This isn’t a ticket that guarantees you a concentrated hit of the most famous sights in the shortest time. It’s a viewpoints-and-movement package. If your goal is classic highlights packed tight, you might prefer a bigger landmark. If your goal is a scenic day that feels like London travels at a slow, stylish pace, this combo can be a very good use of a day.
Who this experience fits best (and who might feel underwhelmed)
This ticket really shines for three types of travelers.
You should like it if…
- You enjoy sightseeing that happens while you move, not only when you arrive somewhere and stand in line.
- You want two perspectives in one day: from the water and from above.
- You’d rather adapt your plan on the fly—hop off for a wander, then hop back on.
You might want to rethink it if…
- You’re trying to squeeze in the most iconic attractions with minimal transit time.
- You expect the cable car to replace a major landmark like the London Eye or the Tower of London.
- You want an itinerary that is tightly scripted from start to finish rather than flexible within the river zones.
And one small mental note: this plan feels best when you let the Thames guide your rhythm. If you constantly fight the flow with too many must-dos, the relaxing part disappears.
Should you book the Uber Boat return + IFS Cloud Cable Car?
Book it if you want a scenic, flexible day that mixes comfort with big views. The return river ticket between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside gives you options, and the IFS Cloud Cable Car adds a perspective you can’t easily get from ground level.
Skip it or pair it with something more central if you’re chasing only the biggest, most famous sights in the shortest time. This is a strong day for views and movement, not a shortcut to the entire greatest-hits list.
If you like the idea of a ride that acts like sightseeing, and you’re happy to use North Greenwich as your aerial viewpoint stop, this combo is a solid value play for London.
FAQ
What is included in the Uber Boat return ticket and IFS Cloud Cable Car combo?
It includes a return journey on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (within the Central and East zones between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside), plus a roundtrip ride on the IFS Cloud Cable Car. Uber Boat also includes access to indoor seating and covered outdoor areas.
Where can I board the Uber Boat?
You can get on the boat at any pier between Battersea Power Station and Barking Riverside (Central and East zones). Pick-up is not included, so you’ll need to reach your chosen pier yourself.
Where is the IFS Cloud Cable Car and which pier is nearest?
The nearest pier for the IFS Cloud Cable Car is North Greenwich.
How long is the IFS Cloud Cable Car ride?
The cable car ride is about 20 minutes (per trip), and your ticket is for a roundtrip.
Is this ticket valid for other boat services or the West Zone?
No. The ticket is not valid for O2 Post Show Express, and it is not valid on West Zone services (Putney to Battersea Power Station).
Can I use the ticket on a different date than the one selected?
No. The ticket is valid only for the selected date.
Is the experience wheelchair accessible?
Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible.
Are food and drinks included?
No. Food and beverages are available for purchase on Uber Boat and at cable car stations.
What are the rules for children?
Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Children 4 and under travel free (up to two children per paying adult).
