What is the best pier to purchase tickets and leave from to go to Greenwich by boat? Do you purchase a roundtrip ticket and do the boats stop along the way at the other piers? For example, I was thinking of getting off at the pier near the globe theatre on the way back. How much time should be allowed for Greenwich - would 1/2 day be sufficient. Also if anyone would happen to know the cost of the boat ticket would be great. Thanks for any help.

Hello Sheila: <BR> <BR>Can't help with all your queries, as I'm not sure which companies stop at the Globe. Most of the boat companies have their box offices at Westminster pier, so it shouldn't be difficult to find the trip to suit you. <BR> <BR>I'd recommend: <BR> <BR>Jubilee Line tube to Canary Wharf (impressive new tube station); Docklands Light Railway to Maritime Greenwich (DLR station is just outside Canary Wharf tube exit. Your zone 1 travelcard will be valid. The train goes above ground through Docklands, with great views of Canary Wharf, Millenium Dome, etc, and the Maritime Greenwich DLR station drops you right next to the Cutty Sark); return to London by boat with City Cruises. They seem to be the best, as their boats are all new open-top upper-deck catamarans with good facilities and views downstairs too; get off at Tower Hill pier, cross Tower Bridge, and walk to the Globe along the river (a scenic 20 min walk). <BR> <BR>As to cost, there are two or three companies with box offices right next to each other at Greenwich pier, and all are similarly priced. You buy your ticket before boarding. A one-way ticket to Tower Bridge is £5.00. To Westminster, it's £6.00. <BR> <BR>I believe that some double-decker bus sight-seeing companies include river cruises in their rates, so you might want to check that out. <BR> <BR>As for Greenwich, I'd allow at least half a day if you plan on visiting one of the museums. The Royal Observatory is great: Harrison's famous chronometers, great exhibits, period interiors, telescopes etc. The view from the top of the hill is well worth the steep climb. The maritime museum is also excellent. Then there's the Royal Hospital (Wren's greatest building, according to architect Lord Rogers)... hmm, there's a lot there to keep you busy.

Last summer my family took a London Walks tour to Greenwich. As I recall it was 7 pounds and included a one way ticket by boat. We had a guided tour for about 2 hours in Greenwich, and were then left on our own to explore museums, ships, etc. that interested us. It was easy to spend an entire day, but a 1/2 day will let you see things if you don't go into museums. We enjoyed the narrated boat trip going to Greenwich, but opted for the much quicker tube trip back to London. We left from Tower Bridge and the boat did not stop along the way.

Hi Sheila, we did the narrated boat(like Ami) trip down and it was great fun, but took the tube back to the city. I think Mitch gave good info on sites there. We fortunate to be there when they were filming "The Four Feathers" with Martin Sheen at the Cutty Sark, what pageantry! It was quite an impressive display with lots of horses and costumed extras, it was very exciting! I really liked Greenwich. Judy

Thanks everyone. So if I have the tube card zone 1 and 2, I can go to Greenwich by tube and train at no extra cost there and back? I would be taking the Jubilee line from Baker Street (near where I am staying). Do you think it would be possible to buy a one way ticket from Greenwich to the pier at the Globe? I was thinking of going to Greenwich on the afternoon that I have tickets at the Globe that night and being dropped near would be convenient. If not, I could always walk from the Tower as suggested. Thanks.

Hi Sheila. I may be wrong, but I don't believe there is a boat service from Greenwich that stops at Bankside pier. <BR> <BR>To get to the Globe conveniently, you could take the boat all the way to Westminster and then hop on the Jubilee Line to London Bridge or Southwark, either of which is a short walk from the Globe. <BR> <BR>Greenwich is zone 2, so your travelcard will cover you there and back by tube/DLR.

Sheila, <BR> <BR>Here's a site that will help you with boat trip planning: <BR> <BR> http://www.londontransport.co.uk/river/index.shtml <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR> <BR>David White <BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com <BR>[email protected]