Greenwich is where the world's time begins and Britain's seafaring history comes alive. Tender ashore to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then hop a Thames river boat for Big Ben in under 40 minutes.
Ships moor in the middle of the Thames at the Greenwich Ship Tier and run a short tender to Greenwich Pier — right beside the Cutty Sark.
💡 Pro move: Only small-to-mid-sized vessels (typically under 228 m) can call at Greenwich. Larger ships use Port Tilbury further downriver. The sail-in past the Thames Barrier and Canary Wharf skyline is spectacular.
All ships tender to Greenwich Pier — there is no large cruise terminal, which keeps the experience intimate and the surroundings historic.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Viking, Silversea, Windstar, Azamara | Greenwich Ship Tier (mid-river) → Greenwich Pier📍 | Tendered |
| Most luxury/boutique lines | Greenwich Pier — beside Cutty Sark📍 | Tendered |
Greenwich rewards explorers from history buffs strolling to the Prime Meridian to day-trippers riding the Thames Clipper to London's most iconic sights.
Climb Greenwich Park's hill to stand astride the Prime Meridian at longitude 0°. Explore the Observatory's Harrison chronometers that solved the longitude problem and enjoy panoramic views over the Thames and Canary Wharf.
Find Royal Observatory tours →Step aboard the world's only surviving Victorian tea clipper — walk the decks and beneath the copper-clad hull. Then cross to the Old Royal Naval College and its spectacular Painted Hall, dubbed 'Britain's Sistine Chapel' for its 40,000 sq ft of Baroque ceiling paintings.
Find Cutty Sark & Naval College tours →Free entry to the world's largest maritime museum, featuring Admiral Nelson's bullet-holed coat and a gilded royal barge. Next door, the 17th-century Queen's House holds the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I and the breathtaking geometric Tulip Stairs.
Find maritime museum tours →Ride the scenic Uber Boat river bus from Greenwich Pier past Canary Wharf and the Tower of London to Westminster. See Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and the South Bank — then return before all-aboard. No pre-booking needed; just tap your card.
Find London city tours from Greenwich →Greenwich Market operates daily under its Victorian roof with global street food stalls — Ethiopian, Asian noodles, Portuguese pastéis, and British scotch eggs. For a proper London experience, try Goddards pie & mash (est. 1890) or pints at the riverside Trafalgar Tavern where Dickens drank.
Find Greenwich food tours →The world's second-largest movable flood barrier lies just downriver. Many cruise ships pass through it on arrival — take an excursion or local boat trip to see this massive 1980s engineering marvel up close from the water.
Find Thames Barrier tours →Greenwich is one of Europe's most rewarding cruise walks — almost everything is flat and close, with the one big payoff being the uphill stroll to the Observatory.
Walk from the pier past the Cutty Sark, through the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, into Greenwich Park, up to the Royal Observatory for panoramic views, then back down through the park to Greenwich Market and the pier.
Head east along the riverbank from the pier, past the old Greenwich Power Station and the classical facade of the Naval College, to the Trafalgar Tavern — a Victorian riverside pub where Dickens was a regular. At low tide, the small Thames shoreline reveals itself for some casual mudlarking.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Greenwich, London, England. Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F / 8°C | 35°F / 2°C | 13 | 8:00 AM | 4:19 PM |
| Feb | 47°F / 8°C | 35°F / 2°C | 10 | 7:15 AM | 5:13 PM |
| Mar | 52°F / 11°C | 38°F / 3°C | 9 | 6:17 AM | 6:03 PM |
| Apr | 57°F / 14°C | 40°F / 4°C | 9 | 6:05 AM | 7:57 PM |
| May | 63°F / 17°C | 46°F / 8°C | 9 | 5:08 AM | 8:45 PM |
| Jun | 68°F / 20°C | 51°F / 11°C | 8 | 4:43 AM | 9:20 PM |
| Jul | 72°F / 22°C | 54°F / 12°C | 9 | 5:03 AM | 9:12 PM |
| Aug | 72°F / 22°C | 54°F / 12°C | 9 | 5:50 AM | 8:25 PM |
| Sep | 67°F / 19°C | 50°F / 10°C | 9 | 6:38 AM | 7:15 PM |
| Oct | 59°F / 15°C | 45°F / 7°C | 12 | 7:24 AM | 6:09 PM |
| Nov | 52°F / 11°C | 40°F / 4°C | 13 | 7:16 AM | 4:13 PM |
| Dec | 47°F / 8°C | 36°F / 2°C | 13 | 7:58 AM | 3:52 PM |
Source: Met Office London/Heathrow climate averages; sunrise/sunset approx. mid-month Greenwich local time
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Big Bus Tours and Tootbus offer hop-on hop-off bus passes (from ~£32/day) with optional Thames river cruise legs that stop at Greenwich Pier.
Licensed black cabs queue at Greenwich Pier for cruise passengers. Fixed-fare private transfers to Central London also available from around £99 for groups.
Uber and Bolt both operate in Greenwich. App-based pickup near the pier; ride-hailing is often cheaper than a black cab to central London.
Thames Clippers run frequent hop-on hop-off river services from Greenwich Pier to central London stops (Embankment, Bankside, Blackfriars). Scenic and practical.
The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) stops at Cutty Sark and Greenwich, providing fast connections to central London and the Jubilee line. Use an Oyster card or contactless payment.
Upcoming cruises that call at Greenwich, London, England. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.