Service alerts
Learn more about what can cause service delays or cancellations
This page is updated regularly when we have advanced notice of situations which may impact our service. For the most up to date information on our services please follow @thamesclippers on X (formerly known as Twitter).
As soon as we are aware of any disruptions, service alerts will be sent via X.
Planned London Underground Strikes
London Underground services will be disrupted 7 - 12 September. While Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services will continue to operate, please keep in mind that we may be busier than usual. If you usually travel by tube, you may be surprised how quick, comfortable and affordable your journey could be by boat with a season ticket or a ticket carnet. Download the Thames Clippers Tickets app for the best price.
Many of our piers are conveniently located near key stations like London Bridge, Canary Wharf, Waterloo, Charing Cross, and Blackfriars.
If you're going to a show at The O2, our Post-show Express sailings are an easy way to get back to central London taking you directly to London Bridge, Waterloo or Battersea Power Station.
Upcoming Alerts
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Tower Pier Temporary Closures
8 & 17 SeptemberPlease be aware that Tower Pier will be temporarily closed for a gun salutes taking place at Tower at the following times:
- Monday, 8 September: 13:00
- Saturday, 17 September: 12:00
15 minutes prior to these times, the pier will be closed and boats will be unable to call at Tower until the salute is over. Closures are expected to last approximately 25 minutes, but may differ depending on the length of the salutes.
Services scheduled to stop at Tower during the closure will instead proceed to the next scheduled stop. We recommend boarding/disembarking at London Bridge City Pier during these times.
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Central Zone River Closure
Wednesday, 10 SeptemberPlease be aware that there will be closures throghout the Central Zone on 10 September for the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager.
When the race starts at 12:15, all piers between Tower and Battersea Power Station will be closed. The river will then progressively re-open as the race continues, starting with Tower. All piers are expected to be reopened by 13:00.
If you wish to travel during these times, please allow exta time for your journey, as some services may be delayed or cancelled.
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River-wide Closures
Saturday, 20 SeptemberPlease be aware that there will be closures river-wide on 20 September for the Great River Race.
When the race starts at 11:00, all piers on the north side of the river between Greenwich and Battersea Power Station will be closed. The river will then progressively re-open as the race continues, from East to West. All piers are expected to be reopened by 15:00.
If you wish to travel during these times, please allow exta time for your journey, as some services may be delayed or cancelled.
Thames Barrier Closures
To view a full list of upcoming barrier closure dates, visit the government website.
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Thames Barrier Closure
Sunday, 7 SeptemberA test closure of the Thames Barrier is scheduled to take place 07:15 – 17:15 on Sunday 7 September. This will prevent some services from calling at Barking Riverside and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) piers.
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Thames Barrier Closure
Thursday, 9 OctoberA test closure of the Thames Barrier is scheduled to take place 09:10 – 11:40 on Thursday 9 October. This will prevent all sailings between these times from calling at Barking Riverside and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) piers.
Service updates on X
- Our fleet control update X (formerly known as Twitter) with delay information using TfL’s wording for delays. “Minor” refers to delays between 5-15 minutes. “Severe” refers to delays that are over 15 minutes.
- When a service is “suspended between two piers” this means that the service is not able to run between the piers mentioned or at the intermediate piers.
- We cannot always give a specific reason for each individual delay nor can our fleet control respond to individual tweets asking about the arrival time of your service.
- Live departure information is available on the Thames Clippers Tickets app.
What causes service delays and alerts?
Spontaneous service delays can be caused by a number of issues including river congestion, pier congestion, passenger demand, passenger disruption and occasional technical issues with our vessels. When we are aware of these disruptions, a service alert is issued via our X page.
Anticipated service alerts can be caused by:
- Tidal conditions
At extremely low tides, our vessels may be unable to dock successfully at some of our piers or it may be unsafe for passengers to attempt to board from them. Low tide also limits the Thames’s river traffic capacity which can cause congestion. - Thames Barrier closures
The Thames Barrier is located between Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) and Royal Wharf piers. When the barrier is closed for tests, or to prevent London from flooding, our services are unable to reach Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) or Barking Riverside piers. - London fog
In extreme fog our services cannot operate. As foggy conditions can change rapidly, please check our X page for the most up-to-date information. - Riverside activities
The Thames is an incredibly active river and events regularly take place along its banks and on the river itself which have the potential to affect some services.
We apologise for any inconvenience that service disruption has caused to your journey and we always appreciate your patience while we manage the matter. If you wish to contact our Customer Service Team, you can do so here.